A quick update

Cross Canada By Bicycle: 7260 km from Vancouver to St. John's from Alexander Holton on Vimeo.

Vanessa and I are now comfortably settled back into our apartment and starting to find our way back to normal. Neither of us has had time to put together our final thoughts on the trip but that should come soon. For the moment here is a slideshow I put together that shows some of our favorite photos from the ride.

Celebrations in St. John's: Photos

Celebrations in St. John's

Your body does something funny the day after a 7260 km bike ride. It suddenly becomes absolutely exhausted. Fortunately for us, we had some great friends and a lovely event to get us through the day.

After an included breakfast at the Delta, Vanessa and I hopped on our bikes and headed to our last rehab class run through Eastern Health at Memorial University's Field House. There we were greeted by hospital representatives Wendy Decker, Dr. Michael Furlong, Sharon Meehan and a wonderful rehab class that made us feel right at home.

We were also thrilled to have a few special guests, including St. John's East MP Jack Harris, a representative of St. John's South-Mount Pearl MP Ryan Cleary and St John's Mayor Dennis O'Keefe. I also hesitate to call them guests and not simply good friends, but we were grateful as well to have Barbara Kennedy, Executive Director of the of the Cardiac Health Foundation of Canada and Leo DelZotto, President of Tridel Corporation and The Cardiac Health Foundation of Canada, on hand for the celebrations. Both Barbara and Leo have been incredibly supportive of the campaign and have done countless hours of work to promote the Ride for Rehab. We can't describe how grateful we are for their unwavering support. While we have the chance, in abstentia, Vanessa and I want to give a big thank you to Cristina Mellos of the Cardiac Health Foundation for her work on the campaign as well.

Our last Rehab visit began with some very kind words from MP Jack Harris and Mayor O'Keefe. Mayor O'Keefe recently went through a cardiac health emergency of his own and was gracious enough to share his experience of personal crisis and eventual recovery.

Following the introductions, Leo DelZotto presented Vanessa and I with a check for $22,000.00 on behalf of Tridel, made out to the Cardiac Health Foundation of Canada which we Promptly passed off to Barbara (No one should have a check that large in their hands for too long!).

A big part of this campaign has been to spread awareness about the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation programs and to make sure that people know that they are available. Part of this has been trying to attract media attention to cardiac rehab and today was no exception. At the event we were fortunate enough to have television coverage from CBC, NTV and Roger's TV. We were thrilled to have them there to help get the word out.

Following the presentations, Vanessa and I took a quick ride back to The Delta where we had a celebratory luncheon hosted by Leo DelZotto and attended by hospital representatives.

It's hard to digest that the trip has finally come to a close. When you consider the time it took to plan and prepare for the ride, it's been the focus for about seven months of our lives. From here we're taking a few days to enjoy St. John's before settling back into our lives in Toronto.

The iphone has a lovely feature where you can view your photo collection as a musical slideshow. This afternoon Vanessa and I sat down and watched snaps of our trip from start to finish. Looking back at the early photos from Vancouver, they seem like a lifetime ago. In some ways it's hard to group all of the memories together as a single trip. It's difficult to convince yourself that you've experienced so much in such a short period of time.

There is a wonderful rhythm to the images. These stunning photos of landscapes lead into the rehab centres and the people we had the privilege to meet, and then fade back out onto the road. Chronologically they really convey the extreme contrasts we felt floating back and forth between wilderness and civilization.

As we've said before, the real weight of this trip is only starting to sink in and we need a bit of time to really process it all. In a week or so Vanessa and I are going to publish some final thoughts, but this is our last post of our day to day.

All we can say is thank you all for supporting a cause so close to us and for supporting us personally through what will likely be the one of the most difficult and lovely experiences of our lives. We feel privileged to have had the chance to share it with you and we sincerely hope you all enjoyed coming along for the ride.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Alex and Vanessa

Day 95: Daily Photo

Day 95: Fitzgerald's Pond to St. John's, Newfoundland! (105km)

There are so many posts that I have wanted to start with, "we're in (blank) city!" And of course, arriving in St. John's deserves that kind of excitement, but it is also so hard to fathom that we haven't yet had the chance to react to it. As momentous as this occasion is for us, it comes along with a touch of sadness and even loss. Don't get me wrong, there have definitely been many moments, days, and even weeks that we have simply wanted to be finished, and we are eagerly anticipating our return home. But out of all of the days and places that we've ridden, Argentia to St. John's is the only route where we've had no hesitancy about whether to go forward, no desire to turn back. Starting out in Vancouver, we tried daily to quell the innumerable doubts about our abilities while suppressing anxieties about the battery of risks involved in taking this trip. Three months later, all of the time, costs, sweat, and struggle have introduced us to hundreds of people and communities, and fostered a lifetime's worth of laughter, joy, and memories.

If there was any lingering uncertainty about whether going the full distance was 'worth it', arriving in Newfoundland yesterday was the ultimate persuasion. Riding onto the expansive island was like entering another world, one with a mystifying sense of openness. Our ride today took on a similar mystical quality as we rode undulated along the steady hills. The roads were in great shape and the grades were just steep enough to remind us to slow down and savour the sweeping vantages of densely treed peaks cutting sharply into valleys.

Our lack of moose sightings during this trip has become something of a joke after months of riding past 'moose night danger' signs on the highway. By the time we reached Bathurst and Miramichi, people would chuckle and say, "Just wait. You're in New Brunswick." The chuckling stopped as we cycled through Nova Scotia but we were assured Newfoundland would bring us better luck. Today, with the passing of every boggy pond or glistening lake, we expected to see moose in such an idyllic habitat. At one point Alex stopped and peered into some trees, proclaiming, "now there's a moose if I ever saw one."

I looked in and saw a long tail swishing back and forth, "really? Are you sure that isn't a horse?" Sure enough two horses came trotting toward us, excited by their own wildlife encounter. It seems that moose have continued to evade us on this ride but I'm sure we'll see them again in Ontario.

Riding into St. John's after hours of boundless wilderness felt like we had parachuted into a city. We stopped at the welcome sign and felt awash with so many emotions led by a wave of disbelief. After 7262km, 739 granola bars, and 23.5kg of loose granola, we are finally here. I'm sure the realization will sink in over the next few days as we enjoy St. John's and make preparations for our flight home. So far we have found a warm and delicious welcome at the Delta Hotel St. John's, which has very generously donated a two night stay on their Signature floor. We have already delighted in a gift box of chocolates and complimentary hors d'oeuvres this afternoon. Tomorrow we have an exciting grand finale planned at a rehab centre here in St. John's along with Mayor O'Keefe and other distinguished guests, you won't want to miss Alex's post on the event!

Day 94: Daily photos

Day 94: Argentia Ferry Terminal to Fitzgerald's Pond NL

A few hours after our post yesterday we climbed aboard Marine Atlantic's brand new ferry and started on our graciously donated passage to Argentia. The ride was relaxing and smooth. Neither Vanessa or I have ever been very far from land on the ocean and it was a treat to leave the shoreline behind and see nothing but blue in all directions.

We docked in Argentia around 2:30 pm and made the short trek to a campground about 26 km from the terminal. We wanted to go further, but by the time we were finished with pictures of the Newfoundland sign and the rugged coast it was 4:30 by the time we reached site and pushing to the next campground 80 kilometers down the road might have been pushing our luck.

Tomorrow we have a full day's ride into St John's and will complete our cross country trek. It's hard to believe we're so close to completing this challenge. We've been riding for so long now that it's become more of a lifestyle than a journey.

If you are reading this post we are most likely minutes from our goal. Tonight we're camped in a valley and are without reception. We'll post this as soon as we can.

Day 93: Daily Photo

Day 93: Sydney to North Sydney/Newfoundland Ferry (34km)

If we thought that the prairie winds were a force to be reckoned with then the post-tropical storm Irene gusts were probably better not to be confronted with a bicycle. This morning we started out in the wake of the rain storm to make our way to the Sydney Heart and Lung Wellness Centre before turning back toward North Sydney.

The wind gusts along the coast were powerful enough to force us to a stop and/or push us off (or into the middle) of the road but we rode carefully and made it to the centre. We had a great visit with the remarkable staff and members of the centre's programs. It's so inspiring to meet with people who have recovered from cardiac episodes and the workers who provide support. It's always tough to pull ourselves away.

Luckily when we poked out again the rain had cleared into sun but we still had the wind swirling recklessly and hurling sand and gravel at our faces. If today's wasn't just a short ride to meet our ferry connection I think we would have stayed off the roads. Though for once I think that our overly weighted bikes helped by keeping us grounded during the aggressive gusts. We made our way slowly along secondary highway 305 to take advantage of added tree cover and less traffic to be swept toward. In the end, because we made it here safely and got off exceptionally easy as far as hurricanes go. The ride was pretty fascinating. We watched traffic poles sway and birds flap motionless against the wind. For the last stretch the wind was behind us and propelled us into North Sydney like motorcyclists.

Now we're staked out at a library and blogging early since we made it to North Sydney with nine hours prior to sailing. The forecast suggests the winds will dissipate in the evening and Marine Atlantic is not expecting any cancellations or delays. Marine Atlantic has generously sponsored our passage to Argentia and we're really looking forward to our ferry trip. All week people have been telling us great things about the vessels and staff onboard. Our first overnight boat ride promises to be an interesting experience!

Day 92: Daily Photo

Day 92: Rest in Sydney

Today was one of our more relaxing days. The most strenuous activity we took part in was tracking down a pleasantly priced all-day breakfast place in the downtown.

Mostly we've been monitoring the weather and updates from Marine Atlantic on our ferry trip. We're leaving for Newfoundland late Monday and so far, it looks as if Irene probably won't be an issue, but it's hard not to keep a watchful eye on the sky.

Tomorrow morning we're visiting with a cardiac group in Sydney and then taking the short 20 km ride to the ferry terminal.

Day:91: Daily Photo

Day 91: St. Peter's to Sydney, NS (87km)

If it were possible to condense our whole cross Canada ride into a single day it might look like this one. We started with a series of intensely steep climbs with no shoulder and plenty of traffic. We also hit construction that forced us to ride gravel up to the highest point of the day. But at the same time, the sea- and landscapes around the Bras D'or lake were truly magnificent (a word I can't recall ever having used before). We paid for those views through sweat and lactic acid production, but it was definitely worth it.

After lunch and 54 kilometres, the grades became less extreme and we coasted on smoother, rolling hills as we eventually reached a paved shoulder for the last bit into Sydney. It is hard to believe that we're here at the furthest eastern point on continental Canada. We won't be rushing away from the hills of Cape Breton just yet, the next two days are ours to rest and visit the area as well as a rehab class here in town on Monday morning.

Our ferry departure to Argentia, Newfoundland is scheduled for 10:45pm on Monday evening, the crossing takes about fifteen hours! It is too early to tell whether or not Hurricane Irene is going to complicate those plans but for now we're trying to keep tabs on the expectations for Atlantic Canada. In any case, for the sake of everyone on the storm's path, we hope it peters out soon!

Day 90: Daily Photo

Day 90: Monestary, NS to St. Peters, Cape Breton (70 km)

This morning as we crossed the Canso Causeway we left mainland Canada
behind and started our ride across Cape Breton, and soon, to St.
John's. Very fittingly to commend this landmark we passed the 7000 km
mark around the 63rd km of our ride today.

It's kind of incomprehensible to think we only have two full days of
riding left in our cross Canada journey. Because of the sheer
distance in front of us, until recently we didn't really allow the
idea of an end into our minds. Now that we're so close it's hard to
grasp.

Today we may have set a personal record for pre-lunch kilometers. We
have a shorter day due to sporadic campgrounds in this stretch and
ended up reaching our site in Battery Park at 70 km for a late lunch.
Right now we're enjoying the sun on the porch of the St. Peter's info
centre and making use of their Wi-Fi.

Tomorrow we'll push about 83 km into Sydney and take a rest day while
we wait for the ferry and visit with our last Rehab Centre before St.
John's.

Just as a side note, the Canso Causway was not built for bikes. Thank
you to each and every car on that bridge for being so patient!

Day 89: daily photo

Day 89: Sherbrooke to Monastery, NS (95km)

Before embarking on this trip I often dreamt about Alex and I riding the open road, coasting alongside beautiful vistas to the rhythm of our pedal strokes. We've definitely experienced plenty of that; this trip has been wonderful and amazing. However, lately my dreams have taken on a new tone. The other night I had a vivid dream in which I was sleeping in a bed. When I awoke to find myself in a wet tent with my head on my camp towel/pillow I realized just how ready I am to have a home again.

The above being the case, our last week of riding has been a particularly rewarding homestretch. The seaside rides on the first two days out of Halifax were nothing short of idyllic, it felt like we were riding through a travel brochure for the province. Today we cut north up highway 7, past Antigonish and eastward toward Cape Breton. Our route, if again a little bumpy and hilly, also ran parallel to a river for much of the way and until we reached highway 104 there was little in the way of traffic. We have loved travelling through Nova Scotia this way and can see how a trip around the coast and Cape Breton could and should be exceptional trips to do in themselves. Now we are just two riding days out of Sydney, which we'll have some time to enjoy while we await our ferry departure on Monday night. We will be sailing into Argentia rather than Port Aux Basques primarily because we really need to get back home and back to work! The shorter route through Newfoundland will cut our trip down to about 7200km total and get us home by the end of Labour Day weekend. Suddenly Vancouver to St. John's doesn't seem so far!

Day 88: Daily Photo

Day 88: Spry Bay to Sherbrooke (95 km)

As we roll along highway 7 we never seem to be too far from people. On average every 200 meters there will be some kind of costal residence or business that has been sparsely scattered along the way. However if we were to walk 200m north, with the exception of a few small towns, we would find ourselves in wilderness. This means that we've had gorgeous views of the ocean and colourful Maritime homes, and have seen many coastal communities.

The disadvantage to this kind of back route is that we've had to deal with unrelenting hills. Big ups and downs are now pretty standard to us. In this region we're meeting constant and quick climbs and drops that slow our advance a bit. Also, as some as you may have noticed with our late post for yesterday's ride, cell reception is non-existent down here. So far on our journey we've had some pretty incredible luck and we have to thank Rogers for that. Short of backcountry BC, up until now we've never been skunked on a signal. Even through Northern Ontario, as long as we were within range of people we had reception, which was more than we expected.

Tomorrow is another day of big climbs as we cut through the province to the north shore and advance towards Cape Breton and Sydney.

Day 87: Daily Photo