Aug 12 - gander, twillingate,

Twillingate today

Look who I ran into - Josh and Sarah and a helicopter!

Puffins…photo credit to Josh and Sarah 

Putting the bike up on the vehicle for the return trip

After the beer comes the ice cream

Mike bike at signal hill.  Feels strange to not be riding it!

Puffins

Celebrating

 

I did promise some stats….so here they are.  

8837 km 

573 hrs

55,376 meters of elevation gain

96 days

Lost - 3 gloves…not three pairs, just 3 gloves.  

Mechanical - one broken chain.  No tire punctures despite finding a thumbtack in my tire.  One broken tent pole - replaced the entire tent after three attempts to fix it….3 strikes…. I’m out!!!.  

Regrets - 2.  First is that I never wild camped.  Second is that I didn’t take my buddy Mike’s advice to upgrade my phone to have a better camera.  I didn’t understand the views that I would have.  

I appreciated every text and comment.  It helped to relieve the homesickness and I felt less alone.  🙂

I knew that Canada was a wonderful place to live, and I was so appreciative to see and learn it first hand, and I was so happy to share all the wonder and beauty we have, along with the kindness of so many strangers that are now friends 😀.  I sincerely hope that this blog has encouraged you to explore a part of Canada that you have never seen, read up on the history of Canada, talk to someone about their hometown or share the uniqueness of your hometown.  

It’s been two days of no riding, and yes it does feel strange to be riding in a vehicle, watching the scenery rolling by so quickly!  But it is a good way to see as much of Newfoundland as we can in the few days that we have.  I’ve been told that 5 weeks of visiting wouldn’t be enough and that is correct.  So many wonderful little towns to explore, so many coves and hikes that are possible.  

This is an unfortunate year to be visiting as the fires are raging out of control.  A combination of extreme heat - it was 37C today - strong winds and lack of moisture have created a perfect environment for huge fires.  Yesterday as we were heading out of St John’s an alert came on our phones to let us know that a fire close by necessitated the closure of the Trans-Canada highway.  We were over 10 km away and could see the flames shooting up.  Today there are more fires out of control and I have no idea how the firefighters are managing.  I can barely be out in the sun for a few minutes before I can’t stand the heat anymore.  It feels strange to be visiting and touring when so many people are on evacuation alert.  Tomorrow starts a cooling trend, and the forecast is high temps of 17 by Saturday, but that’s still several days away. Fingers crossed for cooler weather, but unsure if any precipitation will also come.  

Our views of Twillingate were spectacular, and they are quite far from the fires that there wasn’t any smoke in the area.  Tomorrow we will visit Gros Morn.  

Aug 11

 Thanks to everyone for all the texts and emails…. I’m overwhelmed!!!!  

I will get some stats out in a bit.  But for now enjoy the photos of me writing in the sand!  

Aug 10 - Day 96 - St John’s 80 km, 1020 m

Cape Spear

Cape Spear

Cape Spear

What an amazing day!  I woke up at 0400 this morning…not nerves or excitement….just had enough sleep I guess.  Packed up and boiled water for oatmeal by 0700….when Jennifer arrived, asking for our Tim’s orders!  Well…aren’t we just the luckiest!  The oatmeal was quickly put away since it was still in the package.  From where we were camping, it was 33km to a gas station.  

After my tea and bagel we were off.  I stopped several times to take photos and even a selfie….I thoroughly enjoyed the day!  Eventually I got into the busy St John’s traffic, and decided that’s not what I wanted…google to the rescue.  I headed off to the coast and found a nice quiet country road which led me to the cutest town of Petty Harbour!!!  Even though the road was narrow, I stopped to take photos….and once again so much better in real life.  Spectacular cliffs and rocks, with the bluest of water!!!  Three large 100m hills later and I had arrived….Cape Spear!!!  My destination.  The easternmost point in Canada….no more road…I had arrived….and so did the tears.  I set my bike…prepared to take a photo when a man came up and offered to take my photo with the bike.  He was puzzled when he saw that I was crying.  When I explained, he gave me a hug, then told everyone around….cheering and clapping ensued!!!!  I was overwhelmed.  
 

When my Sisters in law showed up….my fault,  I didn’t give them enough notice….more tears, hugs and photos!  Phone calls home….but the poor service  made it challenging to send photos.  

Then I cycled another 20km and 2 hills of 100m and one of 150m to get to Quidi Vidi brewery, and that’s where I was able to dip my front tire into the Atlantic Ocean.  Job done!!!  

First round was on Pat, second and food on Mike!  Thank you ❤️❤️❤️❤️.  

On the way this morning 

Selfie this morning 

Petty Harbour

Dipping my front tire at Quidi Vidi

Celebrating at the brewery 

At Cap Spear

Off I go on the last leg!!!

Thanks to Jennifer our tummies are full…ready for the last day!!!!

Aug 9 - Day 95 - Bluefin camping - 87km, 835m

This is how we cooked our hot dogs

Location of Quidi Vidi

I stopped to take a photo of the bike here, and a guy came up and said let’s move your bike over here, so we can see the 7 islands, and had his wife stand on the picnic table to take the photo!  Then offered me water or coffee!  So nice 😀

Welcome to Newfoundland and Labrador.  The Canada games are going on right now….so I’m sure St John’s is going to be busy!  

I’ve arrived in Newfoundland!!!  My first time here, and I can’t wait to start touring, but before that…a bit of unfinished business ….I have one more day to cycle. The ferry ride last night went well, and we all stretched out for a bit of a sleep during the night.  This morning a quick breakfast on the ferry, and once we were docked we were off.  I met another bike packer -Caroline, while waiting for the ferry yesterday, and today we are in the same campground.  

The ride today was good….wide shoulders and a tail wind, but busy traffic on the transcanada.  Smoky and warm day….they have not had any rain for quite some time, and there are some out of control fires.  The one closest to us, seems to be better, and shouldn’t be any concern for me cycling tomorrow.  The town closest to the fire, Holyrood has now reopened according to another camper, so that’s good news for the people living there.  

So Caroline arrived at the campground before I did…and she must have looked famished as the lady at the check in told her that there was some left over food from a party!  Yippee.  Since there’s nothing around here for food.  I do have one dehydrated meal, but real food is much better.  Well, by the time we got there, all the food had been cleaned up, but another camper offered 4 hot dogs and buns, along with condiments!  Great.  That’s perfect for us.  While I was showering, Caroline went in search of beer….and got lucky with the third person she asked….6 ice cold beers in a little carry bag!  Double yippeee.  Now we needed a place to cook up the hot dogs….the lady at the check in gave us the key to the hall!  Triple yippee!!!!  We are set….our tummies are full, especially after the ice cream that we bought at the office.  What a great day.  Tomorrow I will cook up the last packets of oatmeal that I have with me….which should be enough until we get to St John’s.  

The plan is to head out to Cape Spear which is the easternmost point on Newfoundland for a few photos.  Unfortunately this is not an area that I can dip my bicycle wheel….so I will have to go to Quidi Vidi beach to dip my wheel….then back to St John’s for a beer or two.  

Thanks to everyone who is following along, sending texts and comments.  I will continue to blog while in Newfoundland for anyone who is interested.  

Aug 8 - Day 94 - North Sydney - 22km 180m

Getting ready to board 

On the ferry just leaving NS

My last few hours in Nova Scotia before getting onto the ferry for Newfoundland.  

I would like to take this opportunity to send out some thank yous as I may not have much for service tomorrow.  First of all to Ted who didn’t just ’let me go’ in this adventure but fully supported me….staying home to hold down the fort while I’m off on yet another fun filled adventure 😘😘😘.   And that goes for my entire family - always so supportive and pitching in to do whatever needs to be done so that I don’t have any worries while I’m gone.  ❤️❤️❤️

To all the friends and family who have read and commented on the blog, texted on the live tracking and personal emails and texts….kept me going when it became challenging!!!🥰

To everyone who opened their homes and vacation homes friends, friends of friends, relatives of relatives!!!  Providing a warm comfortable dry place to stay, laundry, food and even taxi money to go for food!!!  

The surprise visits along the way and the planned visits were amazing.  

The kindness of strangers who paid for meals, brought me breakfast or just gave me encouragement along the way and a friend who is paying for the first round in St John’s!!!  

To all my friends who gave me the tough love when I needed it…..ensured that I didn’t just curl up and cry in the cold rain - but rode all day in the rain and made my destination…😉, and then called up the restaurant I was at, provided a credit card to buy my beer and meal!!!

To my sisters-in-Law who drove across the country to see me at the end of this amazing adventure.  

To all the drivers out there who gave me lots of space and didn’t run into me!!!!  And to my guardian angels who also kept me safe all along the way.  

This has been an incredible journey - I’ve learned so much about myself and also about the people of Canada.  🇨🇦. We are all so amazing.  

Lastly….whatever your dreams are….get rid of all those obstructions in your head and make it happen!  Don’t complicate things.  Buy the bike, sew up some bags….fill them up and head off on your adventure….however that looks like.  Also, when you can, show kindness….because that’s who we are as Canadians.    

Aug 7 - Day 93 - Sydney - 104.5 km, 950m

Wouldn’t this be a great place to live?  So many spots like that today! 

Beach that I stopped at for a bit

Lifting the bridge for the sailboat 

Sailboat passing

For all the Christmas lovers….this is the name of the town.  Only a few houses with gorgeous views….no stores though.  All the signs have English and Gaelic.  

OP

A few families were here fishing 

Another stellar day….nice sunny and warm weather which is good for me, but not for Nova Scotia.  The fire risk is very high here, and although there aren’t any fires, there are severe restrictions to ensure it stays that way.  All the trails are closed, which means the OHV don't have a place to go, but it also includes hikers and bikes wanting to use the trails.  Fire bans of course.  Plus anyone caught overnighting in the wild will incite a $25,000 fine!  These rules are in effect until October 15, or a heavy rain.  The problem is the hurricane they had a few years ago caused a lot of deadfall….so now the forests are tinder dry of all the deadfall.  Recipe for disaster.   As far as I can tell, everyone is complying.  In all the campgrounds that I’ve stayed at, and in all the small towns, there are so many OHV, seems like everyone owns them….so this rule is affecting many peoples summer plans.  

As for me I had a great day cycling.  Hard to believe there was almost 1000m of elevation gain.  It felt like a lot….but really wasn’t too bad.  This morning on my way for tea, I chatted with a local of Whycocomagh.  What a great place to grow up….just stunning here.  The town is situated on a beautiful clear lake, surrounded by mountains….not BC mountains, but mountains nonetheless.  Any outdoor activity is possible just minutes from your doorstep!

The boys yesterday recommended the route that I took.  It avoided one huge hill near Sydney but more importantly I was on secondary roads….paved, but not busy…,with spectacular views as I was skirting Bras d’Or lake today.  Trees, beaches and of course lots of water….and people and families enjoying the area!   

I stopped at the highland village near Iona, and made the mistake of going into their gift shop…..I only purchased some drinks and cinnamon buns….but I also bought a mug!  I’ll remember this trip every time I use it….and I did find a place to safely transport it!  

As I was passing the great narrows bridge….we were stopped as the bridge deck lifted to allow a sailboat to get through.  That was fun to watch!  

I’m in a beautiful room tonight, that is behind a venue that’s a barn!  Ted thought that I was wild camping here tonight as the google map that he was looking at didn’t show a motel here!!!  Hahaha….im not going to risk $25,000!!!!  

Tomorrow morning laundry….then head over to the ferry for the last leg of the trip.  The ferry is 16 hours long, and no….we do not have a cabin.  But the boys from yesterday gave me the inside scoop.  Hopefully we all get a bit of rest….I’ll be cycling at least 50km once I’m off as the total distance to St John’s is 154km….with lots of hills.  Too much for one day, so need to break it up into two days.  Finishing on Aug 10, as we have a full week of sightseeing starting the following morning 😀😀😀