This will be my last post on this blog as we now resume broadcasting on our regularly scheduled blogspot.
I had a blast. This trip was the most rewarding thing I have ever done and I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to do it. I'm thankful for all the encouragement I received and I'm glad so many of you were along for the ride. I don't think I would have finished if it hadn't been for knowledge of so many people counting on me.
While I was at Cape Spears (still absorbing the moment) I bumped into a gentleman who played the W5 game with me, (who, what, where, why, how long.) He was a fellow cyclist and one of his comments really bothered me. Not for myself but for him. He said that this was the highlight of my life that I will be slightly disappointed with everything else because nothing else can measure up. I disagree. This was a small part of my life. Something I can look back at and smile...or cringe. Something to add to my core, my base. I now know my base is both stronger and more vulnerable than I ever realized. A base that I know can hold almost everything life throws at me good or bad. But 'little-miss-independent' is no longer afraid to ask for a little support if she feels like she is going to crack. No contrary to his beliefs, to me this trip was a few month self-awareness course. Cape Spears was just a podium to cross on my way to the rest of my life.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Home Again
I really enjoyed my last day touring around St John's. I did all the typical tourist stuff, Signal Hill, The Rooms, George Street and checking out the Jellybean houses. Unfortunately the lobsters had the last laugh they were out of season so I had cod tongue with scrunchions, (fried pork fat) instead. It was surprisingly good. I hear not everyone likes it but hey fried pork fat, chewy tongues it doesn't get much better than that. I stayed in a hostel on Duckworth St. My last night I got to spend with two hot twenty something Brazilian men sharing sharing my co-ed dorm room. My inner cougar approved...until they started snoring.
I'm very glad to be home. I'm slowly falling back into routines though nothing has been routine yet as the whole family readjusts and celebrates me being home. My sister and nephew spent the night last night and we were up until the wee hours visiting. Both kids and their significant others were here as well. It nice to see the family growing and evolving. Phil's brother, wife and maybe their kids are coming tonight as well as few friends. So I imagine it will be another late night.
Two weeks ago, near the end of my trip a good friend of ours died suddenly of a heart condition. Phil agonized over whether to tell me or not. He knew I would have come home immediately. He choose to wait until I had finished my journey and was home. I respect his decision. I'm glad I was given the chance to finish my trip but I feel bad for not being here to support my girlfriend. Phil has a business trip that is taking him to Toronto at the end of the month. After that we will try to get down to Kamloops to give our condolences and support.
It is almost surreal falling back into a normal routine that doesn't require being on a bicycle for eight + hours a day. Readjusting my eating habits will take a conscious effort as well. Picking up a power bar and thinking, "Its got 300 calories put it down." Instead of, "Its only got 300 calories I'm going to need to eat several of these." Even with my effort to eat well I lost just shy of thirty pounds. Instead of I left my heart in San Fransisco my song will be I left my boobs in Eastern Canada. The skinniest jeans I own I can get on and off without undoing the button or zipper. I'm refraining from running out and buying a whole new wardrobe (as tempting as it is) until my body has a chance to adjust to life at home.
I'm very glad to be home. I'm slowly falling back into routines though nothing has been routine yet as the whole family readjusts and celebrates me being home. My sister and nephew spent the night last night and we were up until the wee hours visiting. Both kids and their significant others were here as well. It nice to see the family growing and evolving. Phil's brother, wife and maybe their kids are coming tonight as well as few friends. So I imagine it will be another late night.
Two weeks ago, near the end of my trip a good friend of ours died suddenly of a heart condition. Phil agonized over whether to tell me or not. He knew I would have come home immediately. He choose to wait until I had finished my journey and was home. I respect his decision. I'm glad I was given the chance to finish my trip but I feel bad for not being here to support my girlfriend. Phil has a business trip that is taking him to Toronto at the end of the month. After that we will try to get down to Kamloops to give our condolences and support.
It is almost surreal falling back into a normal routine that doesn't require being on a bicycle for eight + hours a day. Readjusting my eating habits will take a conscious effort as well. Picking up a power bar and thinking, "Its got 300 calories put it down." Instead of, "Its only got 300 calories I'm going to need to eat several of these." Even with my effort to eat well I lost just shy of thirty pounds. Instead of I left my heart in San Fransisco my song will be I left my boobs in Eastern Canada. The skinniest jeans I own I can get on and off without undoing the button or zipper. I'm refraining from running out and buying a whole new wardrobe (as tempting as it is) until my body has a chance to adjust to life at home.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Are We There Yet?
oct 14 2007
Today 154.6 Total 9108.4
Do not adjust your set. This picture ws taken at eleven in the morning. This was the view for most of my ride today. It was especially fun after the sun had set and I was frantically trying to get to a motel. And I thought riding with a head lamp on was fun on a clear night.
As I write this I am in Mount Pearl about 30 km from Cape Spears. It is very foggy and I'm hoping it will burn off before I head down for my final few km. I'm feeling overwhelmed, surreal, excited and proud. But not alone.
The one thing that came up constantly when I would talk to people is, "Alone?!?" I got to the point of where I would say, "No I'm just riding by myself."
There were the people who supported by phone or on line when I wanted to quit. My two heroes who rescued me when I was stranded with a broken bike. The hundreds of people who honked and waved in good weather and bad. The verbal well wishes at campgrounds and restaurants. So no, I didn't do it alone. I just rode by myself.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
When Nature Calls
Oct 13 2007
Today 115.5 Total 8953.8
Well it was bound to happen. I had just hoped it wouldn't. I was caught with my pants down. When it comes to one of the most basic functions of the human body I'm at a distinct disadvantage over my male counterparts. They can find somewhere halfway discrete take a camera with them and if a car rushes by they can pretend they are taking a shot. I don't have that luxury. If I'm caught its pretty obvious I'm not picking daisies. Though sometimes this is a side effect of what I am doing. I usually find a spot in tall grass or in the woods, crouch down, do what needs to be down, pull my pants up and then stand up. In this process I inadvertently usually end up with half a herb garden in my drawers. The amazing thing is unless its particularly spiny I don't notice until nature calls again and the bouquet of flowers, grasses and leaves fall out.
It was very cold, with a steady drizzle and a strong head wind today. As luck would have it it was also one of those days where nature seemed to call a lot more frequently than usual. I was cold, sore and tired of trying to find the perfect spot. Traffic had been light so I thought what the heck. I was in a spot where I had a long clear view of traffic coming both ways. My hands were very cold and I was soaked so my skin was also damp and cold. I thought I had successfully pulled it off when a truck came barrelling over the rise. I quickly tried to pull my pants up. This was a mistake. With my wet skin and wet clothes when I pulled the bike shorts and outer pants up at the same time they rolled them selves into a tight knot that came slight below decencies sake both front and rear. As my wooden fingers began futile trying to unravel the mess I came to the realization that I didn't have time to totally unknot my pants. I did what most women would do, I focused on the front. The truck was almost on me as I pull the front my pants as high as I could in the front while my entire back half was still totally exposed. I then angled my body to give them as little view as I could manage under the circumstances.
To their credit the truck never slowed nor did they hurle rude comments out the window. The driver of the truck had a huge ear splitting grin on his face but was trying to make it look like he wasn't watching. His passenger had no such qualms and was quivering ball of mirth. As he took one more look at me he collapsed in hysterical convulsions which contagiously attacked the driver of the truck. I stood there like a deer in the headlight both sets of cheeks exposed and flaming until the longest five seconds of my life was up and they were gone.
Today 115.5 Total 8953.8
Well it was bound to happen. I had just hoped it wouldn't. I was caught with my pants down. When it comes to one of the most basic functions of the human body I'm at a distinct disadvantage over my male counterparts. They can find somewhere halfway discrete take a camera with them and if a car rushes by they can pretend they are taking a shot. I don't have that luxury. If I'm caught its pretty obvious I'm not picking daisies. Though sometimes this is a side effect of what I am doing. I usually find a spot in tall grass or in the woods, crouch down, do what needs to be down, pull my pants up and then stand up. In this process I inadvertently usually end up with half a herb garden in my drawers. The amazing thing is unless its particularly spiny I don't notice until nature calls again and the bouquet of flowers, grasses and leaves fall out.
It was very cold, with a steady drizzle and a strong head wind today. As luck would have it it was also one of those days where nature seemed to call a lot more frequently than usual. I was cold, sore and tired of trying to find the perfect spot. Traffic had been light so I thought what the heck. I was in a spot where I had a long clear view of traffic coming both ways. My hands were very cold and I was soaked so my skin was also damp and cold. I thought I had successfully pulled it off when a truck came barrelling over the rise. I quickly tried to pull my pants up. This was a mistake. With my wet skin and wet clothes when I pulled the bike shorts and outer pants up at the same time they rolled them selves into a tight knot that came slight below decencies sake both front and rear. As my wooden fingers began futile trying to unravel the mess I came to the realization that I didn't have time to totally unknot my pants. I did what most women would do, I focused on the front. The truck was almost on me as I pull the front my pants as high as I could in the front while my entire back half was still totally exposed. I then angled my body to give them as little view as I could manage under the circumstances.
To their credit the truck never slowed nor did they hurle rude comments out the window. The driver of the truck had a huge ear splitting grin on his face but was trying to make it look like he wasn't watching. His passenger had no such qualms and was quivering ball of mirth. As he took one more look at me he collapsed in hysterical convulsions which contagiously attacked the driver of the truck. I stood there like a deer in the headlight both sets of cheeks exposed and flaming until the longest five seconds of my life was up and they were gone.
Field of Diamonds
Oct 12 2007
Today 149.8 Total 8838.3
I woke to frost on the tent but with all my layers on and my fancy down sleeping bag I was quite cosy. The day started out very foggy and with the heavy frost coating everything it was a world of white. When the fog burned off I was treated to one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. I was riding past a field of tall grass. Each blade was coated in thick frost and as I rode it created a prismatic shimmer of thousands of tiny dots of red, green, purple and blue. When I stopped it was a white field but as I rode it was alive with colour. It was so sublimely beautiful it actually made me teary. I tried taking some pictures but they didn't even begin to do it justice.
If this flower could say buurrr.
Today 149.8 Total 8838.3
I woke to frost on the tent but with all my layers on and my fancy down sleeping bag I was quite cosy. The day started out very foggy and with the heavy frost coating everything it was a world of white. When the fog burned off I was treated to one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. I was riding past a field of tall grass. Each blade was coated in thick frost and as I rode it created a prismatic shimmer of thousands of tiny dots of red, green, purple and blue. When I stopped it was a white field but as I rode it was alive with colour. It was so sublimely beautiful it actually made me teary. I tried taking some pictures but they didn't even begin to do it justice.
If this flower could say buurrr.
Another reason Newfoundland will be my rainbow province.
Break in the Weather
Oct 10 2007
Today 146.6 Total 8563.7
Oct 11 2007
Today 124.8 Total 8688.5
Thanks for all the great comments. A hug was just what I needed. I found the cutest little kitten and molested it. That made me feel much better.
It has been beautiful but cold the last two days. Frosty in the mornings but warming up to about ten degrees with a tail-wind and bluebird skies.
Today 146.6 Total 8563.7
Oct 11 2007
Today 124.8 Total 8688.5
Thanks for all the great comments. A hug was just what I needed. I found the cutest little kitten and molested it. That made me feel much better.
It has been beautiful but cold the last two days. Frosty in the mornings but warming up to about ten degrees with a tail-wind and bluebird skies.
My weather proof layer is actually weather resistant. So after several hours of a steady drizzle I'm soaked to the skin but with the new layers I'm wet but warm. 
From left to right wind jacket, rain jacket, thermo layer, fleece layer with hood, wicking layer. Neoprene over booties, lined rain pants, bike shorts. On the rail two pair of socks, a bra and a pair of leg warmers. Add three layers of gloves and my runners and this is how I start my day.
The new sweater and booties are making a huge difference to my comfort level. I'll start my day totally bundled up and be down to one shirt by mid-afternoon. Then I'll slowly start adding layers again. My cell phone has pooped out so I've lost my moral support coach but I've only got just over 400 km left so I'll manage.
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