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...
Monday, May 28, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
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...
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...
Sunday, May 13, 2007
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!
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!
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