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It’s been some time since I last updated this site, so I figure that now is the last chance I have before heading off again.
I arrived in New Brunswick almost exactly two weeks post departure from Vancouver, after riding 6920kms across Canada. It was an amazingly beautiful ride; with good weather most of the way. It seems too corny to say that I merely enjoyed the beauty and diversity that Canada has to offer, but I can’t think of a better way to describe it other than even while riding in downpours and hailstorms that drove a couple cars to standby on the side of the road I had this huge goofy full tooth smile spreading from ear to ear.
Scorching heat followed me from the desert in southern BC, through Alberta and its badlands, Saskatchewan and all the way to Manitoba. It was too hot and flat for my rear tire in the prairies and I ended up having to get a new one in Thunder Bay after melting most of the middle off of it. I tested the handling capabilities of the bike when loaded in the BC interior, hiked up hills in riding boots and jeans in 35 deg temperatures in wild rose country, outran a couple huge storms covering the living skies in Saskatchewan, and then checked out The Forks and the friendlies in Manitoba.
In Ontario, I experienced highway robbery at the Northern gas pumps at $1.50/L, charging that because they could, so not Canadian. But the majesty of The Great Lakes, the rolling hills and all the scattered lakes in-between was unforgettable, the good pavement even had a curve or two mixed in between muddy construction zones. I made it all the way to Espanola, On before I had to put on the rain suit, and from there to Montreal I basically kept it on.
In Montreal, I got to sample some of that famous Italian Della Valle food, hung out with a few of my favorite people in the world, had some Schwartz’s, walked downtown and then the Main one night during a downpour and smiled throughout, despite the soaked Levi’s and Puma’s. I popped over to Vermont to celebrate and witness the marriage of one of my best dudes and his absolutely amazing wife, and got cut off from the bar. I didn’t know you could get cut off from a bar at a wedding, in fairness though I am really happy they did and it was a really good idea on their behalf.
High winds and low temperatures that chilled me to the bone accompanied me through Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to New Brunswick. But arriving close to midnight, I was greeted by a fairly worried (and rightly so) mother. I mean whose mother really wants their son to be riding a motorbike across a continent, or working in the sketchiest countries in the world, or doing half the stuff I get up to. So props go to her for her courage, her patience, and attempts at understanding.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you along the way that have helped me, or housed me, or fed me, or spent the time to talk and to listen to me. I met some truly amazing people along the way, and not just on this trip, but there are those of you that have made it all worth while. I kid you not, the world and it sights are physically beautiful, but they pale in comparison to the beauty in the hearts and actions of those that I have met. To you, never give up, enjoy life, be kind, contribute, make the world a better place, not just for you, but for those that you meet, for your friends and family, and if possible your enemies alike. We all need nurturing once in a while, and many of you have done that for me along the way. Thank you.
With that, I leave you to jump back on Yvonne, head to Cape Breton, do the Cabot trail and then head south through the USA along the Eastern seaboard, then west along the Gulf of Mexico (avoiding hurricanes if at all possible), then north up the Pacific coast. Rip it up.
