I am lying in bed on the first day of my new bike tour and figure that I had better document what happened during the day before it disappears into the mists of time and space.
Ok the day began at 1:15 AM (June 3rd) 2009 with me bolting up off of my couch where I had simply been trying to rest my head two hours previously. Like usual, I haven't quite gotten everything that I will need ready, and I need to get out the door by 2:30...
Well, I zip and zoom around the condo searching for and collecting all the nicknacks I feel that I need to bring with me for this summers bike tour, then jump in the car and speed off to my brothers house. My brother, Tim, has said he will drive me to the airport, but first we need to complete his early morning paper route.
This is OK though, after all if I am squished by a bus on my bike trip, I want to make sure that my family has a good last memory of me. So we cruise around and get the papers done, the fly off to the airport.
The bike needs to go through oversized luggage, and it takes a few minutes to get things squared away, but sure enough I find myself only a short time later roaring off into the air on my way to Vancouver.
Upon landing I meet a friend of mine, Kelsey (awesome girl by the way; beautiful eyes too), and we go for breakfast before she drives me out to horseshoe bay off of north Vancouver. From here I assemble my hardware and supplies, and await the arrival of my touring partner (Meagan McAleese).
Now, Meagan is using one of those new-fangled recumbent bikes, and after she arrives, we take our photos while standing in the shore of the pacific ocean. From here it's straight up the hill and along the windy and narrow Marine Drive of North Vancouver. My old faithful Univega Gran Turismo from the first tour is still in great condition and I have no problem driving it in anyway, however, Meagan is still quite unfamiliar with her new bike and there are many stops and starts along the way as she works on it.
Besides a number of pleasant encounters with North Van locals, the majority of the cycling itself was not terribly eventful. I got a number of pretty good pictures, and it felt great to get rolling again (it's been 7 years almost to the day since I started my last major trip) and I am feeling pretty damn slick.
Anyways, we didn't make it out of North Van, and currently we got a hotel room just off of Marine Drive at the travelodge east of the Lions Gate Bridge. Tomorrow the plan is to navigate the balance of the city and make it out onto the highway proper. With any luck we will be in Hope by the end of Friday.
Goodnight
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Gallery Upload
So I finally scanned most of my 2002 bike tour photos and uploaded them to the website. There will be more when I get the balanced scanned, but I hope this wets your appetite.
Please Enjoy Responsibly
Please Enjoy Responsibly
A new bike trip and other thoughts
It's been quite a while since I have posted anything on this site. It's not that I have forgotten it (quite the opposite actually), it's just that I have hit a series of writers block as to what I should write about. A number of people have emailed me asking to finish the route section, as well as the logbook excerpts. Problem is I keep distracting myself. Indeed, this little article has taken over two days to write after I decided it would be appropriate to write it, mostly due to an unending series of self-imposed distractions.
Anyways, it's now time to get back in action with this website, since on June 3 of this year (2009) I am taking off once again for yet another cross Canada bike trip!
For the most part the endpoints will be the same as last time around; for instance, I will starting in Vancouver (Horse Shoe Bay) and eventually ending up at Cape Spear (outside of St. Johns). However, the route will be more or less new. Currently I think I will heading along the #1 highway throughout BC, and once past Calgary, I will make my way down to medicine hat, then north through Empress and Oyen. From there it's a skip, hop and a jump over to Saskatoon, then south to Regina, visiting a friend on the way.
From there, I haven't yet thought of which way I want to go, but I am sure something will present itself to me.
One concern that I have this time around is the need to keep my small business running during this entire process to keep the money flowing so to speak. Luckily I am working as software consultant these days, and intend to work as I make my way across the country.
This time around, I am looking for some sort of Corporate Sponsorship, since I figure it has to be worth a meal and accommodation allowance to some organization somewhere to have me ride across the country with their logo on my chest (hint hint wink wink). Please see the contact page if you are interested in approaching me about this.
Another thing that occurs to me is that I am still getting regular emails from people all around the world who are interested in taking on their own bike tours. It's really inspiring! I am really glad to be able to contribute whatever there is for me to contribute. And, remember there is the wheels in the water project too! If you have something to contribute, then please do so there.
Unlike last time I plan on recording my journal digitally rather than on what is now a severely beaten Hilroy coil ring notebook. This should make it considerably easier to get it on-line at the end of the day anyways, since the whole transcribing process nearly bored me to death.... Which reminds me, props to Trevor Hennessy who has his entire journal compiled into a sexy book on his website, this is a must read if you want to bike across the country yourself.
Which brings me to my next thought, I would love to actually publish a book regarding my experience this time around, as well as record a bunch of it for posterity on video. Does anyone have a decent digital video camera they want to lend me (I'm serious, so contact me if you do)?
Next are the inevitable health benefits of a trip of this sort. Unlike last time, I am actually training at the local gym. And before I continue, I want to re-iterate a point that I have strong evidence for. It is not necessary to train before taking on a cross country bike tour, the tour itself will work its own magic as time goes by, and you will do whatever you can do at the time, trust me. So why am I training? Well, I suppose it comes down to looking good, it's been quite a while since I have been anywhere near trim or slim, and I want one outcome of this tour to be a sexy body. Sizzle!
Anyways, leave me a comment, ask a question or otherwise please enjoy the site. I expect it to be updated quite bit in the coming weeks.
Anyways, it's now time to get back in action with this website, since on June 3 of this year (2009) I am taking off once again for yet another cross Canada bike trip!
For the most part the endpoints will be the same as last time around; for instance, I will starting in Vancouver (Horse Shoe Bay) and eventually ending up at Cape Spear (outside of St. Johns). However, the route will be more or less new. Currently I think I will heading along the #1 highway throughout BC, and once past Calgary, I will make my way down to medicine hat, then north through Empress and Oyen. From there it's a skip, hop and a jump over to Saskatoon, then south to Regina, visiting a friend on the way.
From there, I haven't yet thought of which way I want to go, but I am sure something will present itself to me.
One concern that I have this time around is the need to keep my small business running during this entire process to keep the money flowing so to speak. Luckily I am working as software consultant these days, and intend to work as I make my way across the country.
This time around, I am looking for some sort of Corporate Sponsorship, since I figure it has to be worth a meal and accommodation allowance to some organization somewhere to have me ride across the country with their logo on my chest (hint hint wink wink). Please see the contact page if you are interested in approaching me about this.
Another thing that occurs to me is that I am still getting regular emails from people all around the world who are interested in taking on their own bike tours. It's really inspiring! I am really glad to be able to contribute whatever there is for me to contribute. And, remember there is the wheels in the water project too! If you have something to contribute, then please do so there.
Unlike last time I plan on recording my journal digitally rather than on what is now a severely beaten Hilroy coil ring notebook. This should make it considerably easier to get it on-line at the end of the day anyways, since the whole transcribing process nearly bored me to death.... Which reminds me, props to Trevor Hennessy who has his entire journal compiled into a sexy book on his website, this is a must read if you want to bike across the country yourself.
Which brings me to my next thought, I would love to actually publish a book regarding my experience this time around, as well as record a bunch of it for posterity on video. Does anyone have a decent digital video camera they want to lend me (I'm serious, so contact me if you do)?
Next are the inevitable health benefits of a trip of this sort. Unlike last time, I am actually training at the local gym. And before I continue, I want to re-iterate a point that I have strong evidence for. It is not necessary to train before taking on a cross country bike tour, the tour itself will work its own magic as time goes by, and you will do whatever you can do at the time, trust me. So why am I training? Well, I suppose it comes down to looking good, it's been quite a while since I have been anywhere near trim or slim, and I want one outcome of this tour to be a sexy body. Sizzle!
Anyways, leave me a comment, ask a question or otherwise please enjoy the site. I expect it to be updated quite bit in the coming weeks.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Wheels in the Water Project
Hey folks,
So I want to introduce you to my new project called Wheels in the Water (http://www.wheelsinthewater.org)!
The goal of the project is to inspire and support people (you) in biking across Canada. If you are thinking about, or planning a trip of your own, you are welcome to register an account with the site. You will be given a web log (blog) onto which you are welcome to post notes, plans, routes and even journal entries during your trip.
Friends, family and other people who are interested in your adventure can subscribe to your log.
Additionally, the site will become a rallying point for information on route and equipment recommendations, meeting points along the way, points of interest in Canada and getting in communication with other people who are doing the same thing.
Later, cyclists will be able to post photo galleries of their adventures and potentially post updates to their progress with maps (google maps) along the way.
If you are interested in this doing a trip of your own or want to contribute to the project, please Register! I'll get in communication right away, and we will make these extraordinary adventures happen together!
-Ted
So I want to introduce you to my new project called Wheels in the Water (http://www.wheelsinthewater.org)!
The goal of the project is to inspire and support people (you) in biking across Canada. If you are thinking about, or planning a trip of your own, you are welcome to register an account with the site. You will be given a web log (blog) onto which you are welcome to post notes, plans, routes and even journal entries during your trip.
Friends, family and other people who are interested in your adventure can subscribe to your log.
Additionally, the site will become a rallying point for information on route and equipment recommendations, meeting points along the way, points of interest in Canada and getting in communication with other people who are doing the same thing.
Later, cyclists will be able to post photo galleries of their adventures and potentially post updates to their progress with maps (google maps) along the way.
If you are interested in this doing a trip of your own or want to contribute to the project, please Register! I'll get in communication right away, and we will make these extraordinary adventures happen together!
-Ted
Saturday, December 15, 2007
How to annoy your readers....
Well, for a variety of reasons, I have not been replying to the numerous email information requests that I get about cross Canadian bike touring. Sorry!
Mostly, it's just that I let my Inbox fill up with 9 months of old emails and general cruft, so I would "lose" the important stuff amongst the clutter. Sigh. Nice hey.
So, if you send me an email, my promise is to respond to it within one week of the question date.
-Ted
Mostly, it's just that I let my Inbox fill up with 9 months of old emails and general cruft, so I would "lose" the important stuff amongst the clutter. Sigh. Nice hey.
So, if you send me an email, my promise is to respond to it within one week of the question date.
-Ted
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Small website cleanup and some thoughts on log hosting
Just a quick note that the site has been cleaned up slightly. I removed that irritating IE/firefox compatibility notice on the left hand toolbar.
Anyways, I have been thinking of how to make this website a little bit more useful.
For those of you who are actually also doing the cross Canada cycle trip, I'd like to offer you a location to publish your travel logs on this website. A number of people email me regularly with their logs and experiences during their adventures, and I suspect that many are not interested in maintaining their own websites to publish their account.
If you are planning, engaged or already finished your cross Canada adventure and want your travel log online, then please contact me and we can try to put something together.
Anyways, I have been thinking of how to make this website a little bit more useful.
For those of you who are actually also doing the cross Canada cycle trip, I'd like to offer you a location to publish your travel logs on this website. A number of people email me regularly with their logs and experiences during their adventures, and I suspect that many are not interested in maintaining their own websites to publish their account.
If you are planning, engaged or already finished your cross Canada adventure and want your travel log online, then please contact me and we can try to put something together.
Saturday, July 1, 2006
Galleries and site news
Well, I have been working away at getting all my travel pictures into the computer. (finally... Only took 4 years... Sheesh)
Anyways, so while I have been doing that, I have also been working at getting my galleries going. For anybody who has accessed my site. It is pretty clear that this is still a work in progress.
Nevermind. I am still working on it. Along with a new site all about creating customized home theater PC solutions
My internship with Nortel Networks will end around August 25, 2006. So when that happens, I should be able to spend quite a bit more time working on these sites (and any number of other projects) so look for cool things to come.
I really encourage people to contact me and leave comments on this blog.
I am thinking of making a new page dedicated to email discussions that I have had relating to bike travel and general adventures. I really want to make this site a good resource for people looking for bike touring information.
Anyways, I'm going to do a bit of work on the site today so look for new content and new posts to this blog.
In completely unrelated news, I ran into a young couple biking across Canada yesterday at the gas station at the top of the hill just east of Gleichen, Alberta. They live in Vancouver and left to cross Canada from Newfoundland back to their home in British Columbia. Apparently they left April 29th, and probably should arrive home around July 15th.
Later for now.
-Ted
Anyways, so while I have been doing that, I have also been working at getting my galleries going. For anybody who has accessed my site. It is pretty clear that this is still a work in progress.
Nevermind. I am still working on it. Along with a new site all about creating customized home theater PC solutions
My internship with Nortel Networks will end around August 25, 2006. So when that happens, I should be able to spend quite a bit more time working on these sites (and any number of other projects) so look for cool things to come.
I really encourage people to contact me and leave comments on this blog.
I am thinking of making a new page dedicated to email discussions that I have had relating to bike travel and general adventures. I really want to make this site a good resource for people looking for bike touring information.
Anyways, I'm going to do a bit of work on the site today so look for new content and new posts to this blog.
In completely unrelated news, I ran into a young couple biking across Canada yesterday at the gas station at the top of the hill just east of Gleichen, Alberta. They live in Vancouver and left to cross Canada from Newfoundland back to their home in British Columbia. Apparently they left April 29th, and probably should arrive home around July 15th.
Later for now.
-Ted
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