Keith Smith

Day 38 - Aug 2

I toss and turn all night and even with the alarm set I check to see if it is 6am yet. I am up and eating a good breakfast with Pat, the owner of the Island view B&B by 6:30am and chatting. We are looking at fog and cool weather so the long sleeve jersey is the choice.

As I am about to leave Pat asks if I would like a couple of her magic buns as I call them. They are small sweet buns made with a bagel dough, nuts, fruit, cinnamon, syrup and when finished cooking coated with more icing. Very nice for us sweet toothed, energy seeking folk. She wraps three and I am thinking this completes the plan for the day.

It is 180km to St. John’s so I will ride 100km and have a bun followed by another at 120 and 140. Ride to the finish. This will depend on how the legs feel when I get going. As I ride through Clarenville I am spinning with ease into the first climb and all is good with the legs. A little sore in the right quad but nothing to worry about. I spin through the first 100km thinking about family and friends who have had their battles and lost and as well those who are still fighting, and those who are in remission. The time passes quickly. The hills of NL keep comming as does the wind. At 100km I get ice tea and a nature break and back on the bike with no issues. Feeling great. I soon pass a rider walking his bike up a long grade and I slow to say good morning. No response. I try again as I peddle by and still no response. He has his head down and just walking with another km to the top. He has a lot of walking to do to get to St John’s I think and decide to keep riding. Three buns gone and I still have riding to do and as I pass the 180km point and now I realize I have another 15km to ride to Signal Hill.

I decide I have enough in the tank to finish. I call Carol to let her know I am on my way up the climb. Ouch, it kicks at 16% gradient about 5-6 times as I wind my way up to the top. Carol, Hilary, Mike and Marian are there to greet me. Marian has called Newfoundland TV who arrive and want to interview me right away. I am more emotional as I talk and hope my message is all I would like to get out. I had not realized they might be there and as Jeff Rushton had said in 08 and 09, you never know when you will become emotional and it is all good. I get a hug from Hilary as I remember Paul and his smile. Carol gives support, as always, Marian is busy with her camera and Mike explains his present situation with his battle with cancer.

We take our time getting through St. John’s and ride out to Cape Spear. Man, more climbing and I have pretty much emptied the tank. In fact I buy a box of 6 chocolates for $10.00 and a orange juice to get a little sugar boost. It works, and we walk out to Canada’s and in fact North America’s most Eastern point. The ride is officially finished. I do need to find a place to dip my front wheel in the ocean and I will take care of that in the morning. I need a shower and food so I will head to Canada’s most Eastern B&B - The Admiral’s Adventure. More tomorrow. I will rest well tonight Pictures later today.

Keith

Day 37 - Aug 1

I have lost track of what Ride Day this is but if someone knows let me know. I am up early and on the road  by 6:45am. My legs are not happy and as I roll along the Trans Canada on a cool morning I finally get them to settle down as I am thinking of something else. I come up over a little rise and a Tim Horton’s and an IRVING Station are just ahead. Decision time, Tim’s or a sit down cooked-to-order breakfast at IRVING. No contest, IRVING it is. As I come in, the cook and server are sitting talking with a gentleman who is seated across from them. As I walk over to seat myself my server asks if I am the guy riding across the country. Yes I am, I reply and seat myself directly behind them. She brings over the menu and tells me the Big Man Breakfast is the special for the day. She describes it and there is no way I can eat everything they have listed. I ask if I can have 3 eggs, bacon and toast. “Yes you can and breakfast is on us today.” The gentleman sitting on my left gives me a description of the road ahead and the weather for the day. So far the locals have been more accurate than anything I get on the web or the TV. He is up and gone before I get his name. I am about to leave and as I get back on my bike the door opens and my server is running out the door asking me to wait a minute. ” Gee I almost missed you” she says and sticks out her hand to give me $20.00. I asks her name and if she could give me her e-mail I would send her a tax receipt. “Heather Penney, I don’t have e-mail but you will see it gets to the right place.” Then she tells me the gentlemen at the table beside me saw the interview I did earlier in the week and knew I would be coming through Aug 1 as a solo rider.

For sure I am feeling good as I start to ride again. Oh, but my legs are screaming. It takes 10min and a nice little climb on an easy gear to get some heat into the muscle tissue so I can quit pedaling squares. I think of other things and before long I am spinning along at a nice pace. Bang, all of a sudden my right leg almost locks up. I slowly get it to relax and try to get it to go round. No way. Might as well have a pee. Back on the bike and I decide it either goes round or it will get ripped off. Slowly I get it to work and I keep going. I make it to Gander and decide a short Tim’s break is a good idea. Not. Another 5-10 min before I am going without square pedaling. As I stood in line at Tim’s the gentlemen in front of me turns and asked if I am the guy riding across Canada. I reply yes. “Hey Annette, this is the guy I told you about on the news” His name is Jeff and when I ask him about the Trans Canada he tells me to stay on it all the way. ” Don’t go on the 60 as it is narrow and too many campers this long weekend. Nice drive but nor for a bike when it is busy.” I will take his and Rodney’s advice and do the Trans Canada tomorrow all the way to Signal Hill and then out to Cape Spear.

I stop for a small lunch and have the same leg issues so I decide I will not be getting off the bike for the last 100km. I arrive in Clarenville by 4:45pm and Pat is there to greet me to the Island View B&B. She has two kinds of magic muffins and I sample both along with a green tea. Feet up. Surprisingly I am able to walk up and down the stairs. I walk over to a restaurant and have some calories and walk back to a second green tea and  one magic muffin. I’ll try for the recipe in the morning. Bob and Judy, have returned from supper as well and want to know more about my ride and now they have the web and blog sites so they can donate. How do you make a long day longer? Talk to people. How do you make a long day worthwhile? Talk to people. I’ll have to make sure that tomorrow does not become a dash to the finish. KS

Day 36 - July 31

Today we leave Rocky Harbour for Grand Falls - Windsor. Up early to have breakfast and head to West Brook Pond for a boat ride into a fresh water fjord. Last evening I re-packed the bikes and felt a little tweak in my legs. As we load luggage I am worried about my quads and how they will feel. We have a 3km hike along mostly flat terrain so it should be easy. But my worst fears are realized when my quads come close to completely locking up. And are they sore. I make it to the dock and take a two hour boat ride spent turning my head left and right looking at mostly cloudy scenery while I am massaging my quads. I start the walk out and make it to the truck for the ride to GF-W. We stop for lunch and I decide to drive to GF-W. This will do two things. We will get there faster and I can concentrate on driving and hopefully relax enough to help the quads relax as well.  We arrive in GF-W and let everyone know I will now return to my cave and get food, rest and ride. I have some unfinished business and will be in bed early. I eat, they go for a walk. I go to the motel, they go to eat. I will blog again tomorrow. Time for a good rest. KS

Day 35 - July 30

We have chosen to do an all day Kayak

After arriving at the Kayak Café, eat a $2.00 muffin, we choose a route that will keep us from being blown out to sea and Labrador if the wind picks up. It might have been a  nice 300Km ride but not so much for a paddle. Not yet anyway.

We have a couple from Sarnia in a double kayak  so the first part of the route is a duplicate of what we did yesterday.

But we are soon being entertained by Collin’s stories of the history of the bay. Collin is a local wanting to stay and work in Newfoundland. He will do it as an ECO Guide if all goes well.

Can you see the lady picking berries in the cave in an old fashioned dress? Zoom in.

This is a beautiful area and I would love to return to NL and do a few Peninsulas and a few different Kayak trips as well.

Labrador is on the list for sure. You could spend a month here and then it is just a short hop to Europe.

We stop for a prepared lunch and enjoy a short rest before heading over for a great view of Gros Morne.

It is a bit of work coming back and Collin helps Marion along by giving her a tow.

Back to the Kayak Café and a banana chocolate muffin.

I get to read and rest as the others take a short hike  along a cliff trail.

My legs were getting a little tight from being in a cockpit all day. Must need a ride.

The ladies have ordered lobster for tonight so we arrive at my favourite time, supper.

Mike is attacked by a lobster but manages to get it in the pot.

Tomorrow we will do a boat ride and then drive 300km to Grand Falls – Windsor  where I will resume riding on Aug 1

Day 34 - July 29

The cabins are quite comfortable and Carol wakes me for breakfast and we are of for a morning Kayak. We arrive at the site to find out that the day kayak trip we were to do has been canceled due to wind. Together we decide to do a shorter half day and see what else we can do later in the day.  

We return to the cabin and have lunch and I get horizontal. Once the others have decided what the afternoon options are I will decide if I will join or rest for the balance of the day.

Need to ride!