Day 1 - Victoria to Vancouver (via Nanaimo)

Greetings from Beautiful British Columbia!

Hopefully having a netbook on this trip will give me the opportunity to keep better connected and allow you (the readers) to share in my Cross Canada Cycling experience. So far things have been pretty amazing. Right from my arrival in Vancouver - where I took public transit (from the airport) to get to the University of British Columbia - not an easy feet when you are carrying a bicycle in a box and all of your gear... but I did make it to the campus for less than $10.00 Canadian. Had Mountain Equipment Co-ops help in assembling my bicycle (which was ready and built same day).

The first few days were all about exploring Vancouver, going out at night and mingling with the locals - and I did meet some interesting people... but I suppose that is what happens when you are on your YEAR OF PERPETUAL SUNSHINE. Which reminds me - I saw a church named Our Lady of Perpetual Help and chuckled to myself - perhaps I will have to try to snap a shot of that before I leave Vancity heading east.

Highlights thus far:

- putting my bike on the front of a bus so that I could make it to the ferry terminal - who knew that bikes weren't allowed on the road to Tsawwassen.

- seeing a deer on the front lawn on Vancouver Island just outside of Sidney

- eating a nanaimo bar in Nanaimo, BC - I know... easy to please

- ferry ride back to Horseshoe Bay, North Vancouver and meeting up with a cyclist who showed me an awesome way back to Stanley Park and downtown, via the Lions Gate Bridge. Meeting him helped my confidence as he cycled to Calgary on his fixed gear bicycle - twice with only a backpack, in his words - I look better prepared - and considering I managed to keep up with him and hold my own while cycling... more confidence was built.

- Word to the wise - don't forget your towel when you go to the shower - despite how tired you may be...

- biggest highlight - was leaving Victoria - not because it was awful... but because I went to "Mile 0" on the Trans-Canada. There is a statue there in remembrance of Terry Fox with beautiful quotes - "Somewhere the hurting must stop," "I believe in miracles, I have to." "Dreams are made possible if you try." Although I was alone at "Mile 0" I thought of so many people and the quotes and statue of Terry Fox made me quite emotional. Thoughts of my family and friends who I know are cheering me on from all over the world made me have a sense of excitement, yet calmness.... if that makes any sense. The with tears in my eyes I started my journey.

- Day 1 complete - 149.53km - Victoria to Vancouver (via Nanaimo and North Vancouver), sun/then overcast about 22 degrees at the warmest.