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| Day 66 - September 1 - Argentia to St. John's 153km |
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| Breakfast is served from the parking lot of the ferry terminal as we happily prepare for the last segment of this trip. This is what we've all been waiting for - the tenth and final province. We have come so far in nine weeks, and I don't just mean geographically. |
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| The first 20km is very hilly. That's okay, Newfoundland is supposed to be like that. The hills are of little concern. We are so eager to finish that we're all going a little faster than usual. Jan rides with us for 100km. That guy is riding faster today than I've ever seen him. Motivation is a powerful thing. |
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| We take the highway all the way into the city. It's fairly windy, but it's so neat to see the "Welcome to St. John's" sign that I forget all about that. We ask a local for directions to Signal Hill and she kindly explains to follow Water Street to the end and we'll come to it. Now technically, we're supposed to wait for the others and go up as a group. But realistically, we'd have to wait at least two hours for them to arrive. It makes more sense to do the climb while our legs are still warm. Two hours of sitting in the hotel lobby won't bring me any closer to the top. |
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| The first section is so steep that I actually feel the urge to use my very lowest gears - the granny gears. I resist because I haven't used them in several weeks. This is not the time to start. I don't care how long it takes, I'm getting up this hill in my middle ring. I stay in the saddle most of the way as I crawl past the half-way point, The Battery Hotel where we'll be staying. I notice they have a huge "Welcome Tour du Canada" sign in plain view. |
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| My legs burn with fatigue as they have on so many other occasions. I ignore it this time because I keep thinking to myself, "I'm on Signal Hill!!! I just biked across Canada!!!". I stand up for the last stretch and get a sudden burst of energy to take me to the very top. We snap some pictures and admire the view before coming back down. We are the first ones to arrive at The Battery Hotel so we continue down the hill for the official wheel dip in the Atlantic. |
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| Then we go to a few bike shops along Water Street and grab a bite to eat at Subway. At this point we're still quite matter-of-fact about the whole thing. It hasn't sunk in yet that we're finished. But at least by now there should be some more people arriving, so we head back up to the hotel (up the hill again!) and Jan is there. He and I exchange congratulatory hugs and make our way downstairs to the room where the bikes boxes are. I start dismantling my bike and get it all boxed up, ready for the plane tomorrow. Now that that's done, I can relax for the evening and continue socializing with people I won't see for a long time. My friends are all here in this one room, and it's only a number of hours before we go our separate ways. |
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| My friend Nancy Garland, whom I haven't seen for almost two years, drops by to visit. It's wonderful to see her. I told her I would get to Newfoundland someday. Two years ago I had no idea I'd be arriving on a bicycle. |
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| It's fun sharing a room with Rupica; I'm glad I got to know her. She's one amazing individual, just like everyone else I met this summer. This is one incredible group of cyclists. After all the hugging and congratulating, I still can't believe it's done. What we have accomplished as a group is an adventure to be remembered for the rest of our lives. Through the wind, the hills and the pain, mental toughness was our most valuable asset. The ability to forge ahead day after day for nine and a half weeks is something to be celebrated. |
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| The following people deserve recognition for their achievements: |
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| Aggie Aucoin, Jonathan Blair, Karen Bota, Debbie Caudwell, Rob German, Mat Harrison, Craig Haupt, Glenn Kirby, Leslie Love, Spencer Low, Al Lutz, James Masciuch, Lynn McLellan, David Niermeier, David Rainey, Paul Rawlins, John Rich, Michelle Rich, Jose Salvador, Rupica Singh-Waraich, Katharine Sodek, Chris Stephenson, Murray Stinson, Melanie Swim, Jennifer Tribe, Jan Westendorp. |
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| ******** |
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| To all of you who encouraged me along the way, thank you. This journal served as a tremendous way to record my daily thoughts and reactions leading up to the completion of my ultimate goal. Cycling across the country is the hardest thing I have ever done, and also the most rewarding. I couldn't have done it without your support and I want you to know that I appreciate it. |
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| Currently I am a fourth year Business student at UNB Saint John. I am still cycling and I entered my first bike race on September 23 in PEI - the Atlantic Championships. To my surprise, I won the silver medal. |
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| After some intense winter training, I'll compete again in the spring and see what happens. |
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