Distance: 52.81
Time: 2:11
Elevation: 589 m
Weather: 14-16 Overcast and drizzle at the end
Flats: 0
So this is it! Woke up very early even though I knew we were not leaving until after 10 am at least. Read and caught up on the blog a bit.
Greg woke up and went and got us coffees. Then went down and sat on the deck. Colette had to go and pick up the Pattersons and bring them back for breakfast so once they arrived we sat down for breakfast.
Penny and Mark arrived just as we sat down. They have been touring Newfoundland for a couple of weeks and yesterday Penny ran the Huffin Puffin Marathon in St. Johns and came first in her age category! Amazing lady! So they joined us for coffee and Colette brought them a light plate as well. They were picking up Greg and the luggage and taking it all to St Johns. How nice!
Had a nice breakfast....finished in the room and readied to head out. I started by going along the boardwalk to bypass the worksite along the road. It was an easy ride and about 15Km out I met up with Dominic who was finishing his XCAN bike trip this week as well. We had a good talk as we road along together. He has done over 9000 km already on this trip. He started by riding from Montreal to Toronto before going to the west coast and doing a lot of touring on Vancouver Island before heading east. We took our time and talked quite a bit for the next 45 minutes. It was nice to ride with him and learn about his experience on the road. He was staying in Conception, so we wished each other well, congratulations and he told me to be safe for this last stretch...I left him there and headed up to the highway.
A nice easy ride on the highway. I stopped to put on my rain jacket as it was starting to spit a bit and cooled down. Just after that Nancy and Dave blew by me on the highway...I stopped and let them go. I was in no hurry to finish.
From my last stop it was pretty well all downhill to St. Johns and you picked up a lot of speed but had to watch as the shoulders kind of disappeared in a few places. Onto Water Street and winding up through the far end of town. At Hill o Chips I actually got off my bike and finished by walking the hill as it was very steep and busy. Up the hill and onto the road to Quidi Vidi, a small fishing port just over the hill from town. I caught up to Nancy and Dave who were asking directions and then with one slight miscalculation we got on the right road to the water and Greg, Penny and Mark.
It was amazing coming around the corner and seeing them waiting there. A quick tire dip and Greg broke open the Prosecco, (Long story about that one) and it was done!!! Wow.
A couple bottles were drank and we were joined by Sean on Christine from the ferry, who just happened to be touring Quidi Vidi when we finished. So funny.
I accomplished my goal of riding EFI ( Every Friking Inch) across this amazing country. I was lucky and other than a few bruises, I have been healthy and my body held up amazingly.
Here are my ride Stats.
Provinces: 10
Distance: 7816.4 km
Time : 331 hours
Elevation: 46744 m
Total Days: 96
Riding Days: 80
Rest Days: 16
Avg Km/Day: 97.7 km
Flats: Lots - I have to look that one up :)
Too many peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Not quite one a day as I didn't eat a full one for lunch a lot of days, but enough that I don't think I want any more for a while!!
After everyone left...I took my time leaving Quidi Vidi. A bit of time to reflect on being finished and wondering what was going to be next.
A short ride to the hotel where I was treated like royalty. Too cute. The manager asked if I would like some coffee sent up and when it arrived it was this amazing cheese and fruit and nut and chocolate platter. Very nice not to have to go out for lunch! Thank you Dustin for booking us in. The hotel is wonderful with a great view and very luxurious after 3 months in the trailer.
A hot bath soak...changed the water 3 times...where I think 3 months worth of goop was finally soaked off my legs! A short walk and then out for dinner with the group.
A short walk around very quiet Tuesday night St Johns and back to the hotel to bed.
I had so many texts, emails and comments from you all with congratulations! Thank you so much for all your words along the way and at the end. It has been another one of those journeys of a lifetime that I have been very fortunate to have had. There have been so many highlights on this trip. There was never a day that I wasn't excited to get on my bike and ride. So thank you all for coming along with me!
A big big Hug and many many Thanks to Greg for everything he did for all of us as there wouldn't (almost wasn't) have been a trip without his generosity of purchasing the trailer (which is for sale if anyone is interested) and driving it both ways across Canada so we could fulfill our dreams! I have asked Greg to do a follow up blog which he will get to soon. But Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. Our next adventure is yours to decide!
Time now to drive back to B.C. and get some time with my granddaughters and family!
Lots of Love Heidi
Time: 2:11
Elevation: 589 m
Weather: 14-16 Overcast and drizzle at the end
Flats: 0
So this is it! Woke up very early even though I knew we were not leaving until after 10 am at least. Read and caught up on the blog a bit.
Greg woke up and went and got us coffees. Then went down and sat on the deck. Colette had to go and pick up the Pattersons and bring them back for breakfast so once they arrived we sat down for breakfast.
Penny and Mark arrived just as we sat down. They have been touring Newfoundland for a couple of weeks and yesterday Penny ran the Huffin Puffin Marathon in St. Johns and came first in her age category! Amazing lady! So they joined us for coffee and Colette brought them a light plate as well. They were picking up Greg and the luggage and taking it all to St Johns. How nice!
Had a nice breakfast....finished in the room and readied to head out. I started by going along the boardwalk to bypass the worksite along the road. It was an easy ride and about 15Km out I met up with Dominic who was finishing his XCAN bike trip this week as well. We had a good talk as we road along together. He has done over 9000 km already on this trip. He started by riding from Montreal to Toronto before going to the west coast and doing a lot of touring on Vancouver Island before heading east. We took our time and talked quite a bit for the next 45 minutes. It was nice to ride with him and learn about his experience on the road. He was staying in Conception, so we wished each other well, congratulations and he told me to be safe for this last stretch...I left him there and headed up to the highway.
A nice easy ride on the highway. I stopped to put on my rain jacket as it was starting to spit a bit and cooled down. Just after that Nancy and Dave blew by me on the highway...I stopped and let them go. I was in no hurry to finish.
From my last stop it was pretty well all downhill to St. Johns and you picked up a lot of speed but had to watch as the shoulders kind of disappeared in a few places. Onto Water Street and winding up through the far end of town. At Hill o Chips I actually got off my bike and finished by walking the hill as it was very steep and busy. Up the hill and onto the road to Quidi Vidi, a small fishing port just over the hill from town. I caught up to Nancy and Dave who were asking directions and then with one slight miscalculation we got on the right road to the water and Greg, Penny and Mark.
It was amazing coming around the corner and seeing them waiting there. A quick tire dip and Greg broke open the Prosecco, (Long story about that one) and it was done!!! Wow.
A couple bottles were drank and we were joined by Sean on Christine from the ferry, who just happened to be touring Quidi Vidi when we finished. So funny.
I accomplished my goal of riding EFI ( Every Friking Inch) across this amazing country. I was lucky and other than a few bruises, I have been healthy and my body held up amazingly.
Here are my ride Stats.
Provinces: 10
Distance: 7816.4 km
Time : 331 hours
Elevation: 46744 m
Total Days: 96
Riding Days: 80
Rest Days: 16
Avg Km/Day: 97.7 km
Flats: Lots - I have to look that one up :)
Too many peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Not quite one a day as I didn't eat a full one for lunch a lot of days, but enough that I don't think I want any more for a while!!
After everyone left...I took my time leaving Quidi Vidi. A bit of time to reflect on being finished and wondering what was going to be next.
A short ride to the hotel where I was treated like royalty. Too cute. The manager asked if I would like some coffee sent up and when it arrived it was this amazing cheese and fruit and nut and chocolate platter. Very nice not to have to go out for lunch! Thank you Dustin for booking us in. The hotel is wonderful with a great view and very luxurious after 3 months in the trailer.
A hot bath soak...changed the water 3 times...where I think 3 months worth of goop was finally soaked off my legs! A short walk and then out for dinner with the group.
A short walk around very quiet Tuesday night St Johns and back to the hotel to bed.
I had so many texts, emails and comments from you all with congratulations! Thank you so much for all your words along the way and at the end. It has been another one of those journeys of a lifetime that I have been very fortunate to have had. There have been so many highlights on this trip. There was never a day that I wasn't excited to get on my bike and ride. So thank you all for coming along with me!
A big big Hug and many many Thanks to Greg for everything he did for all of us as there wouldn't (almost wasn't) have been a trip without his generosity of purchasing the trailer (which is for sale if anyone is interested) and driving it both ways across Canada so we could fulfill our dreams! I have asked Greg to do a follow up blog which he will get to soon. But Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. Our next adventure is yours to decide!
Time now to drive back to B.C. and get some time with my granddaughters and family!
Lots of Love Heidi
4 comments:
Congratulations Heidi, what an epic adventure!! Safe travels back to BC <3
Congratulations and a big Thank you for allowing us to come on this trip with you guys!
Congratulations to everyone. What an amazing effort and achievement. Thanks for letting us in on the adventure.
Amazing! Hope your trip home is restful, and without any flats. Thank you for sharing your adventure.
Barbara and Watson the dog
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