Get Smart. Get Active. Tour 2008

I’m DONE! I don’t really know if I believe it myself yet, but I am finished there is nowhere else to go!

This write up doesn’t count as a two for one because I woke up on the 25th and, except for a couple of hours, hasn’t really gone to sleep yet. Why, oh why would I do this to myself you ask, was I really so desperate to be finished that I rode through the night and subjected myself to unnecessary anguish just to finish a few hours early. The answer would be no, I was on the longest ferry ride of my life; what was supposed to be a nice relaxed 14-hour ride, turned into a marathon 18 ½ hours.

I woke up in North Sydney at six the morning and walked down to the ferry for the 8 o’clock departure. I was immediately thrilled to meet a very nice couple from Montréal on a bike trip of their own. One of the greatest parts about completing a trip like mine is the other bikers and travelers you meet along the way, and sharing your different adventures. It is fascinating how people on very similar trips can have completely different experiences, a portion of road that was hard for me was easy for them, or different luck with the weather.

The ferry ride was uneventful, but fun; spending our time-sharing stories, talking about sports and work, reading. The morning and afternoon passed by quickly and everything was great. Mid afternoon we got the bad news that the ferry was going to be late (or should I say early) getting into Argentia. Luckily I had booked a bunk to sleep in so I headed off in the early evening to try and get some rest; sleep was not going to be my companion though and I spent the night tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable.

In the end we didn’t get into Newfoundland until 230 in the morning (we lost an extra half-hour because of the newfie time zone) and I hadn’t gotten any sleep. Luckily Newfoundland hospitality came out in full force to welcome me to the island and one of CAHPERD’s many wonderful members came out to the ferry to help me find where I was going and offer me a room for what was left of the night. After all the hours of tossing and turning in a marine bunk, I quickly passed out in the great bed that Dave’s son was kind enough to offer me for the night (and at the time it was the most comfortable bed in the world). So, I will take this opportunity to thank Dave and his family for making the last night of my trip (as short as it was) one of the best ones yet.

Morning came far to soon, but I had a long way to ride and not very long to do it. I was expected at Cowan Heights Elementary at 11 o’clock and that was only four hours and 120 km away. Luckily Mother Nature had finally decided that she was alright with me finishing my tour and in return for giving me such a hard time the last couple of months she came through and gave me one of the best rides I have had in a long time. The sun was shinning, the temperature was cool and the wind was blowing…from BEHIND me… HARD.

Today brought one of the strongest tail winds I have had yet and I finished the day with time to spare at an average speed of 40 km/hr. It was like I was being lifted up the hills and pushed down them; at some points, as my speedometer push past 65, 75, 75 km/hr and the car suddenly weren’t going by so fast, I actually put on the breaks to slow down my rocket ship ride.

I was greeted at the school with a reception fit for a king. The students had a ribbon stretched across the driveway and I road across, breaking the finishing line and symbolizing to official end of my tour. The students swarmed me like a visiting celebrity, barraging me with questions and high-fives; it took every teacher available and about ten minutes to get them back it to the gym for the assembly.

The assembly was all I could have ever asked for to finish off my tour. We were part of the students end of year celebrations, and celebrate we did! Local media and dignitaries were out and they had the pleasure of seeing the wonderful effect a good phys ed. program and dedicated teachers can have on students. We had presentations from the schools skipping club that blew us away and demonstrated a level of coordination that is well beyond me (although, some of the girls coned me in to a little Double Dutch afterwards and I think I did pretty well). After the skipping the entire school and visitors were lead in a dance routine by a seriously impressive group of grade two students.

Without fail, every school I have gone to that has a good phys ed. program and a good staff have happy and energetic students. Cowan Heights is the home of one of CAHPERD’s teachers of the year, and it shows. The students are happy, lively, and involved in every extracurricular activity in awesome numbers. Most impressive and a credit to the teacher, was how all of the leaving grade six students brought him cards and gifts, many of them crying at the prospect of not having him as a teacher any more. I can only hope that I will eventually develop the care and dedication that he has to his job.

After the presentation I wasn’t done yet. Cape Spear and the most eastern point in North America was only twenty km away, and according to the local there were only a couple of “small hills” in the way. Well, if those were what a Newfoundlander calls a “small hill” I would hate to see what they call a big one. I think about fifteen of the twenty km were uphill and they weren’t holding back on to the steepness. Arriving at Cape Spear was accompanied by the biggest feeling of relief I have ever felt. Exhaustion flowed through me and I put away my bike for the final time.

I don’t really think that the reality of what I have done will sink in for a while. I have been so focused on the day to day of the organization and execution of the tour that I haven’t had time to look back and take in the whole scope of the operation. Before I go any further I need to thank all the people that have been looking at the big picture and who have helped me get through the last few months. First and foremost I need to thank Stef, Sharon, and the who crew at CAHPERD who took a chance on a crazy idea and devoted amazing amounts of work to helping me. Stef, without your amazing organization skills and great energy I would have never been able to do this. Also Silken Laumann and Silken’s Active Kids for supporting me early on. Next I need to thank my family, who have always supported me in all my crazy endeavors and who dedicated their time to come along with me on my journey. All my friends in Victoria who have followed my tour and supported me during the planning, who have believed in me and offered endless words of support to get me through me dark times; Sandy, with out your support I wouldn’t have made it through the training and you always go above and beyond to help in everyway you can. To everyone that has followed my tour, donated you hospitality, kind words, or money, you have my deepest thanks. Last but not least, all the schools, teachers and especially students who listened to my message with such enthusiasm, I hope you enjoyed having me as much as I enjoyed visiting you.

To everyone, stay active and healthy and I am sorry if I missed anyone or sound too much like an Oscar speech. That’s all I have for now, I think I will need about a year to decompress the last few months so you may still hear from me in the future. If you are organizing your own tour or any event and need some help or just want a sounding board feel free to drop me a line.

Activity tip: I’ve done my part, now you do yours. Get smart, get active. Save the excuses, I’ve heard them all. Lace up your shoes and enjoy this fantastic country we live in!

Sincerely,

Tyler

Wow, the last few days have passed in a blur of lactic acid and exhaustion. The road went up and down like an elevator with no regard for my seriously waning energy levels. My legs burned at the top of every hill and felt like lead across every flat. I kept looking down at my tires to make sure that my breaks weren’t rubbing on my rims since it felt like I had a parachute pulling against me.

That being said it felt great to be traveling through such fantastically beautiful landscapes. My burning legs were offset by the wonderful views that awaited me every time I raised my head. We have been traveling through some of the best that Canada has to offer. With the land pot-marked by more national historic sights and parks than I can count, it is like I am taking a riding tour through history.

We have found ourselves in some of the most fantastic spots at night. We stopped in Battery National Park one night and we had a wonderful panoramic view of the Strait of Canso and Bras D’Or Lake. Lying back and relaxing in my chair, overlooking such fantastic scenery is all I can ask when I am done riding for the day. Not to mention we were up on the hillside and we had a bit of breeze sparing us from the bug and the heat.

Speaking of heat, the temperature range through out the day has been huge. The fog and cool air of the mornings has brought out the sweaters and long sleeve jerseys again. Then by the afternoon the sun has burned off the fog and the heat flows over the road in waves. I have been getting an early start in the morning and stopping for a long lunch so I don’t have to ride in the worst of the mid-day heat, but I still find myself taking in a lot of water during the last half of my daily ride to keep up with the rivers of sweat that flow as I climb every hill.

With all the pain and all the effort behind me, pulling into North City was a fantastic. The wind blew with me for the entire afternoon, as if Mother Nature was finally allowing me to finish. North Sydney is my final resting place in Nova Scotia, from here I have to wait for the ferry to Newfoundland and then I am all but finished. My mom has left me in North Sydney while she goes back to Halifax to get ride of the RV. There was a bit of emotion for me as we packed up the van, but mostly it was the sledgehammer of realization that I am actually at the end. My universe has been my bike and the RV for the last three months with only a couple of short breaks. I have pictured the end for so long that it is hard to separate the images in my head from the reality of it actually happening (no you don’t need to call the men with the padded rooms, I am still in touch with reality).

To celebrate the near end of the tour and our time in Nova Scotia my mom and I treated ourselves to a fantastic feast of lobster. I have been looking forward to that wonderful east coast delicacy for the entire trip and we didn’t mess around. Of course on the east coast, lobster is a little more affordable than in the west, so I was nice to fill our stomachs without emptying our wallets.

The next time I write to you I will be in St. John’s Newfoundland I will be officially done my cross Canada journey!

Activity Tip: I don’t care who you are, or what your goal is, all I care is that you never give up your dream. With hard work and perseverance anything is possible. Working hard and staying healthy will open the doors to possibility.

Sincerely,

Tyler

Well it has been a day out of a east coast novel of movie. Picture perfect fishing villages and splendid seascapes welcome me around every turn. I can honestly say that I love the riding through Nova Scotia.

Despite the great weather and wonderful scenery though it is hard to get excited for a day of riding. After over 80 days on the road and over 6000 km I am ready to be done. My only motivation is to finish the ride now and it has been hard to get excited over the wonderful towns we are traveling through. I am going to have to come back in a couple of years and do a bike tour of just Nova Scotia in order to appreciate all its wonders.

Not too much in the way of exciting news to report. We have been having fantastic fog over the water during the morning and then it clears up in the afternoon as if allowing us a quick glimpse of some hidden kingdom.

Everyone in the Maritimes continues to impress us with their kindness and hospitality, but everyone also enjoys the small town laid back life. I was hoping to use the Internet in a library during my lunch break but when we got there I found out that it was only open from 5-7 at night. I am a big fan of that attitude though and I can only hope life will eventually find me in a small town where you don’t have to lock your door and everyone knows your name.

The infrastructure for tourism in Nova Scotia is also fantastic. There are wonderful inns and B&Bs around every corner and everyone offers its own lovely charms. Tonight we find ourselves in the small town of Sherbrooke home to a historical village and a wonderful campsite on the river with famous fish and chips!

I am keeping this one short because I have to be outside while I write and the bugs are driving me NUTS!!!!

Activity tip: When going outside in the Maritimes bring bug spray, lots of bug spray!

Sincerely,

Tyler

Up and down, up and down, I feel like a yo-yo or a boat in stormy seas. The Nova Scotia roads are strikingly similar to the wavy coastline they run along. Constant rolling hills make my legs burn and my lungs ache with every passing kilometer. I am glad that I have had all my training and three months of hard conditioning before tackling these roads. None of the hills are long but what they lack in size they make up for in number and grades.

The hills are worth it though as every crest brings me one step closer to my goal. For the last two days I have been riding with the taste and smell of sea air and today I spent the entire day riding right next to the ocean. The next six day only carry me east a short distance but I get one more province and I can truly say I have gone from west to east across the entire country.

I apologize for another combined update, I know that I should be writing everyday but the last couple of days have been full of fun and adventure, so I’m afraid I have been neglectful.

I will start you off on the morning of my ride to Halifax. It was a morning full of promise, the sky was overcast but with a glow of sun that made me think I had clear sailing for the day. I had a wonderful presentation to a great group of young students from LE Shaw Elementary and then set off with the capital in my sights.

My high spirits lasted for about he first hour of the ride. I was battling a strong head wind, but at this point I just expect that so I don’t even really mind anymore. Right around the thirty km mark I crested the top of a particularly long hill and found myself in a rather ominous cloudbank. The rain started on the downhill side, rapidly picking up to a strong drizzle and getting me nice and wet for the remainder of the day. For those of you who have been following the tour on a regular basis you will know that I am still feeling all right at this point. Rain I only uncomfortable for the first couple of minutes until the water heats up on your body and then it can actually be quite nice. The only real problems started at the crest of the next hill when the first of the lightning started.

Within minutes I was in the midst of a full-blown thunderstorm and wishing I was just about anywhere else on the planet. Luckily, My mom was close by with the van and I when running for cover like a dog with its tail between its legs. At points the rain was coming down so hard that traffic on the highway came to a standstill and water covered the road surface a good inch deep. Fork lightning and thunder were coming together with no discernable time delay and I figured I would have to be crazy to even attempt to ride in that weather. Needless to say I opted for a long lunch and sat out the storm.

As fate would have it the worst of the storm blew itself out in about an hour and I was back on the road; although it was still raining. I am just going to take a minute here to tell you how great it is to ride in the rain, and it is for one reason and one reason only. The looks I get from drivers when they go by me make any level of discomfort worth it. I am amazed there are not more accidents as drivers stare in disbelief at the crazy road rider pedaling along with the big grin on his face. The looks rang form pure shock, to awed wonder, to grave concern as they ask themselves if they should offer me a ride or call the loony bin to take me away. I actually had one lady at a stop light ask me if I was crazy and why on “god’s green earth” would I be out biking in that weather; I was in a bit of a mischievous mood so I promptly replied “my showers broken, this just seemed logical” and rode away leaving her looking even more confused.

We were welcomed to Halifax by another wonderful member of the CAHPERD family (is it just me or is everyone involved with phys ed just really wonderful people) who offered us free parking, and a warm comfy place to call home for the night. With me rapidly running country and the school year coming to an end, I am sorry to say that Halifax was the sight of my last school presentation. I am pleased to say I went out with a bang though.

Joseph Howe Elementary put together a wonderful group of students to welcome me to the capital. They were full of enthusiasm and were excited to hear about my journey and my message. Considering they are only a couple of days away from summer vacation I was just hoping they would be settled enough to listed to me, but they proved to be a great audience and even had some fantastic questions for me at the end.

After the presentation I opted to take the more scenic road up the coast to Cape Breton. I don’t think I actually had much of a choice because the only other road is another no biking freeway, but it turned out to be the better way anyway. A nice lack of traffic and good pavement allowed me to enjoy the amazing scenery that the coast has to offer. Classic picturesque east coast towns dot the route, with wonderful B&Bs, Fisheries, and roadside seafood joints around every corner. The clouds cleared and there was a cool breeze coming off the water, making it a wonderful day for riding.

Activity tip: It is not a coincidence that active people tend to be happy and friendly. Exercise has all kinds of positive effects that help to improve self-esteem and mood, not the least of which is the release of endorphins in your brain (natures happy drug). In fact regular activity has been shown to be a great help with many mood disorders such as depression. So get out and get active, you’ll feel better I guarantee it!

Sincerely,

Tyler

This update starts out with a wonderful presentation at M. Gerald Teed Memorial school. Unfortunately due to getting the dates mixed up I was only able to present to about half the school instead of being part of their end of year awards show like I was supposed to be. I am actually surprised that this is that first time that sort of thing has happened; planning a three month bike tour across Canada and trying to arrange for me to be in the right place on the right day that works for everyone is no small feat and my support crew at CAHPERD has been doing a fantastic job!

Despite the mix up luck was with me and about six classes were gathered together in one classroom to watch a play, so I got to sneak in at the end and have my say. The students were a great audience and from my perspective it was actually nice to talk to them in a smaller setting, as opposed to the big assemblies I have been doing. With the school year coming to an end and only a couple of schools left on my tour it is great to be able to present anywhere.

After the presentation we had the entire day to wait for the eleven o’clock ferry to Digby, so we explored St. John and the surrounding area. I was pleased to see a number of wonderful parks within easy reach of the city, including one that was right near downtown. Since downtown was packed full of tourist from the two cruise ships that were in town (and who really wants to sit around downtown anyway?), so after having a quick look around and seeing some of the local art galleries; we spend most of the day exploring the beaches and relaxing with our books in the parks and nature reserves. I was pleased to see that we were not the only people enjoying the great outdoors on a fine Monday afternoon. The parking lots were packed and the trails and beaches were covered with people out enjoying themselves.

Not wanting to loss our reservation and being used to the chaotic masses of summer travelers using BC ferries at all hours of the day, we left he beach and got to the ferry with a couple of hours to spare. We did not need to worry; the ferry was almost deserted. Whether it was because of the day, the hour, or just that with the new roads the ferry is less used than it used to be, it was largely truckers taking advantage of the late crossing. With all the amenities closed and nothing but black water to keep me entertained I chose to stay in the RV and try to get some sleep and sleep I did. I managed to pass out for the entire three-hour sailing and barely register off loading and driving as short distance to find a parking lot to stay in.

Since the ferry got in at one in the morning and I didn’t get up to see the sights as we drove off, it was with a bit of confusion that I woke up this morning to take in my surroundings. My mom had found an information center with a very inviting parking lot not to far from the ferry. We woke up to the sound of rain pouring down on the roof and with that in mind (or ear) I was in no hurry to get out of bed. I procrastinated with a big pancake breakfast and some extra route planning for as long as I could, but the rain refused to take a break. I can count myself lucky though because it stayed light as I was riding and the real downpour began just as I was stopping for the day.

The RV is actually a really nice place to be during a rainstorm. The close quarters make for a nice cozy feeling as the rain patters on the roof and streams down the window. After being out on my bike all day it is a wonderful feeling to get dry and warm and sit with a hot cup of tea, watching the rain come down. One of the highlights of the trip has been all the quiet time I have enjoyed. Once the presentations are done and I have finished biking for the day my time is my own. For someone who is used to hectic school schedules and guiding jobs where I am on call 24 hours a day having so much time is quite the luxury. I am a voracious reader, but it has been a couple of years since I have had the time to read for pleasure and I have taken advantage of my free time on this trip to get caught up on my reading list.

Activity tip: We all know the feeling of being overworked and overtired. Time and time again we find ourselves taping away at computers or absently flipping through reports, barley able to focus on the words in front of us, but lot able to sleep. When you find yourself in this state a great way to revitalize your mind and restore your attention span is to get out and get an hour of activity. Not only will it get your mind off work, but also it will help energize you and increase your productivity.

Sincerely,

Tyler

Two months and fifteen day later I have my first view of the Atlantic Ocean, well ok it’s just the Bay of Fundy but I think it counts.

Interestingly, today also marks one of the easiest days of riding I have had on the tour. I was feeling so good yesterday (despite all the near disasters) I ended up going much further than I had planned leaving me only fifty km to make it in to St. John today. The weather was fair but cool, so once again I was in no rush to get going to beat the midday heat. After sleeping in a surprisingly long time and then lounging around a bit in the morning it was well after ten by the time I put foot to pedal and got on my way.

After yesterdays excitement I am pleased to report today was just another ride through the country. Although my hand is still sore after it’s debut as an emergency break yesterday, I am otherwise in good shape.

The road was not without it’s charms today though. One section in particular, where road crews had decided to leave a 2 km stretch of rough gravel for the weekend, gave me a bit of excitement. In fact the road was so rough it claimed the latest sacrifice in payment for my trip across the country. One of my water bottle holders paid the ultimate price and gave in to the endless abuse I have been putting it through; snapping cleanly in half with a final crack, it ended its long service to me in resounding fashion.

I almost feel guilty having such a short day. I is hard being so close to the end and waiting around for ferries and presentations. Looking at my schedule there is only nine days of actual biking left to get me to St. John’s, but days off waiting for ferries stretches that out to twelve days of travel. I can’t stop myself from looking towards the end at this point; it is so close it pretty much takes up my every thought.

Tomorrow is presentation day and then we wait for the ferry to Nova Scotia. The next time I am on my bike I will be in a new province and on my way to Halifax!

Activity tip: Heart rate monitoring is a great way to keep track of your workouts and how hard you are working. You can find many affordable monitors on the market and most come with easy to follow guidelines, or there are quite a few very good heart rate programs available on the Internet. Just keep in mind that your heart rate is affected by anything from temperature to dehydration, so find programs that give you a target range rather than set numbers.

Sincerely,

Tyler

Another magnificent success in Fredericton! The morning of my presentation brought sunshine and warm weather so the school decided to hold the festivities outside! A fantastic group of students, teachers, and parents greeted me with singing and dancing and offered me an excited and attentive audience. I have said time and time again that the wonderful people I have met have made this trip the fantastic success it has become and Fredericton was no exception.

After the presentation I took a much-needed day off after my eight-day stretch on the bike. My mom and I took the opportunity to walk around the wonderful walking trails and the downtown core of the city. Neither my mom nor I had been to the city so it was a great chance for us both to experience a new part of the country together.

I must say that I was very impressed my Fredericton in my brief exposure. The downtown core is filled with a fantastic array of shops and outdoor restaurants for people to enjoy the summer weather. Running around an through the city is a network of scenic walking and biking trails surrounded by green space and picnic areas. I was both pleased and disappointed to find out we had stumbled into to town on the government “sneaker day,” a lunch time walking event put on for all the government employees. I was pleased because it is fantastic to see the government getting behind the need to be active and trying to make a difference in the health of its employees, but I was disappointed to find out it was only for one day of the year. In a city with walking trails as great as Fredericton (at least during the summer) why not have organized walks once a week, or everyday?

One thing I have not been disappointed with is the legendary hospitality of the Maritimes. Everyone we have met so far in New Brunswick has been wonderful. Even without knowing what I am doing everyone is nice and helpful. If they learn who I am and what I am doing then support and encouragement is soon to follow.

After my day off it was time to hit the road again. As close as I am I still have a long way to go so I can’t lie around forever; wouldn’t want to get lazy! One of the hardest parts about scheduling the tour has been arriving in towns on weekdays, when school is in session. With that in mind I have the whole weekend to reach St. John and only 150 km to go. With a relaxed couple of days ahead of me I got off to a slow start in the morning. We took advantage of being in Fredericton on Saturday morning and stopped by the farmers market to stock up of fresh veggies (Fiddle Heads!) and yummy baking.

The days ride started off well but I soon had the closest thing to a serious accident that I have had yet. Somehow when I reached down for my water bottle my hand got caught between the tire and the frame. Luckily I was wearing my gloves so it didn’t tear my hand to shreds, but it did jam my hand against the frame, nearly breaking my hand and lacking my tire to the point that I laid a 50 ft strip of rubber and wore a hole straight through my tire. End result is I will be finishing the trip with a swollen hand and I am out of spare tires, but otherwise I managed to avoid what could have been a much worse situation.

The next bit of trouble happened after I had repaired the damage to the bike and in my haste to get back on the road took off with the keys to the van in my back pocket. My mom and I do have cell phones but I don’t always have mine on because I am usually the on that needs to call to check in or get help. This being the case it was not until about 15 km and a half hour later that I began to wonder why the van had not passed me and checked my phone to find a message from my mom telling my she wasn’t going anywhere. Luckily that famous maritime hospitality came through again, and I was saved the ride back by Jim and Linda of Lincoln who kindly offered to drive my mom to get the key from me. So, a big thanks goes out to them!

Despite near disaster and plain stupidity trying to keep me from my goal today, I made it in to Oak Point and safe haven for the night with only minimal damage to bike, body, and pride. Let us hope that today has fulfilled the near miss quota for the next little while and I have an uneventful couple of weeks!

Activity tip: When setting out for the day make sure you always take an emergency kit with you. Whether it is extra water, food, spare tubes, bandages…whatever, just make sure you have two of what ever you need to get home safe!

Sincerely,

Tyler

What can I say but FANTASTIC DAY! I could not have asked for a better end to a long run. The sun was shinning and the birds were singing. I rode along a back road that would be called a main highway in any other part of the world, just without the traffic. Oh ya the roads in New Brunswick are fantastic, I can’t get over it, I have come to the odd place that is in need of repair and just when I am thinking that I could find another road… Bam! Road crew and back on brand new pavement. Also the Maritimes seem to understand what a paved shoulder is, in other words it does not consist of 6 inches of broken concrete but rather 6 feet of finally groomed ash fault. The wind was with me the entire way today and it was WONDERFUL. I covered over 100 km in under three hours, with a stop to fix a flat tire! What can I say I love this place!

I would also like to send out a big thank you to a wonderful thing that has made this tour possible. This fantastic substance comes in all shapes and sizes and Canada has more of it than anywhere else in the world. Lets have a big round of applause for WATER. I’ve been drinking a lot of water the last couple of months, but my consumption has reached epic proportions that last week or so as the temperature has climbed into the high twenties and low thirties. I have grown very fond of that little molecule, two parts hydrogen, one part oxygen, and a whole heaping helping of fannntasitc!

Some people give water a bad rap, saying sports drinks are better and juice has more flavor. I say shame on you all. What did water ever do to you? You show me someone that thinks water doesn’t have any flavor and I’ll show you a person that has never biked a hundred km in thirty degree weather and had a clod refreshing drink of water revitalize mind, body, and sole! In fact I met a young man on the road today, out for his afternoon run; now this man was a little over weight, but he is working on getting fit and healthy so we applaud and support his effort. He didn’t have any water though! It was thirty degrees out, he was wearing a sweater, and he looked like he was about to keel over! So I stopped to give him some water and I think I made a friend for life. Lets see some silly little sports drink do that!

Meeting my new friend today was great though. Here is a person who is overweight, has not been active or health conscious, but is out trying to change, and is happy with every step he makes. He is a great example and an inspiration for me. For him being active isn’t about winning soccer games, or medals. It isn’t about seeking fame or recognition. He just wants to be happy about himself and enjoy his life. We shouldn’t have to worry about fitting in with the media image of what we should look like, or a society feeling that winning is everything. Get out and get active because you want to feel better about yourself and have fun doing it!

Activity tip: In keeping with the spirit, get out and enjoy yourself. Being active is about having fun and living better, so don’t be afraid to try something new you just might find you enjoy it! Oh just please don’t wear a sweater when it is thirty degrees out, for my sake…and yours!

Sincerely,

Tyler

I am in NEW BRUNSWICK, is it just me or is that a little bit ridiculous. I have ridden a bike from BC to NB; I keep expecting a little clown to jump out from behind a building, smack me upside the head and tell me to wake up (why a clown, I don’t know, it just seemed to have the right level of absurdity). I had an idea of the immensity of my goal what I started out but it has really hit me in the last couple of days.

One of the things that has really hit things home for me is I am starting to run in to bikers going the other way. Realizing they are just at the beginning, full of energy and enthusiasm, and comparing that to my sore and weary body drives the distance home.

Crossing the NB boarder was a wonderful feeling. I joined up with the main highway and crossed in style, traveling over smooth pavement and wide shoulders. As I went over the boarder I couldn’t help but smile and I actually started to laugh to myself. It is hard to describe the relief of finally being in the Maritimes after over two months of travel. Just setting my watch to Atlantic time filled me with a sense of accomplishment! (For those of you keeping track that is four time zones I have crossed, only half of one to go!)

I have to stay focused though. I still have a long way to go before I reach my goal. I have known to many people who have failed at the last moment because they lost their concentration and started looking for the finish line. If 15 years of ski racing taught me one thing, it was that you race until you are across the line and there is no more hill to go.

So it is with weary but renewed resolve that I continue on. I have my next presentation in Fredericton fast approaching and I still have to make it there on time. I have been going for seven days straight and I have one more to go to get me there. I am really feeling the strain; every morning it is an effort to get up knowing that I have four hours of ridding ahead. The head wind that started a couple of days ago has stayed with me, so I spend the day conserving energy, moving along in the lowest gear I can a only averaging 20 or 25 km an hour. I have been enjoying the hills though because they offer a break from the wind, and then I make up time down the other side. Also hills break up the day and offer me small triumphs that I use to keep up my motivation.

Despite how I might feel in the morning, by the end of the day I am still filled with a sense of accomplishment and pride. The feeling of seeing the welcoming sign to the town I am stopping in for the night is fantastic; it is like crossing the finish line of a marathon. I just sit up in my saddle and coast along relishing in a day well spent.

New Brunswick has been putting on a good show for us though. We have been enjoying traveling across the varied and rigged terrain. Last night we stayed in a wonderful campsite nestled in the woods. They offered Canoes and Kayaks to go out on the nearby pond (of course the pond was only about 100 feet across, so it would be a short outing) and had a variety of hiking trails nearby. Unfortunately, the bugs formed a solid man-eating wall, so we opted for a movie in the RV instead. This ended up being the right decision as about an hour after we arrive a thunderstorm rolled in and dropped about a foot of rain. There is nothing like an east coast thunderstorm to add a bit of excitement to your night; it was a true pleasure to sit back, listen to the rain on the roof and watch the lightning flash in the sky.

Storms are all the more wonderful when they clear out by the next morning and leave clear blue sky. I have been lucky with they rain the last few days and I’ve only been sprinkled on, which is actually quite nice as it cools me down in the heat of the day.

Tonight we found a campsite right next to the highway, and right on the river. The wind is keeping the bugs away and the sun is keeping it warm and wonderful. I sat on the grass right after my ride and stretched out my tired muscles and now I am writing this while sitting out in the sun.

Activity tip: Good friends are the best things in the world. If you are setting a new goal or starting a new program don’t keep it secret. Let your friends and family know and they can be your biggest supporters and your ticket to success!

Sincerely,

Tyler

Well it has been quite the two days and I can honestly say I am feeling every km at this point. I have had to make up a bit of time because of falling behind between Montréal and Québec, and I also have a presentation in Fredericton, which I have just enough time to get to.

My serious catch-up attempt got off to a great start. I woke Sunday morning to light drizzle and a serious tailwind, that’s right people a TAILWIND. After narrowly surviving the sheer shock of having a wind at my back I set out for the days ride so happy I didn’t even notice the burn and protests of my tired body warming up.

The tailwind stuck with me all day and pushed me along at a comfortable 38 km/hr. Honestly it was a gift from Mother Nature herself, because with out her help I would never have been able to make up the time I need to make it to Fredericton on time.

I was also enjoying the break from the heat that the speed provided. I rode past what looked like the last leg of a ten km cross-country event and as the temperature broke the 30º mark I did not envy the runners. The water stations were working overtime and the runners were still looking the worst for wear. I saw at least one athlete being treated for dehydration and some of the others were almost crawling into the finish.

All in all it was a fantastic day, I come could not have asked for any better. The rain even started just as I pulled off the road for the night and cut the temperature down to make it comfortable for sleeping, but then stopped an hour later so we could sit outside and enjoy the evening! The tailwind helped cover 130 km in record time and I finished the day exhausted but happy.

Today was not quite as good but I am still on a high from yesterday so I took it in good spirits. The wind shifted during the night and picked up strength, so I had a strong headwind to fight against all morning. I had about 40 km to go until I turned east again and started heading towards New Brunswick. The turn would serve three purposes; first and foremost, it would once again put me on a direct path for the Atlantic and the end of my journey. Second, it would turn me 90º and help angle the wind a little more in my favor. Third, is would get me away from the St. Laurence, hopefully making the wind a little lighter.

The morning went as well as could be expected. It was hard going and I made absolutely horrible time, but the km’s ticked past one at a time. I did run into a bit of a snag when I dropped my water bottle and it caught in my wheel. This not only had the immediate affect of depriving me of half my water supply, but also jammed my tire, almost throwing me from my bike and causing me to fear breaking my spokes. Luckily everything came through in one piece and I was able to ration my water until I met up with my mom for lunch.

The afternoon was uneventful. The turn at Riviére Du Lupe had the desired effect on the wind and the rest of the day was spent in blissful calm. A wrong turn caused us to take an old country road rather that the main highway and bike path. The road turned out to be the hilliest thing I have ever seen, and I spent the next hour going up and down more times than a Yo-Yo. Luckily the road eventually met-up with the highway and we did not have to back track.

Arriving in camp tonight I am utterly exhausted. At this point in the trip I don’t think a day off here or there is enough to recover my mental and physical stores, so everyday I dip a little further into my reserves. I feel good about the rest of the trip though and I am still filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment at the end of everyday!

Activity tip: Getting back in shape or maintaining a fitness routine is hard work; if it isn’t than your not getting much out of it. When you are contemplating quitting or feeling to tired look back over your goals and see how far you have come. Even small accomplishments are something to be proud of!

Sincerely,

Tyler