C: After a too short break in TO to recharge, B left feeling worse! Maybe stopping and partying with friends is NOT the way to re-energize for a second long haul. He was a sad puppy getting back on the bike, but took a few easy days to get acclimatized. Turns out Ontario is even more hilly than NB, he had to use his granny gear for the first time, (hey, its a great gear!) and overcome his nervousness about flat tires and the bike being less reliable. But no problems yet, so he's back on track, in Collingwood now and looking forward to the ferry ride and a cool breeze tomorrow.

To date total: 2,502 kms

C: The East Coast was scenic but B is happy to leave it behind. Now instead of freezing rain and hail, he has scorching heat to deal with; 33 plus all week. It means he has to stop for water twice as often, since the water he's packing is too hot to drink or even pour over his head.

C: And the best quote goes to: as B was resting his b at his folks in Campbellford, and lamenting his trip wasn't from St. John's to TO, (like 21 km-the perfect race distance), he toyed with the idea of stopping, (for a second or two) to which his dad remarked: you'll regret it, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life. (Name that movie?). B's reply: Where are the enablers when you need them!

It's been a wild few days. After I nursed the crippled bike into Belleville, my bad luck was offset by getting to enjoy a semi-rest day at my parents who live nearby. In the end I had to buy a new wheel and then spent the afternoon working on the bike and doing a couple short test rides to make sure everything was working. Yesterday, it was back on the road, restarting where I left off in Belleville.

A long, hot 186km ride into Toronto in 8 hrs 44 mins (with another flat... but just a nice normal one) got me home just as a bbq to celebrate my progress so far was getting started. What a great evening with so many friends. I think I may have re-hydrated with a few too many beers!

I want to thank everyone for coming. It's been lonely out on the road, and admittedly, I was pretty down after all the problems the other day, so last night was a real pick me up. Special thanks to Marie, Phill, and others who helped Carmel with all the cooking and other fussing while I lazed around.

Now I have to get back on the road before I get too comfortable here. However, after the late night and with all this heat, I'm definitely going to be dialing my effort back a notch and taking a few easier days to recover before the next big push into northern Ontario. From here I head towards Tobermory and the ferry to Manitoulin and on up to the Trans Canada.

Totals to date... 14 days of riding from St John's to Toronto...2,338 km (avg 167 km per day)... and I'm now basically 1/3 done.

And the good luck ran out...

Day 13: Got a good start out of Kingston this morning... looking forward to seeing Carmel and my folks. Despite heat and ever present winds, the first hour flew by, and then the problems started. I haven't had a flat in months... not in all the training leading up to the trip or in the first 2 weeks, and then today I had 7!!! I hit a pothole and dinged up my rear rim pretty good with all the weight on the bike. The damage was significant enough that all I could do was fix the endless flats and limp my way into Belleville.

Since I have to wait until tomorrow to hit a bike store for some repairs, at least my bad luck had a silver lining... my parents and C were only a 1/2 hour up the road, so I called them for a pick up. No, it's not cheating. Once I get the wheel fixed, I'll resume my trek from the spot I stopped. A very frustrating day, but if it had to happen, at least it happened here, so I could enjoy a very welcome break with family. Next time it could be a much bigger, and lonelier pain!

The downside is that I won't make it to Toronto on Monday for the BBQ that Carmel had planned. No one is more sorry about that than me, but I'll be trying to get there on Tuesday... Anyone still interested in a BBQ on Tues?

96 kms - 5 hrs - 2,135 kms total - my shortest day so far... but not the easiest... a totally miserable, !#$#&%&##$&#%^*%#^*day. Tonight's dinner and company though goes a long way to making up for it!

B: A second update: After an ice cold chocolate milk (my new favorite drink), and time to refresh a little. Its hard to get going every morning and after a stop, the legs are fine (not sore) but everything drags for half an hour till warmed up. Now I know why Tour riders prefer to keep going.

The forecast predicted it would be windy but it had to be 30 km, the bike slowed down on downhills the minute I stopped pedalling. I was so close to lying down on the side of the road at one stage. Thank God for Tim Hortons (C: thats what Brenda & I say! We always include a Tim's stop in our training rides, we also eat popsicles and have coke breaks when its really hot and sometimes we do lie down on the side of the road for a break and eat gummy bears for a sugar hit!).

B: And because a lot of the day was a scenic route, Hwy 2 and parts of the Waterfront Trail, the wind over the water was worse. It's slightly longer but easier riding because there's less traffic.
I finally had to resort to using my ipod to keep going-182 songs later I arrive at the best motel so far. No one has questioned me taking my bike into my room either, and given the dismal state of it some days thats amazing. Whats funnier is they always ask if I have a car.

There was a positive side to the heat..for the first time I didn't have to spend 2 hours cleaning the bike. Just pumped up the tires as usual and POP the rear tire blows. In some sense, good timing if it had to happen and I'm packing 8 spares so I change it. The bad news, 4 of the 8 dont fit. The valve is too short. I change the tube and tire. I'll have to pick up more spares in TO. And get more suntan lotion. I'm hoping tomorrow is an easier day, I can already taste the ribs n' beer at dad & Margarets.

C: While you are dry heaving, the neighborhood held a street party and BBQ. Alexa, Dana, Jack and Pat send their best wishes for a safe trip.

Day Twelve: First bad day. Horrible. Rode from Cornwall to Kingston. Heat and humidity were deadly. Headwind the whole way. So sick couldn't eat or drink. Stomach sick, threw up nothing. Can't remember any other details. (C: Now the rain looks good? you don't have to set a record, just live through it! Meanwhile I'm party planning so don't kill yourself, who will eat all my kabobs? Think of the cold beer. You'll need it, it's going to be equally hot tomorrow).
187 kms-9 hrs 56 minutes-2,039 kms total

C: BBQ-MONDAY -ALL INVITED: Toronto on Monday! Derek was right! Brian will be home before I even finish my renovation project! J&J are still here tiling the shower, and the paint won't be dried by Monday. How is it possible he can ride through Nfld, NS,PEI & NB before my contractors finish replacing a bathtub! And I am not even getting heated floor tiles or anything exotic! I did do a few other things, but I won't ruin the surprize (or get into trouble) here.

We had a good bye party for neighbors Pat & Jack last night, and thought they'd be gone (retiring to Picton) before B would see them again, but it turns out not so! We'll have another BBQ Monday night. (July 5 - 5 pm) Consider this an invite. I'll send an email with details. Phone if you need directions. Brian will love to see everyone.. he'll probably fall asleep by 9 pm, but that doesn't mean the rest of us can't stay up and celebrate a half finished epic century ride. C

Day Eleven: Starting to get psyched about hitting home (well.. dad's home) Campbellford in a few days. Beautiful day Friday, wound up doing a massvie effort. The motel I was going to stay at had recently been destroyed by fire, so I was faced with the dilimena of doing another 30 km and trying to make it to Cornwall where for sure there'd be other motels. Brutally hot and humid (but better than rain) so I kept up a ferocious pace.

At one point came to (missing) bridge under construction, (there was NO BRIDGE) but it was ten km back to an alternate route (forget backtracking) so I picked up the bike and carried it through the mud, across straw bales and gravel piles to the other side. No one tried to stop me so I guess it was ok.

Getting through Montreal was brutal. Constant road blocks, detours, and construction with no signs on alternate routes. Had to navigate on the fly. Wound up making it to a seedy motel in Cornwall. Some kind of biker's (and I don't mean cyclists) party going on, but there was no other option.

208 kms-10 hrs 4 minutes-1,852 kms total

That means I'm meeting my goal of a century a day. Eleven days of 100 miles plus (160 kms)and of that 2 days were over 200 kms. Am on track for Kingston Saturday night, Campbellford Sunday night, and Toronto Monday night (TO is 175 km from Campbellford).

Day Nine: B:
Ibuprofen is my new favorite snack. My back is better but slight tendonitis in my right knee.
H/E not bad after a monster day. First 4 hours NO RAIN finally! But then scattered showers, the rest of the day. Think straining into the wind is hurting my knee, and my chapped lips are killing me. Put sunscreen on constantly but think the wind dries it out. Will get zinc in TO. Strangely at least one thing seems improved by the weather, my skin is better than at home.

Stopped for lunch (roast beef sandwich and diet coke) at a roadside café for the first time. It just appeared at the right time out of the blue so it seemed a good idea. Still wearing all three jackets so it’s not much warmer, but not complaining since at least rain is “scattered showers” not driving sheets. Haven’t seen any sign of Canada day celebrations. (perhaps Saint. Jean- Baptiste Day last week was all there is in Quebec).

I have found a new distraction though, instead of counting kms as I usually do, am counting down the creation dates of each town I pass, from Riviere–Du-Loup 1605 to the latest one at 1704 as I move up the St. Lawrence.

Wind up having a monster day, don’t stop till Tracy, about 70 kms from Montreal. Thank you Leslie for very kind offer (to stop at her moms and do laundry!) would love it, but won’t be stopping long enough. (C: mmm for Leslie's chocolate ganoush cupcakes maybe. He might detour to TO for that! Sounds much better, amazing what a little sunshine will do.)

217 kms-10 hrs 41 minutes-1,644 total

Day Nine: B: Wind, rain and now hail! How is that possible? Just want to get out of Eastern Canada asap. Cold, wet, miserable again (still). It was clear for an hour at 7 am, then the waves started, sheets of rain and a ferocious wind. At one point barely going 5 km when the wind stopped me cold, had to put my foot down to stay up. All this water and grit are like sandpaper rubbing the brake pads, already had to cinch up the cable to shorten it to keep them working. The pads are half as thick in only 9 days.

Am fighting to do 12 km/hr, wind is grotesque. Scenic route 132 is the only option for bikes (not allowed on hwy) but the down side is there are no reststops, gas stations or cafes. Soaked and cold. Its lonely, grinding hours, wanted to pack it in several times. Really looking forward to sunshine, warm weather (is that too much to ask?), and stopping at dads (Cambellford).

Okay the steriotype of French drivers? (C: my apologies to my Franco-friends-ignore this rant) B:They are the worse drivers! On narrow little roads in NS or NB drivers slow down, go around, pause, wave, indicate, all the usual things. (More polite than TO). But in Quebec drivers speed up, don't indicate, refuse to move and won't give an inch, several trucks nearly forced me into the ditch. Its close call after close call.

Find nice enough motel, not that it really matters. Spend the same 2 hrs cleaning the bikes, then shower and find dinner. Have pizza carbonera (onion, bacon, cheese), in a cute cafe, chuckle at Leonard Cohen (C loves it- I hate it) in b/g ; French singers doing Lennie. Makes me homesick. Turn TV on (timer 30 minutes) and am asleep before it turns off.

152 kms-8 hrs 30 minues-1,427 kms total

Day Eight: B: Rains almost all day. Stops one hour before I finish. Je suis au Quebec.
Had to leave the TC, came up to a sign saying NO BIKES but there's no alternate route offered. How does that help cyclists? You're already there, do what? go back? Had to guess and navigate Chemin du Lac instinctively along Green Route #1, the scenic drive.

Stop in Kamrarouska. where " pesonne parle pas Anglais" (no one speaks English), managed to get a room ok, but couldn't connect with cute desk clerk while asking for a rag to clean the bike. "Lavage la bicyclette?" Aha, she brought me a hose (not bad). Should have learned the word for rag when I was prepping. Finally painful French and awkward charades works, and she brings one from the kitchen.

Now suffering back spasms. Didn't sleep well last night. The bed was too soft and crooked, it inclined so much the blood kept rushing to my head. Am hoping its the bed not the bike. So stop early when come to this motel, La Mariner, don't want to risk a longer ride if its miles to the next one. At $75. its the nicest so far.

Seen 4 sets of couples cycling (casually) mostly older (retired?). Haven't seen any on the hwy. Sorry am alone, it would be more fun with a partner (C: What? 1,200 kms in 8 days? I don't think so! Sorry. I'd go for Leslie's bike tour in Spain: its hot, a support van and wine at lunch stops). Que vaya con dios mi amour.

154 kms-8hrs-1,274 in 8 days

Day Seven: B: In a funk in Edmunston N.B. Another day of rain. Beyond depressing. Stiff starting out, sore legs & butt, stretch a few minutes first. Started out avoiding traffic on a secondary road, but after kms of crappy pavement opted for TC again. At least it has a shoulder. The rain is worse than the riding. Drenched & dripping, even feet are swimming under rain booties. Stop under overpass to wipe off but no help, can't even eat. Thrilled to see a Tims (txs Brenda & Derek for the card), felt like a smuck leaving a huge puddle on the floor. An insane smuck (they probably thought).
Might need new brakes already, the downhill is shredding them. Because the rear is so heavy it is stable, but the front wheel is skiddish on wet pavement so have to ride the breaks every downhill. Can't relax-enjoy-or catch a break. Plus its freezing: wearing every article of clothing-jersey-arm warmers-jacket-rain jacket and full gloves. At least going uphill I can stay warm. As it is - going 20 km a day and loosing time on the downhill. Its depressing.
Cool to see a moose close up, even he looked drenched and pissed off. Every sign now in French. Finally a funky motel. Can barely fit bike in. Takes 2 hrs to clean & tighten every nut & bolt.
Psychologically good to have done a full week and be over a thousand kms, one-seventh of the total distance (7 thousand kms coast to coast).

173 kms-8 hrs 34 minutes-1,120 kms in 7 days

Its been the worse day so far, sick of the rain, (6 of 7 days). Like being in a wet diaper all day, shorts are soaked. Forecast rain again tommorrow. Am truly depressed.
I sort of regret starting this, it would bo so cool if I was riding from St. John's to Toronto instead.
...sometimes I hate the pure stupidity of me.

A Departing Gift: C: You left without it! Neighbors (and avid cyclists) John and Deanna left you this lovely Journal to record your (once in a lifetime-right? trip). Its waiting on your return. You can fill it with stories of eating fish n chips for 4 days straight, washing your bike with paper(while a scowling motel manager keeps a close eye on you and the towels), getting off your bike after 10 hours, then having to walk 2 km through town to get a place to eat, jamming wood chips into delapitated windows to keep them shut, and living through the worse case of chapped lips ever. And those are only the problems I know about!

Monday June 28

Benji may grow up to beat you in any race! But for now he's

still getting used to his bike and racing up and down the driveway. He perfers making his mom and dad (Deanna and John) race after him! He might have something there. He says good luck (at whatever it is you are doing).

Day Six: B: (as told to C) Gorgeous. Started off in the rain (of course), but after 5 minutes it stopped and the sun shines. Drop the arm warmers, put on sunblockers(white arm protection wear), and super sunsreen on lips ( they are chapped, sunburned, raw, even though I wear sunscreen every day).

Its a beautiful day, less hilly, riding through a valley still in New Brunswick. Usually I take side roads to avoid the TC, but today stay on it (sometimes better riding because it has wide shoulders); but it isn't built for cyclists as I find when I come to bridge with a sign "No Bikes". (What do I do go back ten km?) I wind up in Woodstock.
A little l0nger than usual because its a beautifuly day and expected to rain tomorrow.

193 kms-9 hrs 9 minues-947kms in 6 days (one seventh of the approximate distance-7 thousand across C).

B: Monster day. Ferocious winds. Unending. Put my head down, focus on the edge of the road and buckle in. Dodging rain all day again. Started at 6:30 am to the shuttle bus to cross Confederation Bridge leaving P.E.I. No one else shows up so have to cross the bridge in a pickup truck. (No bikes or walkers allowed on bridge). Resigned to stop early but there is no where to stop. Just miles of empty road, a few houses is a town on the map but there is nothing there. Finally stop at Coles Island, (between Moncton and Fredericton). Find a motel (so old the TV has rabbit ears! And the only station is CBC.) It's $50 a night (no wonder). Dinner? Everything closes early, manage a take out fish n chips with 5 minutes to spare. Takes 30 minuts to wash the bike and clothes. Fall sleep instantly.
9 hrs 56 minutes of slogging-190 kms-19km/hr average -754km total for 5 days

C: This is what you're missing! Sleeping-in then sausages, bacon, eggs and hash browns for brunch at Chez Pauline. After a week of east coast hospitality, I'm begining to think this trip of yours was a great idea. I've been wined and dined in St.John's, ran around Quidi Vidi lake with the Nautilus boys (running pals from a previous life), hiked across Signal Hill, and sipped beverages in Patti's fabulous rock garden. As the local townies say, it's 20 degrees here: (10 in the morning and 10 in the afternoon)! Or what do you call the day after two days of driving rain? Monday. I digress. We are thinking of you B. Everyday we wake up and thank God we are here, and not in the driving wind and rain with you. (regardless of whether you are hunting for food or eating hummingbird seeds).

Day Four: B: Brutal. Brutal. Brutal. Long and brutal. Lunchstop in Charlottetown, P.E.I. Legs and back sore, headwinds again, but sunny (at least). Now waiting at Confederation Bridge for crossing to N.B. The day -132 km -the total-564 km in 4 days.