Yesterday (Saturday) I was able to head out for another real ride. During the week the rides aren't "real"... At least not in length! I finally got around to programming and installing my little computer, so I have a better sense of what I'm doing on the road.
Distance covered: 58km
Average speed: 24km/hr
Maximum speed: 49.6km/hr
Number of Starbucks on Ira Needles Blvd: 4
Number of near accidents due to drivers who don't get it (a rant for another time...) 2
Number of flats: ZERO!!!!
Alleged number of calories burnt: over 2000, but I'm skeptical. Or I'm dreamin'!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
It's messy
The things I write on this blog are going to be messy. My narrative will not be solely about biking across North America for 9 weeks, or about poverty. It will be about those things, but it's also going to chart a journey that I have to take this spring: a journey without one of my biggest fans, a journey of grief and loss and trust. It's messy.
At the end of August I started tossing the idea of the Sea to Sea around and was met with much affirmation. All was well with our family (which is usually my number 1 criteria for an adventure) and I thought it would be fun. My mom was especially encouraging.
Late November mom started to get really sick. On December 5 she was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. The entire time that she was sick, she pushed me to keep fundraising and training. She insisted that no matter what the circumstances, I was getting on that plane, bike in tow, in June. We disagreed. As we became aware that her illness was progressing (regressing?) very fast, she insisted that I buy the bike and plane ticket. She assured me she wouldn't be around in June so I should just make my plans. That made me angry, and a bit relieved, because I wouldn't have to make a tough choice. And then guilty for being relieved that she was dying so quickly. See? Messy.
On February 23 she died, confirming my participation in the tour. Mom pre-arranged her funeral, including that she wanted memorial donations to go to World Renew. World Renew is one of the major recipients of our bike tour. She loved Free a Family and the work of this agency. Many people who have donated since her death did so in her honour. I am honoured by that.
My journey from ocean to ocean takes on new meaning this Spring. Biking is solitary, and in some ways so is grief (and yet communal at the same time..)
Thank you for being part of this journey with me.
Thank you for being part of this journey with me.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Real Riding
This past week we finally had weather nice enough to ride outdoors, long distances.
Last Sunday I wanted to try a longer distance. I charted a 54km route using Mappedometer. The route took me north and west of Waterloo, through little towns like Bamberg, Cross Hill, and Heidelberg. When I made the route I completely forgot what Sunday afternoons are like north of Waterloo. The only people on the roads besides cyclists were Old Order Mennonites. Of course I didn't stop to take any pictures, as they really don't like that.
Although sharing the roads with the horse and buggies was cool, the unfortunate part was that there was horse poo everywhere!
I used this longer ride in part to determine if anything on the bike needed changing and adjusting. Fortunately I'm happy to report that after 54 km everything felt great. I felt like I could have gone another 54! The only thing I really would have changed was the temperature, and I'm glad we're not riding in 9 Celsius this summer!
I leave you with this gem, from the front yard of a house I passed.
Last Sunday I wanted to try a longer distance. I charted a 54km route using Mappedometer. The route took me north and west of Waterloo, through little towns like Bamberg, Cross Hill, and Heidelberg. When I made the route I completely forgot what Sunday afternoons are like north of Waterloo. The only people on the roads besides cyclists were Old Order Mennonites. Of course I didn't stop to take any pictures, as they really don't like that.
Although sharing the roads with the horse and buggies was cool, the unfortunate part was that there was horse poo everywhere!
I used this longer ride in part to determine if anything on the bike needed changing and adjusting. Fortunately I'm happy to report that after 54 km everything felt great. I felt like I could have gone another 54! The only thing I really would have changed was the temperature, and I'm glad we're not riding in 9 Celsius this summer!
I leave you with this gem, from the front yard of a house I passed.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Support of All Kinds
A lot of time preparing this winter for the Sea to Sea has been spent bothering people for donations. And I mean Bothering.
THANK YOU. You have been generous, you have been gracious and you have been excited for me. Keep it coming!
I wanted to speak to the fantastic students at Woodland about the tour, but I didn't want to bug them about money.
(A more prepared, well-organized version of Shannon would have taken her camera to school. That Shannon doesn't exist this spring.)
On Wednesday this week, we had an assembly focusing on a recent missions trip a group of grade 12 students took to the Dominican Republic. Since returning, one of the students has also been doing an interdisciplinary project on poverty.
Perfect.
I took my bike to school, and rode circles around the students as they entered the gym. My colleague and friend Mandy interviewed me.
I told the students that my biggest fear was hitting a wall. Oops. I meant that figuratively, not literally.
M: "What do most people say when you tell them you are riding across the continent in 9 weeks?"
S: "They think I'm crazy."
M "Are you crazy?"
S: "Well yeah, but..."
My message to the students was that we all have something we can do to help those in need. Biking isn't the only way I can be helpful. Biking combines my passion for new adventures with my passion for creating change, and that's why I'm biking.
THANK YOU. You have been generous, you have been gracious and you have been excited for me. Keep it coming!
I wanted to speak to the fantastic students at Woodland about the tour, but I didn't want to bug them about money.
(A more prepared, well-organized version of Shannon would have taken her camera to school. That Shannon doesn't exist this spring.)
On Wednesday this week, we had an assembly focusing on a recent missions trip a group of grade 12 students took to the Dominican Republic. Since returning, one of the students has also been doing an interdisciplinary project on poverty.
Perfect.
I took my bike to school, and rode circles around the students as they entered the gym. My colleague and friend Mandy interviewed me.
I told the students that my biggest fear was hitting a wall. Oops. I meant that figuratively, not literally.
M: "What do most people say when you tell them you are riding across the continent in 9 weeks?"
S: "They think I'm crazy."
M "Are you crazy?"
S: "Well yeah, but..."
My message to the students was that we all have something we can do to help those in need. Biking isn't the only way I can be helpful. Biking combines my passion for new adventures with my passion for creating change, and that's why I'm biking.
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