We left Sandra and John Reardon’s home around 8:30, expecting to be well on our way by noon. Instead we wasted about 2 hours and probably the nicest part of the day going in circles trying to figure out how to get out of town. The traffic is constant on these roads and highways, which we’re not used to and our ride was further complicated by all the branches and downed trees obstructing our way. Eventually we got on #7 headed to Hope. Our destination for the night was Harrison Mills, where we had a prepaid campsite at Kilby, a private campground.

Traffic was decidedly less when we turned off. It was fairly flat too; nothing too strenuous. We pulled into Kilby around 6pm. Lucky for us, the wind eased, the sky cleared and it looked like it was going to be a nice night. Our first priority was setting up our tent, our home away from home. We had set it up once before, in our living room about a year or so before our trip. We struggled valiantly, finally realizing that we’d tried to set up the fly. No wonder it didn’t all click together like it shows on the directions!
Anyway, then we set about making dinner. We had Tomato Cup-of-Soup with added dehydrated garlic mashed potatoes, some coleslaw with salad dressing and some Puritan beef stew. I was prepared to hate that, but it was actually was pretty good.

After dinner and washing up we were invited for a drink and conversation at the fireside of another camper, Ken, a former slaughter house employee, then Safeway manager who now spends his whole summer at Kilby campground. Another man, a Yank named Frank who has been going there for 40 years was there too and between them, they kept us well entertained with stories of Sasquatches and Indian burial grounds. Frank showed us how the mountains resemble the outline of a sleeping Sasquatch. They do too. He also told of how he had given his son a vial of sand from the beach before his son was deployed overseas to Afghanistan, with the firm instructions that his son was to bring it back. The son did exactly that. Frank broke down when he told us about that.

It rained a bit during the night, but we were snug and cosy in our tent.

We left Langford around 7:30, again taking the Galloping Goose Trail, which is fantastic. Some parts are paved, others gravel but well maintained and steadily used. It passes through old growth forests and beside farmers fields We had to get to the ferry to get us to Twassen on the mainland by 11am. Made it! Settled in for an almost 2 hour crossing. I had things to do, like blog, or crochet dish rags or even a little English paper piecing quilt project, but I just sat there like a toad, nodding off occasionally. Just before debarking the couple who had left their things on the seats in front of us returned. Interesting folks. They are headed to Italy where he plans to teach “improvisional combat dancing” which he described as like wrestling without hurting each other. They also drive a car, which he described as “being like a fish that you think is dying, and then it breathes again.” It probably smells like fish too because it’s powered by oil that he gets, free, from sushi restaurants, which he claims is much cleaner than what he’d get from, say, McDonalds.     Yeah, really!

So the ride to PoCo was noisy as we took the highways. There are, surprisingly, bike lanes alongside most of the roads and highways and I feel pretty safe until I think about all the people out there on their cell phones, juggling their coffees and munchies. Better just to not think about it.

We stayed with John and Sandra Reardon, who were my friends when I lived in Guelph, Ontario, a lifetime ago. We’ve been friends for 36 years; the kind of friendship that you can have lots of time between contact and then effortlessly pick up where you left off.

Wow, were they good to us, We had a wonderful time to catch up on our lives and what our mutual friends are up to. We saw their son, Gareth, who I’ve known since he was 3. He looks the same, just taller and more muscular, and now he has two rambunctious children of his own! They fed us ribs, grilled veggies and strawberry shortcake and totally treated us like honoured guests, even making us breakfast the next day and a lunch for later on. Thank you Sandra and John! It was amazing!

And early too! We set our alarm for 3:50. Yes, in the morning. One of our friends, Brian Clark, kindly arrived at 5am to take us to the airport. 

I was squished into the back seat amongst our two boxed bikes and multiple panniers and bags and we got there in plenty of time. I noticed this on the cart when we were unloading.

“You’re Going Places”.  We were/are excited!

The flight was good. As I looked down on the snow covered Rockies, I wondered, “Can I really do this? Am I strong enough….do I have the drive, the grit…..”  Well, we will find out….

Charlie reminded me that we don’t have to go over the tops of them.

We arrived in Victoria and we (Charlie) had the bikes ready to roll in less than an hour. We rode to a bus station to take a bus to downtown and then to Sooke where we wanted to dip our toes in the water and head out. Several buses, all on holiday schedule, (Victoria Day) passed us, either full or their bike racks were already loaded. It gave us the opportunity to talk with some interesting people though, including Gemma, who stopped to introduce us to her pet rat, Baby Blue, who lives in her purse and on her shoulder. She gave us some advice, including “Never taunt an octopus.” I’ll remember that. You never know when you’re going to need advice like that.

Eventually we did get to Sooke. It was a beautiful day and Sooke, what we saw of it anyway, looked like a lovely spot.

We were expected at the home of some friends, Rob and Traci, (former neighbours) in Langford so we beat it there on the Galloping Goose Trail, arriving in time for a chicken pot pie supper. After some catching up we headed to bed on their living room floor, trying out our new inflatable pads and sleeping bags. We slept like rocks! Thank you Traci and Rob for your hospitality!

Hi. I’m Wendy.

When I was 22, living and working in Banff, Alberta, I decided I wanted to bike from Banff to Vancouver. I asked my brother, Kevin, if he wanted to go too. He was drinking at the time and said yes, but he really didn’t think I was serious until I presented him with his bill, some few days later, for his brand new sleeping bag, panniers and for other assorted camping/cycling needs I felt he’d / we’d need.

I’ll never forget looking back at him those first few days on the road; he, behind and struggling to keep up, cramming handfuls of processed deli meat down his throat. Here we were in Grizzley bear and black bear territory, and he had a whole front pack stuffed with meat!

Well, that was an incredible trip and I came away from it with even more love for my brother and a desire to “someday” bike across Canada.

“Someday” is now Monday, May 22, 2017!!!)

I’ve been on slow simmering panic mode (with occasional full roiling breakthroughs) for a few weeks now. All the doors have miracously opened for me and for Charlie, my husband too! We both have leave of absences from our jobs from May 19 until September. (Charlie teaches French, specifically the AIM French program to grade 6 students in Airdrie and I am a dental hygienist in Calgary. I’ve been working in that office for almost 19 years.) There were several other things we had to align,which are too detailed and boring to anyone other than ourselves, so suffice it to say, so far, we have green lights ahead.

Charlie set himself up with a training schedule Superman would have had trouble committing to. And, unlike 99.8% of people, he stuck to that schedule, riding hundreds of kilometres each week with weighted (>50 lbs!!!) panniers. Two of his new bike racks broke under all that weight and had to be repaired or replaced. I figure he’s done enough km that he’d probably be closing in on Manitoba by now.

Me …..Well, I’ve been doing spin classes and I’ve ridden maybe 600-700km outside . Yeah, I’ll be sore and I’ll be sorry but I’ll toughen up fairly quickly, umm…I hope. I’m pretty strong. If I was a horse, I’d be a Clydesdale; not necessarily the fastest horse out of the shutes, but steady and a hard worker. I know this endeaver is going to test me physically and mentally but I’m up for that. And, I also am up for having some fun with my honey, and for dancing in the summer rain.

So, a little bit more about us….

Charlie and I have been together 13 years, married for 10.

Collectively we have 3 kids, all married and doing well and we have 3 grandkids so far. Hoping for more because we have more love to give. We are involved with our church which we attended for years before noticing it is Mennonite. So I guess you could say I’m a nice little Mennonite girl, lol.

We have done a fair amount of travelling around the world, especially Charlie. He travelled extensively for several years. I love to travel but I love coming home too. I haven’t left yet but already I miss long warm showers, crisp clean sheets and flush toilets…..

We have had many couch surfers stay with us over the years from the ends of the earth and it’s been fascinating to meet and enjoy their company. We only recently became aware of “Warm Showers” and are grateful for a stay we had in Granby, Quebec last year. We love spending evenings making dinner for friends and we volunteer our time to various causes/organizations. Charlie heads a committee that is helping a refugee family adapt to Canada and I teach prenatal classes at a pregnancy care centre. I’m also a quilter. I’ve made quite a few Queen sized quilts but my main interest now is collage quilting. 

i’m riding a 2015 Surly Disc Trucker otherwise known as my “hoss.”

Charlie has a Kona Sutra.

This blog is from a “She said” perspective……!!!!