Stage 32 Argentia, NL to St John’s, NL

July 7
131 km, 7 h 03m

The ferry ride from North Sydney to Argentia lasted 14 hours. Newfoundland is a piece of rock out there in the middle of the Atlantic.

And the wet weather did not abate. We arrived at the ferry terminal at about 7am. We rode in the rain until we arrived in St John’s at 3:30pm. I guess it makes up for the great weather we’ve been blessed with on the trip. My dad had one rain day and I’ve ridden a couple hours in showers in 32 riding days. Not bad.

The road rose and fell and the rain sometimes lashed our faces like hail. I almost ran over a dog as I descended trying to see through my rain soaked foggy sunglasses. There was one service station/restaurant along the way so we nickel and dimed our way on protein bars and granola bars. Fewer stops means earlier arrival.

My mom was waiting for us at the hotel. We were near bonking by the end of the ride and ripe ready for a hot shower. We celebrated our reunion and the end of our illustrious Tour de Canada with dinner at East Side Mario’s. Food tastes good.


Out in the rain I keep on walking
Out in the rain like the brokenhearted do
I could be wrong but that's where you'll find me
Out in the rain just looking for you.

Stage 31 Bras d’Or, NS to North Sydney, NS

July 6
24 km, 1 h 22 m

The Weather Channel has been our trusted friend on this journey. The goofy guy who is on weekday mornings has endeared himself to me. He loves his job.

Today we’re told to expect showers. We got to the ferry terminal just in time to avoid the rain. We meet another cyclist on his way to St John’s named Dick Loomer. His wife is the director of the Elektra Women’s Choir. My friend Holly sings in the choir, so I knew that they were going to be there. But to meet another cyclist from Vancouver- who knew?

By the time we were ready to load, the rain was coming down in earnest. On top of that, we had to wait about twenty minutes in the downpour. A foreshadowing of things to come?

Stage 30 Port Hastings, NS to Bras d’Or, NS

July 5
121 km, 5 h 19 m

Had a nice climb up Kelly’s Mountain. There was a tricky bridge to cross after the descent- no bike lane, just two way traffic and hopefully some common sense between drivers, should we all meet at the wrong time. We got across without incident.

We stayed at the Seal Island Hotel. Minutes from the ferry to Newfoundland. Promises of satellite television greeted us. It turned out to be six channels of sometime fuzzy reception. This doesn’t count as ‘satellite TV’. A friend once advised me to undercommit and overdeliver. Seal Island would do well to heed this advice.

Stage 29 Stellarton, NS to Port Hastings, NS

July 4
114 km, 5 h 37 m

Team Wiens is getting closer to the goal. Got over the Canso Causeway onto Cape Breton.

Stage 28 Charlottetown, PEI to Stellarton, NS

July 3
92 km, 4 h 17 m

I managed to get another blood donation lined up. Plasma in PEI makes for seven provinces donated in. Three left to go.

Then I blitzed out to the ferry at Wood Island. Wound up just past New Glasgow.


Smell.
Fresh air. Vehicle exhaust.
Hot food. Clean laundry.
Stinky jersey. Roadkill.

Day Off in Charlottetown

July 2

Had a most lethargic day off. Watched Wimbledon and U20 FIFA World Cup.

Then went out for lobster. Complete with bibs and claw crackers. Fun times.

Stage 27 Carleton, PEI to Charlottetown, PEI

July 1
65 km, 3 h 55 m

Happy Birthday, Canada. We had a leisurely ride into the Birthplace of Confederation, but more hills than we expected. Especially after the big fish lunch we stopped for.

Enjoyed the festivities- music and fireworks.

Stage 26 Steeves Mountain, NB to Carleton, PEI

June 30
117 km, 5 h 42 m

My dad got on the bike again today in Moncton. It’s good to have company on the road. We took the shuttle over the Confederation Bridge to the land of the red dirt.


Away from this red dirt town I'm gonna make a joyful sound.

Stage 25 Lincoln, NB to Steeves Mountain, NB

June 29
150 km, 6 h 38 m

Feel.
Handlebars, saddle, pedals.
Legs churn beneath, chewing up the ground.
Warm sun on my face, wind at my back.

Stage 24 Florenceville, NB to Lincoln, NB

June 28
153 km, 7 h 36 m

It seems people in New Brunswick are fond of their lawns. Great expanses of green cut with ride on mowers into meticulous perfection. Beautiful countryside.


Going up home to live in green pastures.

Stage 23 St-Basile, NB to Florenceville, NB

June 26
139 km, 5 h 13 m

Listen.
The whirr of the wheels, the hum of the chain. Rear derailleur switching gears.
Inhale, exhale.
Vehicle approaching- keep right.
Birds chirp, water runs, iPod in the ear.
Eternity moves, whispers loud inside my chest.

Stage 22 St-Honoré, QC to St-Basile, NB

June 25
77 km, 3 h 49 m

Short day. Felt good to take it easy.

When you’re on your bike so much, one way to pass the time is to invent games. There’s the Coasting Game- at home I could make it from the top of the Drive to my back door if I timed it right. There is the How-Long-Can-I-Stay-on-My-Bike-Without-Touching-the-Ground Game- 57 km from Smooth Rock Falls to Cochrane. And there’s the Granny Gear Game. Can I get to St John’s without using it? I’ve made it from Kamloops to St-Basile.

Stage 21 La Pocatière, QC to St-Honoré, QC

June25
132 km, 6 h 34 m

Riding on the south shore of the St Lawrence River was beautiful. These are old roads and houses line the entire distance. It makes me think of grade 5 Social Studies- those thin plots of land leading down to the water. And the river’s gonna run.

Look.
A white line leading on, ever and ever. A narrow width of pavement my domain.
Trees, grass, rocks, water, birds.
Houses, machines, hints of humanity.
A plate of food, a soft bed.

Forlorn bungee cord
Laying on roadside, sprung loose
Why did you let go?

My steed in the morning, awaiting another day on the road.

Stage 20 Ste-Foy, QC to La Pocatière, QC

June 24
144 km, 6 h 47 m

Quebec is the place to cycle if you like bike routes. They have la Route Verte. Many cycling paths criss cross the province. I took one out of Quebec up the south shore of the St Lawrence. There were lots of families on bikes and rollerblades on Sunday afternoon. A pleasant ride.

The traffic lights and the rules of the road in Quebec have an effect on the drivers. It makes them crazy, erratic and tres impatient. This isn't good for cyclists. Maybe that's why they have so many bike routes. They know that mixing bicycles and maniacal drivers makes for trouble.

Stage 19 Yamachiche, QC to Quebec, QC

June 23
170 km, 8 h 43 m

My dad stayed in Montreal to rest an extra day after the accident and we planned to meet in Quebec. We timed our entrance perfectly. Quebeckers celebrate St Jean Baptiste Day on June 23 in Quebec and June 24 in Montreal.

My dad rented a car a met me along the north shore with a Schwartz's smoked meat sandwich. He had a couple of hitchhikers with him- it seems that Quebec is the place to celebrate. We decided to meet at the Chateau Frontenac- a worthy rendezvous.

Descent into Mayhem. I got to the edge of the city and tried to navigate downtown. Not easy with all the hills. I ended up riding on a trail where no bikes are allowed to avoid a steep hill. As luck would have it, I had to climb the hill in the end anyway.

That led me to Rue St Louis. Darkness was falling as I headed east to Vieux Quebec and the cars and pedestrians got thicker. The buses were packed. I took all the hooting and hollering as a hero's welcome for the roving cyclist. What a way to celebrate Quebec's holiday.

At the centre of the madness it was like downtown Vancouver summer fireworks crowds times 3. Pedestrians taking over the streets, cars crawling along. An urban biker's delight.

We had some gelato, listened to some live music and then took off.

Bon St Jean.