Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Retirement dream to cycle across Canada begins with a twist.We've decided to cycle the distance we drive our truck and trailer each day; so if we drive 200 km, wherever we stop we will cycle the 200 km in equal distance before moving onto the next small town that we want to explore...no paniers, no tenting...credit cards, water bottles and we get to choose the cycle routes from the west coast to the east coast.

Tuesday, July 5/11 Drove from home to Harrison, Caught 8:30 Dept bay ferrry at 8:25 am, drove #7 to Harrison; Missed major traffic probs in Van due to fallen power towers. Drove past Kilby campsite, and on up mountain to Sasquatch provincial park...wayyyyyyyyy too mountainous to ease into this adventure so headed back to Pathfinder RV with more cycling options. Opened trailer to discover olive bottle spill sticky mess all over trailer. Lunch, dog walk, Tom napped, listened to passing trains. Cycle tour around Harison Hot Springs after dinner.

Drive distance: 203 km   Cycle distance 24 km

Dec 7, 2011

How do I save this forever?

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Addy and Grandma

We are now in Kelowna thoroughly enjoying our 9 month old granddaughter who is a real personality and I’m sure a future cyclist. Our cycling is sporadic with the changing temps but still possible with warmer clothes. After 4000 km of cycling Canada the “Sharpe” way and having one heck of a fabulous time doing what we love, we have decided to finish this blog as we slide back into home base for the winter. Our experience has provided us with much knowledge and a different perspective about this amazing country and about ourselves. Thank you for all your encouraging support, great comments and cycling wisdom. We look forward to continuing our cycling adventures in the New Year and hope you will want to follow along with us again or want to put the fun between your own legsJ

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Howwwwdy…we’re in Cowgry enjoying the incredible network of city cycle paths and routes through one of Canada’s most beautiful, fall riverfronts. We donned our warm clothes and cycled 57 km from NW area into the valley and to the heart of the city (MEC) through breezy, 12 degree hues of yellow leaves flurrying about us like snowflakes of winter to come. The golden fall splendor in the Bow River is a magnificent show of nature’s transition into winter. The paved multi-use paths and cycling routes were very well signed and used by 100’s of active minded people benefiting from outdoor activity, out of traffic and  buried in the middle of big city life. A very pleasurable ride. 

Tues Sept 27- Mon Oct 4, 2011

Sorry....no internet %-)
“On the Road Again…” Yup, weather changing and we need to start moving westward for Tom’s class reunion. Drove to Port Huron, Michigan, then to St Ignace next day where we squeaked in a late afternoon ride through charming village along shoreline of turquoise waters of Lake Huron. We happened upon local Tim Huskey’s turtle pond and paraphernalia yard which proved to be extremely interesting and such a chance occurrence as we decided to venture off the rumble stripped shouldered highway. Evenings are happening way too quickly now and the temperatures are much cooler here…must adjust schedule for fall riding. Thursday was another drive day filled with stunning scenery along Northern Michigan’s sand-duned shores into Hiawatha National and Ottawa National forests onto the most vibrant shades of red, rust and golden rolling hills of scenic highway #2. A rather brutally strong wind and rain storm in afternoon prevented us from riding today L…having saddle withdrawal… %-)

Friday the 30^th is another drive day inching across the map of North America, but because it is our 33^rd Anny we stopped early in the outdoor mecca world of northern Minnesota to celebrate with a 50k cycle on a clear, blue sky, cool 12 degree, and sunny day through Chippewa Forest along MiGiZe trail around Pike Lake. What a magnificent ride…the bikes glided through cornflake crisp fall leaves and pine carpeted paved paths amongst the sun beamed giants of the woods. For miles we were riding all alone taking pleasure in the beauty of nature…sooo perfect! We ventured onto the sandy Paul Bunyan State trail but my slicks were skidding out and making riding difficult so we picked up 2ndary highway to beautiful Cass Lake and toured the recreational fishing lodges and cabins along the shore. Superb ride!

Mon Oct 3
29 degrees in Big Sky Havre, North Dakota…unbelievably warm but a great chance to continue riding 40 km in our shorts; we have been driving like mad men last few days so a ride was really needed. A prairie plains area rich in farmlands and contrasting badlands with casino filled Havre in the railroad valley. 

Monday, September 26, 2011

Our Lady of Fatima Shrine

Sunday we arrived in Youngstown, NY at Niagara Falls North KOA, a country campground filled with flocks of 100’s of birds busily eating, chirping and shifting their flight patterns in an instant. I’m sure they are in competition with the crickets. Changing seasons brings out the best of nature. Very warm 28 degree ride around farmlands and into historic village of Youngstown along the Niagara River which flows into Lake Ontario. The area is very flat for riding so easy to explore neighborhoods and the many tourist sites along bike routes and multi-use trails. Today was cyclotourist day as we explored the US Niagara State Park and the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, which is only 7 miles from camp. It was a smoking hot, humid, dripping day of riding which sapped our riding energy pretty quickly. A cruise on the Maid of the Mist (sans cycles) allowed us to get face to face with the powerful waters and experience awe-inspiring, spectacular views of the area and feel the exhilarating essence of this thundering, powerful, force of nature. Cycling around the state park was relatively easy so we decided to cross the Rainbow Bridge for Canadian, best views of the falls. Headed along shouldered river road but quickly retreated due to the heat…toooo friggin’ hot to be on bikes or to be wearing clothes…gotta love summer?

Phenomenal Niagara Falls 

Readying for Maid of Mist

US Falls cycling

I think we could jump the rail!

Saturday, September 23, 2011

West Canada Creek

Okay, I know you’re wondering what the f’cowy are we doing in the US…wellll, let’s just say a $700 one way ferry ride to Newfoundland for a week’s riding was a tad steep so we are heading across northern US towards Niagara Falls for more Canadian riding…ok? Last night was a very wet night but today was a cloudy, muggy, perfect day for riding. Whilst doing cycling laundry this am, we discovered a colored, glossy “Bicycling Atlas” for the Herkimer and Oneida Counties. What a valuable map asset for promoting cycle tourism. We headed out through Newport Township straight up 5 km of the steepest farming road I think I've ever cycled. All the cows were very impressed as they watched me grunt my way serpentining back and forth on the steep grade as I worked my way up into the drizzling fog of the mountains. Great ride down other side into Utica city returning Hwy 5 into town of Herkimer where we discovered the Erie Canalway Trail following the Mohawk River into Township of German Flatts where we rode through a full scale, living history re-enactment of the Civil War between the Union and the Confederates…holy crap!…had the beegeezus scared right out of me…shooting cannons and bayonet equipped rifles blasting everywhere…how bizarre these Americans are!!! We returned route 28 for an enjoyable 84 km ride along another section of West Canada Creek which is dressed in full spectrum, fall foliage. 

Rode path behind cannon into the war

Holy Smoke, what noise!

Fort Herkimer Church, site of Battle