Day 63, Saturday, September 2, 2006
Grand Falls-Windsor to Clarenville, distance 244 km....
km cycled, 163 km.
Couldn't e-mail yesterday's blog as there were no accessible phones with an outside line. I din't sleep too well..my fault because I was TOO LAZY to dig out my sleeping bag and I was cold. We had to be up at 5:30. It was one of those mornings where I couldn't get going to pack up, organize or do anything...slow mode. I had a good breakfast and we were on the road by 8.
It was very cold outside, around 4 degrees! I had on my jersey, my black long sleeved tight jacket, arm warmers, my vest and my wind jacket...and I was still cold. We hit wet pavement and at about the 20 km point Bob hit another crack on the white line. He was able to recover without falling but unfortunately behind me was Kurt who hit the same spot, tire got caught and he fell hard into the street. He was shaken, has a good bruise and raspberry on his hip and his front tire blew, just like a gunshot! We were also riding with Warren and Kevin from Australia. Warren and Bob changed the tire and trued the wheel and we were back riding in about 15 minutes. The sound of a cylist falling is awful...a sound you don't want to hear!
We stopped for a snack at about 50 k and another fueling at 88. At this stop Warren checked Bruce's spokes and tightened a few. The theme line for this trip, which we say every morning before heading off is "Through Our Spokes, God Speaks." After truing Bruce's wheel, he came out with the Newfie translation "True Our Spokes, God Speaks" (in Newfoundland the "h" is silent). We continued the ride with Kevin getting a flat, which was fixed only to have the new tube leak. Bob had a spare, which was patched and it seemed to hold. We had lunch upstairs in a motel in Gander. It was nice to come in from the cold. I wrang out my jersey with paper towel, which dried somewhat. Back out into the cold for another 40 km.
Newfoundland is a vastness of nothing but trees, rivers and lakes. I would term it "rustic" rather than beautiful. I saw very little of any wildlife; a few ducks, crows and two mice chasing something. Actually I don't remember seeing any road kill. Heck, we got excited if/when we saw a house!! We hit the spot where we were to end the day, but were given the option to ride until 4, which we did...and made it to 163 km. We are staying at a new school in Clarenville, a great facility. We have eaten a wonderful meal and await a "communion" service at 8. Again today all the motorists wave and honk and cheer us on.
Tomorrow is the final day as we reach St. John's and ride up Signal Hill!! I can't believe it! My odomoter hit 7,196 km. today!!
km cycled, 163 km.
Couldn't e-mail yesterday's blog as there were no accessible phones with an outside line. I din't sleep too well..my fault because I was TOO LAZY to dig out my sleeping bag and I was cold. We had to be up at 5:30. It was one of those mornings where I couldn't get going to pack up, organize or do anything...slow mode. I had a good breakfast and we were on the road by 8.
It was very cold outside, around 4 degrees! I had on my jersey, my black long sleeved tight jacket, arm warmers, my vest and my wind jacket...and I was still cold. We hit wet pavement and at about the 20 km point Bob hit another crack on the white line. He was able to recover without falling but unfortunately behind me was Kurt who hit the same spot, tire got caught and he fell hard into the street. He was shaken, has a good bruise and raspberry on his hip and his front tire blew, just like a gunshot! We were also riding with Warren and Kevin from Australia. Warren and Bob changed the tire and trued the wheel and we were back riding in about 15 minutes. The sound of a cylist falling is awful...a sound you don't want to hear!
We stopped for a snack at about 50 k and another fueling at 88. At this stop Warren checked Bruce's spokes and tightened a few. The theme line for this trip, which we say every morning before heading off is "Through Our Spokes, God Speaks." After truing Bruce's wheel, he came out with the Newfie translation "True Our Spokes, God Speaks" (in Newfoundland the "h" is silent). We continued the ride with Kevin getting a flat, which was fixed only to have the new tube leak. Bob had a spare, which was patched and it seemed to hold. We had lunch upstairs in a motel in Gander. It was nice to come in from the cold. I wrang out my jersey with paper towel, which dried somewhat. Back out into the cold for another 40 km.
Newfoundland is a vastness of nothing but trees, rivers and lakes. I would term it "rustic" rather than beautiful. I saw very little of any wildlife; a few ducks, crows and two mice chasing something. Actually I don't remember seeing any road kill. Heck, we got excited if/when we saw a house!! We hit the spot where we were to end the day, but were given the option to ride until 4, which we did...and made it to 163 km. We are staying at a new school in Clarenville, a great facility. We have eaten a wonderful meal and await a "communion" service at 8. Again today all the motorists wave and honk and cheer us on.
Tomorrow is the final day as we reach St. John's and ride up Signal Hill!! I can't believe it! My odomoter hit 7,196 km. today!!
posted by Unknown at 7:22 PM
1 Comments:
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You've made it. Amazing to think you're now at the end of the road. We've followed your journey every day and been down on the days you've had problems and up on the good days. Will be anxiously awaiting your arrival home and hope to see you "walking " by one of these days. Imagine your derriere will be glad of a different seat for a few days!. Thanks to Jean for the blogs also. God is good. Norma and Ted
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