{"id":931,"date":"2016-08-10T11:37:42","date_gmt":"2016-08-10T15:37:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.7hannahs.net\/wordpress\/?p=931"},"modified":"2025-05-22T23:13:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T23:13:56","slug":"reflections-of-my-ride-across-canada-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.7hannahs.net\/wordpress\/acrosscanada\/2016\/08\/10\/reflections-of-my-ride-across-canada-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflections on my ride across Canada (2015)"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is now August 10, 2016, 13 months after the completion of my trip across Canada. \u00a0 On August 17 – just a week away – \u00a0we will be leaving on another multi-week bicycle trip; it is high time I wrap up this up.\u00a0 Here are the FAQs.<\/p>\n

Why ride across Canada?<\/em><\/strong>
\nIt’s my country. \u00a0Where else can I cycle over 7,000 km without risk of war, meet people who share the same country, speak the same languages, where I can cross peaceful borders, see two oceans, cross two mountain ranges, plains, three great lakes, rugged glacial stripped rocks, and still be at home. \u00a0Why not ride across Canada?<\/p>\n

I should not fail to mention that while travelling I also I dropped in and enjoyed the hospitality of my generous neighbours in\u00a0North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.<\/p>\n

What is the most memorable place in Canada?<\/em><\/strong>
\nThe first views of Lake Huron were the most wonderful. \u00a0I felt I was arriving at home with the familiar but uniquely beautiful views of rocky shores, islands and the sun rising on the shores of Manitoulin Island.<\/p>\n

Where were the best places for riding on the route?<\/em><\/strong>
\nThe stretch from Burlington, Ontario along the Waterfront Trail through to the east side of Montreal along La Route Verte in Quebec were the best cycling paths along the route. \u00a0(I would have included La Route Verte paths south of the St. Lawrence to Quebec City but on the trip I followed the La Route Verte north of the St. Lawrence which followed along the shoulder of the King’s Road.)<\/p>\n

How many kilometers did I ride per day?<\/em><\/strong>
\nI spent 58 days riding my bicycle and covered roughly 7540\u00a0kilometers averaging 130 km<\/strong> per day.<\/strong> \u00a0 Although I did not take regular rest days the duration included 6 non-riding days; 5 days in my home in Kitchener, Ontario and 1 day touring in Gross Morne in NL. \u00a0 When factoring the non-riding days the average daily distance drops to 117 kilometers per day.<\/p>\n

Was it a good idea to go on your own?<\/em><\/strong>
\nI did not stick to my original itinerary, route or schedule. \u00a0I changed things on a whim continually – where to eat, where to sleep; I stuck to my own pace – I’m slower than some and faster than others.<\/p>\n

Shorter trips \u00a0<14 days would work out very well with equally paced companions who can manage to get the time off work. \u00a0But for this trip me travelling solo was ideal.<\/p>\n

Regarding safety: \u00a0Riding companions can’t stop cars. \u00a0 Any way you cut it cycling is a risky activity. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And\u00a0I carried a\u00a0Spot Gen3.<\/p>\n

Did you get tired?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\nThe first couple of weeks were the toughest. \u00a0After that the body adapts (and so did my Brooks saddle). \u00a0 A good meal and a good night’s rest were sufficient to keep the body going. \u00a0By the end the daily ride did not feel difficult.<\/p>\n

Did you benefit from the westerly wind?<\/em><\/strong>
\nI am not sure. \u00a0The winds were in my favour from Ontario to Newfoundland. \u00a0However I faced strong headwinds when crossing the prairies which slowed progress by a few days.<\/p>\n

Where was the most bicycle friendly city on the route?<\/em><\/strong>
\nCalgary, Alberta<\/strong> – hands down.<\/p>\n

Best and widest shoulders on the road cycling?<\/em><\/strong>
\nAlong highway #2 stretching from Minnesota to Michigan<\/strong>. \u00a0 NOTE: \u00a0This does not include the towns and the cities where the shoulders were revoked.<\/p>\n

Most dangerous place to bicycle?<\/em><\/strong>
\nThe overpass on highway #555 from Duluth to Superior Wisconson<\/strong> when highway #2 was under construction. \u00a0 Some of the places I found myself in Vancouver were a close second. \u00a0 There may have been safer routes which would have taken much longer.<\/p>\n

What were your most memorable songs or artists?<\/strong><\/em>
\nI took a small Sony Walkman mp3 player with me to keep me company. \u00a0It had about 24 hours worth of songs that replayed every few days. \u00a0All the songs were selected by hand by my daughter Laura and my son David. \u00a0 They were all good songs; some grew on me and others not so much.<\/p>\n