Day 61 - The Pedaling Feat Finale!

Day 61 - Cap Pele, NB to CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI
September 5, 2010

When asked by the front desk lady at the Delta that morning if we were tired of biking and ready to end the journey, Mel and I both look at each other with tears in our eyes. We quickly changed the subject and head outside to meet up with our ride crew for the day!

Meet Henry. He took great care of our bikes during our stay at the Delta. Thanks Henry!

Team Dynamite. Dad, Mom, John, Me, Mel, Mary and Heather! All set to go.

With two super scouts (John and the Heater/Dad duo) and the two moms in Lois, we set out for our starting point at Cap Pele.

Mel and John loading up our bikes one last time.

Pedaling Feat, setting out from Cap Pele with 110 km left to ride of our cross-Canada feat.

It was a very windy day as we departed from Cap Pele. Mother nature just didn't want us to stop!

In true Pedaling Feat fashion, we managed to get our route mixed up in the first 10 kilometers and had to take a couple of detours from our planned route due to construction and closed roads. Instead of being a 110 km day, it ended up being something like 140 km... so much for a short last day!

Rest stop. Trying to figure out how we are going to get to the Confederation Bridge!!

To avoid the construction we hopped on the Trans-Canada for a short while and crossed the point to Port Elgin, a small town about 40 km from the bridge. From there we took a quiet backroad with no traffic which followed the coast and was the perfect road. As we twisted and turned with the bends of the road, the wind would either slow us down to 20 km/h or give us momentun - at times up to 35 km/h! It was a mighty windy day!

Port Elgin. On our way.

Pedaling Feat with Lois (and the moms) following close behind. Nothing can stop us! She was re-named Mom-mobile for the day.

As we crossed the Confederation Bridge (in Lois, because bikes are not allowed on the bridge), we entered our 8th and final province, Prince Edward Island!!! It was exciting for so many reasons...

1. It meant we had successfully crossed Canada from tip to tip.

2. We were entering Mel's hometown, which I had never had the opportunity to visit in the past. yay!

3. We were nearing Cow's ice cream - another first for me!

Crossing the Confederation Bridge to our final province...

Prince Edward Island!!!!...

The wind was crazy for our last ride. Just look at the trees!

With 50 kilometers to go, we enjoyed every minute of it. From the rolling hills to the bald eagles flying overhead. The wind continued to try and knock us off our bikes it was so strong, but we kept pedaling and reached the edge of Charlottetown around 3:30 p.m. right on schedule!

In Charlottetown, nearing the finish line!

Filled with mixed emotions, we rode past Mel's grade school and high school, her old neighbourhood and the downtown core. I made Mel ride beside me as we neared the finish line, because I was already tearing up!

We rode right to the water's edge where our finale party was awaiting us with signs and hugs galore. We hugged, we cried, we celebrated and most importantly... we dipped our wheels in the Atlantic Ocean! We had made it!!!!!! Champagne all around, a couple of news interviews later and of course, Cow's ice cream - we went out for a celebratory dinner in Charlottetown before heading to Mel's cottage for the night. The day was a complete success, we couldn't have been happier!

Our Finale party, waiting our arrival.

Hugs all around!

After dipping our wheels in the Atlantic, we celebrated in style!! A wonderful Finale Party!

P.S. Post Pedaling Feat party news - Mel and Bryan got engaged!!!! I am looking forward to returning to PEI for the wedding. Congratulations you two!

Day 60 - Earl Who?

Day 60 - Moncton to Cap Pele, NB
September 4, 2010


We woke up early Saturday morning expecting to be in the middle of a torrential downpour with high winds and possibly no power. What did we find? Sunshine and blue sky. Quick! Let`s ride!

As we got ready to go and reclaimed our bikes from Henry, the winds picked up and clouds rolled in. Hurricane Earl had been downgraded to a tropical storm and Moncton was expected to get missed for the mostpart. We figured if we could get in a 40 km ride, we`d be set to finish on Sunday as planned. And so, we set out from Moncton hoping that Earl would hold off for just a while longer!










Pedaling Feat smiling in the face of Earl.










We rode into the wind, which got stronger as we neared the coast. Feeling a bit like storm chasers, we were soon distracted from the storm when we saw what was ahead... THE ATLANTIC OCEAN!!! It seemed surreal as the scent of salt water filled our senses. I yelled out `She`s beautiful!`, only to have a local walking by respond `She`s not THAT exciting`... little did he know.

We followed the coastline through small towns all the way to Cap Pele. We finally stopped (40 km in!) when the rain was pelting down so hard it felt like we were being attacked by ice pellets. Success! Not only did we not get blown away, but we had made it all the way to Cap Pele!






Mother Mary in Lois, keeping an ear on the weather as she followed behind us.



















To PEI!? Unbelievable.









We rounded up the troops and hopped in Lois. As we sat there, coming down from the high of having ridden into the storm, CBC Radio announced Pedaling Feat`s ride across Canada in the storm watch report. Sneaky Mary had sent in an e-mail letting them know that we were riding through the winds and rain of Earl. It was awesome.







Pedaling Feat`s celebration dance after riding towards the eye of Earl







We drove back to the Delta and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon filled with blogging, reading and pedicures.







Meet Earl, in all his glory.







Later that afternoon, we were met by my parents, Heather (`scout`extraordinaire) and John - all of whom had driven from Ontario for the Pedaling Feat finale! After a glass or two of wine, we decided to hit up The Keg for a feast and of course, more wine.





Pedaling Feat`s #1 Fan Club!















John and Mel looking happy and relaxed.














Mom and Dad deciding what to feast on.


















With mixed emotions, we hit the sac - knowing that tomorrow would be our final ride together (for now!) and the end of our epic cross-Canada adventure. Ah!

Day 59 - Many a small victory as we approach a milestone.

Day 59 - Jemseg to Moncton, NB

September 3, 2010


Today's ride would take us around Grand Lake along the abandoned highway 112 with the hope of arriving in Moncton a day early because Earl was threatening our Saturday ride. So, after a great night's sleep at the delta, we set off with our sights on Moncton.


Not long into our ride that morning, Mary and Lois stopped at a local roadside fruit and veg stand. While shopping for delicious tomatoes and cucumbers, Mary was stopped by the editor of the local Grand Lake newspaper who inquired about the `cyclists`. As we had just gone by, Mary hopped into Lois and set off to find Mel and I with the editor close on her tail... As the story goes (told by Mary), she drove and drove - maybe a good 5 to 10 km - before she caught up with us. We are too quick! She pulled over just ahead of us and stopped us in our tracks. A photo shoot and a quick interview later, we were heading off with a wave and the promise of an article in the local press! Good work Mary!


With the heat coming on strong, we rode onwards, stopping often to top up our water bottles and enjoy a bit of shade.










Mel, all smiles as we fill up our water bottles and enjoy the shade. I think this was right before she got a flat.










The highway was heavenly. There were no cars (maybe one every 5 minutes or so), it was winding with lots of small hills and plenty of shady spots. Our lunch spot that day was next to an old graveyard with gravestones dating back to the 1800`s. We passed by several small graveyards like that one as we rode. It was surprising as there weren`t many towns, but there were churches and graveyards a plenty!

















A great break spot.

Mel checking out the graveyard as we lunched on PB&J and choco milk.

Mary and Lois. The dream team. Taking a break in the shade. Mary in her infamous black bathing suit.

As we approached Moncton, the forecast for the following day had not improved. Tropical Storm Earl was heading right towards the maritimes and campgrounds were shutting down in the area. We decided it was in our best interest to hunker down at the Delta in Moncton rather than finding a campground for Lois. The weather folks were predicting winds up to 90 km per hour! Knowing that we would be safe inside (with what promised to be a great view of the storm), I was excited to witness my first tropical storm in the maritimes!

Riding into Salisbury (just outside Moncton). Is that a Bit Stop I see??

A Big Stop! My first east coast Big Stop experience. We used the bathroom. It was great.

We arrived at the Delta that afternoon and were met by Honore (pronouced Henry, for us English folk), who welcomed us to the hotel and relieved us of our bikes. The Delta team was wonderful.

Mel and I cooked our last meal on the bbq (in a park nearby). Corn on the cob and turkey burgers. Yum! Mary opted for a delicious pizza at the Delta restaurant and we all shared a celebratory glass of wine for making it to Moncton before the storm. Hoorah!

Note: There will be several celebratory glasses of wine and champagne from here on in, as all of our small victories were coming together into the completion of an incredible cross-Canada trek.

That night we received an e-mail from our pro-Lois driver, Colin. His nephew, Andrew, had composed a song for Pedaling Feat in light of Earl threatening our photo-finish. To say we loved it would be an understatement. In fact, we played it over and over again, laughing and crying and laughing some more at the awesome lyrics about Pedaling Feat and Earl. Thank you Andrew!!

Day 58 - And the heat goes on!...

Day 58 - Nackawic to Jemseg, NB

September 2, 2010

With the heat wave not letting up, we were on our bikes very early the next morning to try and get into Fredericton before mid-day. Continuing along highway 105, we rode next to the St. John's river and enjoyed every bit of shade offered up by the trees that lined the highway. We arrived into Fredericton before noon and enjoyed a lunch next to City Hall.

En route to Fredericton. Not a cloud in the sky.

We spent a couple of hours in Fredericton that afternoon in the hopes that the local news would stop by for an interview. Unfortunately with election drama hogging the spotlight, they were not able to make it out to meet with us. As we relaxed in the shade, Mel and Mary explored the local shops, and we enjoyed a local fiddle group playing the hottest tunes across the street.

With another 30 km or so to go, we had escaped the worst heat of the day and around 3:00 p.m. were ready to hit the road once again. As we were getting ready to go, a local Frederictonian stopped by Lois to learn about Pedaling Feat and offer her support and a donation. She wondered how we were fairing in the extreme heat as it was making her ill just to be outside. This became the topic of conversation as we rode our way through the heat wave. How did we do it? We followed three survival techniques...

1. Drink lots of WATER. And have lots ice cubes ready, placed strategically to cool while riding.
2. Take numerous BREAKS in the shade. Sometimes we would stop on people`s front lawns, because we just couldn`t make it any further.
3. Do not use the word HOT. The more it was talked about, the worse it seemed. So we removed the word HOT from our vocabulary (or tried our best to)!

Ready to ride in the afternoon sun, Mary maneuvered Lois out of the downtown parking lot(geared towards smaller, more agile vehicles - no offense Lois) while the parking attendant watched on, and we were off!...








Resting and waiting in Fredericton, NB!












Our rest spot. Next to the fountain.














Pedaling Feat at Fredericton City Hall.









Our goal that afternoon was to make it another 30 to 40 km, so that our last few riding days were manageable (especially with Earl menacing our finish line). Fortunately, the heat had really let up, there was a wonderful breeze, a tail wind and lots of shade along the way. We ended up flying through another 50 km (for a total of 120 km) and ended our ride in Jemseg, NB as it was nearing dinner time.

We drove back to the Delta Fredericton, our sponsor for the evening (yay!). We enjoyed a dip in the refreshing outdoor pool and ate a quick bite at the restaurant where we were visited by Mel's aunt Sandra, before passing out in bed after trying hopelessly to update our blog!










In the pool after a long day in the sunshine!


















The view from the pool patio. Hello Fredericton!

Day 57 - A Highway to Ourselves

September 1st, 2010

Perth-Andover, NB to Nackawic, NB

Picture this.

It's just after 7am and we're slightly less than perky (as usual in the a.m.), getting Lois ready to hit the road. Lisa is getting the bikes ready and I am unplugging all of the connections, including the water hose. All of a sudden, the water hook-up decides to pop loose and a huge fountain of gushing water starts spouting all over the place as I stand there with the hook-up connection in my hand screaming. Worst of all, when you try to plug it back in place, water squirts in every direction! Lisa came to my rescue, and after a few minutes we had resolved the issue, I'm sure that the other campers were awake by then and being entertained. Mom caught the moment perfectly is this photo.

Morning drama

After such a hectic start to our day, we took it slow along HWY 105 South toward Fredericton and enjoyed having the road all to ourselves. There were some hilly sections throughout the day, and our average speed decreased as the temperature climbed to a blistering 41 deg (with humidity) by 2:00 pm. The speed change was mainly due to my need for frequent ice cube breaks. Lisa barely broke a sweat!

Some pretty horses at a rest stop

Fact:

Health Officials advise avoiding strenuous activity during heat waves.

Fiction:

Humidity bothers everybody.

(Lisa has the genetic disposition to enjoy such weather. Me? Not so much.)

This is what I look like after a 41 deg day on the bike. Spent.

On we biked, all the way to Nackawic, NB! We passed the town twice before realizing that it was actually a town. Basically, Nackawic is very spread out. The good news? There was ice cream!

Nackawic! Our milestone for the day.

Fact: Nackawic has the largest axe in the world!!!

Dipping our toes, ahhhhhh

Day 56 - Pedaling Feat Rides the Heat Wave

August 31st, 2010

Edmunston, NB to Perth-Andover, NB

Feeling fresh and ready after some impressively large bowls of cereal, we were off to check out the New Brunswick roads. The day started off nice and easy on HWY 144, through Edmunston. So easy, in fact, that we rolled right past our meeting place and ended up 15 km down the road wondering where Lois was. We called Mom, to tell her that we were still alive and well (and blonde?) and continued on our way through the rolling hills next to the St. John River Valley. It was a nice mixture between farmland and lush forest, and the road was in great shape all the way to Grand Falls/Grand Sault, NB!

A view of the St. John River Valley, on our right hand side for the whole day!

Salmon River, NB

Looks like gymnastics, but it's just a stretch.

Pawning off extra watermelon to some construction workers on HWY 144 East. The Acadian french accent takes some getting used to!

We ate lunch next to the impressive gorge waterfall, and then decided to hit the road and do an extra 40km to Perth-Andover, NB.

The longest covered bridge in the world.

Grand Falls/Grand Sault, NB

A very New Brunswick view.

A stop at the Shell gas station on the outskirts of Grand Falls for a fuel-up! Thank you Shell!

It was pretty hot (over 30 degrees C) as we turned onto HWY 105 south in the afternoon. We had the road to ourselves until a border collie farm dog aggressively chased us and snapped at our front tires. I think he assumed we were runaway sheep... So as usual, we just laughed and unclipped our pedal shoes - ready for anything! In the heat of the moment, instead of yelling to scare the dog away, we said happy things like, “It’s ok! Good Boy!”. Mom tried to rescue us by driving Lois out into the middle of the vacant road, in hopes of deterring him from our path. Luckily, he eventually realized that neither us nor Lois were his sheep, and went home.

We stopped for ice cream in Perth-Andover, then continued to our mystery campground, which ended up being amazing! It was right next to the river, and had a refreshing pool. I fell asleep after my swim until a rain cloud decided to cool us all down with a wicked downpour. Turkey burgers for dinner, and we called it a successful day!

Mom and I synchronize swimming in the pool