Day 41, Tom Foolery Accomplished

My Dad and many of his generation would have described our ride as Tom Foolery, harmless fun with no meaning. Especialy this type of undertaking as it requires a lot of effort and commitment not to mention time. On the other hand it was a lot of fun. 41 days of travel and rain on 35 days including today. Our trip could be described as how to go from sea to sea and never get dry.
The last 5 days have been controlled by our ferry ride so we have been able to reduce cycling to 100 km daily and have enjoyed the leisurely schedule. Today was another easy day with about 90km to do and all day to do it. Roads were amazingly good and a strong wind was often helping us and rarely fully challenging us. Despite our best efforts Jenny and Valerie became seperated from Tom and I. Several phone calls later "it was all good" and we reached Signal Hill about 1030 and enjoyed the view of St. Johns and the ocean. The wind on the hill was amasing, 100 kph with gusts greated that that. Gusts well over 200 kph are common here, hard to hold the camera steady.
Yesterday the ferry arrived 1.5 hours late due to fog. We jumped on our bikes about 1730 hours and started down highway 100. First 2 km were up hill and eating the wind, Next 40 km were wonderful. Great pavement, quiet roads, following wind and lots of energy. We thought we were ready for the Tour and realized the Tour riders are faster uphill than we are on the level with a tail wind, and not just a little faster but 30% faster. Tour riders are the age of Tom'c children and slightly older than my grandchildren. Do you hear excuses, I do.
All of this to say the task is done, we have pedalled our asses from coast to coast. Jenny has driven coast to coast. A woman who takes 3 rights to avoid a left in Perth. Thank you Valerie and Jenny for your support that allowed us to attempt this ride. Thanks to all those at home who pitched in to meet our responsibilities while we were gone.
Low points and highlights will change over time as memories fade and the reference points change. The big challenge for this type of trip is the daily physical demands and the constant need for safety. Good luck and good training allowed success. The hard part was in the west when the rains and winds and cold temperatures made it very difficult to complete 200 km daily. We were falling well off the pace until one day after 125 km in the rain we stopped and rested and then at 1700 hours started again and did another 55 kn that evening. The following day we did our first 200 km day, I think about 220 km and then for the next days we stayed above 200 km daily. These 200-260 km days allowed us to regain confidence and with that confidence the rest was easy. This was our turning point, the key to our success. The wind was a challenge, a real challenge, the rain and cold were unpleasant, the climbs and descents got the pulse racing but the key was that second run in Sask.
Tom and I have skied together for years. This means that we each ski at our own pace and keep an eye on the other. Some days I was faster, some days Tom. Now Trent leads the way and I follow behind Tom, often away behind. Biking has gone exactly like that. Each travelling at his own pace and helping each other as required. We did a little drafting and yes we know that is the smart way to go. However for us that isn't comfortable and most of the 7000 km we each did our thing. It was good fun to ride with such a strong and positive companion. He has become Tbow to us and his strength will become legendary in our family. Physical strength yes but also strength of character and emotional strength. Thanks for the ride Tbow.
This is the last time I will do this blogging thing. It has been good fun to try this " Tom Foolery", Canada is worth seeing, having fun is worth doing, a little exercise is great and a challenge makes every day better. I had not expected to share the experience in this way. It seems weird to me that others would be interested but apparently some are. Keeping track of the distances travelled, the speeds sustained, the changes in altitude, and the maximum speeds are not my interest and occasionally I have been wrong, Always closs but often underestimating the days run. Tbow's computer has all of that. The people we meet and the country we saw are my focus.Cycling is about living in the present, and safety is about concentration, unwavering concentration. This was my reward. When all is going well and you can "giv'er", I mean really "giv'er" thats a special high. To have the luxury to do that day after day all the way across our country has been magical. Weeks from now it will seem unreal. We will return to our real lives a little better prepared for the challenges and opportunities that present.
Cres and Rube report that they are not going out in the rain again, not ever. They have given Tbow and I a grudging passing grade but want you all to know that given a Tour rider they could be climbing the Alps and winning races. Cres with 2 red tires remains as vain as reported earlier. Rube on the other hand continues to feel great since his Port Credit rehab. Cres has offered a Westport block for all you bikes, but the stronger ones may wish to do the Calabogie, Renfrew, Arnprior loop. This latter is about 20o km and a good weather offer only. Keep your chain clean and test those brakes and see you on the road. RRM