Tour Du Canada.......the post to explain it all!

Where do I start.......After a much recent hiatus I have decided to rejoin the blogging world. First and foremost if this is going to take place a much needed post regarding my summer adventure is to be shared. So as many of my readers are aware I spent the summer cycling across the glorious country of Canada. Spent 72 days riding coast to coast. Up hills and down hills, through the prairies and the rocky mountains. Through 10 provinces, rain, wind, hail, and some of the sunniest days, but what an experience. I must say it was worth the journey. For every moment I doubted myself one of the 40 other riders were there to help reinforce the reasoning for the trip. The feeling at the finish line is one that forever will remain in my heart.
The expedition started in Vancouver, British Columbia and we road east from there taking advantage of the prevailing winds. We went and visited Victoria and toured around the island before the real journey began. From there we road day in and day out averaging 130km. Our smallest days of 60km and our largest roughly 195km depending on the route chosen to ride. It really allowed for riders to be able to take on their own pace. I think that was the most beneficial part. I was not an experienced rider, I had very little riding background so given the opportunity to “coast” at my own pace was wonderful.
I have learned to appreciate a roof over my head as I spent this entire 2 months in a tent. I experienced the wind and rain like no other. As the tent I had collapsed from time to time I came to appreciate a solid roof. I appreciate the warmth of showers and being able to cook more than bulk foods has found new love within my life. I met incredible people along the way, took some pictures that leave me speechless. I was able to see some of the most breathtaking sights and found some hidden treasures of canada that you wouldn’t find driving along. I know what it means to climb a hill and to pick up speeds of 75km going down. I’ve found out the true benefits of going to bed early and enjoying every sunrise and sunset. There are so many things this trip provided me with that this blog wouldn’t even be able to handle it.
As there are many details to include about this trip the most important are what the trip did for me. I never experienced a better summer. One that helped me find myself, find what I want in life. It allowed me to understand that there are other people out there with the same “insane” dreams as myself. There are people who are willing to give up everything just for a little adventure. No one thought my idea of biking the country was dumb, no one thought my idea of running marathons were boring, and no one defiantly thought that traveling the world for a year was out of reach. The people on the trip became a second family. They helped to instill the hope and theory that IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING and to live by it.

Feeling uneasy.

Trust
a : assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something
b : one in which confidence is placed

how are you sure? Is trust able to fluxuate? If its broken can it be mended? Can you have trust in yourself? I think the last one is the one I am so uneasy about. What does it mean to have trust in myself, is that even possible? Sometimes I feel like such a pushover towards myself. I don't listen to myself, I fall down for myself, get back up by myself. But where is myself when I need them? Have I destroyed myself, or does she still exist. Is it rightful to call it a she. Is she me???

That's right readers.........I'm back!

I've decided I am coming back. I will write more later, probably tomorrow but i'm back and I am more excited then ever!

Here I come Canada!!!!

This land is your land
This land is my land
From Bonavista
To the Vancouver island
From the article circle
To the great lake waters
This land was made for you and me

As I was walking,
That ribbon of highway
I saw above me
That endless skyway
I saw below me
That golden valley
This land was made for you and me

This is it!!!! One week and I officially leave to start my journey of a life time. I get to spend one amazing and incredible week in Edmonton with my brother his fiancé and my two very energetic nephews, which I can't be more excited about. From there I fly to Vancouver to embark on the adventure. The 24nd is the first official day of riding. We are heading to Mile Zero on Vancouver Island. Here we will spend the day and night and then ride back to the mainland to start the 72 day excursion. My stuff is packed, my bike is tuned, I’ve said my goodbyes and thank you’s and I officially can say I am ready. I will try and update facebook as often as I can with as much detail about the trip as possible. I wish you all could be there with me on this journey. Maybe one day you will. I wish everyone an incredible summer remember impossible is nothing. Here I come Canada get ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lots and lots of love,

Steph:)

Ontario.......the windy city???

Training rides have been incredible the past couple of weeks. Now with school being finished all I have had to focus on is training and preparing for the trip. I've been working as often as I can to ensure I have a bit more money at the start of the trip. I've been hit by rainstorms three times, yet with the distance I've been riding I happen to ride right through it. As much as I hate it, its preparing me for the trip.

The one thing I have started to hate is the wind. My gosh is it awful. I have never known Ontario to be so damn windy. It has seemed that the past 4 rides I have encounted windy days. No matter the direction I face I always seem to be going into the wind.

I already have hilarious looking tan lines, from my cycling jerseys and my cycling shorts, which I can only imagine how worse they will get. I've defintyl encountered some laughter at my running clinics.

So within the next couple weeks I hope to cycling a few longer distances as well as keep up the smaller days of riding as well. I bike to work(s) and to running clinic as well as small average rides from 30 to 70km. The most so far has been 135km which was a really enjoyable ride. Let's hope I can squeeze in a few longer distances before I fly out west.

My packing list has been made, and a list of stuff to buy has been made. Lets hope that within the next 40 days I am able to buy everything that remains and take care of the little important things.

Super steph???

This past week has been incredibly busy...and next week isn't looking any better. Trying to balance both jobs and running clinic is alot more stressful then I originally thought. Having both of those as well as the normal stress from exams just really pushes me over the edge. I think I am in the need of a really good sleep and a very relaxing day down by the water, any takers???. Some social activity would be really good right now, since I find myself seculded so frequently lately, not by choice of course. But don't fear everyone I am still squeezing in cycles. I'll give you a little play by play with the past week and the upcoming week. Hopefully you can feel my pain.

Sunday: Run club - ran 8.5km.....cycled 65km
Monday: Class...Worked....and worked on take home exam
Tuesday: Donated blood....worked on take home...movies/sleepover
Wednesday: Ran with friend.....Ran with Run Club....worked on take home...celebrated roomates birthday
Thursday: Cycled 80km...Ran with run club
Friday: Worked on take home....work
Saturday: Cycle...work
Sunday: Run club...work
NEXT WEEK
Monday: Work
Tuesday: Cycle 100km
Wednesday: Run club...take home due...Cycle
Thursday: Exam....run club
Friday: Exam....work
Saturday: Work....cycle
Sunday: Run club...Work....cycle

On a side note I should be the aunt to my very first nephew within the next 10 days. So very very exciting. I don't even know how to feel.

69 days....

So here it goes. The final low down. The final week of class. Spring has arrived. The winter boots, and winter coats have disappeared. The spin classes have ended and cycling has begun outside. Running has continued (yet in desperate need of new shoes) and school is closing to its end as well. The final door of fourth year has almost closed. Within the next 69 days before I leave, I have a pretty hectic scheduale. I have 4 exams to write plus 4 days a week I will be instructoring a running clinic. Donating blood, volunteering for the final time, and helping with my soon to be nephew! I will also be working two jobs, cycling on the off days, saying goodbye to friends and family, creating final packing lists, organizing flights, packing the bike, logging still what I beleive is 1000km, enduring two big bike trips to prepare myself for the distance all while trying to have a social life. If anything fails let that be the social life, everything else seems to important right now. The closer this trip draws the more excited I get. I'm not even sure how to feel, I think theres too many thoughts both of excitment and of nerves. I think for now the best thing to do is just to keep on going, enjoying it all. Even the hectic stressful days ahead.