Recap and Final Thoughts

I had a super terrific trip and was so happy I did it. 

The toughest part was fighting through the weather.  I learned if you start the day dry, you can get 6 or 7 hours in and still stay mostly dry if you are dress correctly and it isn't that bad.  But if you start the day wet, you are screwed.  It is also tough to keep going when you are cold.  You just can't shake the bone chilling numbness in your hands especially.  Those things are tough.

Having the right equipment is so important for these long trips.  Especially in the clothing end.  The weather changes so much.  Being too hot is just as uncomfortable as well.  So I can't say enough about trying to have a good mix of clothing for these long hauls.  Bring it anyway....

The bike was awesome, awesome, awesome.  It gave me no problems, except for the heated grips of course.  It just ate up the gravel and it also does a dam fine job of the slab as well.  The big difference is having solid tires though.  I just couldn't imagine what, you know, regular highway tires would look like after 300 km on the gravel., let alone the 1000 plus I was on it.  Get good tires and make sure the bike has had a bit of a tune up before going on such a journey.

The best part was the day to day victories.  Everyday presented me with a victory, no matter how cold or wet I was.  Victories included reaching a certain destination or seeing someone.  I really focussed on riding for the moment.  I didn't get too caught up in tomorrow or a few days from now, rather I was concentrating on just riding for the here and now.  This was really beneficial in my opinion.

As far as other highlights, it was really special to visit all of the people I got to see.  Unbelievable.  I still find it a bit unreal I have so many friends on the road.  It was great to see my friends.

Seeing the changing landscape was also pretty cool.

I am also pretty happy that I made it all of those kilometres safe, sound, and back to that sweet baby of mine Shelly.  That is obviously the most important victory.

So ya = All is great at home; I know it is where the heart is.  I am in no big rush to push off any day soon, however......

Home Sweet Home

Day 18 Friday September 24th, 2010

Guelph, ON - Goderich, ON

Total Km –170 km (7439km)

Litres of Gas – 0L (405L)

Cost of Gas - $0 ($452.50)

Hotel - $0 ($463, 5 nights)

Camping - $0 ($15, 3 nights)

Ferry - $0 ($244.50, 3 crossings)

Running – 0 km (88 km – 15 runs)

Toll Roads - $0 ($7.00 – 2 tolls)

This would be the final ride in this chapter of the story.  But the story will continue...  I would be in no rush to get back to town, so Teresa and I walked the two kids to school and I leisurely packed up my belongings and headed across town to the Wright's.  One final freebie on the trip would include a breakfast with my other dear friend and his family in Guelph.

By 11:45 I was finally on Highway 86 west taking me through Elmira, Listowel, and Brussels.  I thought it would be fine to stop in on the wonderful Brookside teachers.  Time heals a lot of wounds, and perhaps they (Susan!) wouldn't be so angry at me today and will greet me more kindly.  Sure enough.  It was great to see the staff today and the school year seems to be going swimmingly well for everyone.  I'll be back.

The first person I saw when I got home.

I was home sweet home by 2:00.  I started to unpack and I was opening up my panniers I hadn't had open in a few days.  Sure enough more mess.  Two cans of beer had exploded in my top case and left a stinky mess.  Oh well.  Everything went straight to the washing machine and down in the basement to get cleaned.  I had a quick cleaning up myself and was off walking over to see Shelly at work by 3:00.

And that is about it....  I was so glad to finally get over and see Shelly. 

Day 17

Thursday September 23^rd, 2010

Toronto, ON - Guelph

Total Km –140 km (7269km)

Litres of Gas – 16L (405L)

Cost of Gas - $18 ($452.50)

Hotel - $0 ($463, 5 nights)

Camping - $0 ($15, 3 nights)

Ferry - $0 ($244.50, 3 crossings)

Running – 5km + 4km (88 km – 15 runs)

Toll Roads - $0 ($7.00 – 2 tolls)

Kites and I made our way downtown to a memorial site which honours police officers who have been killed in the line of duty. A running relay of 460 km was to start at 9:00, taking the participants from Toronto to Ottawa. Two of Goderich's finest, Stephen Beasley and Paul Dobos where there to run. They were part of a team of 12 other police officers. There were perhaps 20 teams in all. I know this Stephen feller pretty well, and I know Paul a bit too. So I thought since I was in Toronto it would be good to see them off on their journey. Good luck guys!

I wheeled out of Kiteley's and onto the Gardiner Expressway. The land's topography is very interesting in this part of Toronto. In case any of you are not aware....

First there is a good mix of industry and housing. The land is generally flat, but there has been no attempt to farm it. None at all. There isn't too many trees either. Most of the area is full of concrete and cement. The housing units probably span a few hundred feet high, while the industrious buildings are of a “bungalow” shape in nature. Everything is so close together here. Also, in case you didn't know, there are copious amounts of cars and trucks. All are mostly singularly occupied and getting no where fast.

I made a good attempt to read and pay attention to the vanity license plates I saw today. There was WASTD, TOODLES, and PLAYR. I saw a GRAMPS, VETRN, PETERS, SARAHS 40, and DR SKY. The most ridiculous ones though were attached to some of the most expensive cars on the road today. For example the plate BMW X5 was clinging to a, you guessed it, BMW x5, and the 50 something guy who undoubtedly looked like he was going through a mid life crisis had SL500 plated to his, how original, Mercedes SL 500 convertible.

And while I am thinking about it – I saw a few funny bumper stickers on the road too. The one that sticks out was ITHICA IS GORGES. But HONK IF YOU'RE HORNY made me grin the most. You get it? You honk a car horn!!!! Or was it Shelly I was thinking of..... Yes, it was Shelly. I remember now.

Anyhow I stopped in Burlington by noon to drop in on a great guy named Jordan Closs. He is just doing the good-dad-thing and taking a few months off with his one year old son while his wife is at work. Jordan is a pharmacist, so I knew if anybody could prescribe a good lotion for saddle sores, he'd be the one. (I forgot to ask him however....) Jordan fired up the stove and we had a good lunch together as he neglected his crying baby. I filled him in on how all of our mutual friends are doing, and he dissed what gossip of interest that concerns me. It was a great time. By 1:15 though he was taking his boy to a play group and I was back on the road. Take care buddy! I'll mark down another $15 in freebies and generosities for the lunch.

Guelph beckoned. I was skunked as I first pulled into the Tremain's with a locked door and nobody home. No big deal. I know they aren't far away. Plus my good mate Joel and his family live in Guelph too. Joel is one of those lazy teachers who is on a four over five this year. He is even going out to Rossland, BC to ski for the winter! What a guy..... Hey, wait a minute.... That story sounds a lot like....

So I hung out with Joel and his wife for a bit and helped him frame in a bit of a shed for a canoe. We chit chatted about this and that, but he was well aware of the exploits of yours truly over the past few weeks. I told him I would be by for breakfast in the morning and we could firm up some plans for this winter living out west. I doubled his wife Trista to a dentist appointment and made my way back to the familiar grounds of the Tremain's.

Rich and I went into Waterloo for a run and came home to a delicious dinner. ($25 freebie with a few beer, plus a nights stay for $90 or so.) We watched a bit of the baseball game. Josh Kramer came over. He is another Dennis Fairall's Grey Hair teammate. Josh travelled a bit this summer through Holland, so we exchanged a few stories about life on the road.

It was another early night though. Tomorrow brings me home.

Wednesday

Day 16 Wednesday September 22^nd, 2010

Toronto, ON

Total Km –0 km (7129km)

Litres of Gas – 0L (389L)

Cost of Gas - $0 ($434.50)

Hotel - $0 ($463, 5 nights)

Camping - $0 ($15, 3 nights)

Ferry - $0 ($244.50, 2 crossings)

Running – 8 km (79 km – 13 runs)

Toll Roads - $0 ($7.00 – 2 tolls)

I woke up to rain this morning. Thankfully I had no discernible place to go. But since I was in the big smoke, I did want to stop in on and say hello to a former roommate. Why would he mind? He is busy, his wife just had a baby a week ago, and they've probably had way too many visitors in the past week. Timing has never been my forte. Perhaps I should email first. Naw....

I went over to Tim's, and today's 10km ride was by far the most scary in the past 2 weeks. Toronto traffic. Street car tracks. Manic taxi drivers..... I'll take 1200km of gravel any day over King, to Bathurst, to St. Clair, and up Younge. But like the trooper I am, I blasted through it.

I had a good visit with Tim's wife Kate and saw their two children. Tim was at work, so I got back on my trusty stead and went to find the Commerce Court West building where Tim works. No problems. We had a great lunch and a pint together. I retold some of my less then heroic antics on the road, but mostly we were talking about mutual friends and the Windsor-glory-days.  They'll pass you bye, you know.

This is where I wanted to mention something else I haven't kept an accurate tally on with the trip, but it has been significant. I have not logged all of the “freebies” I have gotten over the course of the trip. Let's see how I do....

• lunch with Coates ($15?)
• beers and breakfast with Gord (plus he said I could have stayed at his house and not pay the hotel..... so that has to be about $60 or so)
• beers, food, snacks, more beers, place to stay with Marion ($300?)
• beers, food, hospitality with Alex and Crystal ( $250?)
• beers, food, hospitality, hiking with Scott & Allison ($300?)
• Toronto hospitality of the MacLeod's again, Orman, Richy, Kites & Keya obviously, & Timmer ($500 easily....)

Excuse me if I have forgotten to mention anyone.... But it all adds up. Big time. The generosity has been more then phenomenal. Believable, but unbelievable. Thank you to everyone. I owe you all, and I have no problems with a stop over from anyone for a glass of tap water and bologna on white bread!

Kiteley and I met back up by 4:40. We went for a run over to the Centre Tech track, pulled a few loops, and back to his office. It was the longest run I've had since June at about 40 minutes. Everything felt good too. We had a good dinner of a Greek salad and Hawaiian pizza. But these two tired dogs retreated at 8:30, skipping out on a rendezvous with Beaser. Sorry buddy. (I was looking for another freebie too – Steve is generous.)

So it was a very early night.....  That is okay. 

It will be so great to get home and hold and see my Shelly.  This trip has been bittersweet.  It is tough to be away from Shelly.  Hearing her voice on the phone is nice, but not the same as being with her in person.  Soon enough.

Back In Ontario

Day 15 Tuesday September 21^st, 2010

Gorham, NH – Toronto, ON

Total Km –890 km (7129km)

Litres of Gas – 39L (389L)

Cost of Gas - $40 ($434.50)

Hotel - $0 ($463, 5 nights)

Camping - $0 ($15, 3 nights)

Ferry - $0 ($244.50, 2 crossings)

Running – 0 km (71 km – 12 runs)

Toll Roads - $3 ($7.00 – 2 tolls)

She was a bitter, cold morning to start off. I rolled through one town and the digital reading on a bank's sign indicated it was 35 degrees Fahrenheit. 20 minutes into the next town the temperature dropped to 30 degrees. I felt it all in my fingers mostly. Thick fog covered the road and vistas too. It would be quite sometime before it warmed up.

The drive was really nice though. Smooth rolling hills were always to the south of me. I saw a fawn on the road, just hanging out. It is unbelievable how much warmer it is when I have my face shield down, however on mornings such as this it clouds up quite a bit and restricts my visibility. I rolled into Vermont, I didn't even see the sign or welcome centre, and kept a steady pace. Farms were starting to become more frequent, especially dairy operations more then anything. Hay was cut and waiting to be raked and bailed. It seems late in the season for that foolishness; haying, but what do I know. I found it quite funny that I hayed during the almost unbearable July heat this year, and here was hay to be put in the mow and it was barely above freezing. Both situations sound undesirable.

I had a McDonald's breakfast, finally, and it was horrendous. I should have known better. I guess the good spirit of travel was giving me an omen at all those McDonald's throughout Nova Scotia with the senior citizen tour buses, to warn me of its nastiness. Understood.

I zipped along through Montpelier and Burlington – Pictures would be appropriate at this time, especially of Montpelier, but my right hand was more interested in the throttle as opposed to the shutter. I got into the great state of New York – Rain.

It rained for about an hour. I still had my rain togs on when I crossed into Cornwall. Getting through the boarder was simple. I stopped at the Ontario Information Centre, changed, and made some phone calls. I was off to the big smoke.

401 west. 120 km/h. 3.5 hours. 16L of gas in Trenton. Tired. Hot. That's about what was important.

Toronto – Queen Street West. Gladstone Hotel. This is when the fun starts!

I met Kites at about 6:30. He just started a pint, so I thought it would be an insult if I didn't accompany his liquid intake with him. There would be a Alex MacLeod Toronto book launch and reading of Light Lifting. Moreover there would be a Kenneth, Lewis, and Marion MacLeod music performance. We were joined by the other two MacLeod boys; Andrew and Dan, as well as a decent enough guy named Richard Tremain and his wife Teressa Duck. It was a hell of an ensemble! Minus my dear sweet baby Shelly, of course. Ormond Benson and his wife Dionne were there too. The night takes a bit of a turn with all of the libations we were enjoying. No running home though!

Alex did a stand up job with the reading and the crowd was definitely hanging on every spoken word he had to say. He was pulled like a bit of a puppet throughout the night to meet, greet, be interviewed, and all of those celebritiy-esque things he has to do. I think he should get used to it. The collection of short stories is terrific, it will sell well, and people just want to be around him. Light Lifting, presented by Biblioasis publishing, is how you can get a copy of it. Atta boy Alex!

So Kiteley and I saw 1:00, and thought wisely to shut it down.

I have been going back and forth thinking about what Shelly would really enjoy, and what she wouldn't. You would have had a great time tonight. Everyone was asking for you.... Although they knew you couldn't be there.

I have been told countless times on this trip how lucky I am. How lucky I am to have the time off, to travel around, etcetera. But I know I am lucky because I have a great one in Shelly. I miss her so much..... Soon enough my sweet baby! See you soon.

Ripping on 2

Day 14 Monday September 20^th, 2010

Bathurst, NB – Gorman, NH

Total Km –780 km (6139km)

Litres of Gas – 40L (353L)

Cost of Gas - $41.25($397.50)

Hotel - $52 ($463, 5 nights)

Camping - $0 ($15, 3 nights)

Ferry - $0 ($244.50, 2 crossings)

Running – 6.5 km (71 km – 12 runs)

Toll Roads - $0 ($4.00 – 1 toll)

A great weather day and ride! Awesome roads. A bit of traffic, but not too heavy. Hit lots of kilometrage, but it wasn't too much of a burden. Really crisp, sharp cool in the morning, and great by midday and all afternoon. Got in a great 28 minute run.....

I hit the road by 9:00. I had a terrific visit with Scott, and like all the people who have hosted me, I was treated like royalty.

I retraced our path from yesterday, with a fixed camera, and made sure I took a photo of the Mount Carleton sign. I followed two logging trucks for the first 90 minutes of the morning. We were flying along at 110 smooth km/h with no traffic in sight. As they pulled off and I around them, we waved at one another and I gestured for a few honk, honks of the big rig's horn. Hell ya I got them!

I got back into the Eastern time zone and Presque-Ilse, Maine by 11:00 am. A Tim Horton's was spied within 1 mile – unbelievable. I was online and emailed a few people and updated the blog. It is very sad to say, but seeing a Tim Horton's is/has become a bit of a “comfort blanket” for yours truly. (Purists cringe – I apologize to all of my smarter and more socially aware friends...... but it has.) I had a comforting half coffee half hot chocolate, glazed sour cream donought, and a bowl of chili. Sorry my anti-corporate, anti-establishment, more conscious friends.

This part of Maine and New Brunswick is awesome. Potato land! And the farmers were in full harvest. It was neat to see and drive through.

I saw 2 moose today.  They were on their backs.  In trailers.  Dead.  Victims of a 30.30 wound for sure.   

Eventually I made my way to trusty highway 2 in Newport, ME. This road is old faithful. Highway 2 brought my dad and I 2500km west starting in northern Michigan and ending in Washington State a few years back. It isn't quite as wide open here, but it is nice to be on. It slices through lots of nice communities of Maine, and has brought me 20 miles into New Hampshire for tonight. (Lacking pictures..... Sorry.)

A quick few words for my BMW friend from New Jersey. His wife was/is reading the blog and laughed that I referred to him as “elder”. What I meant to say is that he is one swinging dude and could have had his way with any girl north of the 52^nd Parallel! But because he loves his wife  so much, it wasn't an option! Ride on my friend.

And of course to Doug Vincent again! Doug Vincent! Maybe I'll see you in Toronto – I don't know for sure though...

Boy do I miss my Shelly... A lot... I am just going to type her a special message to let her know how much I miss her and how much she means to me. For her eyes only, you know. No offence.

Pushing home – And I am really going to make the last few days count and be special.

Mount Carleton

Day 13 Sunday September 19^th, 2010

Mount Carleton, NB

Total Km –0 km (5359km)

Litres of Gas – 0L (313L)

Cost of Gas - $0($356.25)

Hotel - $0 ($411, 4 nights)

Camping - $0 ($15, 3 nights)

Ferry - $0 ($244.50, 2 crossings)

Running – 0 km (64.5km – 11 runs)

Toll Roads - $0 ($4.00 – 1 toll)

Mount Carleton is the highest point in the Maritimes at 820m high. It is about 100 km from Bathurst, and Scott, Allison, and I made the kill to conquer it. The hike would be 9 km long, and it ascended over varying terrain. Pictures would be perfect right now however.....

First it was foggy. Thick fog and cloud cover surrounded us throughout the hike. There would be no panoramic shots exposed as the visibility extended half a kilometre in all directions.

Second there was no battery power in the camera. No more explanation needed.

By the time it took to drive there, hike, and get home a good chunk of the day passed. No run would be necessary today. There is still a few things to do to get ready to continue west. I am just completing some finishing touches on laundry and routing a way home. I am planning on passing through Presque Ilse, ME to Bangor, ME. From there I would like to scoot across Highway 2 and into towns such as Newport, ME, Rumford, ME, and Gorman, NH. I will continue until I hit Interstate 89 north. I will cross into Canada at Roosevoltown, NY. It isn't the most direct way home – but no matter.

I am still hoping to be in Peterborough on Wednesday to see the MacLeod's again, and Thursday I might stop into visit Jordan, or Drew, or the Tremain's..... Whomever has the best offer! Friday – Goderich.

For dinner we had a delicious meal of steak, potatoes, and salad.  Allison left to go to her band rehersal, she plays the clarinet, and Scott and I played some cribbage and watched football.  I was in bed by 10:30.

Thanks Scott, for being a great host.  I'll see you another time.