Almost out of Ontario...

So my last post was some time ago...I'm really not so good at keeping this whole blog entry thing up; although I hope to improve in the future.
I would like to begin this entry by establishing that Ontario is very large...really...and quite amazing also. Breathtaking actually. I experienced a moment quite recently, of being reduced to something so totally inconsequential in the presence of nature's awesome grandeur, something which I dont recall feeling often in my life, if at all, and I assume with some of the most powerful landscapes existing in our country still to come, that the sensation will return to me at the very least once more. This feeling which moved me to such lengths arose at the beginning of a descent outside Marathon, ON, along the northernmost shore of Lake Superior. As we reached the peak of our ascent and began our journey down we began to gaze around in amazement at the shear awesomeness of the vista with which we were greeted. At the top of our km+ descent we were sourrounded by green walls on either side shooting upwards with thick foliage, and at the farthest range of our vision the highway, dissapearing around a bend, curving to miss a wall of rock adjacent to a shimmering lake. At that moment, one which we all remarked as being amazing, we were totally lost in nature (that is accept for the highway) and could have been several places in the world...the Rockies, Andes, perhaps even the Alps. It was this loss of location, orientation if you will, which most amazed me and moved me to the emotion here described. Each climb worth every second....
Now, (with little time left to write) at the end of Ontario I have enjoyed a visit to Christine's cottage in Sturgeon, finally a visit home to the Island after almost six months and a chance to spend time with my parents and go sailing!, riding rapids...on a frisbee, chilling in the Blind, and at the Water Tower Inn in the Sault...what an end to a 6 hour ride in 40 degree weather thanks Don, seeing lake Superior for the first time, swimming in it, and camping some feet from its shore with the sun receding behind a shimmering horizon, climbing hills above and beyond 2 and 3 km, being eaten alive by blackflies as a truck with a trailer marked 'live bear trap' drove by...twice...its absence punctuated by gushots, chilling in the TBay with Alexandra and Laura and getting locked on the roof of Roxy's, and being most thankful for the hospitality of all the people who helped us along the way...so numerous to list but all equally important, they truly make our trip the wonder that it has thus far been. Now to sleep with the promise, or rather hope, that subsequent entries will be made with more care...

eeeh freezing...

Quarter to twelve, Pembroke/Pettawawa ON, the LaFrance residence. I feel so fabulous in contrast to how I felt some few hours ago...entirely thanks to the overwhelming hospitality of Mrs. LaFrance...and these wonderful inventions of civilization...houses! This morning's rainy and frigid start in Renfrew continued in a miserable fashion despite the slight rise we were given by encountering a few random Leaf fans at the Timmies where we ate our meager breakfast and gloated about the Sens loss. Finally reaching Pembroke at about 4, our goal for yesterday, after one minor crash and 51 lost horses (refer to Rainer's latest entry for further details but I'm pretty sure thats a record), we consumed, with great pleasure, our tuna lunch in the McDonald's seating area at Walmart...maybe more people will randomly eat healthy food in McDonald's and set an example, but thats besides the point. Our great talent and skill at wasting time while breaking in warm sourroundings...I think this is our strongest point on this trip thus far, and the drizzly view of 2 degree rain outside instigated a re-examination of distances and schedule resulted in our re-solicitation of the LaFrance's for a place to stay not to far from where we had stopped. Thus with arrangments made, and dinner purchased we set out for our destination, and with only the much welcomed interruption of Mrs. LaFrance making sure we were on track we arrived without further delay at the most wonderful of accomodations thus far...and perhaps never to be outdone.
As my toes warm with my heart as has so often been the case thus far, I go to dream of sweltering prairies and hazy mountain peaks...

Day...I dont even know but I'm in Quebec City!

The last week and a half has been crazy...painful and joyously amazing seemingly almost simultaneously. Presently I'm on a mission to MEC to get a new tire and tube for Rainer, as he is showering and Brad is busy with aiding our gracious host Isabelle with her French homework...I thus volunteered to fetch the tire as to speed along our departure this AM. However, MEC does not open until 10...how convenient. With over a thousand km behind us, nova scotia, nb and half of Quebec...we are feeling quite accomplished, yet very sore. 750+ km in 6 days will do that to a somewhat unprepared human body I am now certain. Last evening was spent in utter amazement, as has much of this trip, at the generosity and overwhelming hospitality of the people of this country, or at least the ones we have come in contact with. After which dinner, a stroll through la vielle ville and espresso and crepes at a creperie finished off our night in one of the most memorable spots on our trip for sure. The feeling of marvel which this city stirs in me is quite unexplainable but perhaps it is related to the historical substance with which it most certainly brimming (pictures to come of surfing on a rather large gunpowder ordinance will explain my fascination I am sure).
As my thoughts are a jumble and it is quite trying to gather coherent and inclusive statements about individual events which have occurred in the past few days, I will venture to sum the entirety of our trip thus far by saying that our country provides, for myself, arguably some of the most breathtaking views of nature possible as well as a sample of the most remarkable people to converse with along the way; thus far quite an incomparable, fabulous combination...until next time...

Hali!

Stumbled off the plane at 8:30...got directions to Halifax from an altogether too chatty info booth lady and then began to assemble our bikes on a random patch of lawn. Quickly met our first fan...a rather portly, country gentleman who was busy collecting baggage carts around the airport and thought that our ride to Halifax was going to be long...yeah he got that dream shattered...ehhh
3+ hrs later we did it! Loaded down with so much gear we dropped our bikes more than once each...speed wobbles are for sure to come!
In addition to having a ton of assembling to do, the weather, though sunny is freezing so all our fleecy and wind proof winterish clothes are much needed.
Im very tired...working on 1.5 hrs of sleep in 30...and my stomach is killing me from an overpriced airport sandwich....thats right mine didnt come with soup because there wasnt any left...yogurt had to suffice, so I'm out like a light....oh wait in the 30km I will be out like a light...
Still hot like MIMS...

Hey Yo

Day 1, 01:38...everyone is packed, asleep...and then there is me; not packed and not asleep.
Yesterday...our last day in Ottawa, was spent, for myself at least, mainly in recovery from being unfortunately struck by a hurtling ordinance in the form of a semi-intact pamplemousse...in the nether regions. This trip is going to place enough stress on my body already...fruit hockey injuries aside.

This Day 1 I am presently experiencing, is the beginning of a cycling journey as a part of Speak With Spokes (speakwithspokes.org), which will take my friends Brad, Mike and Rainer, along with myself, across our home and native land, from sea to sea on an a quest of vision and bounty...however not for our own enrichment but for that of CANFAR, in the hope that our personal contributions and those inspired by us will aid in the battle against AIDS.

Aside from the humour that yesterday's events provided, we did manage to retrieve our packed bikes, have our first team dinner, and begin to pack the rest of our gear. As we calculated finances, trip distances, and other logistics, all in severely primitive ways, we all began to realize the gravity of the journey on which we are about to embark...and the happy dance ensued. We really are, in a few short hours, going to embark upon the journey of our lives thus far, with the hope that while gaining the value of new experiences, we can contribute in a positive way to the humanity of this earth.

Alright, I have one hour to pack...here we go!