Friday, September 3, 2010

Contemplating Canada.... Oh what a country!




When I started the journey back in June, I remember sitting at the Mile zero mark and thinking I was about to embark on an adventure of epic proportions and perhaps I wasn't ready... fit... or perhaps I was just insane for thinking it.

I remember sitting at Mile 0 in Victoria and looking at a map and starting to cry - then remembered not to look at the big picture but take it one day at a time. Low and behold that is what I ended up doing... looking at each day as a short (albeit often 150km or more ride from location to location).

Canada is such a beautiful county - not that I have to let most of you know - but I feel I must say something more along those lines.

British Columbia has the magnificent mountains and glacier fed lakes...
Alberta continues in the same regard with the Rockies rising even higher than the coastal moutains and then flattening out after Calgary into wonderous prairies that literally go on for days and days.... and on a bicycle they go even longer than that.
Saskatchewan taught me a lot about patience... and that beauty is sometimes WAY off in the distance with the sky from horizon to horizon. It was in Saskatchewan that I fought mosquitoes and learned how to spray and ride.
Manitoba continues with prairies and then lakes start coming into play and boreal forests - where deer flies and horse flies can make a man go insane.
Ontario was in a phrase "Yours to discover" lots of hills and trees in the north and using the Bike Rally to get me to Montreal was just perfect... friends for life - literally.
Quebec with the wide St. Lawrence river and an amazing Route Verte.
New Brunswick was the start of my Atlantic tour... the province I visited twice - lots of moose (yet I saw none). Many trees and the spectacular St. John river.
Prince Edward Island... what can I say... Anne of Green Gables was right... it is a place of kindred spirits.
Nova Scotia continued with more friendly people, a large blueberry, an amazing Halifax harbour and then Cape Breton - Mike I understand why this place has your soul...
Newfoundland so comfy, relaxed and encouraging the people truly are wonderful - everyone says hello to everyone, and going to Signal Hill and Cape Spear (most easterly point in North America was awesome).

Oh... forgot to mention... I hit 9500km in St. John's... only 500km more and I will be at 10,000km for the year... it will happen.

BTW - I posted another update below... thanks for reading:)

4 comments:

  1. I think the Canadian board for Tourism should give you a job as their promoter! Enjoy the home coming, it's very much deserved! AC x

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  2. Well done Nathan, I've enjoyed reading up on your adventures a great deal!

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  3. What an accomplishment...what a ride. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Glad to have you home. Love you lots, Dad

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  4. Well done Mister Crazy Canadian !
    What a trip you mad this year - i'm sure you lurned alot about yourself !
    What an accomplishment of experiences
    I wish you a excellent time at home and hope one day our roads will cross again
    Best regards, Yvon

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