Reverse Gear Blog

Day 25 - Wednesday, July 1, 2009
A most interesting Canada Day for us. We drove in morning to just outside Regina Beach and cycled into town with a Special Olympics athlete named Lindsay and her coach Crystal. Once there we participated in the annual parade with the local community. We then drove to Regina SK and met the the Honourable Dr. Gordon L. Barnhard, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, at his annual Canada Day garden party. After that we went to Wascana Park for another Progress Club event called the Plywood Cup. The day ended with a lovely barbecue hosted by Darlene & Glen of the local Progress Club. It was a full day of warm Regina hospitality at its best.

Day 26 - Thursday, July 2, 2009
Richard started the day with a CBC radio interview with Sheila Coles at 6 am while some of the team members continued to sleep. By 8:30 am we were awake and listened to his interview with CKRM host Roger Currie. At 10:30, CTV’s Jason Matity did another interview and a half hour later the Leader Post did a newspaper story. The lunch hour was spent on the Scarth Street mall where Richard and the team spoke to passer-bys and received many generous donations. The most notable donor was Jack Layton who posed for a picture on the trike, complete with helmet, and shared several stories about family members with disabilities. After lunch Richard attend a community Access interview with Janey Davies of Canadian Progress Club. Then the team made its way to Brewsters  for a fundraiser. A Special Olympics athlete and Board Member named Terry made a presentation to Richard and all of the team received “I love Regina” shirts from the Mayor (who apologetically had another engagement). Another fun and busy day for the team has ended with great generosity.

A special thanks to all of the Canadian Progress Club and Special Olympics folks who made these events happen and who provided such a warm welcome to the team. We shall leave saying “I love Regina”!!!

Day 23 - Monday, June 29, 2009
The boys did 181 km and Judi did 0. In the morning we dropped the cracked rim at the Bike Doctor for repair. In the evening, Len and I went to the Saskatoon Jazz Festival to see Brandi Disterheft at the Refinery. She and the entire band were fantastic. I’m so grateful for the chance to see Juno award-winning talent like this as I travel across Canada. No dinner - just sipping wine and soaking in music through our souls.

Day 24 - Tuesday, June 30, 2009 - Another Good Samaritan Day
Boys cycles part of the distance to Regina on TCH. But I took advantage of the chance to cycle the city. I started on a path along the river; stopped at Bessborough to soak in some more jazz while having a snack. Then I crossed the river on Victoria bridge and came to a quick stop with a  punctured tire. A young fellow working for city park (named Brad) went out of his way to find me a piece of rope to drag the trike and also gave me a lift up the hill to near Broadway and 11th. I was so grateful that I had been at Bike Doctor the day before and knew that I could carry/drag the trike the half dozen blocks. Dave was laughing as I hauled it into the store and he had another BGB problem to solve. After a quick tube change I was on my way to find the path along the river again. I was off to Mendel Gallery to see another outstanding Canadian landscape artist - Dorothy Knowles. While there I heard there was going to be a major storm so I rushed off to Ed’s to buy a set of bongos before it hit. I was fortunate I had the rope from my earlier incident so I could tie the bongos to my back rack and pedal for home. Once at the Ramada Hotel, I had to shower and change and look good so I could take Len for a birthday dinner at the Ivy Restaurant. He enjoyed his Jambalaya and I had a local steelhead trout, with a Monkey Bay wine. He shared his favourite dessert (creme brulee) with me over coffee. And we walked home as the storm had come and gone - leaving lightning and hail in its wake.

Riding on the prairies is quite different. While the mountains were challenging, especially the uphills - the legs got a bit of a break on the downhills and they at least gave you some thrills. On the flat open prairies, you must pedal continuously or the trike just stops dead. That means after several hours the legs get really tired. Then there are the head-winds and cross-winds. The boys weer lucky enough to have a strong tail-wind one day but since I had taken a different route it was a cross-wind for me.

Day 20 - Friday, June 26, 2009
Boys headed out on TCH to Lloydminster while we moved the trailer to a campground in Battleford SK and I then sent out another 50 media releases. Earlier than expected, they arrived at camp with a cracked rim which they then proceeded to replace on the trike. With the riding cut short for the day, we focused on dinner of smoked trout with mango salsa and primavera pasta.

Day 21 - Saturday, June 27, 2009
The boys headed back to the TCH to make up the kilometers. In the bitter cold and a cross-wind, I headed into North Battleford to explore.  After a start at the local Farmer’s Market, where I loaded up with healthy ‘protein’ bread, some lemon cake for tonight’s dinner and some local Saskatoon and Chokecherry jam, I headed north to find some quiet country roads. Lunch on the side of the road gave me the solitude I was seeking. After lunch I visited the Alan Sapp Gallery to discover one of Canada’s great talents and the Fred Light Museum to learn more about the local heritage. Dinner was a simple  chicken, potatoes and broccoli, followed by fresh lemon cake.

Day 22 - Sunday, June 28, 2009
Len and I cycled out of the Battlefords on the single trikes into a stiff head-wind and went 31 km in 2.5 hrs before the team picked us up. We then drove on to Langham SK to stay in the very neat and pretty Riverview Campground. Before dinner Len and I cycled another 22 km on the country back-roads and returned to Anna’s great hamburgers with baked potatoes, and red wine of course.

Day 15 - Sunday, June 21, 2009 (correction in counting days)
No riding - a rest day in Canmore AB. The boys went to the car show and Len and I did the Arts Walk for the annual arts festival. Also caught up on email and enjoyed the hot tub at the Canmore Chateau where we were staying.  At end of day, Richard, Anna, Don & Aaron went to visit Katie. Len and I stayed close to home and went for dinner at Sage Bistroin a log cabin. Had marvellous bison stroganoff and local trout.

Day 16 - Monday, June 22, 2009
Blind Guy did an interview with CTV at Cochrane. I cycled behind them (well behind them) for a distance of 18 km to Calgary AB. We all arrived on west side of Calgary at around noon. In afternoon, I cycled into NE Calgary, doing another 20 km. On the way into town, I rescued a stuffed RCMP beaver from the ditch and he now cycles with me. When I returned to campground, we had a dinner of bbq pork with Diddy’s mustard sauce, Potatoes Anna, and a green salad with asiago dressing accompanied by a wine that Denise & Grant brought from Naramata Bench La Frenz - 2005 Montage  - a blend of Pino Noir, Merlot and Cabernet - vinted by Jeff Martin (formerly Australian). This was same winery I visited on Day 5.

Day 17 - Tuesday, June 23, 2009
We drove to Edmonton AB. On the way, we stopped in Bentley AB to visit Grant and Lynne Patton, who run the Bentley Cycle & Trading Post. We also met Les and Carla who ride Catrikes. Dinner was left-overs as Blind Guy and team went into downtown Edmonton on a scouting mission to prepare for the TV interviews tomorrow.

Day 18 - Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The day started with the team in two separate places. Richard had two great TV interviews: one with Breakfast Television - CITY TV and one with CTV. While they were doing that, Len and I visited the Kinsmen Sports Centre where he had his swollen knee checked by Mary Young. She described his injury as “dodging a bullet” and cautioned him to RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) and limit his cycling for a few days. Once that business was taken care of, we separated again. Anna and Aaron took the truck in to have windshield chip fixed. The rest of us headed for the west side of city to start cycling. The boys rode a total of 81 km and I rode the last 23 km in to Vegreville AB, home of the world’s largest Easter egg or Pysanka. On my way to the campground, I picked up a bottle of German white wine called DREAMS. Just what I needed to go with the bbq chicken, noodles, and salad. The day was topped by Anna’s treat of ice-cream and fruit salad.

Day 19 - Thursday, June 25, 2009 - Good Samaritan Day
I left at 8 am to cycle to Vermillion AB. The boys followed an hour later and caught up before lunch. They continued on all the way to Lloydminster which is a border town. So the Alberta portion of the tour is now completed. I managed to cycle 72km before Len came to rescue me from a major thunder-storm. We picked up some groceries on the way home. Because it was pouring, there was no bbq today. So Len prepared dinner of sauteed pork, mango quinoa, and stir-fry vegetables on the gas stove. Highlights of the day: Blind Guy (and the team) changed a tire for two young girls on the road; Judi was videoed by two NB fellows who shared their oranges and gave her the energy to keep going in the early afternoon.

Day 13 - Thursday, June 18, 2009
Boys decided to cycle the 140 km on the TCH to Calgary AB to get the kilometres covered early. It was raining all night but weather cleared once they were on the road. While they were out, I sent 50 media releases out by email. Then after lunch, I tried to cycle to town again. I was discouraged by the construction on the road at the exit   - so I rode around the park for 4.5 km in 31:41 min and took photos of mountains and groundhogs. Then I returned to email more media releases with a G&T and peanuts. When the boys returned they had cycled to Cochrane and done two interviews (good results from releases). Later Don, Len and I went to Banff Arts Centre to a Music for a Summer Evening, an outstanding performance primarily of percussion that included: Mudra, featuring Bob Becker (from Nexus); StraightJacket, a world premiere by Mark Appelbaum; Linea by Luciano Berio; and after intermission a wonderful performance of Music for Strings, Percussion and Celestaby Bela Bartok, conducted by Steven Schick. I alo bought two CDs asd memories of the trip: Don Thompson’s Banff Jazz All Stars and Dave Douglas’ Bow River Falls.

Day 14 - Friday, June 19, 2009
While everyone was packing up camp and driving to Canmore AB, I pedalled: 24.07 km in 1hr 14 min at an avg of 16.90 and a top speed of 46kmh. When I got to town I cycled another 3.6 km but it brought my avg speed down so it will not be recorded. In the afternoon there was a reception for Richard. In the evening we all went to the Grizzly Pawto imbibe in local brews and enjoy pub food, including a great pizza with chorizo. While there I discovered a book signing/launch around the corner for Never Bug a Bearby local author Carol Mactavish and illustrator Linden Wentzloff. I can hardly wait to share this great book with my grandchildren when I return.

Day 15 - Saturday, June 20, 2009
While everybody else explored Canmore, I rode solo to Kanaskis Country- a distance of 77.61 km in 5hr 38min at an avg of 13.70 and a top speed of 52km. I discovered that the highway to Kanaskis was all uphill and my legs were really tired so at 1 pm I headed for home. Highlight was the Dairy Queen ice-cream cone at end of a tiring cycle. Dinner was complements of Denise and Grant - bbq steaks, salad and great local red wine from Lake Breeze Meritage  (a very nice drop)!

Day 10 - Monday, June 15, 2009
The boys started to ride to Lake Louise but a major storm cut the ride short. So they drove to Lake Louise to check the roads. In the meantime, Anna and Aaron took the truck to Golden BC to get the “funny noise” checked and I enjoyed a day of R&R at the trailer. The truck is OK for now but may need some future work. We stayed in Golden BC for another night and enjoyed a meal of bbq pork, Italian salad and noodles.

Day 11 - Tuesday, June 16, 2009
We drove to Lake Louise AB. After visiting the Lake for the customary photos and lunch, we cycled the Bow Valley Parkway to Banff AB. Aaron and Richard left on the tandem. Len and I followed behind on the single trikes. Judi’s computer says she did: 60.75km in 3hr 45 min at an avg of 16.21kmh and a top speed of 55kmh (highest to date). I think this will go down as my “best ride of my life” - between scenery, speed and challenge. It was mostly rolling along the river and rail tracks but rolling always means some “up” as well as “down” to challenge the legs. For Len it could be the worst ride of the trip as his foot slipped on a Texas Gate as he pulled the trike across (we could not ride across because of short wheel-base) and bruised his leg from ankle to knee. I rewarded us both with the first ice-cream of the trip at COWS. By the time we arrived at Tunnel Mtn campground, Anna had a great stir-fry, rice and salad waiting.

Day 12 - Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Everyone slept late as we did not have to move the trailer today. First view of the day was mule deer outside the window. I finally resumed my weight-training regimen with Len, using those funny elastic bands. Best part was when the elastic snapped Len in the bottom. Then we worked on some BGB marketing materials until it stopped raining and we cycled into town. After a lunch of elk burger and elk lager at the Elk & Oarsmen, we did some shopping for “bear bells”.  I wanted to be well-protected in case they came after all the ‘power bars’ in her saddle bags. However the experts in Banff told us not to use them because the bears actually like them and are attracted by the noise. (Well maybe the grand-children will have fun with them.) Suddenly it was dinner time and the skies were black with ominous clouds so we cycled as fast as we could - 2.5km uphill - to Tunnel Mtn campsite to enjoy a beef burger and Greek Salad with Heineken beer. I only cycled 9.27 km in 51min at avg of 10.9kmh and a top speed of 41 kmh. I did not record my shopping time or speeds - but did have fun and bought some Jazz CDs from Banff Arts Centre, as well as a card that says: “The world is full of people who will go their whole lives and not actually live one day. She did not intend on being one of them. when faith in myself was so strong that I believed that I could move mountains.” I intend to frame it when I get home.

Lucinda tested REVERSE Gear in both Costa Rica and Martha’s Vineyard and has given it a “thumbs up” for cycling, kayaking and general sports. To see what she says about us,  go to:  http://www.guidedcycling.com/ and click on LINKS in the menu.

Friday, June 12, 2009
 Aaron and I drove to Naksup Hot Springsand set up the trailer. The boys cycled 45 km from the Monashee Summit to the Needles ferry on Arrow Lake. When everyone arrived we went to the hot springs. It was so relaxing.

Saturday, June 13, 2009
Aaron and I rode today. Len woke us at 6 am and took us up to the Monashee Summit so we could do the same  45 km  on the single trikes as they did yesterday on the tandem. It was a spectacular ride but we unfortunately had a fierce head-wind so we had to work to enjoy the thrills. We then packed up and drove to Golden BC. Dinner was BC Coho Salmon at the Golden Rim Inn where we watched the sun set behind the mountains. Highlight: the 50+ motorcyclists who were raising money for Kids with Cancer and delivering teddy bears to “Kids with Cancer”.

Sunday, June 14, 2009
Richard and Aaron rode 103 km to Radium Hot Springs.

Len and I rode the single trikes to Yoho National Park. I stopped to take too many photos so it was 2:30 when we arrived. The cycle back was more downhill than uphill so we arrived back in Golden at 4:15 pm. The 6km downhill at Kicking Horse was terrifying. My fastest speed was 49 km as I was afraid to go much faster on the twisty windy roads. The highlight was the Bighorn sheep. The watermelon Anna had waiting for all of us was sweet. Dinner of spinach salad, bbq chicken and herbed potatoes were equally welcome. Highlight: the Bighorn sheep and meeting another cross-country cycle tour raising money for Kids with Cancer.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009
While the boys did a 100 km ride from Summerland to Osoyoos (which I understand was un-eventful), I did my first solo long-distance ride of 76 km from Summerland to Okanagan Falls and back to Penticton on Lake Okanagan. The last uphill was to Le Frenz winery owned by an Australian vintner for a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc for dinner and a bottle of great Muscat for after-dinner. The scenery was spectacular. The ride was exhilarating. And - I met some interesting people: the young cyclists from www.otesha.cawho were cycling from Calgary to Vancouver and doing plays on sustainability at schools as they go; the drifter who was taking his leather jacket to the flea market so he could sell it for $20 to buy a pedal boat;and the young fellow at the park who was enjoying a bottle of wine at the bottom of the lake and asked if I could put some of my sun-screen on his back and and give him some money for a hoagie because someone stole his back-pack last night. This may be the only time I had to pay to give someone else a massage. Coming home I missed the exit to the service road so decided to ride through about 2-3 feet of ditch off the highway. Wrong ditch! Rode like a “bat outta hell” to get to the campsite and watch all three tires deflate. I picked up spiky thorns and Len had to put three new tubes and tires on my trike after a dinner of pasta with ground turkey, sliced fresh cucumbers with local merlot vinegar and calabrese salad (bocconcini cheese and fresh tomatoes with a local Italian dressing) - with the Le Frenz Sauvignon Blanc of course.

Thursday, June 11, 2009
Every day has provided an “event” - broken converter, flat tires, etc. But today’s “event” brought the trip to a halt until it could be solved. The support vehicle would not start. The BCAA came out and took the vehicle to Summerland (where the fuel pump was replaced) and the boys headed out on the road.  Their adventure for the day was riding on the trike on the back of a pick-up truck for 7 km through a construction area. The view was wonderful and they didn’t even have to pedal. All arrived safely in Kelowna for lunch. After a few mechanical adjustments to the gears, the boys cycled all the way to Vernon BC. We camped at Swan Lake. The boys deserved the beer they drank on arrival - a local called Pils. Len also enjoyed his dark called Okanangan Spring - Pale Ale. Dinner was fresh snapper, basmati rice, garden salad and Sonora Ranch Sauvignon Blanc.Post dinner was carrot cake and Masala Chai tea beside Swan Lake - after the mosquitoes abated.

Day 8 - June 7, 2009

Rose at 5 am to get ferry to Victoria BC. Started at Mile 0 on Trans Canada Highway beside the Terry Fox statue with local TV cameras rolling. Humorous moment: Len lost a screw in his SPD sandal so we couldn’t start the ride because his sandal was stuck in the pedal. Three people struggled to get it off. The boys finally got going to cheers from the team and a few tourists and cycled 30 km to ferry.

Day 9 - June 8, 2009

The boys left early to cycle 88 km from Abbotsford to Hope BC. After getting the electrical problem in the trailer solved (temporarily) we settled in a beautiful campground between  Mt Hope and the Fraser River. Met the boys in Hope. Dinner was bbq pork, rice and Greek Salad. Everybody slept well, especially the “boys”. Highlights: the local strawberry lady who donated a pint of the best strawberries the boys have ever ate (riding euphoria); the bald eagle, and the big yellow butterflies.