Good-bye, dear family

Thank you to our family for taking time out of their lives to support Ward's dream.  You all made it happen!

Truro to Halifax

After a great evening of take out pizza in the parking lot, we went to watch the tidal bore.  It was really quite good as the river went from barely there to flooded in a manner of minutes.  Andrew, Souhaila, Gordon and I left for Halifax at about 7:00.  Basically you follow highway 2 all the way down until you hit the Waverly Rd.  Highway 2 should be a lot nicer for cycling but there is seldom a shoulder and often the pavement drops off steeply.  However, there is not a lot of traffic and you go through little towns and pretty farm country.  We stopped in Shubenacadie and had the full eggs and bacon breakfast.  Olin and Madge caught up to us and they also ordered breakfast.  Souhaila had the last flat of the trip.  When we hit the Waverly Rd I took the lead as this was my training route so I know it well.  In fact it was the only time I knew where I was in 39 days of riding.  So, along the Waverly beside the lakes and into Dartmouth.  We stopped by Lake Banook where the paddlers train and compete and the up a killer hill and down to the bridge.  For two years I had dreamt of coming over the bridge and into Halifax, so it was a bit emotional.  Off to our house to pick up Olin and Madge so that the 6 of us could bike to Black Rock beach.  It was a real thrill to be met by so many people to welcome and congratulate us.  Dipping our front tires in the Atlantic was the culmination.  We had now been from White Rock BC to Black Rock Halifax.  We did 39 days in the saddle, 26 this summer.  We averaged 156 KM per day.  Total distance is 6,100 KM with 2,200 last summer and 3,900 this summer.  We had 17 flat tires.  It's great to be back home. 

No Nae Never Tribute song to the Skinner team

Chorus

And it’s no nae never

No, nae never for sure

Would they stop the bike journey

No, never for sure

 Verse 1

There once was a Skinner

A boy, oh so rare

He wed his sweet Madge

So bonnie and fair

Three sons he did sire

So true and so strong

With food from Mom’s kitchen

You can never go wrong

Verse 2

The first son named Gordon

Was keen for the hike

From one sea to the other

They committed for the bike

So off to Vancouver they

Dipp’ed their tires

And set off for Halifax

Their hearts (and legs) full of fire

Verse 3

They climb’ed the Rockies

With vigor and vim

Set off  ‘cross the Prairies

Their ardor undimmed

Till ting-e-ly fingers said

“Woah”, we should stop

And check out the doodahs

To continue this hop

Verse 4

At Brandon they started to

Finish the trip

Through wind and through rain

They hung on to their grip

The high point was Sudbury

Completely enthralling

They met sweet wee Mila

Their darling granddaughter

Verse 5

Now bikers did join them

From here and from there

Sou, Andrew and Helen

They came from everywhere

But no one was trueir

Than Ward’s neat grand son

For both years young Olin

Cheered on everyone

Verse 6

So now at Black Rock Beach

They’ve dipp’ed their wicks

A feat to be proud of

Bring on the drinks!

Ole, bravo, encore

We all stand in awe

Please join us in shouting

Hip, hip, hoorah

Halifax Potluck, July 21

To top off a wonderful day of celebration, friends gathered at our house for a potluck dinner.  Thanks to all for the delicious contributions.  Sorry about the blurry pictures; I must have been having too good a time and was a little bit overwhelmed and excited!  Duncan entertained us with songs adapted for the occasion.  Ann had written a version of "No, Nay, Never no More" specially for the bikers which was the evening's hit song.
Everyone pitched in to make this a night to remember. We are glad to be home.  We have returned with a wealth of memories which I'm sure will be enhanced as the years go by.

More Welcome Home Pictures

Here are some more pictures that different people on the welcoming committee have sent of the picnic and potluck.

Truro to Halifax--the final day!

We were up early, everyone ready to go at 7:20 am.  Olin and I thought we would watch the tidal bore again but it wouldn't come in until 8:46, so we went to Victoria Park to the playground.  We played for awhile and then walked a short length of trail in this huge beautiful park.  Olin then entertained me on the outdoor stage there.  I decided to travel the same slow-road route as the riders.  Lovely farming countryside that we only glimpse from the main highway.  At Shubenacadie, sure enough, we discovered our riders stopped and chowing down on a full eggs and bacon breakfast!  We decided that we were hungry too.  They paid!  Then off for the final distance, traveling through little towns and by beautiful waterways.  Gorgeous road.  Olin fell asleep so he missed the trip on the Mcdonald Bridge across Halifax harbour.  I arrived home around 11:30 and knew from the blog that the riders were an hour behind me.  Unloaded the car completely, every nook and cranny that we had used so well over the past month.  My neighbour, Susan, helped me along with Mik, who arrived just as we had carried in the last heavy things!  But then he kindly shifted it all from the front hallway to the various bedrooms.  Judy arrived at the house, then Richard swung by to say that he had seen the riders on Brunswick Street.  Olin and I then got our bikes ready to join the team members as they rode the final leg down to Black Rock Beach at Point Pleasant Park.  What an enthusiastic welcome we received from our friends gathered in the park.  And they provided picnic lunch and beer and champagne!!  Great hilarity all around.  Ward met a couple from Montreal, Pearl and David, at the beach who knew our friend Bernie!  Small world!  Front tires were dipped in the Atlantic Ocean.  From sea to sea had been accomplished. Everyone is in good health with amazing "biker" tans.  We couldn't have done it without the support from friends and relatives all across the country.  An enormous thank you to all of you.  
After the picnic, we biked up the hill to home.  Ward and I got stopped by Bill on his motor scooter, as we headed up.  So nice to be greeted by another special friend.   At home, laundry awaited as Sou and Gordon and Olin were leaving the next morning for a camping trip in Ontario.  We also had to get cleaned up and ready for the potluck supper that evening.