17th
Day 4 - Let there be more!
Hello Blog Land! Greetings from the Trans-Canada Highway, just outside Windypeg (although most of you will know it as Winnipeg). Day 4 was a day of winds and our Team battled through them for almost 200 kilometers with epic courage, strong legs, a most impressive commitment to the kids and the cause, and gratifying results. Our day began early in Brandon, under heavy skies that looked like we could expect our first rain of the ride. However, this was not to be the case as the clouds were soon replaced by the hot sun and the wind began to blow. This challenged us to be strong and work as a group as we knew the wind was from the South East and so we had to work against a head wind or cross wind all the way to Windypeg. And work we did! We were treated to a fabulous lunch stop in St. Claude where we were greeted by a group of Grades 3 and 4 students from a local school who came, complete with banners, pictures, and posters (that they had done in school), to meet the National Riders. This was truly special. Thanks for organizing this surprise for us Stephanie. After lunch and a rest from the wind, we again set out and really enjoyed an all-too-short stretch of road where we were able to get our peleton working as we flew down the road at over 45 kph! What a treat for EVERYONE (read your own name here Team 3)! Thanks to our great support crew we arrived at Polo Park in Winnipeg for a wonderful reception and a great dinner. I was thrilled to meet Al and Yvonne (my “step-sister” - if you really want to know why it is in quotes, ask me sometime and I’ll tell you) there and to catch up with them. They are the parents of Steven, a young boy who lost his courageous battle with cancer at a young age, and who is one of my inspirations for being involved in this event. Thanks for being there you two. It really means a lot to me. As we head towards Ontario to our overnight in Mine Centre, today’s ride kudos go to our great crew - the best, most hard-working group of individuals one could ever ask for. At the risk of leaving anyone out or offending/embarrassing anyone, here are my kudos for Day 4: To “Super Dave” and “Do everything” Damien, the two guys who seem to never sleep and are always either setting up or cleaning up our stops along the way, or passing, honking and generally supporting us on the ride; to Drew, May, Jim, and Mike our fabulous RV drivers who get us to where we need to be, when we need to be there, and do our laundry; to May (again) who is working her masage magic on our tired legs, arms, and backs so we can stay on the bike and at pace (and she does all this between the driving duties and taking some great photos and movies when we are on the road; to Darren our MVM (most valuable mechanic) who works day and night to ensure our bikes are always in fine condition, fixes flats faster than anyone I know, and can find a solution to any problem presented to him, and always with a smile and a ready hug or ‘fist bump’; to Kelly our nurse/medic/mother who makes sure our butts are covered (literally if we are talking chamois creme, and figuratively when she is making sure the follow vehicle is with us and that we are all safe on the road); to Lynne (aka ‘Lean’) our photographer and content person who is always as ready with her camera and notebook as she is with kind and gentle advice borne out of her experience as a National Rider last year; to Juan, our videographer who is a real pro with the movie camera and mic, and knows how to ‘capture the moment’; and to Dan “the Man” and Sandy our SLH truck drivers and all-around super volunteers. We discover that SLH stands for ‘Santa’s Little Helpers’ and helpers they are, whether it is hauling our bunks and bikes ahead for us so we have a place to sleep and something to ride the next day, or helping get food ready, or providing ‘much needed’ directions so that the RVs arrive at the same place the bunks are at night. Dan the Man even has offered to make sure I have a warm sleeping bag to get into every night (and I will spare you all the details, for which you WILL thank me). You ALL, each and everyone of you have my heartfelt admiration for your commitment to the riders, and to the cause, and do it all as volunteers. You are THE BEST. Thank you for making this journey with me. So you see it takes and army of volunteers and crew to keep the 11 (and soon to be 12 - you know who I am talking about Gertrude) riders upright and happy and on the road. Again kudos to you and thanks. Tomorrow will see us arriving in Thunder Bay and I am looking forward to seeing many of my colleagues from Confederation College. That is the Report from Day 4. Thanks to everyone who is reading this and following our adventure, and thanks for the messages and comments you are leaving for me. Thanks to the love of my life, my terrific wife Anne, I am getting all your comments and reading them. They mean a great deal to me and help keep the spirit high when the legs want to stop turning.
Today’s mileage: 205km
Total mileage to date: 710km
