BROOKS BULLETIN ARTICLE

When dad was in Brooks, Alberta last Sunday, his hosts arranged for a reporter to interview dad.  Dad made the front page of the Brooks Bulletin.

DAY 17 - PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE

Dad arrived in Brandon, Manitoba last evening around supper time.  He had an awesome ride yesterday.  The weather was in his favour and the winds were behind him.  He said he was averaging between 40 and 50 km.  However, he had a bit of bad luck, and ended up with two flat tires.  A gentlemen stopped and drove dad to the Esso to get his tires fixed to finish off his ride.  A BIG THANK YOU!

His hosts from last night loaded up his bike and drove out to meet up with dad and sure enough he did.  He cycled with dad into Brandon while his wife drove home.  It was a great ride!

Today dad is off to Portage La Prairie after getting two new tires for his bike in the morning.

DAY 16 - BRANDON - WINDY SASKATCHEWAN IS BEHIND HIM TODAY

Yesterday was another wet, wet day for dad.  He stopped in a tourist booth in Wolseley to get warm.  The new gloves he bought in Regina the day before took a beating.  Jennifer, from Wolseley, tied some plastic bags over dad's gloves to keep the heat in for him even though they were soaked.  Dad gives a big thank you to Jennifer as this worked for a while on his ride.  Dad made it to his planned destination of Whitewood last evening and called warm and dry from the Whitewood Inn.  A BIG THANK YOU to the Whitewood Inn who donated the room and breakfast to dad in support of his ride.

Today is a huge ride from Whitewood to Brandon, approximately 117 miles (186 km).  He will be leaving Saskatchewan and entering Manitoba.  Another province behind him.  Also, a time change as well.  We won't have to worry as late into the evening waiting to hear from him.

DAY 15 - WHITEWOOD

Yesterday was another rainy and windy day.  The winds were still in his face, but not as windy as it was the day before.  Dad stayed in Indian Head last evening.  A little further than originally planned.  The rain does not seem to be affecting dad's spirits, however it has affected his gloves and he had to stop in Regina yesterday to purchase new gloves.  The rain over the last few days destroyed them.

Today dad is heading to Whitewood, Saskatchewan.  I checked the weather and the winds are still a NE, but are not fore casted as high.  Tomorrow the winds are shifting to the West as I checked ahead the next couple of days.  The rain is continuing today as well.

DAY 14 - QU'APPELL, SK

Today dad is off to Qu'Appell in Saskatchewan.  His schedule has changed slightly.  Yesterday he fought high winds and there were times he was standing on his bike just to keep going.  He spent the night is Moose Jaw.

As he had some hard rides the next few days, we altered the schedule by one day.  He was arriving in Brandon, Manitoba Saturday evening and now it will be Sunday evening.  Tonight he is heading to Qu'Appell and tomorrow night Wapella.

I checked the weather and is shows rain and winds, but hopefully, not as high as yesterday.

DAY 13 - REGINA

Dad arrived in Morse last evening.  He called me from the Morse Cafe and he says a BIG SPECIAL THANK YOU to Dave and Linda Fairfield who had let him use their phone, check out the blog, and for their amazing kindness.

Today is a big day for dad.  He is off to Regina which is approximately 108 miles of cycling today.  The weather for the next few days in Saskatchewan is cloudy with showers.  We all know that their definition of showers is different than ours so the next few days could be rides in the rain.  There are not that many towns in Saskatchewan so the next three days are big rides to get to his destinations.  Regina to Whitewood  is another 110 miles and then Whitewood to Brandon is approximately 117 miles.

This is a picture of the railway tracks that run through Morse and stretch as far as the eye can see.

DAY 12 - CHAPLIN, SK

Dad spent the night at the Tompkins Hotel.  The room was donated by the owner of the hotel.  THANK YOU!  Also a big thank you to the restaurant attached to the Co-op who got up this morning and made breakfast for dad before dad headed out at 6 am.  Supper and breakfast were both complimentary - THANK YOU!

It is still quite windy, and he got into Tompkins around 4:30 pm.  Even though he is still fighting the wind he is still making very good time.

Today dad is off to Morse, SK.  This is approximately 25km west of Chaplin.  Russel Metals Regina is taking care of dad's accommodations for the next 3 nights and advised that there is nowhere to stay in Chaplin.  The closest spot is Morse.  Dad is still planning on hitting Regina Thursday evening to keep on schedule, it makes for a 110 mile day tomorrow.

DAY 11 TOMPKINS, SK

This picture is dad leaving Brooks on his way to Medicine Hat Monday morning.

Dad phoned from Red Cliff (stopped at a Tim Horton's) around 4:30 pm last night.  Only 5km left until he hit Medicine Hat.  It was a very windy ride yesterday.  He hit the flats and fought head winds all day.  He arrived in Medicine Hat in great spirits and had great company for dinner last night.  I received an email last night from his hosts who immensely enjoyed conversation with dad and she mentioned that she loves his motto "Hope, Faith, and Attitude".

Dad is off to Tompkins today which is in Saskatchewan.  Another province is now behind him.

DAY 10 (double digits) MEDICINE HAT BOUND

Last night dad arrived in Brooks, Alberta around 5:30 pm.  He stayed with relatives of an employee of Russel Metals Halifax.  They contacted the local media and they showed up.  The reporter met dad at Tim’s and then took him for a photo shoot at Brooks City Hall.

I received an email from his host last night and this is what was said about dad  "Christina your dad is delightful and keeping us entertained! I must go now as I’m missing some of the stories. He’s fed and watered and having a cup of coffee!! We didn’t get the rain and it turned quite sunny this afternoon! He looks amazing and has a wonderful smile that just seems to exemplify who he is!! We feel blessed to have been able to host him!!"

We cannot express our thanks enough to all the hosts along the way!

Today dad is off to Medicine Hat.

DAY 9 - BROOKS

Received a phone call from dad last night from the Olympic Centre in Calgary around 4 pm.  It looked like it could rain any minute, but dad was not in any rain all day.  He mentioned that he could see that he was putting the mountains behind him.

Today he is off to Brooks, Alberta.  He is travelling approximately 108 miles today.  I checked the weather and it says cloudy with sunny breaks with a high of 12.  His destination in Brooks today is Tim Hortons on 2nd Street.  His billet in Brooks has contacted the local papers and it sounds like they will run a story about dad.  The larger paper might send a reporter to Tim's tonight.  Hope this happens!

DAY 8 - CALGARY BOUND

We jinxed dad with our last posting.  Dad was in even more snow yesterday and the temperatures were a bit chilly.  He called cold and happy when he arrived in Banff.

Dad's Banff billets suggested he take the Bow Valley Highway into Banff from Lake Louise.  He took the suggestion and had to stop twice just to admire the views.  BEAUTIFUL....

Today he is heading off to Calgary.  He is going through the foothills today, still a bit hilly, but not mountainous.  He is staying tonight with an YMCA member that moved from Halifax which he is looking forward to catching up with.

Picture of the town of Banff.

DAY 7 LAST DAY IN BC & MAYBE LAST DAY IN SNOW ONTO BANFF, AB

Dad arrived in Golden around 5:30 pm and went straight to Tim Hortons for a coffee where he called me.  They had a supper at St. Andrews United Church for him last evening so he had a good well deserved meal and great company.

Dad's biggest challenge of the day was Rogers Pass and the snow.  I guess the tunnels in Rogers Pass were quite a rush when the 18 wheelers blew by (I guess dad felt a bit nervous being on the other side of a 18 wheeler).

The weather looks good for today and it is his last day in the mountains and in British Columbia.  He is going into Alberta and will lose an hour but be closer to Atlantic Standard Time.  This is a picture of some the scenery dad will see on his bike ride through Bow Valley Parkway from Lake Louise to Banff.

DAY 6 GOLDEN BC

Dad arrived in Revelstoke last night around 6 pm.  Had a great ride yesterday.  He was cycling with his billet from Salmon Arm and they came upon a couple of cyclists.  Had great company the whole way into Revelstoke.

Today he is off to Golden and is going through Rogers Pass.  Rogers Pass is in the heart of Glacier National Park with an elevation of 1330m.  It is a high mountain pass through the Selkirk Mountains of BC.  He has quite a climb ahead of him today, but it looks like there is quite a downhill into Golden.

Here is a picture of approximately 46k east of Revelstoke before Rogers Pass at 6:45 (10:45 atlantic) this morning from the BC highway cams and 910m.  Beautiful ....

ACCOMMODATION UPDATE

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has offered accommodations, but we are still in need of a few.
Listed is the trip schedule. Should anyone wish to accommodate me (Gary Jones) for a night, (one meal, one shower, and eight (8) hours of sleep), please contact my daughter Christina at christina.cameron@ns.sympatico.ca. THANK YOU!

Day 16 - May 30th Whitewood to Brandon, MB (accommodation arranged)
Day 17 - May 31th Brandon to Portage La Prairie (accommodation arranged)
Day 18 - June 1st Portage La prairie to Winnipeg (accommodation arranged)
Day 19 - June 2nd Winnipeg to Kenora, ON (accommodation arranged)

Day 20 - June 3nd Kenora to Emo (looking for host)

Day 21 - June 4th Emo to Atikokan (accommodation arranged)
Day 22 - June 5th Atikokan to Thunder Bay (accommodation arranged)
Day 23 - June 6th Thunder Bay to Nipigon (accommodation arranged)
Day 24 - June 7th Nipigon to Marathon (accommodation arranged)
Day 25 - June 8th Marathon to Wawa (accommodation arranged)

Day 26 - June 9th Wawa to Montreal River (looking for host)

Day 27 - June 10th Montreal River to Sault Ste Marie (accommodation arranged)

Day 28 - June 11th Sault Ste Marie to Blind River (looking for host)

Day 29 - June 12th Blind River to Sudbury (accommodation arranged)

Day 30 - June 13th Sudbury to North Bay (looking for host)

Day 31 - June 14th North Bay to Petawawa (accommodation arranged)
Day 32 - June 15th Petawawa to Ottawa (accommodation arranged)
Day 33 - June 16th Ottawa to Montreal, PQ (accommodation arranged)

Day 34 - June 17th Montreal to Trois Rivieres (looking for host)
Day 35 - June 18th Trois Rivieres to Quebec (looking for host)
Day 36 - June 19th Quebec City to Saint Pascal (looking for host)

Day 37 - June 20th Saint Pascal to Edmunston, NB (accommodation arranged)

Day 38 - June 21st Edmuston, to Kedgwick (looking for host)

Day 39 - June 22nd Kedgwick to Campbellton (accommodation arranged)
Day 40 - June 23rd Campbellton to Bathurst (accommodation arranged)
Day 41 - June 24th Bathurst to Richibucto (accommodation arranged)
Day 42 - June 25th Richibucto to Borden, PE (accommodation arranged)
Day 43 - June 26th Borden to Wood Island Pictou, NS (accommodation arranged)
Day 44 - June 27th Pictou to Truro (accommodation arranged)

Day 45 - Truro to Halifax

DAY 5 ONWARD TO REVELSTOKE

Dad arrived in Salmon Arm last night around 6:30 pm and was greeted with a pot luck by his Salmon Arm billet. The weather yesterday was rain and a little bit more rain, but dad said he felt great and had a great ride.

His billet in Salmon Arm is also a cyclist and she is planning her own trip across Canada this summer. She is joining dad for the day and cycling to Revelstoke. I checked the weather today and it is sunny with cloudy periods. With the weather and the companionship today it should be a great ride!

DAY 4 - SALMON ARM

Day three proved to be quite the mountain. Dad did not make it to Kamloops. He stopped in Quilchena around 4 pm yesterday due to the thunderstorm and lightening and the fact that he was about 2 hrs from Kamloops with nothing in between he did not want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere.

His plan is to go to Salmon Arm today. The weather shows thundershowers and lightening still, but the temperatures are not too bad. He still has a couple of good climbs today, but not as much as the last two days.

DAY 3 DESTINATION KAMLOOPS

Dad is off to Kamloops today. Checked the weather and it is saying cloudy with a chance of thunder showers but with a high of 22 and a low of 12. Not too bad of a day for biking.

Dad had a bit of a detour yesterday. When he reached Hope, BC he decided to take the Coquihalla Highway as opposed to the Transcanada. The maximum elevation from Hope to Merrit is 1244m. He ended up staying at Britton Creek Rest Area (about 25 km to Merrit) in his tent last night. He said it was a tough climb, but going down the hills was a lot of fun. He was setting up his tent around 7 pm last night. I am sure he is already on the road as it is close to 6 am and heading into Kamloops. The maximum elevation from Merrit to Kamloops is 1445m. Another day of some tough climbs, but going into Kamloops is all down hill and as Dad says "when you are going down a hill, you are having a good day"

DAY 2 - ON TO LYTTON, BC

Spoke with Dad last night and he was an hour away from Chilliwack, BC. It was going on 6 pm so he arrived in Chilliwack around 7 pm. A great ride for his first day considering he had to wait for a ferry from Victoria to Vancouver. His brother was waiting for him in Chilliwack and planning on spending the night and having breakfast with dad then seeing him off. His brother is on his way back to Vancouver and dad is heading off to Lytton. Checked the weather and it looks good going into Lytton today. A great day for a bike ride!

MILE ZERO - VICTORIA, BC

Dad was at Mile Zero bright and early this morning. His brother was at Mile Zero and a coworker/friend of mine when I lived in Victoria. Sending a big THANK YOU for the pictures, support and send off.

VANCOUVER RUSSEL METALS INC.

Dad was at Vancouver Russell Metals Inc. yesterday and received a warm reception. They presented him with a cheque and a lot of support and kind wishes. He is off to Victoria today and will start his ride tomorrow (Saturday, May 15th) at 7:30 am from Mile Zero.

ON THE WEST COAST

Gary is now in Vancouver ready to start his journey. He is leaving Mile Zero, Victoria, BC on Saturday, May 15th at 7:30 am. A Channel is interviewing dad Friday in Victoria. His brother John from Vancouver, BC is going to be at Mile Zero to cheer him on.

Gary's Trip by Ed Peckham

I wanted to take this opportunity to communicate a story to you about a tremendous, ambitious mission, about to be undertaken by one of Atlantic Canada’s recently retired employees.
His name is Gary Jones. Gary is a 65 year old, thyroid cancer survivor, who retired from R/M Halifax in Jan., 2010. His dream, since receiving a clean bill of health in 1998, was to cycle across Canada, raising money for thyroid cancer research. On May 15th, of this year, Gary will realize the beginning of his dream, as he sets out from Mile Zero in BC to cycle across Canada. Averaging 100 miles per day for 45 days.
During his career, Gary has made a tremendous contribution to the success of Russel Metals Atlantic. For 30 plus years, he rolled his 18 wheels throughout Ontario and Quebec picking up product, and more importantly, he rolled those 18 wheels into our customers’ yard. With his life long motto, “Every day is a holiday” engrained into the very fabric of his personality, Gary was an ambassador for Russel Metals throughout his entire career. Now he has traded his 18 wheels in for two and will once again put the pedal to the metal. As Gary so enthusiastically said to me, “instead of hauling metal, I’m hauling hope, faith and attitude”
In an effort to repay Gary, in some small way, for all of the qualitative contributions he has made to Russel Metals Atlantic, we have sponsored his dream. So, you may see him cycle proudly by, in his Russel Metals jersey and a smile on his face. Or, you may get to meet him personally at 1 of the 10 R/M facilities he will be visiting, as he cycles across the country.
Should anyone wish to accommodate Gary for a night, his daughter Christina at christina.cameron@ns.sympatico.ca

And now a few more words about Gary.
He is excited and ready to roll. Equipped with his laser cut butterfly logos ( which represents thyroid cancer) attached to each side of his bike, Gary is confident about his journey. As you can see by his schedule, his personal accommodations were his last concern. He is humbled and excited about the invitation of filling in the blanks day 2 through to 44. One meal, one shower, and eight (8) hours of sleep. Day 8, 17, and 31 are already arranged.
“It is important to have joy and everyday is a holiday”

Looking for Accommodations - Trip Schedule

Listed is the trip schedule. Should anyone wish to accommodate me (Gary Jones) for a night, (one meal, one shower, and eight (8) hours of sleep), please contact my daughter Christina at christina.cameron@ns.sympatico.ca. THANK YOU!


Day 1 - May 15th Victoria, BC to Chiliwack (accommodation arranged)

Day 2 - May 16th Chiliwack to Lytton (accommodation arranged)

Day 3 - May 17th Lytton to Kamloops (accommodation arranged)

Day 4 - May 18th Kamloops to Salmon Arm (accommodation arranged)

Day 5 - May 19th Salmon Arm to Revelstoke (looking for host)

Day 6 - May 20th Revelstoke to Golden (accommodation arranged)

Day 7 - May 21st Golden to Banff, AB (accommodation arranged)

Day 8 - May 22nd Banff to Calgary (accommodation arranged)

Day 9 - May 23rd Calgary to Brooks (looking for host)

Day 10 - May 24th Brooks to Medicine Hat (looking for host)

Day 11 - May 25th Medicine Hat to Tompkins, SK (accommodation arranged)

Day 12 - May 26th Tompkins to Chaplin (accommodation arranged)

Day 13 - May 27th Chaplin to Regina (accommodation arranged)

Day 14 - May 28th Regina to Whitewood (accommodation arranged)

Day 15 - May 29th Whitewood to Brandon, MB (looking for host)

Day 16 - May 30th Brandon to Portage La Prairie (looking for host)

Day 17 - May 31st Portage La prairie to Winnipeg (accommodation arranged)

Day 18 - June 1st Winnipeg to Kenora, ON (accommodation arranged)

Day 19 - June 2nd Kenora to Emo (looking for host)

Day 20 - June 3rd Emo to Atikokan (looking for host)

Day 21 - June 4th Atikokan to Thunder Bay (looking for host)

Day 22 - June 5th Thunder Bay to Nipigon (looking for host)

Day 23 - June 6th Nipigon to Marathon (accommodation arranged)

Day 24 - June 7th Marathon to Wawa (looking for host)

Day 25 - June 8th Wawa to Montreal River (looking for host)

Day 26 - June 9th Montreal River to Sault Ste Marie (looking for host)

Day 27 - June 10th Sault Ste Marie to Blind River (looking for host)

Day 28 - June 11th Blind River to Sudbury (looking for host)

Day 29 - June 12th Sudbury to North Bay (looking for host)

Day 30 - June 13th North Bay to Petawawa (accommodation arranged)

Day 31 - June 14th Petawawa to Ottawa (accommodation arranged)

Day 32 - June 15th Ottawa to Montreal, PQ (accommodation arranged)

Day 33 - June 16th Montreal to Trois Rivieres (looking for host)

Day 34 - June 17th Trois Rivieres to Quebec (looking for host)

Day 35 - June 18th Quebec City to Saint Pascal (looking for host)

Day 36 - June 19th Saint Pascal to Edmunston, NB (accommodation arranged)

Day 37 - June 20th Edmuston, to Kedgwick (looking for host)

Day 38 - June 21st Kedgwick to Campbellton (looking for host)

Day 39 - June 22nd Campbellton to Bathurst (looking for host)

Day 40 - June 23rd Bathurst to Richibucto (looking for host)

Day 41 - June 24th Richibucto to Borden, PE (looking for host)

Day 42 - June 25th Borden to Wood Island Pictou, NS (looking for host)

Day 43 - June 26th Pictou to Truro (accommodation arranged)

Day 44 - Truro to Halifax

Day 45 - Rest (allowing an extra day)