Follow Up

Well, here it is May of 2007 and I am finally putting up the final post. I guess I just didn't want it to be over. Either that or I am the worst procrastinator out there. Probably a bit of both. One thing now is I have some more perspective on the trip. I'm pretty sure it will go down in my memory as one of the most amazing journeys of my life. It's spring now and I've been getting back on the bike regularly. Every time I go for a ride I'm thinking about my trip across the country. Each time I'll remember some different little detail or event or character I met along the way. Or just the free feeling I had riding my bike seeing places for the first time every day. The country seems a lot smaller to me now. Just this morning I met someone from Halifax and I was instantly flooded with all my memories of the time I had in that city, one of my favorites in all of Canada.
Riding my bike across the country was something I had wanted to do for a long time and I feel very fortunate that I was able to do it. If any of you have got one of those big trip ideas or experience you have always wanted to have, get out there and make it happen! You won't regret it!



Now a big thank you to all that donated money to the Alzheimer's Society of Canada on behalf of this trip. With all of your help I was able to raise just under one thousand dollars for that cause. THANK YOU!!!

I finished my bike trip just in time to move to Terrace, BC where I started my new job with Environment Canada. I am now spending my working days keeping tabs on the quantity of water in the many rivers and watersheds of Northwestern BC. It is a 50/50 mix of time spent in the field and time spent in the office. I love the job and will most likely be sticking with it for a while.
Terrace is a great place if you are an outdoor enthusiast like myself. It's got it all - Mountains, Rivers, Lakes and Ocean not too far away either.

Here is a picture of the drive up to the local ski hill - Shames Mountain.


I was hired on to my job as part of a national hiring. In total, there were 20 of us from across the country hired on with the Water Survey of Canada(the division of Environment Canada that I work for). I went through weeks of training with this crew and they are a solid bunch. We became pretty tight as a group and I will miss the good times we had through our training program. Here is a group shot of us in Ontario from just a few weeks ago. If any of you guys are reading this, here's to you!

Screeching in to St.John's

From Conception Bay, all that remained was an easy day's ride to my final destination - St.John's, Newfoundland. It was a nice ride and we enjoyed ourselves, stopping at a little yard sale, stopping for coffee, and generally taking our time. It was almost anticlimatic as we found our way to the campground. We were also in different frames of mind at this time. The Grays still had another week before they flew home and planned to do one more loop south. On top of that, they were both feeling sick at this point. For me, this was the end and I was determined to celebrate. It was Saturday night and I knew it would be the opportune time to check out the legendary George Street and hopefully get "Screeched in". Terrie and Angie decided they would stay at the campground. Luckily, we met a cool guy in the campsite next to us that was in town for something work related and had been out to George St. a couple times already. He was up for hitting it again, and the two of us went to see what the night had in store.

We started out with a pint at Nautical Nellie's, a true English style pub. The bartendress was friendly, full of energy, and proud of her town. She offered to take me out to get screeched in on her next night off. That was two nights away and I think we both knew I would be screeched in by then. We pushed onwards. From there we moved into the heart of it. There's something like 30 bars in a 3 block span of George St. If you can't have fun here, then you must be dead. Everyone is in good spirits. There was a big scavenger hunt like race going on. We had three different wildly dressed groups ask us to take their picture or else join them while doing a can-can dance. Each group was given a disposable camera and had a list of things they needed pictures of. Usually of the group doing something crazy.
Anyway, to make a long story short, by the end of the night I had been screeched in, met all kinds of great people, tried out about 5 or 6 of the bars and had an all around great time. Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera out for fear of losing it so you'll have to imagine. Wish I had but I'm glad I still have my camera.

In case you don't know what getting "screeched in" means, it refers to the ceremony and subsequent downing of your first shot of Newfoundland Screech, a dark Jamaican rum. It involves reciting many lines of serious Newfoundland jargon about sailing, kissing a cod and downing the stiff rum. The cod I kissed had to be one of the ugliest specimens I've ever seen.

Finishing the Journey

Ok, the last chapter I left you with was leaving Branch after the hangover of all hangovers. Being as we were hungover and didn't leave until 4, we didn't make it too far this day. 28.5 kms to be exact. I started feeling good once we got pedalling.

Terry, on the other hand was one grumpy dude. Sorry Terry, telling it like it was. We started looking for a roadside place to camp after about 20 kms and finally found a small gravel pit like site. It was actually quite nice, considering. It turned out the REAL gravel pit was somewhere just up the last road we passed before choosing this site. We discovered this after a vehicle drove by us, turned up that road and then shortly after the gravel crusher started. He had the late shift. It didn't stop until just before we were to leave the next morning. Besides the continuous sound of gravel being crushed a few hundred meters away, it was a nice night. Angie created a very feng shui kitchen complete with an entrance (made of rocks), seats (made of rocks), two cooking platforms (also made of rocks)....you get the idea. Hey, when you're given rocks...uh, make a kitchen? After a tasty dinner we enjoyed an amazing star filled sky. Angie had a star chart and we checked out the constellations while Terry cursed the gravel crusher. Don't get me wrong, we were all cursing the gravel crusher.
The next morning we had oatmeal for breakfast and the hit the road with sunny skies and feeling 200% better than the previous morning. We decided to put in a good day and did. We rode 90 kms to Conception Bay and camping on the northern shores of the Avalon Peninsula. It was a generally enjoyable day, taking pictures of everyday life in Newfoundland and enjoying the fresh air. We stoppped for some awesome cod bites and chips. Fresh, cheap($5), and tasty! We pushed on to a great camping spot right on the water. Windy, but beautiful. Oh, it should be noted that I cracked out the whoopy cushion I bought earlier in the trip this day as well.


We stopped for coffee and ice cream in Holyrood (like Hollywood, except in Newfoundland) and there were a few unexpected BBRRRAAPPP's, much to my enjoyment and Terry and Angie's embarrassment.
Terry retired early once we got camp set up as he was feeling sick. Angie and I had a small fire on the beach in an old tire rim and I got to laugh at the crazy workings of her brain fuelled on caffeine and ice cream. Very funny girl. Miss you guys!

The Great Branch Hangover

Branch, Newfoundland that is.

The following is an excerpt from my personal journal dated Thursday, September 21:
'Headache. Nausea. Rain. Hell. Woke up on the slope I pitched my tent on still in my clothes and with no water. Woke up to The Grays just arriving back with Greg after sleeping for less than two hours out at his house. They were chipper. Suggested eating breakfast right away and hitting the road. They were obviously still drunk. I laughed in their collective face, got some water from the nearest house and went back to sleep. We all woke up a couple hours later. Not rested, just too uncomfortable to sleep any longer'

Yes, that was a painful morning. Must be the altitude or something, but I sure was hungover. After a little sleep, so were the Grays. This pleased me of course, misery loves company. It was raining all the while. Luckily, the hall was being cleaned so the doors were open. The gentleman cleaning it offered us the foyer area to cook our breakfast and dry out. Thank you! The road to recovery began. Angie, bless her heart, cooked us up a big batch of pancakes with coffee while Terry and I spread our tents and gear out to dry. Locals were in and out all day saying hi to us and inviting us to spend another night. Alas, we had a schedule, loose as it was. We dragged out our time there and finally left Branch at about 4:00 in the afternoon, feeling markedly better. Goodbye Branch, thanks for the memories!

The Great Branch Party

Branch, Newfoundland that is. Branch is located another 25 km down the road from the Gannet's Nest Pub. As it turned out, there was a big party going on there that very night.....
After our visit to Cape St.Mary's, Travis toured us around the community of St.Brides, where he grew up. Beautiful little community with amazing ocean front properties for cheap. I think Travis will be spending his Fort McMurray dollars on a new home there. Anyway, after our tour we picked up a couple beers and went back to the pub? We cooked up our Petey O'Keefe (I love saying that name..Petey O'Keefe)salmon in the yard outside. We even used his recommended method: boiling it with onions and spices. Delicious. I'm going somewhere with this, really. Sooo, after dinner we all jumped in Travis's truck and made for Branch and the big Irish party. There was a group of traditional performers from Ireland doing a tour of Newfoundland and happened to be in Branch for what turned out to be the party of all parties. The place was packed, standing room only for the performances. When they were all done, the dance floor was cleared and a band pumped out music for the rest of the night. Newfoundlanders sure know how to party. The dark rum was flowing heavy, and as the bartenders got to know you, it flowed even heavier. I think Terry, Angie and I personally met every person in the community. Word was getting around about the off-island bikers crashing their party. Travis lined up a yard for us to camp on about 100 ft from the hall. I stayed up late but The Gray's represented and were the last ones out. As if that wasn't enough, they even went for a drive with one of the locals (Greg) out to his place for another drink. Just when you thought they were hardcore, after an hour and a half of sleep they got up and drove back to the Branch hall. Greg dropped the Grays off on his way to the docks where he was leaving for a 3 week tour of duty on a fishing boat! Wow. I always thought I had stamina but I guess I'm not from Newfoundland. Hats off!
Terry, Travis and Greg getting into it.

Cape St.Mary's

Ok, I've been home for over two weeks now and still haven't finished off the rest of the story. So whether anyone will ever read these posts or not, I must complete this blog.

The pictures on the previous post show some of the crazy hills we rode up after we left the O'keefes. The first two were probably the first and second hardest hills of the entire trip. Luckily, the views were so incredible we didn't seem to mind. Petey O'keefe told us to stop in at the Gannet's Nest Pub a day's ride away and tell them that he sent us. It showed up just in time. We hadn't travelled that many kms but they were tough ones and it had just started to rain. We happily entered the dry digs and promptly ordered a beer to reward a hard day's pedal. We soon were joined by Travis. Travis is a young guy who works out in Alberta and was home for a break with his parents (who own the pub). Before long, Travis was driving us out to Cape St.Mary's ecological reserve, home to thousands of nesting Gannets, puffins, and many other birds. It is what the area is well known for. That, and the cod fishing off of Cape St.Mary's. We had mentioned to Travis that we were going to go check that out the next day so he offered to drive us there instead. It's a 13 km one way road and it was raining. Terry, Angie and I decided we could live the "cheat" and took him up on it. It was incredibly foggy out there, you could hardly see 50 ft in front of you. Very enjoyable just the same.

Amazing Newfoundland Coastline

First day of riding in Newfoundland

Here's Terrie, Angie and myself just getting started into our Newfoundland journey.

Outside the Sobey's grocery store in Placentia. Planning and dividing up our food for the next 4 days.

True Newfoundland Hospitality

Ok, on to Newfoundland.
After our fun filled ferry ride that I mentioned earlier, I was invited by Terry and Angie to join them on their tour of the Cape Shore Loop. How could I refuse such a gracious offer from such fine people as The Gray's. So after doing laundry and buying groceries in Placentia, we headed south along the barely inhabited coastline. It turns out that the Cape Shore Loop is home to the steepest and longest hills in all of Newfoundland. Dark was setting in as we screamed down the good side of one of those hills into a small community called Big Barresway, home to 18 (people). Luckily for us, one of them was on the road and we asked where we could camp for the night. In his family's backyard was the answer. It turns out that this family (the O'Keefe's) has a long history of taking people in. They are in the low spot between two of the long steep hills. So when people get stuck because of weather or fatigue they somehow end up at the O'keefes. You couldn't meet nicer people either. Their hospitality and good nature was so genuine, it should make the average person feel truly humbled. After we set up our tents and cooked dinner in the front yard, we were invited inside. Close family friends had just lost a loved one and came by later that night to celebrate her life. True Irish wake style. It was an amazing thing to be a part of. The funeral was just that day and yet here they are inviting us in to share food, drink, music, laughter and tears with them. The next day as we rode out of the community with half a salmon that Petey O'keefe gave us (he caught it earlier that week), we knew we had experienced as genuine a Newfoundland experience as you could hope for. Newfoundlanders are the warmest people I have met in this country and the O'keefes are shining examples. It was an honor to meet them. Thank you Petey, Anita, and all the rest of the crew!!

Check out this link to see video footage of the good old fashioned Newfoundland kitchen party!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvXHu-6V1MQ

Trailer Park Boys and Alexander Keith's

Way back when, I mentioned the Trailer Park Boys. I'm now trying to play catch up with some of my adventures. It feels a little different now that I'm back in BC but I'll do my best. Well, if you didn't know already, popular canadian tv show; Trailer Park Boys is filmed and based out of Dartmouth and Halifax. The funnycool thing I learned while there is that they stay in character and costume all the time. The friends I stayed with had a few stories of seeing them in the liquor store or out at the bar (mostly Ricky and Julian). I guess people are always going up to them and offering Ricky pepperoni and buying them drinks, etc. If you don't watch this show then this really means nothing to you but if you do watch the show....remember in the 2nd season when they get Ricky really drunk so that he passes out and doesn't mess things up when the rest of them robbed the grocery store to get food for Ricky's wedding. Then Ricky wakes up in the vehicle, comes in the store to buy some smokes and ends up in a shootout against his buddies. I stayed just a few blocks from that store! Talk about a brush with fame.


I never did see them at the liquor store or the bar.

The other thing I wanted to mention is the tour I took of the Alexander Keith's Brewery. On this trip I didn't shell out money to do tourist things very often but this one was well worth it. The Brewery has tons of history and still has marks in the wall where horse drawn carts carried away the beer. They do an excellent job of the tour with a full cast of characters and you get a couple mugs of Keith's in the old underground, stone tavern at the end. If you ever make it to Halifax, I highly recommend it!

Woo Hoo!!!

I made it!! I finished my cross country journey a few days ago in St.John's, Newfoundland. In total, I rode my bike 6330 km!
I still have some great stories and pictures to share but I haven't been having any luck with computers. I stayed in a hostel in St.John's specifically because they had a computer with a high speed connection and then the server was down. My last week of travel along the south coast of the Avalon Peninsula was one of the highlights of my trip. I had a great time riding with Terry and Angie Gray. We had some very unique Newfoundland experiences.
After a looong day of jets and airports yesterday, I am back at my parents' place in Red Rock,BC. I've got video and pictures that I need to post but the dial-up connection isn't cutting it. I will try to get to a computer soon so please keep checking back for stories of the last leg of my trip.
Right now, I am heading out with my dad for a celebratory round of golf.
Thanks for following my adventure through this blog. It's been fun. But remember - there will be more to come soon, so keep checking back. Thanks! Blaine

Aloha!

Ok, Aloha makes no sense at all as a title to this post but that's all I could come up with. Maybe it's because I'm now on an island. Not quite a Hawaiian Island but an island just the same. That's right, I made it to The Rock! After 3 months of cycling, I have landed on the grand island of Newfoundland and the last leg of my trip. A week from now I will be boarding the plane that turns all this into a memory. I wish I just had a couple more weeks b'y.(Newfie-ism) I guess all good things must come to an end. I shouldn't get ahead of myself though, the week is looking to be a good one. I never did finish all the updates from earlier but I still plan to. For now, a quick update. I just arrived in Argentia on the ferry from Cape Breton Island, late last night. The usual 15 hour ferry turned into 16 after we stopped to assist a small fishing vessel in da middle of da sea. Although we all were hoping for a dramatic sea rescue of gnarly fishermen from a sinking boat, everything was worked out without even having to toss one life ring. The journey across the Atlantic (ok, a wee portion of the Atlantic) was exciting enough anyway. On the boat were three other cyclists finishing their cross country journeys. Our group grew in size when we were joined by two seperate, genuine Newfoundlanders. Greg - a camaro drivin', no nonsense talkin' engineer from the tip of the Avalon Peninsula and Melissa - a laughing, smiling, fisheries officer returning to her homeland after a few years working on Prince Edward Island. The cyclists consisted of a couple from Banff, Alberta - The Grays, and a long-haired hippy from Saskatchewan - Adrien. A better lot, you couldn't ask for. We hung out all day watching the sea, watching movies, and watching each other tip em back in the bar. Good times were had. So much so, that I have changed my planned route to join Terry and Angie (The Grays) for a tour to the south from Argentia looping our way around to St.John's. Adrien was out of time and had to make for his plane in St.John's via the shortest route possible. Greg and Melissa might come meet the three of us in St.John's for a shot of Screech when we get there. It's not looking good for any more updates before I get to the capital and unfortunately I can't even add any pictures right now. (The usb ports are off limits)
I'll have some time when I get to the city to catch up on all stories thus far, and those to come enroute. You can count on pictures as well b'y, to be sure.
Put in your orders for cod tongues, I'll be coming home soon!
Love, Peace n' Bicycle grease
Blaine

Join the Revolution, Ride your Bike!

If you haven't ridden your bike lately, hurry and get out there before winter comes! Even though I complain about a sore ass from sitting on my bike seat too long, I really can't say enough about biking as a way of getting around. You see more, you smell more, you get exercise, and you feel good.
Neil, a fellow Cross-Canada cyclist from Vancouver, and Bruce, who served as my Halifax welcoming committee, know what I'm talking about.



I would also like to pay some respect to my own bike with this small ode. Thank you bike(I never did come up with a nickname for it), for getting me all the way here. Your smooth shifting and large carrying capacity have served me well as we've travelled this big ass country. Here's to a good last leg of the journey, after which, I promise I will wash you. Thanks again, Blaine.
Here she is looking particularly sexy with an 8 pack of Alexander Keith's strapped on top.

The Legend of Peggy Cove

I'll see if I can remember this properly. There are two stories as to how Peggy Cove got it's name. The first one is better.

The lone survivor of a downed ship was a young girl named Margaret, Peggy for short. She came ashore and then stayed in this community. People would come to see and meet the talked about girl, Peggy of the Cove. You can see where this is going. That's right, they decided to rename their community; Peggy's Cove.

The other story is that it was named for it's close proximity to Margaret River. Just pretend you didn't hear that one.

Coffee makes me go!

I thought I should show a picture of my digs behind the Tim Horton's. Really not that bad, especially when it's picth dark out. Not to mention being that much closer to my morning coffee.


Apparently I'm a big fan of caffeine, proven by my decision to buy a big espresso maker in the middle of a bike trip. Come on, it was only a buck. What was I supposed to do?

Update: I have since sent home the espresso maker. Still a deal.

Red earth, Ferries, Sunsets

Over the next couple of posts I will try to expand on the flurry of happenings I reported earlier. One last mention of PEI first.The red soil throughout every part of the island that I saw made for some cool scenes. Namely when the sun was setting and making the shoreline cliffs glow. I know I already talked about that in a previous post but that's how nice it was. This picture is not quite sunset but just a cool spot I stopped for a break between Charlottetown and Wood Islands(where the ferry is).


Here's couple taken from the ferry as it was leaving.

Ok, let's do this properly

That was a little too much for one post yesterday. I only had one hour to use the computer and I had some other logistics shit to deal with. (flight home, trying to find more money, lining up places to stay, etc) I wasn't sure when I would find another computer so I tried to fit everything in one post. I also spent 10 minutes trying to download pictures to no avail. So I left Halifax ready to get some kms under my belt just after that session. I caught the ferry from Halifax across the harbour and started through the maze of tattoo parlours and donair shops that is Dartmouth. I had an unplanned meeting with one of the potholes in the street as I was getting to the outskirts. My tired tire decided it was a little too much. When the spokes broke it sounded like a cartoon bedspring? You've got to be flexible on a trip like this. So I spent the next couple of hours locating a bike shop and waiting to get it fixed. This is not a poor me story so please don't sympathize for my bad fortune. Broken wheels are a part of a trip like this and it doesn't make me feel bad in any way. Instead, it made my decision to go only as far as my friend Barry Hurst's place that much easier. I met Barry in Loydminster where he is working right now. I had seen pictures on his computer of his place out here but they didn't do it justice. That is where I am right now. It's a beautiful house on a quiet little lake. This is a picture of the lake taken from out the back door this morning.

The action never stops!

Ferries, Sunsets, Yard Sales, Tim Horton's, Indian Reservations, Peggy's Cove, Cross Canada Cyclist (another one), Halifax, amputee biker, Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale, Trailer Park Boys, History, New friends, Tall ships, Rock and Roll......phew. No wonder I'm tired!
From the island of red earth (PEI) to the lively province of Nova Scotia. Caught a great sunset on the 7:30 ferry that later dumped me off in the dark to a 7 km night ride to the Tim Horton's(which I camped behind). No, not on the pavement. a nice grassy knoll actually. Bought a $50 italian espresso maker from a yard sale for a buck (practical on a bike trip?...no) Met a cool native grandmother who took me in. I stayed at her house on Indian Brook reservation with a bunch of her extended family. She drove me out to Peggy's Cove for the day. It was nice to be off the bike. Met another cyclist just finishing up his cross canada journey on my way into Halifax. He was jealous that I was still going on to Newfoundland. I was jealous he didn't have to sit on his bike seat anymore. Met and stayed with Berkeley and Dave in Halifax(met Berkeley's mother in the prairies and she gave us her contact). They were great and we had a good time while I was here. Met a cool biker with a prosthetic leg, funny guy. Learned about the Halifax exposion, went on the Alexander Keith's Brewery tour (very cool), loved all the ships in the harbour and went and saw a wicked band (RocketFace - Check 'em out!) Now I'm leaving and this computer isabout to shut down. bye

Prince Edward Island

Hi, How are ya?
From New Brunswick, I crossed the Confederation Bridge to PEI. I got onto the island at about 5:00 pm and then enjoyed an incredible sunset as I rode the scenic route along the southern coastline. The cliffs were glowing red and I even was on unpaved red clay roads for a part of it. PEI is relaxed and the friendliest province yet! I love the accent. Last night after spending a half day off in Charlottetown I watched an even more amazing sunset from a lighthouse while eating a chicken shawarma and drinking a beer. This was a memorable evening. I managed to get a self timer shot. It involved a quick sprint and a vault off of my bike on to my perch. Onwards!

Hello Maritimes!

A big part of the inspiration for doing this trip was to see the Maritimes. I've always enjoyed the people from these parts and I love the ocean. Well, I'm finally here! I've been in New Brunswick for a few days already and will actually be going over the bridge to Prince Edward Island later today. As soon as I crossed the bridge into Campbellton,NB from Quebec I could feel the difference in the air. Much of the northern coastline of New Brunswick, where I have been travelling, is Acadian. This means that the first language spoken is still french. There are a LOT of french speaking people in Canada. Bit of an eye opener for me, I'll admit. Anyway, New Brunswick has been beautiful. I've been sticking to the quieter roads right on the ocean and enjoying the smell and calm of the sea. Also, now that school is back in, the tourists are all gone (except me). That is nice. I'm in Shediac right now where I just stayed the night with my friend Sparky's parents (they call him Brian). They treated me to a delicious BBQ dinner when I arrived last night and made me feel right at home. Thank you Laurie and Lev!

Road Warrior

The next leg from Rimouski across to New Brunswick made me stronger. That's what happens if it doesn't kill you right? The warranty on my bike and gear must run out after 5000 km because that's when things started to fall apart. It's all a bit of a blur now but in that short time I broke a wheel, got rained on hard, had 3 flats, blew a tire (this one I was kind of proud of since it was a new tire when I started), got stranded without a spare after a spontaneous combustion of one tube (I was saved by a fellow cyclist), got rained on some more, broke my front rack (it's still waiting for a weld, be strong zip ties!), had my first full on wipe out on the highway (hello asphalt), lost kms while riding back to get my water bottles (don't ask).......you get the picture. During this same time I was racking up the showerless days. I started to feel like a hardened road warrior. Dirty. Sun beat. Wet. Tired. But anyone who has done longer outdoor trips knows that once you cross that hump, it's ok and the thought of a shower isn't as exciting anymore. You know longer care what you look like to others, parents shield their chilren. It's now been 10 days straight of riding without a day off but I have finally had a shower and washed my clothes. It took a bit of my edge away but I guess it's worth it.

5000 km!

Shortly after leaving Rimouski, I hit the 5000 km mark of my trip! Of course I was very excited and celebrated by keeping it steady while a line of trucks blew by me. Ok, but after that I really celebrated. I raised my right fist in the air and pumped it while saying - "5000 kilometers, woo hoo! Ya, that's right. 5000!!" There's not much else you can do to celebrate while you're still riding. Oh yah, I took a big drink of water. I do that at every milestone. To be honest, it's hard to comprehend that I've ridden my bike that far. I don't think it will hit me until after the trip. When I think back to the prairies now, it seems like last summer or some other time. Needless to say, I feel great that I've made it this far and things have went as well as they have. Not long to go now!

Roadside snack. (I usually get further off the road than this!)

Au Revoir Quebec!

As I think you could tell from my previous posts, I thoroughly enjoyed the province of Quebec. I wanted to put up one more post and picture from La Belle Province. This picture is from my campsite in Cacouna. It was right on the St.Lawrence behind a tourism related building of some sort. It was closed when I showed up, and still closed when I left early the next morning. That's a good part of the day's adventure is finding a place to camp for free. You can get pretty good at it, even start to get picky. "Oh, I'm sure they'll be an even nicer place further on." Usually I get lucky, sometimes I get desperate. This time I was lucky.

On a 'keeping it real' note, later this evening after cooking my cuban black beans and rice, I was hit by a short but serious rainfall. Do you think I managed to get everything put away? no.

Good Fortune on the Fleuve Saint-Laurent

I left Quebec on a dark and rainy afternoon about 5 days ago now. I caught the ferry across the Fleuve Saint-Laurent and looking back at the city, it was as if it was 400 years earlier. With the Castle Frontenac, the old fort walls, and the dark clouds above, Quebec looked like a menacing stronghold from the past. I went no further then the Casse-Croute (poutine stand) just off of the ferry where I took shelter from the escalating storm. This is where I met Myriam. Myriam has spent a lot of time in BC, has cycle toured through Europe, and speaks perfect english. She immediately got on the phone and lined up a place for me to stay that night. I only rode less than 30 kms to Beaumont to be welcomed into a warm, cozy 200 year old stone house by Annie and Audille. They had just prepared crepes de la mer. Crepes filled with asparagus and seafood. This, along with a fresh salad from the garden and a glass of wine and I had to ask one of them to pinch me. The dinner was the best I have had in a long time and the company was great. We sat around the wood fire in this cool old house on the river and exchanged stories, learned more french(that was just me), and felt very fortunate (again, just me). I slept on a cozy bed next to the fire while it rained outside. The next morning, Myriam came out for breakfast and gave me another number of some friends in Rimouski where I am right now. I am about to hit the road after another great recharge here (including another great meal upon arriving). I will be in New Brunswick in two days and then start my whirlwind tour through the Maritimes. I fly out of St.Johns, Newfoundland on the 26th of September. 26 days, 4 provinces left. I think days off are now a thing of the past. The temperature is dropping and the rain is expected to increase with the two new storms heading up the east coast. My appetite seems to be going up as the temps go down. to be expected I guess, but I canèt believe how much Ièm eating and am still always hungry! Well, I appreciate any emails or comments more than you know so keep em coming. Send food.
Thanks, Blaine

Pledge link fixed

I finally fixed the pledge link on the sidebar. All it does is direct you to the original Raising Money post I put up earlier this month. Ièll give a quick recap.
I am raising money for The Alzheimer Society of Canada and the Go For Green project. I asked people to pledge me one cent per km from the 3000 km mark on. I would like to modify that slightly in that, if you are interested in pledging any amount of kms, that is great and muchly appreciated. (1000 kms = $10)
For more detailed information on how to pledge some kms, try the link. It also has more information on the causes. These are also found as links in the sidebar.
Thank you so much to all of you who have pledged kms already!!!

Quebec City - The rest of the story

In Quebec, I have been staying with Steve and Marie-Julie. They are friends of Marie-Lou`s and are very cool hosts. I met many cool Quebec`rs through them. We went to a nice party where everyone was singing or playing an instrument by the end. They live very close to downtown as well, so it made it easy to check out the city.

Quebec City Mini Series

Bonjour,
I have 3 video clips of Quebec City.
Part one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH_jOw7_f8M
Part two:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsMan9JqIKU
Part three:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijjqvJWa64c

It turns out that when I thought I was in the main tourist area of the city on the video, I wasn`t. So I will put another post with some pictures.
Salut

Quebec - La Belle Province

It didn`t take long for Quebec to become my favorite province to bike in. The trip from Montreal to Quebec city was so enjoyable. They have a completely seperate bike route that makes it`s way along the shores of the St.Lawrence River, through farmland and small villages. The weather was perfect for biking - sunny, but not too hot. I really felt like I was in Europe. Passing small fruit and vegetable stands, practising my french, and stopping at nice viewpoints to eat. Here I thought Quebec was just going to be poutine, second-hand smoke, and people using 4 or 5 swear words at a time. Au Contraire, mon frere. Don`t get me wrong, I eat poutine almost every day (how can you not?) and find myself tabernac`ing things now and then. Overall though, Quebec is clean, beautiful and friendly. They are also very tolerant of english speaking people, especially if you are making an effort. There is no better way to learn a language than to immerse yourself in it. My french has been improving at a steady rate. I`ve got a lot of the slang down. Voyons Donc. Oui, c`est ca.
Here are some shots of the trip from Montreal to Quebec.

A couple more pics of Montreal

I thought I should include a shot of the view from the top of the Olympic Stadium since I mentioned it earlier. The other is taken from the waterfront in Old Port, Montreal.