First Video Blog ,  Second Video Blog , Alberta Children's Hospital Video Blog , Alberta/Saskatchewan , Manitoba Video , Halfway Point - Part 1 , Halfway Point - Part 2 , Celebrate , Headed East , Triumph , Ordinary Day , Inspiration

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March 16th, 2008

Well, hello hello! I have to admit - I’m notquite sure how to begin this journal entry. I just walked in the door from a 3 day youth conference that I was volunteering at. It is approximately 11:30PM and I’m running on very little sleep. So, to make a longer story shorter I think the best way to explain myself in order for it to make sense is to begin by telling you howtheinitiation of this journal entry came about.

As most of you know I am in University right now (about 4 weeks left of the year), and one of the classes I am taking is called Cultural Perspectives. And in that class I have the greatest opportunity to be taught byDr. Benjamin Elliott. For those of you who know of Ben - you'll understand why it’s a great pleasure, and for those of you who don’t know him; I’m very sorry!

While at the youth conference this weekend, low and behold who walks in the building? Dr. Ben Elliott to inform me that my website was not updated (He actually wasn't there just to tell me my website wasn't updated, butI gotta give him credit).

When I found out that people were still checking the site Iquickly called my people to say that we need to update! So first off, ifyou are one of those people that still visit my site - then 1. I apologize for not updating my journals regularly, and 2. If you do visit my site and wish that I update it, or re design than please send an email to info@spokemantour.com.

Now that that’s allcleared up - where do I begin?What’s been going on in the Spokeman'slife you might ask? And if by chance the only person reading this update isDr. Ben Elliott,thana little price tag must come attached - an A+ on my finalproject!

Since returning home I’ve had the chance to get the bike all tuned up and ready for yet another season of riding. I moved off to Calgary, Alberta for University and quickly realized that living on your own as a college student was great, but when my stomach started to get hungry and my clothes started to stink I decided to move back home and endure the daily drive and train ride to school. With only four weeks left of my first year of post secondary it’s hard to believe that it’s almost been 12 months since I dipped my wheel into the Pacific Ocean and started to trip of a life time. Since the tour finished I’ve had lots of time to reflect on the experience and cherish the memories.

As the summer season draws closer I am excited for what is happening and hopefully what will lead to another great experience. I still receive many requests to speak to organizations, school, and youth groups and because of that I feel a strong urge to continue pursuing speaking as a career. This summer will be the test if that is the direction I should head into. I am also planning another bike tour this summer – although a much shorter one. It’s a one day event from Calgary, Alberta to Cochrane and back with a goal of raising $5,000! I’m confident that we will not only meet our goal but we will exceed it. There are still many details to nail down before we launch the official press release but hopefully my end of April, beginning of May we will start promoting and training for the event.

Some say I’m crazy, but personally; after cycling across Canada and making such an impact on childhood cancers; sitting on the couch and cherishing the memories is just not enough. It must go on. Hopefully I will have the opportunity to do another national tour, perhaps a worldwide tour.

I still have plans of returning to school in the fall – but for now I’d rather not think about school and just enjoy my summer job as a supervisor at a golf course.

In the mean time, I have two projects to work on for school – I must get to work!

Once again, thank you for your support and even more so, remember….

WE WILL WIN!

As for you Dr. Ben Elliott, here’s a little personal shout out!

December 24th, 2007

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

To all those involved with the Spokeman Tour and making it a great success - Merry Christmas to you and blessings during 2008!

Tim Harriman & the Spokeman Team

December 23^rd, 2007

Dear sponsors, donors, supporters, family, and friends,

Ten thousand Canadian children are currently fighting a childhood cancer disease. I used to be one of them. These children go through an excruciating battle; and while cancer seems to be an unstoppable disease I felt a need to give kids with cancer hope and a second chance at life; therefore, what better way to do it than bike across Canada.

I had 3 goals during my Spokeman Tour across Canada;

1. To raise $100,000 in funds for the Childhood Cancer Foundation of Canada for childhood cancer research.

2. To call on the government of Canada to declare September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Canada. This goal is still in the midst of processing by the government of Canada.

3. To visit as many cancer kids as possible by visiting Children’s Hospital’s across Canada.

With the generous support of people like you I accomplished my goal and raised over $100,000. As for the Childhood Cancer petition, I received numerous updates from the Canadian government acknowledging that my petition was being taken seriously. I anticipate a confirmed response by April 2008. Throughout my tour I also had the opportunity to visit many of the 17 children’s hospitals across Canada. This was by far one of the most personal and memorable experiences of the tour.

Once again, thank you for making Spokeman Tour a great success!

Sincerely,

Tim Harriman

Childhood Cancer Survivor

Aug 24^th, 2007

Day 83

Whitbourne, NFLD. – St. John’s, NFLD.

96KM (total: 7619.4KM)

Well…it’s all done! Yay! I am happy, excited, and sad all at the same time. The last couple of days have been amazing. My brother Andrew, Sandy, and Christine continued to bike with me and we finally received some nicer weather on the east coast. Last night I went to bed thinking – tomorrow is the last day. Andrew, myself, Sandy, and Christine started out in Whitbourne this morning. And headed east on the Trans Canada Highway destination, St. John’s, Newfoundland. We had a great ride all day and met up with four other bikers just outside of St. John’s. We met up with the police in St. John’s who escorted us down to the water front where I dipped my wheel into the Atlantic Ocean. It was an intense police escort this afternoon as we neared downtown and the streets were extremely busy. Basically, if you can picture it, take Memorial Drive in Calgary, pack hundreds of cars on it, no one is moving and two cops, 8 cyclists, 1 RV, and 3 extra support vehicles come up to this traffic jam. All the cars quickly parted to the sides and we just rode right on threw! The feeling of dipping my wheel into the Atlantic Ocean was one of mixed emotions. Am I actually done? I thought to myself. Well, this is it, it’s all over.

From the water front we were escorted to the Janeway Children’s Hospital for a warm welcome to the finish line with a BBQ, live music, speeches, presentations, etc.

This was another special moment for me because I got to meet some more special and unique stories, received two $1000.00 cheques. One for Spokeman Tour for Childhood Cancer, and one which was a scholarship for school. I also received a certificate from Tony Clement, Minister of Health for Canada which reads:

Tim Harriman

For unparalleled courage in fighting a winning battle against cancer personally and raising awareness and support across Canada, helping assure a healthier future for all Canadian children and families facing the same fight.

I also received a personal letter from Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. You know you made a difference and impacted many people when you receive a personal message from the Prime Minister. Through all the pain, discouraging days, and doubts, I have personally witnessed the change and impact that I have made on people. Am I proud of myself – yes, but did I do it? No. You did it. We did it. Together!

After getting settled into our campsite (had to sleep one more night in the RV) we were surprised by a true Newfy and were screeched in. If you don’t know what that means then you’ll have to fly to Newfoundland to figure it out. But all I will tell you is that it consists of one cod, newfy steak, and screech. Sick!

Well, I am still rather speechless and in awe of what to say. I don’t think it has really sunk in yet.

I will try to update my website often when I return home and settle into college life.

As for the success of the tour – we’ve had over 3000 signatures on the petition, and over $70,000 in donations. There are still outstanding funds waiting to come in and I think it will be well into the New Year until we know our final total! But mind you, I believe every dollar counts and I have seen hands on where exactly the money is going.

Thank you all to a successful tour!!!

Keep in touch folks…thank you for the emails, phone calls, etc…keep em coming!

Sincerely,

Tim Harriman

The Spokeman

PS. Check out our latest videos - Ordinary Day and Inspiration!

Aug 22^nd, 2007

Day 81

Benton, NFLD. – Clarenville, NFLD.

118.9KM (total: 7419KM)

Well have I got some stories for you. You are probably expecting humor, but for me these stories are special and have really brightened the end of my journey. Before I get going I must thank the owner’s of the Carriage House Inn Bed and Breakfast. My Aunt Maxine who lives in Alberta organized for us to stay at her friend’s B&B in Grand Falls Windsor. It was a very nice house, 4 stars, and they treated us like kings! We also had the chance to visit with Fred, my Uncle Jim’s (Aunt Maxine’s husband) dad and his family. We got some pictures and then later on they came back and took my parents out for a spin around Grand Falls Windsor.

The next day I was headed to Benton - another long day through the deep woods of Newfoundland with little civilization along the highway. I have enjoyed Newfoundland very much but the one thing that I wish was different is that the Trans Canada Highway traveled near more coastline and through more scenic towns. I’ve seen pictures of Newfoundland but the only part that I’ve really experienced Newfoundland for what it is known for is Port Aux Basque when we got off the ferry and the town was right on the ocean. But all the same I am biking in Newfoundland and have made it this far – thanks to many prayers, support, and encouraging emails/phone calls along the way.

I received a call today from my publicist that things are beginning to look really well for the petition to get September proclaimed Childhood Cancer Awareness Month! Fingers crossed there will be a representative of Stephen Harper at the finish line. If this is passed, for me, it means a job well done. Successful!

As I was biking today the hills seemed to be getting bigger and bigger as I near the east end of Newfoundland. It showered on me on and off throughout the day. Overall Id have to say it has rained over 30 days throughout the trip. I have had weather from rain, snow, tornadoes, hurricane warnings, more rain, and heat waves…but I have pushed on. Many people have asked how did I do it and the answer is, I do not know – I just take it one day at a time. But I remember at the beginning of the tour saying to myself, quitting is not an option. Just like I told myself when I was diagnosed with cancer – I am gunna be a fighter. If I am going down then I am going down a fighter! And with Spokeman Tour – if I don’t make it to the finish line, then it just wasn’t enough. I didn’t work hard enough, I didn’t try, and I didn’t succeed. But I will make it to the finish line because of my brother Andrew, two women named Sandy and Christine, and a lot of support from many people.

As I was saying; I was biking along and the hills just seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. I knew that at one point today I would run into my brother Andrew on the highway since we flew down on Monday. But as I was biking I was in a very deep daze and then all of a sudden I saw two cyclists on the other side of the road. Cyclists I thought to myself. You mean to tell me they have cyclists in Newfoundland. And then I saw their Peloton jerseys and I thought what the….they have the same jersey as me. I took another quick look back and it was SANDY my assistant and her friend Christine. Christine is actually the wife of Stewart Gray, owner of Peloton, one of my gold sponsors. We biked into Gander and met my brother at Tim Hortons. It was nice to see him since I haven’t seen any of my brothers or sister in law since Calgary. It’s been a very long summer.

So, needless to say they showed up at the perfect time because I really need the support mentally and physically. I feel like I could keep biking for another week with them on bored! Christa is enjoying it too! She went out with the girls for supper and they all stayed at a hotel together. So it’s good because she is probably sick of me by now. Staying in an RV with her sticky, smelly friend all summer. Just kidding!

Well, 1 day left! It’s hard to believe that tomorrow is the final day. Ask me if I ever thought I would bike across Canada. It has been a challenge. It has been an Everest. But it has been worth it – every mile of the way. Although I did say to Sandy yesterday when we were having our break; I said Sandy, I have never told you this or anyone. But before I even told you about biking across Canada I really struggled inside with deciding between Canada or climbing Everest. Would I ever consider Everest…I am not sure. I think for now I have done enough; 3 years of cancer plus 2 years to train and prepare for my cross country tour. I think I should just take a break for a little while. The thought of being adventurous and risky is a rush to me, but the thought of climbing Everest and literally risking my life and possible never returning – you get the point. Maybe it’s not the best idea after everything I’ve been through. But…know this: YOU CAN DO ANYTHING WHEN YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO! Remember…Can, Will. You CAN and you Will!

Well folks, I will write you after my arrival in St Johns. From there I will try to update my website often to keep you posted on my life. So feel free to check in once in a while. As for the donations: I received an email from I don’t know who and from I don’t know where that they are hosting 2 golf tourneys, and one hockey tourney and I heard about a rugby fundraiser that took place back home. Thanks guys!

Oh, and one more big thank you to the Crossfield Elementary school that has been sending me cards, and letters and pictures every province of Canada. They are so inspired by what I am doing that they really wanted to help me out and encourage me! You guys did it! Thank you! And thank you to the person who organized this…you know who you are! ;)

Cheers!

Aug 21^st, 2007

Day 80

Grand Falls Windsor, NFLD. – Benton, NFLD.

125KM (total: 7300.1KM)

See Aug 22^nd for update.

Aug 20^th, 2007

Day 79

South Brook, NFLD. – Grand Falls-Windsor, NFLD.

86.9KM (total: 7175.1KM)

Wow! Over the 7000KM mark now! It is hard to believe that the tour will wrap up in 4 days. I have been on the phone for hours this evening with friends and family. Everyone is calling one last time before I get to the finish line. It is overwhelming at times; even for me. I remember the week before the tour started and the feeling I have now is very similar to the feeling I had then – except now it is a I can’t believe it is over feeling. The cycling part is over but there is more to happen. My journey is just beginning – and so is yours! Because together we have travelled across this country and together we can make a difference!

I have learnt MANY things this summer. I have learnt a lot about myself, those travelling with me, and those who are on the other side of the country. I gotta admit; I have said things I wish I did not say, made choices I wish I never made but if I finished this tour and never regretted a thing, then what good was the tour, because then I would never have learnt anything. Life is about being adventurous and making mistakes. How are we gunna learn if we don’t get down and dirty? One of the things I have struggled with on this tour is taking my pain and frustration out on this computer. I love to write. I love to journal. But sometimes I have taken my pain and frustrations out on the blog and never really thought twice about filtering my words. I hope you know that I am a pretty laid back fella and can be sarcastic at times. Maybe my sarcasm has kicked me in the head a few times. If I have offended you at all; know that I am sincerely sorry.

The last couple of days have been really tough. Ever since I landed on the island it has been rainy and very cold! The days have been long and they have been tough. Last night it poured all night. As the rain beat against the RV I thought to myself, I am only a couple hours driving distance away from St, John’s I might as well pack it up now. I am almost done and if it wasn’t raining I would bike and would still make it. Just give up Tim. This was my inner conscience battling with the deceiver. I won! I cycled the distance needed today. My dad biked with me for a ways today - about 40kms. We talked pretty well the entire time about anything and everything. I really needed the moral support. One of the things I said to my dad was that I can’t believe it is almost over. I cannot believe I have biked from Victoria to here – Grand Falls, Newfoundland. I said, nobody can do this trip and walk out unchanged. Like I said before, I have learnt so much about myself during this tour. It has been amazing!

Well folks – I am off to bed. Thanks for tuning in. I get to see my brother Andrew tomorrow! So excited! I spoke with Jerry (my oldest brother) on the phone for a half hour this evening! I miss you guys so much! And my dog, Buddy. Hang in their bud! I’ll be home soon!

PS. I forgot to mention in my last blog, a big thank you to my friend Mariah for allowing us to borrow her computer for the summer so we could have internet access. Could not have done it without you Mariah!

Cheers guys!

Tim Harriman

Actually wait! I have more to tell you. Really quickly though. Last night we ran out of toilette paper. So I said to everyone, alright, give me ten bucks and I’ll go find some. No one wanted to dare me because they knew I’d do it. But we needed toilet paper so I said alright, I got 2 bucks, I’ll buy some! I went across the way to the RV across from us and said excuse me, this is a weird question but I will give you a tooney if I can have a couple of rolls of toilet paper. We ended up talking about my bike tour and in the end got some toilet paper. He said if ya need more you know where the store is! I guess that was his donation! Ha-ha.

Then while I was biking into Grand Falls-Windsor this afternoon I saw a girl driving in a driving school car. She was supposed to be merging onto the highway but instead of merging she came to complete stop. I thought oh dear! Someone’s gunna get hurt. I remember those days. Then that reminded me, I better pick up the pace and get home because I gotta renew my licence, otherwise the Spokeman gunna be biking a little longer. Ha-ha!

Good night folks!

Aug 19^th, 2007

Day 78

Deer Lake, NFLD. – South Brook, NFLD.

131.5KM (total: 7088KM)

See Aug 20th for update.

Aug 18^th, 2007

Day 77

St. George’s, NFLD – Deer Lake, NFLD.

118.2KM (total: 6956.7KM)

See Aug 20th for update.

Aug 17^th, 2007

Day 76

Port-Aux-Basques, NFLD. – St. Georges, NFLD.

143.1KM (total:6838.5KM)

Seven days remaining! Yee Haa! I mean, dope. Believe it or not and all jokes aside, it is hard to believe that there is only 7 days remaining in the tour. The good part about finishing up the tour is that I won’t have to wear those dang tight shorts anymore; we won’t have to live in a mosquito infested RV; and I won’t have to wear anymore smelly, dirty, & icky clothes. End of subject, case closed. The sad apart about wrapping up the tour means that I don’t get to slack off anymore and just bike for living, talk to cameras, and get to hang out with kids at the hospital anymore. Not only that but all together, it means I have to let everything go - two long and hard years of training, planning, and prepping. As hard as it all was and as difficult and as stressful as it all was I knew the day would come when I would be “doing it” but I never really thought about the day that I would have to let it all go and move on. It’s a good thing though because I am not letting go of the tour; I will still hold on to the memories and remember the challenge but wrapping up the tour means new beginnings, new challenges, and new goals - new risks.

Many of you have been writing in and saying how your encouraged by my journal entries and all that I am doing but I gotta tell ya – I would not be here if it was not for the hundred’s of people behind the scenes who helped me plan this tour, sponsor the tour, manage the tour, and deal with all the not so fun behind the scenes stuff. Most of you who know me personally always knew that I had plans of biking across Canada but you probably thought it was just for the heck of it and to be honest, I thought it was just for the heck of it also. And then one day, boom – it just exploded and before I knew it I was getting emails from people all over Canada and parts of the USA who heard about my idea and what I wanted to do and how could they help out. It actually all started out during one my doctor appointments and I had mentioned the idea to my doctor, Dr. Coppes. He sent an email to David Stones, president of the Childhood Cancer Foundation, and then one day before school I received a phone call from David inquiring about my wacky idea and he began to tell me about the foundation and how possibly my tour could tie into their foundation and support them. After months of negotiating if I actually wanted to bike across Canada and for what organization I gave the foundation a call and said let’s do it! From there the planning began. Training, planning, fundraising, getting sponsors, promoting, you name it! And then on June 2^nd 2007 I flew out to Victoria BC and I remember looking out the window and thinking – what have I gotten myself into? Even during the first week of the tour things remained fairly low key and then all of a sudden overnight the tour just exploded. I remember getting donations from the USA, France; emails from all around the world, requests for media interviews, people who wanted to meet me, cancer patients to visit, special phone call request, and at that point I remember saying to myself; I am not going to have any expectations or high hopes of this tour. I will take it day by day, enjoy each day as it comes, and remember that this tour is about 10,000 kids fighting cancer. It has been an adventure beyond adventures, an experience beyond explanation, and a memory beyond description. As hard as some days have been and as cranky as we have all gotten, I hope that at the end of the tour I can look back and say hey, it was all worth it!

Whatever becomes of the tour after Aug 24^th, I am not sure. I wish I could go into detail about the requests I have received and the possibilities of this becoming bigger and better but like I said at the beginning of the tour; I will not have any expectations and will not set my hopes high – I will take it one day at a time. In the mean time I need to send out a few shout outs to those who have helped out big time.

A big shout out to Dr Coppes who got the ball rolling; to Sandy Baggott for helping me with letters, sponsors, encouraging me, and fighting for me; to all my sponsors for pouring both time and money into my tour; to friends and family for encouraging me; to Christa for doing all the videos, photo’s, emailing, answering the phone, booking campsites, helping out at press conferences, and being the medic; thanks to mom and dad for driving the RV, cooking and preparing meals, laundry, and pushing me across this country; thanks to the Fenske’s and Whelch’s for your support in driving the RV and giving mom and dad time off; to the Childhood Cancer Foundation for their support, and to Babble On Communications for organizing press. I am sure I have missed somebody; there are so many people involved with making this all happen, but most importantly, thank you to all the kids across Canada fighting cancer that I have visited with and collecting their pictures and letters for the Prime Minister.

Like I was saying before, many of you have emailed in and are encouraged by my journals and have suggested that I write a book. I must say that the idea has crossed my mind many times before. I always thought what should I write about? But I now think I have something to write about – and it’s my story. I hope that after the tour, depending on money and if people are really interested, I would like to publish my journal. Re-read it, edit it, fix it up, and publish my journey across Canada. In the mean time I think I will continue to pursue my college degree, possibly write a book within the fours years of college about my life story, and then publish the real deal. Would people be interested? I guess it’s another risk I might have to take.

75 days down, 7 more to go.

Until next time,

Tim Harriman

PS. Here's the info for the end of tour wrap up in St John's:

Finish/Dipping of the wheel: 1:30PM

Where: Harbourside Park, St. John's Newfoundland

Visit Janeway Health Centre @ 2:15PM

Aug 16th, 2007

Day 75

Rest Day - Newfoundland Ferry

See Aug 17th for update.

Aug 15^th, 2007

Day 74

Wagmatcook, NS. – North Sydney, NS.

73.3KM (total: 6685.4KM)

If you’re a writer you’ll understand what I mean when I say that sometimes I just don’t know how to start my journal off. So I guess I will just start by saying “hello”, welcome to yet another blog from me – Tim, the Spokeman…the very sore spokeman.

As I write this I sit on a picnic bench in Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland. I actually started writing this journal on the ferry this morning coming to Newfoundland but was having a hard time focusing so I just decided to ditch it. You have probably noticed that my blogs have been less frequent and the reason for that is because we aren’t always able to connect to the internet. Like right now for example. And to be honest, there hasn’t been much news in the Spokeman’s life lately. A little bit of biking, a little bit of eating, and a little bit of sleeping. I am doing better then I was last week. Last week was a very up and down week with some very adventurous moments – some which may have been caused by myself.

Biking up the Cape Breton Island was nice. Not quite what I thought it would be but that is probably because most of the scenic spots are along the Cabot Trail. But overall my experience in Nova Scotia was really good. The people seem to be very friendly, out going, down to earth and very laid back - unlike Calgary where I am from. If people don’t like ya, they let ya know; and the thing that really makes me laugh is that Calgarians are probably the worst drivers in the world. They all yell at each other and throw some sign language in there and the other guy doesn’t know how to drive when in reality – none of us Calgarians really know how to drive. I actually thought about getting bumper stickers made that read “Not a new driver and not an elderly driver – just a Calgary driver!”

Well what’s new on the road? Not a whole lot. I gotta tell ya, I am really happy that I am doing this tour for a reason and that I am visiting with cancer kids along the way, otherwise id be done by now; I am done mentally and I am done physically. It is extremely difficult to bike across Canada over a period of 83 days, catch a glimpse of the Tour de France the odd time and still be biking when all the Tour de France competitors are at home on their sofa’s recouping. But hey, 8 days left for me….wow!

The discouraging part is that it has taken me 74 days to get here and will take my brothers and sister in law one day to fly here. By the end I will have traveled 7738KM, 83 days, and 412 hrs of biking and then I fly home on the 27^th at 8PM Newfoundland time and arrive in Calgary on the 27^th at 11:30PM. I hope you know that I am being sarcastic and I really am not as discouraged as I am letting on. In fact I am so ready for Newfoundland!

So what are my plans for after the tour? I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and now that the thinking gap is closing I need to make some decisions. As you all know I am headed off to school within a week of getting home. I am going into Youth Counseling and would like to be a youth motivational speaker. On top of school I am possibly (it’s still in the works) getting on with lululemon clothing to be an ambassador and model…whatever that means; all I know is that I might get free clothes. And in the fall I have several speaking events which I will be taking part in. As for next summer I’ve decided Ill probably leave the idea of biking from Vancouver to L.A alone (unless it really works out) and I am going to volunteer at Camp Chamisall again and I would like to host a session at a huge youth conference in Edmonton, Alberta which gathers more than 14,000 kids. Many of you have emailed in and said how much you’re enjoying the journals; I appreciate that. It is always nice to put in a hard days of biking and then come into the RV and get notes from people who are encouraged. Some of you suggest that I write and book and I can tell you that it is definitely something that I want to do and probably will do. I love writing.

Well – not much else is new. The tour is almost over. There is so much to do in the next week as we get ready to wrap things up.

Before I go I will leave you with this. Remember that book that I was reading called “Does this dress make me look fat”? AKA – bathroom material…no offense. Anyways, I finished it. Over all I thought it was a pretty lame book. But the one interesting thing that made it worth while is at the end of the book the author says this, “No matter how many books you read, counselors you see, marriage seminars you attend, we will always let one another down at some point and never really “get” (understand) each other. It’s just part of life and life equals pain.” Emphasis added. Maybe to you that phrase means nothing – but to me it speaks a lot of truth and I think many people are running around trying to find an answer when maybe…there is no answer.

Aug 14^th, 2007

Day 73

Port Hastings, NS – Wagmatcook, NS

73.7KM (total: 6622.1KM)

See Aug 15th for update.

Aug 13^th, 2007

Day 72

Stellarton, NS – Port Hastings, NS

116.9KM (total: 6548.4KM)

See Aug 15th for update.

Aug 12^th, 2007

Day 71

Truro, Nova Scotia – Halifax, Nova Scotia

97.7KM (total: 6431.5KM)

Finally, we made it to Nova Scotia, province 9 of 10. Wow! Three more days and then I’ll be taking the ferry to Newfoundland, province 10 of 10! Wowzzers!

Well yesterday I was able to get back on schedule and catch up on the kilometers I wasn’t able to complete in PEI. I arrived in PEI on Wednesday and was supposed to bike across it in one day. I didn’t end up leaving the island until Saturday. We enjoyed our stay very much though and would go back in a heart beat. Putting the extra kilometers in to visit the island was worth it. There were no hospital visits but we received over $1000 dollars in donations.

We took the ferry from Wood Islands, PEI to Pictou, Nova Scotia and our ferry ride was a lot of fun. I can’t wait till the ferry to Newfoundland because it’s a 7 hour ride out to the middle of no where. I am really looking forward to Newfoundland but I’ve never been on an island so far away from main land – I am not sure how I will cope.

Once we arrived in Nova Scotia it was so nice and overwhelming because I haven’t been here before and traveling here by bike has been quite the adventure. It was pretty tough biking to Truro. I knew it was going to be a long day because of the ferry but I was faced with head winds all day and when I got to Nova Scotia it was all up hill to Truro.

We were originally supposed to stay at a campsite a couple of miles outside of town but we heard there was a campsite in town so we thought we’d check it out. Plus it was getting later into the evening so we just wanted to park for the night.

We found a campground called Scotia Pine Campground and little did we know Christa had already tried to contact them for a site and I guess they were rude. My dad and I later found that out when we walked in to ask for a site. At the front entrance they had a sign that said “quiet, friendly, family campground”. I am not really sure where the friendly part came in. They were very rude to us when we walked in and were quick to cut us off when we told them who we were and what the tour was about. They made it clear that they weren’t interested in sponsoring us a night, so when dad said that every campsite up until this point had sponsored us the lady at the desk still wasn’t interested, in which we replied “so, your not interested in supporting kids with cancer?” Her answer was a very clear, short and to the point, NO! So, I have to admit I am not really sure what to think after that and for my best bet I should probably keep my comments and thoughts to myself.

This morning was a nice morning and fingers crossed would be a nice and down hill ride all day. Luckily it was a nice downhill, tailwind ride all day. Once we arrived in Halifax I was met by two police on bicycles yelling at me. I thought they were telling me to get off the road so I pulled over and then they ended up biking with me. There was a city wide dispatch to all police that whoever was available we needed an escort. One of their police cruisers showed up and the police were talking to each other and they were like we need to get him there and we need to get him there now! We want code 1, all out, sirens and everything. I tell you, this was the craziest police escort I’ve ever had. It was almost as if I was the Prince coming in. The police were blocking traffic, changing the lights to red, sirens of galore, it was intense. And I got to my destination on time! Thanks boys!

In Halifax we did our 5KM run/walk which ended up being a walk for the most part but it was really good. I wasn’t really sure what to expect since I was not the one organizing it but it was a really good turn out and we received a lot of donations. Thank you Harriet and your friend for putting all the work and effort into the event! And thank you to AVIVA for coming out and supporting me and providing all the goodies!

After the event I headed across the street to the IWK Health Centre to visit with some cancer kids and collect their messages. The kids continue to inspire me and it will be sad when it’s all over in St. Johns. Thank you all for your support! Keep sending those emails to us! (info@spokemantour.com)

Aug 11^th, 2007

Day 70

Charlottetown, PEI – Truro, Nova Scotia

122.8KM (total: 6333.8KM)

See Aug 12^th for update.

Aug 10th, 2007

Day 69

Rest Day in Wood Islands, P.E.I.

Well, well, well. What to say and where to begin? You haven’t heard from me in a while because things have been very busy and we have also been in and out of civilization which means the internet connection has been limited. Before I even get going with my rant I want to warn you that we are now in the very east of Canada and if something should happen that you don’t receive an update from me in a while it is probably because we have no connection…or I have taken a plane home. Just kidding!

Are you ready for a very long update?

On Tuesday I arrived in Moncton. As I have said before as we travel further and further across Canada the support seems to be getting better and better. The city of Moncton police escorted me into city hall. Coming into Moncton was an adventure that’s for sure. We didn’t even make it to city hall and the media was getting a tickle out of our arrival. I can see the headlines scrolling across my head. SPOKEMAN TOUR ROLLS INTO TOWN WITH A CRASH! We got our RV stuck. The police escorted us under a bridge that was 11 ft high when our RV is over 12 ft high. We stopped before the bridge but we were also in a construction zone so the traffic was congested as it was. Now we have a 27ft RV that needs to get turned around in a 2 lane construction zone. When the media saw this they swarmed to us like bees on honey. They loved it! Ha-ha. I think we all got a chuckle out of it.

We managed to get the RV turned around and got to city hall. Upon arrival at city hall I was greeted by Chris Collins, MLA for east Moncton. This was a very special moment for both of us. Chris and his wife just lost their son last month to cancer. Their son Sean was a great kid and impacted many lives in the Moncton area. He was very well known and very well liked. Sean was 13 when he passed away. The entire day in Moncton was just a dream. It was amazing. In fact the last few days have been really good.

While in Moncton, to my surprise I was thrown in front of a camera and before I knew it I found myself doing an interview with CBC in French - my first ever TV appearance in French. I was not expecting that at all. From there we headed upstairs at city hall to meet the Mayor. This was also another very special moment because I was greeted in Moncton by the mayor, received a gift, and had the chance to sign the official city hall guest book.

After our visit at the city hall the Spokeman Tour team spent some time with Chris and his wife at a local coffee shop and then we headed to the hospital to do a press interview and I had the chance to meet a cancer patient and was presented with 1020 signatures for the petition. After all of our press interviews and hospital visit we headed to the campsite to shower up and Christa and I had the chance to go out later that evening with Chris and his wife.

Chris, if you are reading this – we had a very special and memorable evening with you guys. Supper was awesome and driving around Moncton and up the magnetic hill was awesome! Thank you so much for being part of our tour and thank you for the gifts in memory of Sean.

On Wednesday I was joined with three other riders from Mike’s Bike Shop in Moncton. They biked for about 70KM with me and then headed back. It was very nice to have them join me and hear their stories and it was also such an encouragement to push on. Wednesday was a very adventurous day. Once we got to the Confederation Bridge we took some pictures and then headed to the island – province 8 of 10. Later that evening it started to pour on us.

Living in a 27ft RV and being on the road for 3 months can have it’s challenging times. We have experienced many ups and downs, highs and lows. On Wednesday night I had one of my moments and I needed to get away. I was gone for hours in the pouring rain and eventually I turned around to head back. By this time the sun had gone down. As I was walking along I was praying someone would stop and pick me up – not a good idea.

I am alright now. For a couple of days I was a little frightened. But anyways…as I was walking along a truck pulled up behind me and offered me a ride. I was freezing cold and soaking wet so I jumped in. When I got in the truck I told the driver where I was headed and he turned to me and said “don’t say anything.” I was like oh crap…the Spokeman has just been kidnapped. As I fettled with the door handle the door was locked. I just started praying and luckily the car in front of us slowed down so I quickly unlocked the door and jumped out. I was a little shaken for a while but after a bit I calmed down. I wasn’t sure if I should contact the RCMP or not but the next day when I was biking into Charlottetown and a group of riders biked with me and one of them was a cop. Later on when I was having lunch I told him what happened. He gave me a little lecture and I think the look on his face was enough to let me know that I should not have gotten in the truck. He later informed me that there is a 50 some year old man picking up males between the ages of 18 and 25. I am fine now but I think I’ve learnt my lesson to not jump in someone’s truck I don’t know.

So yesterday when we woke up there were severe storm warnings for the island. I was told the east coast has had a couple of hurricane warnings lately. I had an interview with CBC Radio and they said that there would be winds up to 90KM/h. Hopefully a good tailwind. I got on my bike and the wind was throwing me all over the place. My dad drove the RV beside me to block me from the wind and it helped big time but every now and then a semi would pass and I’d get soaked. I ended up biking about 60KM to Charlottetown and had an escort from Cornwall to Charlottetown. One of the riders who joined me used to played hockey with my brother, Andrew and now plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets. I only made it to Charlottetown and decided to pack it in for the rest of the day.

Last night we stayed at a camp for kids that have siblings or parents who have some sort of illness. We got to hang out with them, have supper, participate in activities and then before the night concluded I had the chance to speak to them as a group about my experience with cancer and my tour and to help them deal with the situations they are facing right now. After my speech I had one boy talk to me who had many questions. I realized how much I impacted the kids and how much we enjoyed our day so I decided to swap Saturday’s rest day for today and kick around and hang out with the kids for the day. Tomorrow I will jump back on the bike in Charlottetown and head to Truro, Nova Scotia.

There are 14 days remaining in the tour. Each journal I write we are getting closer and closer to the finish line - the finish line of the tour but closer to the starting line of a new journey.

I will try my best to update you as much as I can, if not it’s because we have no internet connection. I just want to let everyone know that we have had donations and signatures coming in from Mexico, New York, California, and France, and we even had the winner from the Amazing Race join the Spokeman Tour cause on Facebook. Thank you so much everyone for your continuing support.

Cheers!

Aug 9th, 2007

Day 68

Borden Carleton, PEI. - Charlottetown, PEI.

56.3KM (total: 6211KM)

See Aug 10th for update.

Aug 8th, 2007

Day 67

Moncton, NB. - Borden Carleton, PEI.

110.8KM (total: 6154.7KM)

See Aug 10th for update.

Aug 7th, 2007

Day 66

Coles Island, NB. - Moncton, NB.

91.8KM (total: 6043.9KM)

See Aug 10th for update.

Biking through the hills of New Brunswick

Me with some kids at the Tim Hortons in Hartland

The World's Longest Covered Bridge

Dave from RV WORLD presenting Spokeman Tour $1000!

Christa trying lobster with my uncle Bob.

Me with some of my many cousins

Me with my cousins, aunts, and uncles

Aug. 6^th, 2007

Day 65

Fredericton, NB. – Coles Island, NB.

95.7KM (total: 5952.1)

The weather is starting to get a little cooler. I think today was the first day that I’ve biked with arm warmers on in a while. When I walked out of the RV this morning to go shower it looked like we were in a forest fire that’s how foggy it was in the campsite. We were right on the river so that was probably why it was so foggy.

This morning I biked up to the Irving gas station to meet my aunts, uncles and cousins and had breakfast together, said our goodbyes and then I headed up to Coles Island. Today was probably the longest, most boring day ever – or so it felt. At one point I started singing

O, merry X-mas to me. My dog threw up all over the x-mas tree.

They repossessed my color TV.

O, merry bloody x-mas to me.

And then I realized oh wait, its not Christmas time yet but it will be soon after I get home. That’s how long I’ve been on the road. It feels like eternity – but we’re almost there!

I don’t know what’s better. Biking in the middle of the prairies where you can see for miles or biking in the maritime’s with tree lined roads and all you can see is 300 yards in front of you. At one point I yelled as loud as I could and my voice echoed throughout the forest.

Well tomorrow I am headed up to Moncton where I will be escorted into City Centre, then visit the hospital there, and then I am going out for supper with a local MP who just lost his son to cancer and tomorrow will be the father’s first public appearance.

In a couple of weeks my brothers Jerry and Andrew and my sister in law Amy will be joining us for the last week of the tour. And then we head home. It will be nice to get home but at the same time I don’t even know if I want to go home. It is nice to know that when I get home I moving right away. A new home, a new start, a new life, college, and new friends. But sometimes, being miles away from home is a nice feeling – if you know what I mean.

I will update my blog with photos soon.

Thanks.

Cheers

Aug. 5^th, 2007

Day 64

Bristol, NB. – Fredericton, NB.

145.7KM (total: 5856.4)

We are now in the heart of the Maritimes and it is cold here today. Cold for me compared to the weather I am have been biking in lately. I guess the evenings get a little cooler and the days are warm at this time of year. I am a little worried as I get closer to the east cost because I heard on the news there are hurricane warnings for the St. John’s area.

This morning I got on the bike around 8:30am and biked for 40 some kilometer’s to Hartland where we stopped at Tim Horton’s for a little break. I know this might sound rude but I don’t mean it the way it sounds. But it’s almost like we are a big piece of red meat and whenever we pull into a location, the people are like flies and they swarm to us. But it is really nice because we have received a lot of donations, support, and encouragement, heard many stories from people and their experiences with cancer and it is also nice to receive such great support since I am miles away from home and starting to get a little home sick.

After Tim Horton’s I biked through town and biked through the World’s Longest Covered Bridge. We stopped at a little convenience store along the highway for lunch and received more donations and then I trekked onward to Fredericton. Tomorrow I will start heading towards Moncton with a stop over in Coles Island. A couple more days and I will be on the Atlantic Coast, then head back in land to Halifax and then back up shore and cross the sea by ferry which has been sponsored to us with a room on board. The ferry ride is about 7 hrs long and being we have to camp in the line at the ferry dock the night before I am sure we will need our bunk rooms.

It’s amazing to be able to see the finish line but it will also be a sad moment. One thing I am looking forward to is getting out of this RV. There are stenches within the RV that we just can’t seem to find. I keep asking everyone if I stink but everyone says no. Maybe we all just smell ourselves – after all we haven’t showered since day 1. We are really adventurous! Just Kidding! We are close but not that close.

Tonight we stayed at a campsite here in Fredericton and Dave, the owner of RV World here in Fredericton paid for our site plus topped up all our propane and is going to fix a few little things on the RV for us so that when the tour is over it is in mint condition when we return it. Don’t worry Fraserway; we just chopped the roof and turned it into a convertible, put a 2 foot lift kit on it and put on some big monster truck mud buggin wheels, and smashed out all the windows and put in a roll cage. Like I said, mint condition and safer then ever for the next people who use this RV. Oh and the bed, we took out and put in a hot tub. I really enjoy it after a long day of biking.

PS. We visited with family (mom’s side) tonight. Had a big pot loc dinner and even had some lobster. Christa got a taste of the crazy side of the family tonight and got to experience some lobster. I think my uncle almost made her up chuck watching him eat the lobster. It was gone in under 5 mins.

Well…

Happy sleeps, or day, or whenever you are reading this!

Cheers

Aug. 4^th, 2007

Day 63

Rest Day in Grand Falls, NB.

Rain, rain, and rain…meh…I am used to it by now. As you can probably guess, it is raining here today. Today was a pretty low key day. I woke up this morning around 9AM, showered, and when I came back from the shower family was here from my moms side. We visited with them for a bit and then we headed into town for lunch. After lunch they headed back home and we did a few errands around town. I finally had the chance to get a hair cut. After two months I was starting to look like a little girl. And I shaved this morning – my face.

After our adventures in town we headed back down towards Britols where we are staying for the night so that tomorrow morning I can wake up and get on the bike instead of having to drive all the way from Grand Falls to Bristols and then get on the bike. We spent our rest day in Grand Falls because there wasn’t much to offer in Bristols except for the McCain Fries factory. Personally, I was okay with spending the day there and eating fries all day but I think the rest of the team wasn’t into the idea.

Talking about eating…I feel sick! Ever since Edmundton I have eaten nothing but squares, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon buns, lasagna, chips…basically junk food except for the lasagna. It was good! So when we got to the campsite tonight I went for a walk because I feel disgusting.

The campsite that we are staying at tonight sponsored us and was actually expecting us because we contacted them before I arrived. They rallied up the campers in the campground and raised some funds and were planning on giving them to me but Rich, the guy who is also biking across Canada for the same cause stayed at this campsite last night and I guess the campsite thought I was him and he got the money. I guess there are a few spots that people have mistaken him for me and he has received some of the benefits. Oh well – it’s all going to the same cause!

That’s all for tonight folks!

PS. If I can ask you a favor and if you don’t mind, keep us in your thoughts and prayers during these next couple of weeks. The tour is almost over which is very exciting and sad at the same time. It has been an awesome experience! I’ve learnt lots - lots about myself, those traveling with me, life, and anything and everything. It has been a great learning experience. We have experienced many ups and downs, highs and lows, thick and thin but we are still trucking! It has been difficult at times being on the road for such a long time and living in such tight spaces, but we are hanging in there.

Cheers!

Welcoming to New Brunswick

Me riding into the Days Inn hotel

Me and the gang (my dad's side)

Saying our goodbye's

Me and Gilbert biking into the storm

Me and Gilbert biking alon

Me and the gang (mom's side)

Aug. 3^rd, 2007

Day 62

Edmundston, NB. - Britols, NB.

132.6KM (total: 5710.7KM)

Owe. Owe, owe, owe, owe, owe! My toes hurt, my feet are cramped, my back is stiff, and my legs are stiff. Today was a very long and hard day. But I made it. I forgot to mention in yesterday’s journal that I had family travel all the way from Gaspe, Quebec to meet me in Edmundston. I rode right into the Days Inn parking lot where they were waiting to cheer me on. We visited for a little while and then everyone left because they had to make their way back home which was a couple hours away. They also brought a lot of goodies for us. We have so much food that we don’t have enough room to store it but we also don’t have to cook for a couple of days. But don’t worry about storage; the cinnamon buns which my aunt made are almost gone, the cookies are almost gone, and I am still working on the squares.

Last night it poured all night. The weather forecast called for hot and muggy weather all week but last night there was severe storm warnings and tornado warnings in the area. With the lighting the room lit up like a Christmas tree. I was a little worried because if it kept lightning then I wouldn’t be able to bike.

More family showed up this morning at the hotel. They left Gaspe at 3AM in order to be at the hotel before I departed for Bristols. My dad’s cousin Gilbert biked with me for a ways this morning but ended up having a flat so he couldn’t carry on. We were riding a long and I looked back over my shoulder and all I could see were dark clouds creeping up on us fast! Today was probably the worst storm I’ve every biked in yet. Rather it was lighting or not, I was determined to make it to my destination. The rain clouds eventually caught up to us and Gilbert and I got off our bikes and just got in the RV in time and it’s started to pour. Hail, lighting, thunder, you name it! But there was still biking to be done, so I got on my rain gear and we got back on our bikes – NO EXCUSE!

We pulled over at Tim Horton’s for a quick coffee break and I received over 30 dollars in donations. The generosity of the people here is amazing and you can sense the welcoming environment in the air. I have received many honks while biking along the highway and many donations.

I also passed Rich again today. I biked with him yesterday into Edmundston and then I passed him a long the road today. I feel really bad for the guy because he isn’t a cyclist. Even he said cycling is not for him. His knees and legs hurt so bad and he is biking long days. He started in Victoria on May 11^th and is trying to bike all the way to Halifax. I am sure he will make it as he is very determined and like me, it’s for the Childhood Cancer Foundation of Canada – a good cause!

The campsite that we stayed at sponsored us 50% of the cost.

Tomorrow we will be joined by more family from my mom’s side this time.

We have 21 days left of the tour and 18 days left of biking!

Talk to you soon!

Aug. 2^nd, 2007

Day 61

Riviere Du Loup, QC. – Edmundston, NB.

125.3KM (total: 5578.1KM)

Ah, I finally made it to New Brunswick. I can’t believe it. I am literally feet away from the Atlantic Ocean – or so it feels like it. I was in bed at 8:30 last night, much earlier than usual. I woke up in the middle of the night and there was a thunder storm. I thought oh no! Maybe I spoke too soon. I have been soaking up this nice weather and then just after I was thinking it hasn’t rained in days, it storms on me! Fortunately by the time I woke up and was ready to get on the bike the rain passed and the skies opened up. I started out this morning with a jacket on but within 20 minutes I had to take it off because it was so hot. By the end of the day it was so hot that it literally felt like I was in a furnace as the sun burned my skin. I didn’t get sun burnt but it felt like my skin was melting off. Sorry for the description.

I managed to catch up to another cyclist today named Rich who is cycling for The Childhood Cancer Foundation as well. His tour is a little bit on the smaller scale since he is performing his own music at pubs across Canada. But I reassured him, coming from a cancer survivor, that every dollar counts and he is doing a great thing.

I have to admit that the last couple of days have been a little stressful for me. As the tour slowly comes to an end (it still hasn’t hit me that it is ending) work will come in waves as it usually does for those in the RV, but for me, it will only increase as I get closer to the finish line. I have two radio interviews tomorrow, one which is all the way from Calgary, 660AM and the other is from Moncton, New Brunswick which will play live in Moncton, Halifax, and St. John’s. I’ve got letters to write to family, friends, and sponsors. Every other day I get a report on the success with the petition. I was hoping to meet Tony Clemet, the health administrator of Canada in St. John’s NFLD but unfortunately he has other commitments. So far so good, and fingers crossed the petition will be passed.

There are only 3 rest days left of the tour and by Tuesday if all goes according to schedule and plans I should be in P.E.I cycling with a group of cyclists.

Well, tomorrow I meet yet another batch of the family before departure and then the other side of the family on Saturday during my rest day.

That’s all for now!

Cheers.

Aug. 1^st, 2007

Day 60

St Jean Port Joli, QC. – Riviere Du Loup, QC.

92.2KM (total: 5452.8)

It’s August!!! Wow! Ask me if I am excited. Are you excited Tim? Yupperz!

Sorry for the delay on the updates. I could not seem to connect to the net last night.

Today was a much shorter day and a better start then yesterday. It was really cold though and I was surprised because it is August and it shouldn’t be this cold. I was biking along the St. Laurence River for the greater part of the day so that is probably why it was a little cooler.

I stopped around 10AM this morning for a little break to do a phone interview with 800AM in Belleville Ontario. I have been speaking with them every day since I left Toronto. Normally they call to follow up and check to see where I am but today was a little different. I spoke with a young girl by the name of Mia who is 11 years old and is raising money to build schools in Mexico. To date she has raised $10,000!

Today was a good ride but I spent most of my time in the RV. The road construction was none stop. Out of the 92KM I maybe biked about 10KM today. Just kidding! Ha-ha. I biked all of it but I was sure I would have a flat tire.

Well I am here in Riviere Du Loup. Four more days of biking or 5 more hours of driving and I could be at my Nannie Harriman’s house in New Richmond, Gaspe, Quebec. Your probably wondering where the heck that is. When I was younger I spent many summers down there. My family even drove across Canada one year for a family corn boil. But, unfortunately I won’t be going that way this year but I will see my extended family tomorrow.

That’s all for now!

Talk to you later.

Biking through Quebec

Dad and I - We mean business!

Me and th, th, the...the.....COP!

Me, over looking St. Laurence River

Sorry dad you can't go home

July 31^st, 2007

Day 59

St Apollinaire, QC – St Jean Port Joli, QC.

141KM (total: 5360.6KM)

This morning was a slow start. I just didn’t really have any juice to get going. So this morning I went for a little walk and reminded myself why I am doing what I am doing. It won’t be long until I am in province 7 of 10 and will also see another batch of my extended family. The fact that I have less then one month left of biking is exciting but it doesn’t matter; only today matters. And when tomorrow arrives, then tomorrow will matter – one day at a time.

We started out at the Tim Horton parking lot this morning. I decided to not bike with my iPod today and it was a good call. Listening to the sounds of the air was nice for a change. We stopped for lunch just before 12 o’clock where I had Subway. So far I have managed to understand and communicate in French but today when I went to Subway it was a different story. In the smaller towns the French accents are a little thicker and less easy to understand. As I stood in line looking at the menu I thought to myself, okay the pictures look the same but what the heck do the words mean. Which one is the chicken bacon ranch sub that I normally get? Should I speak French or just give up on trying because everyone knows I’m obviously not from around here. I just have that look. All of a sudden the lady behind the counter was talking and I didn’t realize she was talking to me. Eventually she got my attention and I gave my order…in English. I didn’t even get two words out of my mouth and the entire restaurant looked at me like who is this guy, where did he come from, and what language is he speaking? Ha-ha! In the end I got my sub and I was back in the RV where I buried myself into my sub!

Just before I arrived in St Jean Port Joli my dad decided to jump on the bike and take a spin with me. No sooner was dad on the bike and then mom wanted to bike with me also. So both mom and dad got a chance to ride with me. Welcome to Tim’s world! Biking is what I have done for the past 2 months of my life.

Right before I started my blog tonight, Christa were going to go swimming but they closed the pool so we went walking around the campsite and we stopped at this pond where there was two ducks. Should I mention two very large ducks? When we were standing there all of a sudden a guy beside me starts talking in French to me. Did I just hear him talking about ducks and guards and roman empires? I must have misheard him. C’mon buddy, were looking at ducks! So I said I don’t speak French very well, sorry. And then he said in English, be careful the ducks don’t attack, in the Roman Empire days they used ducks as guards because they were more intimidating. I guess I heard him right the first time!

Anywho, I am off to bed. Thanks for checking in!

Cheers

July 30^th, 2007

Day 58

Drummondville, QC. – St. Apollinaire, QC.

140.4KM (total: 5219.6KM)

2518.4 KM and 25 Days remaining in the tour. I am not sure how I feel. I am both happy and sad. I am happy to finish up and get home, see my friends and family, and move to Calgary – finally! And I am sad because it will soon be over. But honestly, if I could do it again, I would. It has been really enjoyable.

Overall today was a good day. It was a longer day but I can’t travel on the main highway through Quebec so I had to take the back road which jogs along and around the cities. Today was originally supposed to be 115KM if I biked on the #20 HWY.

So far the weather has been pretty good. I’ve managed to keep on biking through the day with the heat and humidity. There have been a couple of days where it was so hot and I was not drinking enough water. I started to feel dizzy so I stopped for a little break and pounded back two bottles of water. I remember a couple of weeks ago during one of my rest days it was so hot during the day and I probably didn’t drink enough water again and like every other rest day my body almost goes into a state of anxiety by the time night time rolls around because my body is working so hard to recover damaged muscle tissue and my heart is barely beating.

My game called Hey Cow that I usually play doesn’t seem to work here in Quebec. I guess the cows only understand French. Oh and PS – tonight while we were eating supper a couple of birds were sitting on the tree above us…and you guessed it…it pooped….on mom. Ha-ha. I mean…that’s not funny. : )

About 10KM outside of town Christa jumped on the spare bike and we biked into St – Apollinaire together.

Well. Another day, another…uhmm…I was going to say dollar but I guess I don’t have a job right now. So I guess, another day, another…uh forget it.

Cheers.

Me biking through scenery in Quebec

Christa and I about to hit the road!

July 29th, 2007

Day 57

Montreal, QC - Drummondville, QC.

118.1KM (total: 5079.2KM)

Bonjour! Comment ca va? Aujourd'hui,il fait chaud.

Hello! How are you? Today, it is hot. Being that we are in the land of love, I mean French, I have to brush up on my skills. This morning I started off in the big city of Montreal and now I am in Drummondville - another city but not quite as big as Montreal. I listened to my French pod cast for much of the day. Once I arrived in Drummondville, LeClerc Assurances hosted a BBQ in support of the Spokeman Tour. To be quite honest, Quebec has probably been one of the best provinces to bike through so far. I have had great support, encouragement, weather, scenery, and anarms wide open welcome into Quebec. Thank you to the Quebec police fortooting at me today, to the many honkers I received on the road today, and to LeClerc Assurances and all the supporters who attended the BBQ. It was a nice cap to the day. En français, il était très encourageante. (In French, it was very encouraging.)

Today, I was riding along and I got to thinking about the tour and how much I am going to miss it. I have a couple of conferences I am speaking at in the fall so I was thinking about my speeches and what I could talk about. One of the things I have discovered while on tour is how different our culture and society is today opposed to 50, 60, even 100 years ago. 100 years ago, you worked for the things you owned; which was not very much. A roof over your head, food on the table, a warm bed, and possibly a toy truck or if your a girl and little doll - not very much. And there wasn’t much entertainment because you worked to stay alive. In order for there to be food on the table you had to grow and maintain a garden. There was none of this instant Kraft Dinner or oatmeal that was cooked in a microwave. Not only did people work in order to stay alive but there was a very different level of respect and appreciation then what we have now. Now I am not saying you don’t have respect or appreciation – all I am saying is that our society is very different then it was 100 years ago.

100 years ago, most people went to church on Sunday morning and church wasn’t just an hour on Sunday morning and then it was done with. Their beliefs were carried out through the week. Families prayed before meals and bedtime, children read and memorized bible stories, and if the Lord’s name was misused then they were disciplined for it. In essence, they respected life, they valued life, and they appreciated life.

Now days, we are very different. Most families have a roof over their head, clothes on their back, and food on the table, but it all comes so easily. We drive 5 minutes down the street – voila, we have everything we need. We, in North America – in fact, especially North America are very comfortable in our lives and we are comfortable with being comfortable. We think that we value life but I don’t think that we actually do value it. Don’t get me wrong. I am not perfect. There are times when I definitely take things for granted, lose my respect, and could step out of my comfort zone a little more often. But let me explain how we are very different then our ancestors.

Most of us probably still do maintain some sort of belief in a higher power (eg: God), or a belief in the big bang theory, or atheism, or whatever it is you believe in. But deep down we don’t really value or appreciate what we believe or our values. Sure we go to church on Sunday morning, but the night before we were out at the bar and pounded back a couple of shots and 10 beers. And if we do miss a week of church, big deal, we can just download a pod cast on our iPod. Church now days means one hour, maybe an hour and a half on Sunday mornings and that’s it. Monday morning is back to work day with the attitude of do I have to? And you know what also shows a very big change in our society. Let’s say even 50 years ago, you got a buddy to buy some alcohol and you’d all go to a field and drink it and not say a word to mom or dad. Today, no problem – mom or dad will go buy the booze for you personally and even invite your friends over for you and drink with you and your friends. And misusing the Lord’s name, its okay, it’s only humor.

If you ask me, I think the picture is a little distorted. Again, don’t get me wrong. We live in a great world and a great country (only if you live in Canada - Just Kidding!), but do we really appreciate, value, and have respect for life and what we have or are we just comfortable with being comfortable and meh, no big deal, life is life and one day we will all be dead anyways. Personally, I know I’ve got a lot of brushing up to do but I want to leave a legacy.

I remember one of the projects I did in my English class. We had to write an essay on leaving a legacy – how do we want to be remembered? I don’t want to be remembered as Tim Harriman – what a great guy. I want to be remembered as Tim Harriman, he made a mark in this world. He left a legacy. He respected, appreciated, and valued life. And most of all, he was not comfortable with being comfortable.

Now, I hope that didn’t come across as too harsh. When I am riding some times I just get carried away with my thoughts and obviously my thoughts and opinions don’t offend myself, but I hope you understand that I don’t intend to offend you or come across as I have it all together – because I don’t. But all I want to do is leave a legacy and inspire people to be inspired.

PS. Sorry the blog’s are a few days late. I thought I posted them, I guess not - my bad.

Until next time!

PPS. Please! I encourage you to sign the petition. Make copies of it. Send it around. Tell your friends and family about it. I will have updated numbers tomorrow but in order for the petition to really matter I need lots of numbers! Thanks!

Me crossing over Ottawa River coming into Quebec

Bienvenue au Quebec! Welcome to Quebec. Me and my dad.

Look at the humidity - gross!

Me with Dr. Duval Head Oncologist and researcher at Ste. Justine Hospital

Me in Old Montreal on my rest day

Me with a little boy who has leukemia in Drummondville at the BBQ

The group at the hot dog BBQ

Me with the owner of LeClerc (left), his wife and my parents

Halfway there - Part 2 - NEW VIDEO!!!

July 28^th, 2007

Day 56

Rest Day in Montreal

27 days left of the tour and 24 days left of biking. Wow! I cannot believe how fast the tour has flown by. It is hard to believe that 2 months ago I was packing up an RV and getting ready to fly out to Victoria for the departure of a lifetime. Before the tour started everyone said how much this tour is going to affect me. It will change me for the rest of my life and it will be a once in a life time experience. To be honest, I wish it wouldn’t end. I have had a lot of time to think about anything and everything but I wish it could keep going. I’ve had a blast and it only seems to get better and better. I’d have to say that Montreal has probably been the best rest day yet. I love the history and scenery here.

Today we slept in like any other rest day and then once everyone was up and ready to rock we headed to the metro. All I can do is laugh sometimes. I am reading a book right now (don’t ask why I am reading it but I am). My friend gave me a book for my birthday called Does This Dress Make Me Look Fat? Like I said, I am not sure why I am reading it and I am not sure why my friend bought it for me, not like I need it or anything – but it talks about couples and relationships and how men and women are very...let me emphasize very...VERY different. Different in the way we think, act, and talk...we’re different. Period. Each chapter of the book is a difference question but very similar to the title of the book. To be honest I don’t read the book very often but I guess I would consider it bathroom material (laugh, laugh – I am just being honest). The point of the book is how women have different needs and wants then men. Therefore women think differently, speak with different intentions in mind, and have different needs that we as men just “don’t get it” but the book explains how we as men are to fulfill those needs and expectations that women have and how we can do a better job of letting them know that we care about them and don’t want them to feel lonely.

In the very first paragraph the author tells a story of when his family was out driving around looking for a restaurant to eat supper at. Like any other family, making a decision is next to the end of the world by time the decision is made. The husband asks his wife where she would like to eat, she replies she doesn’t care as long as it’s not Chinese food in which he replies “well I don’t care, I’ll eat anywhere”. Meantime the kids are in the back seat yelling back and forth because one wants to eat at Mcdonald’s and the other one wants to eat at Pizza Hut. In the end it turns into a quiet car ride back home where they just decided to order in pizza and everyone separates themselves around the house and eats supper alone. Sound familiar?

So to get back on track with I was saying, this morning we headed down to the metro. While we walked to the metro in the dying heat and boiling humidity the conversation went very similar to the conversation in the book. But I was totally cool with it because after all I’ve spent 19 years in the Harriman family and making decisions is a pretty big ordeal. So the whole time while we walked to the metro we tossed back and forth what each person wanted to do, stood around in the metro station for about 15 – 20 mins, bickered about the subway ticket prices, while in the meantime we still hadn’t decided what we wanted to do and the heat was only rising higher and higher and the humidity the same. In conclusion we ended up paying 20 bucks for subway tickets only to ride the thing for 20 minutes and then decided to just get off, hop on the next train going back, and we ended up back at square root one in front of Days Inn Hotel, 215 Rene Lavaque Street. I guess you could say it was fun while it lasted being I’ve never been on a subway before.

To wrap up the day we ended up going for nachos and burgers and then a horse and buggy ride around old Montreal.

Tomorrow’s forecast calls for sunny with cloudy periods and a high of +27 degrees (+32 with humidity).

Tomorrow I am biking to Drummondville where there will be a hot dog BBQ event in support of Spokeman Tour for Childhood Cancer. I love hot dogs!

Chow!

PS. Be sure to check out new photo’s that have been added to the photo gallery, keep an eye on the press section as there will be new press interviews soon, and keep your eye out for the new video part 2!

July 27^th, 2007

Day 55

Hawkesbury, ONT. – Montreal, QC.

91.1KM (total: 4961.1KM)

Bonjour! We are now in province 6 of 10 which is Quebec. Today was another fairly quick day. But it was definitely a hot one. Due to the heat I’ve been trying to stay on the bike and complete my ride all in one shot and trying to take as less breaks as possible. It was so hot here today that when I’d stop at a stop light the heat would instantly surround me. It was so unbearable at times that even my water would be warm after keeping them in the freezer. Even the locals are complaining how hot it is. It’s not even so much the heat but it is the humidity that makes it gross. If I am biking it isn’t too bad because there is a little bit of a breeze but as soon as I stop the heat is too much to handle.

Just before entering Montreal, Michel, the organizer of the hot dog BBQ event in Drummondville met us and escorted me to the Ste. Justine Hospital. Michel also represents Leclerc Assurances who is a branch of Aviva - one of my gold sponsors.

Once at Ste. Justine Hospital I had the honour of meeting the head oncologist and researcher who is currently being funded by the Childhood Cancer Foundation of Canada using the money Spokeman Tour has raised. It was also very interesting and great to see where the funds were being distributed and to see the money at work. Ste. Justine was a very quiet hospital because they are in the process of moving locations but it is also the week that most of the cancer kids are off at camp. It was nice to see a quiet hospital for a change. It means that the kids are well enough that they can get out of that place for once and enjoy life!

I have finally downloaded some podcast in French so I can practice my French speaking skills while I am riding. So far our time in Quebec has been very enjoyable. The Days Inn Hotel which we are staying at has been very accommodating, Michel took time out of his day to tour us around, and we spent time downtown old Montreal tonight on the St. Laurence River. While walking around tonight, we ended up getting lost but very much enjoyed the scenery and the history here.

Tomorrow we have a rest day here in Montreal. We will probably tour around old Montreal along the river or visit some local tourist attractions.

That’s all for now,

Cheers

PS. Melody – I received your message but unfortunately you never left me a number to call you back. We biked with each other in Indian Head, Sask.

July 26^th, 2007

Day 54

Ottawa, ONT. – Hawkesbury, ONT.

89.1KM (total: 4870KM)

I was so exhausted last night that when I went to bed I decided to not even bother setting my alarm and whenever I woke up I would start my day then. I only got to sleep in until 6:15AM because mom came and woke me up. I went outside to the RV this morning and the air was so cool that I thought it was going to be a nice short cool day. It was about +36 degrees today with 62% humidity – it wasn’t cool at all.

I got on the bike with the intentions of a one way flight to Hawkesbury. On my route and schedule it says I was supposed to bike to Champlain today. Champlain and Hawkesbury is pretty much the same town. There is a bunch of little towns along the river and then the other side of the river is Quebec. It is really weird to think that tomorrow I will be entering province 6 of 10. I have about 25 days left of riding and I think this month will go by very quickly since I am only about 1 week in Quebec, 1 week in New Brunswick, 1 day in PEI, 1 week in Nova Scotia, and about a week and a bit in Newfoundland. I’ve never been to Nova Scotia or Newfoundland so I am very excited to ride through those provinces. As I travel through the country the history only gets more and more interesting. There are some very old houses in this area but kept in good shape.

I managed to complete the 90KM ride today in just over 3hrs. I started at about 8:30 and as soon as I saw the big Dairy Queen sign in Hawkesbury I headed right into the parking lot. I was so focused on getting into the nice cool building that I forgot to warn my dad I was turning and he ended up driving right on by me. It is so hot here that when I got my blizzard from DQ it even started to melt inside the building. But it was delicious!

I’m slowly learning some stunts while biking across Canada. I’ve learnt how to bunny hop so that both wheels are off the ground – probably not the best care for a bike. I’ve learnt how to stall so that when a light turns red I can stop and not have to unclip my shoes, and I am slowly trying to learn how to nose stall and do a 180. You’re probably wondering what in the heck that means in English. Well I want to try and stop and balance myself on my front wheel while swinging the rear of my bike 180 degrees and riding out of it without falling. If something should happen that I do not make it to the finish line it is probably because I fell off my bike and severely injured myself while trying to attempt this stunt. Ha-ha, just kidding!

Well that’s all for now. I think I am going to…well just sit here in the RV where it is nice and air conditioned!

Cheers

Me with Jessica at Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Me with the Kunstadt riders at Parliament Hill

Me signing autographs for kids

Little Elgin (left) with Ottawa Senators player

Little Elgin was 3 years old when he lost his battle to cancer.

He touched many peoples lives in the Ottawa area and was the Senator's biggest fan!

He won the hearts of many.

Me with Chris, the organizer of the Sensplex event

Me biking through Elgin's guard tunnel into the Sensplex

July 25^th, 2007

Day 53

Smiths Falls, ONT. – Ottawa, ONT.

116.1KM (total: 4780.9)

Right now I am sitting in Amy’s (my brother Jerry’s wife) basement. It is so hot here. Even in the basement you can feel the humidity. After I finished my day I jumped in a cool shower and when I got out I was instantly sweating and my shirt was sticking to me. It must have been about +35 degrees today. It is so humid that I can’t really even focus on my thoughts and what I want to share.

I find some days when I am biking that I will think of something I want to add to my journal but then when the day ends I always seem to forget about my thoughts.

I can barely function right now. I am plopped on a couch and all I seem to be focusing on is the aching pain in my legs, how hot I am, and how much I wish I could just sleep but no matter what I do can’t seem to slip into a nice deep sleep. I tried lying on the couch – didn’t work. I tried going for a walk and I got 3 driveways down the street and even felt too exhausted to go for a walk. I don’t mind the heat, but after biking almost 120KM in +35 degrees weather it’s hard to unwind at the end of the day.

My day started off at 5:40AM because I had to be up and ready to go for 7AM to ride with the Kunstadt bike club, a group of 15 cyclists who were escorting me to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario for 11AM. Visiting the hospitals is a big part of my tour and also a very special part of the tour. It is the chance I get to spend one on one time with cancer kids, hear their stories, and know that I am making a difference. I don’t want to know that I am making a difference or I guess you could say I don’t need to know I am making a difference – but knowing that I am making a difference makes me feel like I am doing something worth while and getting the most of life.

Like I’ve said many times, this whole cancer thing just isn’t fair at times. At times…actually, it isn’t fair at all. I visited with a 17 year girl today whose kidneys no longer work. She has to come to the hospital 4 times a week for 4 hours at a time for a dialysis. At the age of 17 she spends at least 16 hours a week just sitting there. That’s not including the times she spends at home getting ready to go to the hospital, the amount of time the family stresses about finances to pay for her medications, the time she misses out on spending time with friends and family because of treatments, plus the 2 years she has been waiting for a transplant. If you ask me – that’s not life. She has been robbed of life just like I was for 3 years that will never be returned. And that is why it isn’t fair.

Diseases are such a problem in our lives that unfortunately they will probably always linger but hopefully by funding research projects we can help find a cure and stomp diseases like cancer into the ground.

After my hospital visit I was escorted by the Kunstadt bike group to the Sensplex where approximately 100 kids created a tunnel of hockey sticks for me to bike through while I rode into the Sensplex. It was really cool to bike through the tunnel of hockey sticks since I used to be in love with hockey. I still am in love with the sport but I know that I will probably never play it again.

Overall I had a really good day and it was especially nice to have the riders from the Kunstadt bike club come out and join me. It is always nice to have riders join me. It brings a new meaning to the day and helps the hours go by a little quicker. I owe an even bigger thank you to two girls who showed up to ride with me on a 2 seated bike. Biking with 2 people on 1 bike is not easy – but they were determined and never gave up! I was also presented with a brand new bike from the Kunstadt bike shop. Thanks guys!

It’s hard to believe that the month of August is almost here and I have been on the road for almost 2 months. Only 26 days left of riding!

Tomorrow I will be biking to Hawkesbury which is about 100KM from Montreal.

July 24^th, 2007

Day 52

Kingston, ONT. – Smith’s Falls, ONT.

101.3KM (total: 4664.8KM)

I’d have to say that my battle with cancer was more of a physical battle then it was mentally and my bike tour is more of a mental battle then it is physically. Both experiences required mental and physical determination but during my battle with cancer every morning I had to choose the outcome of my day. From the moment my eyes opened I lay there and stare at the ceiling thinking about how many times I would be sick that day or if I would be able to walk around my entire block once or if I would only manage to walk a few houses down the street like any other time id go for a walk. This was the mental battle of having cancer. The physical battle consisted of actually trying to lift myself out of bed and put foot in front of foot as I struggled to make it to the living room down the hallway where I would crash on the couch and sleep for another hour or so because I was exhausted. The physical battle meant trying to keep down as little as chicken broth. Depending on my attitude and how well I made it through the day, at the end of every night I would lie awake in my bed wondering if that day was the last day I would live. Not only did I wonder but I sometimes prayed that it was my last day and I prepared myself to be ready.

Cycling across Canada takes both physical and mental determination but I find the challenge requiring more mental strength then physical. I finished treatments on May 12^th, 2005 and started training the afternoon of June 4^th, 2005. My doctor’s never doubted me, they believed in me but were very concerned that maybe I was pushing my body a little too much too soon. However, I was determined and I knew that now was the time. If I did not do this now then maybe I would never do it again, or worse, what if my cancer came back and I was not able to fulfill my dream at all? I remember the first 6 months of my training being the toughest thing I’ve ever done. Everyday I questioned if what I was doing was actually happening and would I actually see the day of rewards and benefits. I remember one training day specifically where I was doing seated row lifts. I was doing 3 sets of 15 and on the 2^nd set I remember letting go of the weight and saying “I can’t”. My trainer looked and me and said “Tim, No! You will not give up! You will complete this set and you won’t drop the weight otherwise I will make you do it all over again. Trust me; you will be happy I am being hard on you now when you are biking up those big hills in BC.”

Shortly after that training day I attended a motivation conference hosted by Alan Hobson, Mt. Everest Climber and Summiteer and cancer survivor. His motto was can/will. I can and I will. It might not be easy but if we focus on the goal we can and we will succeed!

We received an email yesterday that one of the kids I visited with on tour unfortunately lost his battle to cancer. It is a unfortunate reality of life but that is why I am doing what I am doing – to help put an end to the disease.

When my trainer was biking with me from Calgary, AB – Bassano, AB one of the things he said to me was that my future was so bright I should be wearing sun glasses. It was kind of funny the way he said it but I was so encouraged by it. Since the beginning of the tour I’ve learnt that humility is not an easy gift to attain but definitely a very powerful gift. I want to inspire. I want to inspire people to be inspired and to make a difference because together we can make a difference. I don’t want to be one of those people who just read inspiring books or attend inspiring conferences but instead I want to take part in something inspiring but then go out into the world and inspire others who are inspired to inspire!

One of the things I am grateful for is the opportunities that have been given to me to inspire and make a difference. When I was diagnosed with cancer I remember the doctor telling me that life was not a priority. School is out of the question, every 14 year old boy hockey players dream to play in the NHL was toast; I would probably never play hockey again at the level that I did, and I also risked the chance of possibly losing my life. Why me, what did I do, what did I not do, will I be okay, will I live, will I graduate from high school, will my friends abandon me because of my illness, WHY? These were all questions that I faced when I was diagnosed.

Since my diagnosis I have not only survived 3 years of chemotherapy and radiation but I have survived cancer. I have graduated from high school. I have lost friends but I have also gained friends, I have been accepted into post secondary and even more encouraging my future is so bright that I don’t think a pair of sunglasses will do.

Life just isn’t fair at times. We are all normal, innocent people just living our day to day lives and out of no where we are stabbed in the back and we wonder why, and where is all the good out of this? But I tell you, that if we stay focused and remember that we can and we will succeed our future will turn brighter then we can even bare to see.

Since the tour has started I have been offered several speaking opportunities at conferences talking about my experience with cancer and my journey across Canada. I have been offered a position to be an ambassador/model for a high end clothing company, I've been asked to be an ambassador for the Alberta Children's Hospital, and recently received a message that a small band I am part of was offered to travel around the world on missions sharing our stories and inspiring others who want to inspire! I will see how it all works out at the end of the tour and after college but I feel called to travel around the world to speak at youth conferences and counsel and inspire youth to not just live life, but to live a inspiring life!

It’s hard to believe that I only have 28 days left of biking and before I know it the tour will be done.

- Tim Harriman

Biking through the streets of T.O

Me with all the people who met me at Boston Pizza in Ajax, Ontario

Me with the Fenske's and my parents

Me with Noni and Don

Me with a bunch of kids at the Deseronto kids camp

Me meeting people along the streets of Deseronto

Me with family for a BBQ while in Ajax, Ontario

July 23^rd, 2007

Day 51

Cobourg, ONT. – Kingston, ONT.

138.5KM (total: 4563.5KM)

When I got on the bike this morning I had the song “On the road again” playing over and over in my head. Mom and dad are back on board and we are slowly getting back into the swing of things after being on a break in Toronto. Having the break was nice but it definitely took me a bit to get going yesterday and this morning.

Last night we stayed at a Pentecostal Bible Campground where they served pasta for supper. And this morning our neighbor who stayed next to us was up organizing radio stations to call and interview me and for people to come out to the road side to cheer me on. I’ve had a fair bit of support throughout Ontario. It’s nice to have the support especially when I am so far away from home. Yesterday I was riding along and this truck pulled up right beside me and handed 20 bucks out the window. I am confident that I will raise my goal of $100,000 for the Childhood Cancer Foundation but even if we don’t, it’s not about that. It is about raising awareness about childhood cancers, giving kids with cancer a voice and getting September named Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

We had a call from a friend of Sandy Baggott’s (Sandy is coordinating my hospital visits) today. She organized some people to come out and support me when I biked through a little town called Deseronto where we also stopped at a little café for lunch.

Today was a little bit of a longer day since I didn’t get on the bike till about 8:30AM because of my radio interviews. My days are going to start getting shorter for the remainder of the tour, about 100KM a day. I am happy about that because my body is definitely starting to feel the aches and pains of cycling over half of our country. When the tour is finished I am sure I will need some sort of therapy program to heal my muscles. I get asked a lot if I have lost much weight. Before the tour started I weighed 150 lbs and in BC I lost 7 lbs. Since BC I have gained 27 lbs and now weigh about 170 lbs. I am sure when I start college and after eating KD 24/7 I will gain a lot more weight! Ha-ha!

Tomorrow I am headed up to Smiths Falls where I will be joined by 30 cyclists on Wednesday morning and will head up to Ottawa!

That’s all for now!

Cheers

July 22^nd, 2007

Day 50

Toronto, ONT. – Cobourg, ONT.

96KM (total: 4425KM)

Well good evening! Or morning, afternoon, or whatever time of day you are reading this. Right now it is about 8:40PM and I am sitting on the beach at our campsite over looking Lake Ontario. It is nice to be back on the road again. Today was a pretty quick and easy day. Most of it was traveling through city streets; that is how populated the Toronto region is. I made a stop at the Boston Pizza in Ajax for a quick visit with friends and family and some of the locals. From there I pedaled onward towards Courtice where I was joined again by more family for lunch. After that I biked the remainder of the day and finished off in Cobourg just short of Grafton my original destination.

I was a little slow getting started this morning. Five days off was definitely a nice break but probably wasn’t the best idea for my legs. Every time I stopped today for a break my legs would cramp up and they felt like they just had no strength to push on. But I made it!

Tomorrow I am headed to Kingston, Ontario. I am sure it will take me a few days to get back on schedule and get into my routine. Believe it or not media days are almost as bad as time changes. They take a couple of days to recoup.

I’ve definitely learnt a lot about myself on this tour. I really enjoy the tour and what I am doing but I have to admit, sometimes it can be a bit stressful. I am learning patience but unfortunately it is something I will probably never master. But I will attempt to master it anyways! Ha-ha.

Uhm, what else is new? Oh yes! We just happened to run into Marc, Cheryl and their daughter Kassandra today while I was riding. It was totally out of the blue and I wasn’t expecting to see them since we thought they were down in the Niagara Falls region. Mind you it was nice to see them and know that they’ve had a good vacation before they head back home to Airdrie.

Well I should probably head off to bed. I wish I had a couple more hours in a day. Don’t we all! But then again, I am sure we could fill those up pretty quickly as well.

Chow for now!

Tim

July 21^st, 2007

Day 49

Rest Day in Ajax, Ontario

This morning I was able to catch up on some sleep. I didn’t really do a whole lot today.

I ended up going shopping to get a few things. When the tour started I packed up a ton of clothes thinking I would be living in an RV for 3 months but then realized that I had way too many clothes. So during our stop over in Calgary I unpacked half my suitcase but then realized I didn’t have enough clothes. I spend most of time wearing my bike shorts anyway.

After shopping I headed down to Lake Ontario for a walk along the beach in the water. It is really nice here today – only about 25 degrees. While I was walking it hit me that I only have 35 days left of the tour and I’ve got the worst part over now. I might have some heat up ahead but at least the hills are out of my way.

That’s all for now! We are just about to have a BBQ with friends and family before I get back on the road again. Bout time eh!

Tomorrow is the big day!

Cheers

July 20^th, 2007

Day 48

Visit to Toronto Sick Kid’s Hospital

TGIF! (Thank God it’s Friday) Because tomorrow is Saturday which means I get a rest day – oh wait, I’ve been on a rest day since Tuesday…maybe I should get back on the bike now!

My day started off at 6AM this morning. I have to admit…are you ready for this…I shaved my legs this morning. Alright, alright! I had to look good for the cameras today. I can’t wait till the tour is over so I don’t have to do the whole shaving of the legs thing anymore.

After I was all ready to rock we headed up to 401 HWY to the Toronto Sick Kid’s Hospital. This hospital is huge! We weren’t able to get a whole lot of photo’s and video footage today at the hospital because of tight security and the policies. There is actually a TV show broadcasted out of the Sick Kid’s hospital called Life’s Little Miracles. So that is the reason for the tight security and restrictions. The hospital was so big and their oncology department had so many patients that there was actually a waiting line out to the hallway in line to see a doctor. These are patients who are already admitted having to wait in line to see a doctor! It was actually sad to see. Families going through cancer have enough on their plate, let alone having to stand in line with young restless children anticipating their child’s results for the day.

Just before I was about to leave Sick Kid's I received a request to pop over to the Mount Sinai Hospital to visit a 19 year old boy fighting cancer, had his femur removed and also has fetal alcohol syndrome. When I went there he was waiting for me in the family waiting room. He was hoping to meet me when I was in winnipeg but unfortunately he had to come to Toronto for treatment, so he was delighted when I was able to squeeze in a few minutes to come over and visit him and answer many of his questions.

After the hospital visit I was taken to CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) for an interview with CBC National. I had 3 radio interviews this morning and then we had our media event downtown Toronto at the St. Laurence Market where I was joined by cancer families, the Childhood Cancer Foundation of Canada, my sponsor Days Inn – Canada, global news TV who did a project story on me which will air next week, and the Toronto Sun came out to interview me. Today was a very busy day as you can imagine. I am in the heart of the Country so I was expecting today to be a very busy day.

After the event I crashed in the RV and slept all the way home.

Tomorrow we have some friends and family coming over for a mini BBQ and a dip in the pool before I take off Sunday morning.

Before you log off tonight you should log onto the weather network website and check out the temperature for the areas I will be biking in this week. I will be biking in at least 40 degrees weather! Bring it on sunny! I need to even out my zebra tan lines.

That’s all for now!

Talk to you tomorrow.

Coming into downtown TO

My dad and I standing outside Sick Kids

Me visiting with 19 year old Earl

Left: Me on CBC National News

Right: Me visiting with cancer kids and a shot of the bike

Me collecting messages from cancer kids

Me with the girls at Days Inn - Canada!

Me with the mother's of cancer kids

The whole gang

Me with the girls at The Childhood Cancer Foundation!

Me with the girls at The Childhood Cancer Foundation and Susan and Deborah from Babble On Communications!

Me with little Tobin

Me getting interview by The SUN

July 19^th, 2007

Day 47

Rest Day in Niagara Falls, ONT.

Today was an awesome day! But before I even get going I need to acknowledge someone. It’s my dad. He just walked out the door and asked if I updated my site recently. I am doing it right now I replied in which he returned, “Did you say how wonderful it is to be with your dad again?” So dad I won’t tell the world that you actually pinned me to the ground and forced me to write this…Just Kidding everyone!

Actually, it definitely is good to have both mom and dad back on board. Dad was gone all day with the RV getting it serviced while the rest of us went to Niagara Falls. So dad, thank you! Without you the wheels would not keep turning.

This morning I went out for breakfast with my friend Myrt. You’re probably thinking who the heck is Myrt? Well, long story short a couple of years ago my Aunt Linda came out west with her friend Myrt (actually her real name is Diane) and one day while driving to Banff Myrt called me Wil – she thought my name was Wil, so I replied to her as Myrt. And since then I’ve been known as wee Wil and she is known as Myrt. So now Myrt and her husband Frank (we’ll call him Henry…just for the heck of it!) are like family to us all!

After breakfast we packed up our stuff and headed down the busy 401 towards Niagara Falls. We spent the day there touring around, taking the boat out to the falls, we went out for lunch to the Planet Hollywood who generously donated me lunch and then after that I went to some “Fun House” with my cousins! It was…well…fun I guess!

We were all pretty bonked out by the end of the day so the ride home was quiet.

I am very happy that I battled those few days so that now I can enjoy some time off and give my legs a rest.

Tomorrow I am headed to the Sick Kid’s Hospital to visit with cancer kids and then I have a bunch of media interviews to do.

That’s all for now!

PS. There should be photo updates and new videos sometime next week once we get back on tour! Thanks for being patient.

Cheers

One last note: I just received a call that a little girl with cancer that I was supposed to be meeting tomorrow just passed away. It's hard. As hard as it hits, it reminds me why I am doing what I am doing. I know...I KNOW that tomorrow will be a hard visit. I've been around a hospital before when someone dies - the whole unit dies, not just that individual. It will be a very different experience tomorrow. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers please. Thanks!

Me with my cousins, aunts, uncles, and dad

My aunt Linda trying to...I am not sure..Ha-ha!

Niagara Falls!

My mom, Heather and I on the boat at Niagara Falls!

My cousins cousins Cindy (left), and Kaity (right)

Me with a family I met in Niagara Falls who was moved by my tour

Attention!...

...look at those tans lines! Nice socks Tim!

Me overlooking Niagara Falls!

July 18^th, 2007

Day 46

Rest Day in Ajax, Ontario

Well today wasn’t a very busy day. It was nice to be able to sleep in but it wasn’t too much of a sleep in. I am so used to getting up at 6AM that a sleep in for me is 6:30/7AM. I am a morning person, once I’m up, I’m up.

Worked on emails for a couple of hours and then went out for lunch with mom and dad. It was nice to be able to hang out and catch up on what’s been happening back home. It’s really cool to all be together again. My dad was telling me that back home, Airdrie my hometown has been a very big support. People are asking about me, people are still donating, or even hosting little fundraisers of their own. I really appreciate that. I know it will be nice when I come home and get to see everyone and what’s been happening. But I won’t be home for long as I am moving to Calgary as soon as I get home to start college.

I am not sure how my college schedule is going to work out. I have had several requests to speak at nursing conferences, special lunches, the leukemia and lymphoma society, and then possibly flying back down to Toronto in the fall to discuss future Spokeman Tour ideas.

Remember way back when the tour first started I said that the reason for the clover leaf on the back of the RV will be explained eventually. Well I’ve been getting asked a lot what it is about so I will explain it to you.

Just before the tour started the Childhood Cancer Foundation of Canada formed a partnership with St. Baldricks, an organization fighting childhood cancer diseases in the U.S.A. Last year they hosted 382 events and they raised $11.4 million! Amazing eh! So sometime in the fall I might be paying another visit in Toronto to discuss future Spokeman Tour events with the Childhood Cancer Foundation of Canada and St. Baldrick’s.

After going out for lunch with my parent’s I came back and worked several more hours on emails and getting caught up on a few details.

Tomorrow I am heading down to Niagara Falls with my cousins, aunt, and my mom. I haven’t been there in years so it should be really fun!

Chow for now!

- Tim Harriman

July 17^th, 2007

Day 45

Hospital visit to Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario

I never thought this day would come. It’s hard to believe I am in Toronto, Ontario and have come all this way by bike. It has been an adventure and an amazing experience. I am just over the half way point. I have 39 days left of the tour, 30 of which are biking days. It took me 36 biking days to get from Victoria, BC to London, Ontario.

Right now it is about 11:30PM and I am sitting in my RV outside my aunt’s house in Ajax Ontario. It is nice to have finally arrived and to have a few days off of rest. To be three days ahead of schedule is amazing and worth the battle, but let me tell you…I had to work for it. But like I said, it is nice to finally be here and to get some rest time.

So, not sure if I should blog this or not…but ah what the heck, it’s been dealt with now. Long story short, our license plate on the back of our RV got stolen. I guess someone thought it would look nicer on their vehicle, or they just wanted it. So I spent several hours on the phone last night with the OPP trying to sort everything out. Between my tight spandex encounter with the OPP in Thunder Bay and now our license plate being stole I am sure the OPP will know me real well by the time I exit this province. So needless to say I was very tired this morning when I woke up since last night was a late night.

Today I had a hospital visit at the Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario. It was definitely by far one of the best visits I’ve had so far. I am not comparing my hospital visit which each other, but overall I just had a good experience. I guess you could say each visit is getting better and better. My last visit was in Regina and I remember saying that event was the best one so far, so I am sure when I visit the Sick Kid’s Hospital of Toronto it will be even better then what I’ve experienced so far. Like I’ve said before, I just can’t imagine doing this tour without a goal and without the kids in mind. I can’t explain how much light it brings to my day and as tough as the visit can be, it still encourages me and inspires me to keep pushing onward.

I arrived in Ajax, just east of Toronto and I will be here for a few days where I am visiting with friends and family, the Childhood Cancer Foundation of Canada, some of my sponsors including Days Inn – Canada, visiting the Sick Kids Hospital, and also doing some interviews with the local press.

I had a very nice surprise today. At the end of the day I was getting ready for bed and my mom gave me a bag full of gifts from friends back home. The gift bag included some gifts to remind me of back home. A Calgary Flames shirt, teddy bears, cards, letters, etc. But I received two very special gifts. One which was a DVD with messages of encouragement from the staff and patients at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Oncology unit! I have to tell you I was very moved and very encouraged. Thank you so much guys! The second gift that I received was just as special. It was from my training sponsor Vince Danielson at Innovative Fitness who used to play for the Calgary Stampeders. He told me a very inspiring story from when he played in the CFL and they weren’t doing too great in the season. Everyone on the team was very discouraged. So he printed out a picture of the grey cup ring with the word FOCUS written below and he made copies and put a copy in each team member’s locker, the coach’s desk, everywhere. When all the players came for the next game they saw this, and that year they won the grey cup.

So I took the card with the picture on the front of it. The picture is of an ocean which is symbolizing my end point on the Atlantic Ocean and the word FOCUS written across the card. It encouraged me so much that I taped it to the wall in my bunk and I’ve decided that I will start to tape more special messages, letters, pictures, and cards to my walls so that every night when I go to bed and every morning when I wake up I will see these messages of encouragement.

Thank you to all those for sending messages, emails, letters, and pictures to me. I am very inspired and very encouraged when I know that so many people are cheering me on and biking with me across this GREAT country.

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.

- John Wesley

Russell presenting a picture to Tim for the PM

An encouraging card Vince Danielson sent me

July 16^th, 2007

Day 44

Kincardine, ONT – London, ENGLAND…just kidding…ONTARIO

146.4KM (total: 4329KM)

This morning when I woke up I had a hard time getting on the bike. I just wasn’t feeling that good. I am not sure what it was. If it was something I ate or what but I really had a hard time getting going this morning. These past few days have been tough on my body. The fact that I am now three days ahead of schedule is really nice but I definitely had to work for it. Everyday was such a struggle and to push on was definitely a mental struggle but hey, I made it and most importantly…it’s about the kids!

I went for a little walk before my day started to try and get some fresh air. Not like I need any of that though. Ha-ha. After about 10minutes of riding I started to feel better and I got in my groove. Today was a very good ride. A very scenic ride too. I don’t know if you’ve ever been traveling through this neck of the woods but there is a lot of history. The houses are very old but kept in good shape. The wood work on the veranda and brick on the houses…every square inch of the house has detail. A lot of farms too. I thought Alberta had farms…but today I just saw farm after farm after farm.

It was nice to arrive here today. It feels like I have been waiting for ages for this day to arrive. Tomorrow morning I will visit the Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario and then I will press onward to Toronto. Originally I was scheduled to arrive in Toronto on Thursday July 19^th, but after the schedule change, London is actually a little further then Toronto so I will drive up there so I don’t get behind on schedule and depart from Toronto on Sunday.

I am really looking forward to the hospital visit. I had to warn the rest of the team that tomorrow might be a tough visit. It is procedure day which means each kid in clinic is taken into a treatment room, similar to a surgery room, where they are heavily sedated. Depending on each child and the treatment plan or the stage of their treatment they will have an LP which is taking a blood sample from the bone marrow or they will have a spinal tap to test the fluid in their spinal cord…or even worse, they might have to do both procedures which is a very painful process and recovery.

Tomorrow’s visit will be hard for me also. It is hard to put it into words why and how it bothers me, but it just does. When I was going through cancer, every time I went to the hospital for treatment I felt like I was going to see somebody else and wasn’t actually going there for me.

To make things even harder I just received an email from Ethan’s dad. Remember the little baby boy in the Alberta Children’s Hospital video who has the biggest smile on his face and is waving at the camera. Ethan just received word that he has a couple more days left to live. As harsh as that sounds, its true and it’s a reality and that is why I am doing what I am doing. Keep your chin up Ethan and family, and don’t give up. Just like the lyrics of the song in the video…won't back down!

Well folks,

That’s all for now – I have a busy week ahead of me.

Cheers.

July 15^th, 2007

Day 43

Tobermory, ONT. – Kincardine, ONT.

158.6KM (total: 4182.6KM)

When the rise and shine bell went off this morning I so did not want to get out of bed. I was very tempted to push the snooze button but I knew there was…well…biking to be done. What else is new? Ha-ha. I woke up in the middle of night and looked outside to see a mass of shining stars blanketing the earth. They looked so close that it was almost as if I could reach out and touch them. Not that I would want to touch them…they are burning rocks of fire!

I got on the bike around 8AM and sun was out and ready to shine. I was excited since I haven’t seen him in a few days. He is normally behind the clouds or its pouring rain. So with a nice little breeze behind me and the sun shining down I was on my way to Kincardine. Today was a very nice bike ride. It felt like the Shuswap Lakes where we normally go camping every summer. There were lots of tourist towns and lots of cottages backed directly onto Lake Huron. I have to say that I am amazed at the Great Lakes! When you look out at the lake it looks like it’s the ocean. It just keep going! And the color of the water is so nice and inviting.

While stopped at a traffic light in one of the little towns and lady walked up to me and gave me 10 dollars. It was a nice encouragement and she told me to keep going. Unfortunately her niece passed away from cancer. And that is the unfortunate part about this disease; it grabs anybody - young or old, rich or poor. I had a lot of honks today and even rode beside of motor biker today and chatted.

I have to admit something to you. I have a weakness and a struggle and whenever is see it, hear about it, think about it, or talk about it I am tempted to give in. I passed a McDonald’s today. When I rode past I just tighten my fist and thought, NOooo…just keep biking, don’t look, don’t look. I passed it and eventually the temptation faded. But there was more to come. Just as I was riding into Kincardine a big billboard signed with big bold yellow letters on it read McDonald’s 5KM ON RIGHT. This time I could not hold back on the temptation and allowed myself to give in. MMmmm…it was sooo good!

I came back to the RV to eat my burger with fries and coke and all of a sudden…did I just hear my name on the radio. Sure did. The interview that I had yesterday was on the radio today. It was encouraging to hear. Not to hear my voice but to hear the story. It is nice to know that even though I am thousands of kilometers away from home I am still getting support and that people want to help make a difference in the childhood cancer world.

Be sure to sign the online petition as I will be going through Ottawa pretty soon and would like to have a ton of signatures! I am not sure how many we have right now. I haven’t received an update in a while. Even though I am going through Ottawa next week I imagine it will be a while until I hear if anything comes about.

That’s all for now…

Talk to you tomorrow.

PS. Guess what? One more day of riding then I have ANOTHER rest day. And then I get to visit more hospitals!!!

July 14^th, 2007

Day 42

Rest Day in Tobermory, ONT.

Today we had our rest day in Tobermory, Ontario. Yesterday we caught the ferry over from South Baymouth. Last night and tonight we are staying in a campground which generously sponsored us. They own an Inn and offered me a room and breakfast but since it is 3KM away I decided to just stay with the group.

It rained today. All day! Honestly, if it rains when I get to Toronto I think there is something wrong with me because the rain has followed me all the way from Victoria and every town I stop at all the locals say that they haven’t seen rain in weeks, this is the first time they’ve had rain in a while.

While it rained I sat in the RV and made myself grilled cheese sandwiches and fried up some chicken with veggies. It was delicious. And then I had a radio interview with a radio station in Owen Sound which is a little ways away from here.

After the rain settled down we walked around the harbour and looked at all the little stores and sail boats. Christa was trying to take a picture and all of a sudden two random guys jumped in the picture! We got talking to them and discovered they were from Detroit, U.S.A. One of them was actually from England and flew to Detroit to meet his friend to go boating for a couple of weeks. Both their names were Paul. I was amazed at all the yachts and asked if we could see his. So he took us down to his boat and he gave us a tour. It was really cool. I’ve been spoiled this weekend. I got to drive the ship yesterday and today I got to go on a private yacht.

At supper time I think everyone lost their appetite because of me. We went out for fish and chips. I’m not really a big fish guy. I’m from Alberta so I’ll eat the side of a cow any day, time, or night. But my parents are from the Maritimes so I’ll eat fish every now and then. I like the deep fried battered fish. So anyways, as we were eating Cheryl said, “Tim, does your family really eat bologna with every meal?” Ha-ha. A couple of nights ago I saying how my family loves the REAL Canadian maple leaf bologna and that we eat bologna all the time. In the morning it’s bologna with eggs. For lunch it’s bologna with noodles, and supper is bologna with fish. They believed me. Ha-ha! So at supper tonight I told them I was just kidding that we don’t eat it THAT much but we do eat it when it is around. So basically the all you can eat fish and chips wasn’t appetizing to anyone anymore…but I was still hungry! Chow down Timmay! Too bad I didn't have some bologna to go with that fish....EH!

After supper we headed back to the campsite and the owner’s offered us to ride their horses so we went bare back riding for a little bit. I love horses so it was a lot of fun. Although sometimes I just don’t trust them so I was a little worried with this one. But I am alive and well!

That’s all for now, I hope tomorrow is a nicer day.

Cheers.

July 13, 2007

Day 41

White Fish Falls, ONT. – Tobermory, ONT.

95.5KM (total: 4024KM)

Today was a short day and it was a much better day then yesterday. Thank you to all those you wrote to me after my journal update yesterday and encouraged me and made sure things were well. I want you to know that things are well and I am doing okay. One of the questions that I have been asked several times is how do I handle all the media and cameras in my face, phone calls, emails, people wanting to meet me etc.

To be honest, I am not sure. But that is why I have people like Christa on board and other's behind the scenes looking after emails, phone calls, etc. It helps keep my stress level to a minimum so that I can focus on biking, get my rest, and when I do have the chance to meet people and do the media interviews, visit hospitals, etc, I am all rested up and ready to rock! And to be honest, I love meeting people and sharing my story because it is a powerful story. Not a powerful story about me and what I am doing but a powerful story about the kids and their stories and what they have been though or are still going through.

Before the tour started I was spending hours in front of the computer answering emails, phone calls, coordinating events, meetings, training…and as much as I enjoyed it and was pumped about it all, it also got really difficult because I was burning myself out. But I knew that one day the reward would come and the easy part would eventually be here. Well I can now say that all that hard work has paid off and biking across Canada is actually the easy part. Although I still have my rough days…but we all do. And it’s important to remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Today was a nice day. The weather was nice and overall I had the wind working in my favor. We got to the ferry which generously donated our travel fees. When we got to the ferry we found out that they would pay for us under the agreement that we would get on if there was space…basically a first come first serve basis. As we looked around and saw the line up of vehicles I thought there is no way we are getting on this boat. Christa was positive and re affirmed us that we would get on and would not have to wait for the next ferry. As we started to board the ferry I continued to doubt us getting on the ferry but sure enough…the Spokeman Tour RV was the LAST vehicle to get on the ferry!

Once we were on the boat, Christa and I were looking out over the railing when one of the crew members asked if we were part of the tour and invited us up to the Captains Bridge. It was AWESOME! It totally brightened my day and encouraged me big time!

We even got to drive the boat! (That’s why everyone was sick…kidding)

Tomorrow is a rest day! I have an interview with the Owen Sound radio station.

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy!

Cheers!

Left: Tim overlooking Lake Huron  Right: Tim driving the ship! I tried to pull a donut...almost tipped er!

Left: Tim with the Captain (right) and second hand man (left)

Right: Tim with the RV in the basemant of the ferry.

July 12^th, 2007

Day 40

Blind River, ONT. – Whitefish Falls, ONT.

116.7KM (total: 3928.5KM)

What I am about to say could very well come back and hit me in the back of the head, but know that I am just being honest with who I am and honest with my words. But today was the first day that I actually questioned myself and doubted what I was doing. I didn’t doubt or question myself because I wanted to, because I didn’t want to. And I don’t want to give up. It won’t happen.

Today I was done – mentally. And when I am done mentally I am done physically, when I am done physically I am done emotionally and when I am done emotionally I am done spiritually. Basically, I was useless. I had no desire to continue. In fact I was so close to giving up today that if it wasn’t for the kids I would have seriously called a cab and headed to the nearest airport. No shower, no food, no suit case, nothing. I would have just left it all on the side of the road and headed back home. But one thing kept me going. And that was the kids. I realized that it was okay to have a bad day or a bad moment, but it’s for the kids and therefore if I dare give up that would be selfish on my part. And I’m not going to give up. It’s not an option. Through thick and thin I will press on! But let me tell you, it’s not easy. It’s much easier said then done.

Right now I am sitting in the Whitefish campground who has generously donated one night of accommodations to us. Now that we are starting to get closer to the centre of the country I am receiving more honks, donations, support, etc. Although don’t get me wrong, I was receiving the same attention is some of the quieter areas but I know that I am feet (or so it feels like) away from another children’s hospital visit which I am so looking forward to.

Another night without any internet service - sorry.

Until next time,

TH

PS. Make sure you check out the new video!

July 11^th, 2007

Day 39

Sault Ste. Marie, ONT. – Blind River, ONT.

125.2KM (total: 3811.8KM)

This morning started off a little wet. When I woke up I took a look outside only to see that it was still raining. It called for thunder showers through the night but I was really hoping it wouldn’t be raining when I woke up. But it was…fortunately the winds were from the west! Yippy!

After riding for about an hour we finally received some divided highway. Marc decided to take advantage of it and ride along with me for a few kilometers. Just after he finished riding with me the skies opened up and the sun came out. I peeled off a few layers, put the pedal to the metal…I mean…pedal to the…..rubber, I guess.

After stopping for lunch I still had another 32KM to go and with the tail winds managed to do it in 40mins. I was traveling about 50-60 km/h. I was scared…

The last few nights I haven’t really been getting much sleep. So tonight I plan on getting into bed early, closing the curtains to my bunk, putting in the ear plugs and hopefully when I wake up I will be in the next town…yea right! I wish.

PS. If you haven’t signed the petition yet, please do so! I am really hoping to have a list full of signatures for the Prime Minister when I get to Ottawa. Print off a couple of petitions, pass them around the office, tell friends and family about it, and let’s get September named Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!

Thanks a mill!

- The Spokeman

Tim and Marc riding out of the Soo

July 10^th, 2007

Day 38

69KM past Wawa, ONT. – Sault Ste. Marie, ONT

151.5KM (total: 3686.6KM)

Oh wow! The last two days have been the longest, toughest day of my life - both mentally and physically. When I was told that Northern Ontario had some big hills I really didn’t believe it. Now that I am here – wow! It’s like the Canadian Alps! I am exhausted! My feet are cramped, my legs are cramped, my back is cramped, my neck is cramped…you get the point. I am basically useless right now. But it’s all for the kids. That’s all I could do today…was think about the kids and why I am doing this. Especially the kids in London, Ontario since I am trying to get ahead by 3 days in order to make a visit to their children’s hospital.

For the past 5 days I have been biking around Lake Superior! That’s how big it is! Last night our campsite was right on Lake Superior and when you looked across the lake it looked like the ocean because the span was so big and it appeared like it just went on forever. I was able to catch the sunset too last night! Today when I was biking into Sault Ste. Marie I was so tempted to pull over and jump in the lake. It looked so inviting with its green and blue tint while the sun heated the air.

Since I have officially ran out of things to think about, today while I was biking I decided that I should download some French teaching pod cast onto my iPod. If you don’t already know I grew up in a French immersion school. All my classes and work were in French. After I was diagnosed I could not keep up with the work load so I stopped going to school in the French Immersion program and went into English. Anyways, since I am getting closer to Quebec I wish my French speaking skill were better. Just as was thinking about all this, as I biked to the top of one of my many hills there was an over heating vehicle. They looked like they had it under control so I kept biking. When I looked back over my shoulder Marc had stopped and was offering help, so I peddled back and thought I might as well take my break now. Marc asked if I could speak French and I thought oh no. I haven’t spoken French in years. But somehow I managed to dig deep and pull out my French book and was able to communicate with them and give them a hand. It was strange because we were in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone service but all of a sudden I had full phone service and luckily he had a CAA membership and could get help. And that is my story…

Well, I am beat. Like I said, I am very sore. Tomorrow I am headed to Blind River and it calls for thunder showers and strong winds. I don’t care about the rain but I pray for tail winds. The manager at Days Inn Sault Ste. Marie and I ended up chatting for a little while outside on the steps and then all of a sudden he went inside and booked me a room for myself. It was nice because I needed it. I needed my rest and I needed some alone time. So I got a room in the back corner of the hotel. Thanks Dave!

Talk to you tomorrow!

Cheers

Tim with Dave, the manager at Days Inn, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

July 9^th, 2007

Day 37

White River, ONT. – 69KM past Wawa, ONT.

161.4KM (total: 3545.1KM)

Oh wow. I feel like Jell o- boy! My legs are beat. I am now 2 days ahead of schedule. I am really pushing hard to get to London. Originally I was scheduled to arrive in Wawa tomorrow but right now I am just outside of Montreal River.

This morning was nice. Marc and I woke up and left all the girls sleeping as we headed to town for breakfast. The campsite that we stayed at last night didn’t have any fresh water hook ups so we ran out of water in the middle of the night and had no milk for breakfast so we decided to treat ourselves. When the girls woke up they asked why we never invited them. I said we did invite them, they just never responded. Little did they know that when I asked if they wanted to come I whispered very quietly! Breakfast was awesome girls…maybe next time!

As I write this right now my fingers are literally sticking to the keys. This morning was nice and cool and I had the wind to my back. I biked 92KM in just over 3hrs. We took a nice little lunch break in Wawa and then I headed onwards for another 69KM. The afternoon was very hard as there was lots of hills and the heat and the humidity were getting to me.

I just received an email from little Quinn from BC. I met Quinn when I was in Vancouver. He is 11years old and has been battling cancer for 5 years. In the past 2 weeks he has had 3 transfusions and his counts are too low to go outside to play with his friends. Even though I have been there and been through that, it is hard to understand and hard to accept. I wish you the very best Quinn. Just like Winston Churchill said, never, never, never give up. And just like Terry Fox said, believe in miracles…because you have to. Keep it up buddy!

That’s all I have today. Tomorrow I am headed to Sault Ste. Marie where we have a hotel stay at the Days Inn.

Marc and I were changing my tire this afternoon on my lunch break when all of a sudden 130 PSI blew up in our faces. We were a little deaf for about 10mins. It hurt badly. It was a little funny though. But tonight if I hear any rumbling/squeaking I can play dumb and pretend I never heard anything! Ha-ha. I’m telling you, living in an RV for 3 months sure is a blast. You definitely get to know those sharing it with you. But our motto is what happens in the RV stays in the RV.

Cheers for now!

Tim biking around Lake Superior!

The sign said Sault Ste. Maria 160KM. I was so happy when I saw this sign because it meant my day was done!

July 8^th, 2007

Day 36

37KM past Terrace Bay, ONT. – White River, ONT.

134.9KM (total: 3383.7KM)

Well, the Spokeman has officially run out of things to think about. I mean c’mon what do you think about after riding one month on a bicycle? I looked at the map and every time I do I think wow…I have biked all that way. I see cars with license plates with Ontario on them and I have to take a second look. Am I really in Ontario on my bike? Yuppers! Every now and then I will see an Alberta plate and I usually get a honk. Being that I am from Alberta, I have received a lot of support. So it’s nice to see Alberta plates in Ontario and know that I still have support.

A little bit of showers today but like I said in my last journal entry, I am used to it now. I didn’t journal yesterday. I normally do on my rest day but there was just too much to do and to be honest, not a lot happened yesterday. We went into town and while Cheryl and Marc did groceries, Christa and Kassandra went shopping and I sat in the RV and caught up on emails and website updates.

Last night we went out for supper to The Zero. When I went to pay for the meal I started telling our waitress a little bit about myself and what I am doing and I handed her a flyer. I barely got one sentence out of my mouth and she started to tear up. She was inspired by the tour so she said she would donate. I told her it’s okay to cry. The tour has been full of tears, laughter, and even silence because sometimes words just aren’t enough.

On the way back from the restaurant the Spokeman Tour RV turned into a WWF wrestling ring. I gave everyone a wet willy when they were least expecting it. Then I put ear plugs in so no one could get me back. Then when I was least expecting it Marc tied my hands behind my back and let the girls have free shots. I still won! It was fun…

The campsite that we stayed at in Marathon sponsored us two nights and the White River Provincial Park sponsored us a night tonight.

We are looking forward to our next hotel stop at the Days Inn in Ste. Saint Marie. If you don’t already know, Days Inn – Canada is a proud sponsor of Spokeman Tour. Thank you Days Inn!

Well that’s all for now. I’m going to change the tires on my bike now. They have over 3000KM on them and are only good for 2000 – 2500KM. I think they are done. Ha-ha.

Tim at the Eastern Time Zone

Tim riding past Rossport, Ontario overlooking Lake Superior

Tim riding with his cousin Nathan into Dryden, Ontario

Tim at Kakabeka Falls just outside Thunder Bay

Tim overlooking Kakabeka Falls.

Canada's longest bridge. 600ft. long and 150ft high

Random shots of Tim riding.

July 6^th, 2007

Day 34

Nipigon ONT. – Terrace Bay ONT. (37KM past Terrace Bay)

145.1KM (total: 3248.8KM)

I had one thing in mind today while riding. Tomorrow is a rest day. Like I said, I am trying to push harder so I can get ahead of schedule. Today wasn’t a long day but it definitely was a hard day. Northern Ontario reminds me of a lot of BC. The hills are huge and steep. Yesterday when I rode into Nipigon, on the other side of Lake Superior I could see Red Rock. Red Rock is basically a red rock mountain. It’s huge and beautiful. Little did I know that this morning I would be climbing this rock, but it was so beautiful.

Throughout the day we took stops every now and then to enjoy the scenery. We stopped at Rossport beach for a little while.

Not a lot of thinking today. Lots of climbs. I think my longest climb was 9KM but it was steep. Every time I would climb a hill I would go around a turn and end up over looking Lake Superior. Every 5 KM I would want to stop and take a picture but I just thought, after the tour the pictures just wont express the beauty as much as it is now. There are no words to describe the beauty. That’s why there wasn’t much thinking today. I just rode and enjoyed.

Like I said, the hills were big. But two things kept me going. When I was back in BC one day I was having a tough day and my dad said, just remember Tim; for every hill that goes up, there is one that comes down. I will never forget those words. And second, I remember when I was biking out in Bragg Creek with clients from Innovative Fitness. One of those clients was Dale. Dale I just thought about you and your determination. I remember the one hill that we were climbing together. You didn’t care if it took you 5mins or 50mins to climb it. You were determined and you persevered.

Tomorrow is a rest day. I was hoping to bike to Marathon today but that was another 60KM away; too many hills to climb. The forecast calls for showers all weekend. I am so used to rain that when the sun shines I get a little annoyed….just kidding. I will take sun any day.

For every hill that goes up, there is one that comes down

July 5^th, 2007

Day 33

Thunder Bay ONT. – Nipigon ONT.

99.3KM (total: 3103.7KM)

Last night when we arrived at the hotel the manager was there to greet us. It was a nice surprise since it was the first time a manager was waiting for our arrival. Not only did he wait for us but he stayed a few minutes late after work to make sure we made it and we had everything we needed.

This morning we stopped at the Terry Fox monument before I started my day. It was definitely one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had so far. The monument over looks Superior Lake and the sun was shining its light through the clouds over the lake. It was a very spiritual experience. Spiritual or emotional; I’m not sure which one. But you could definitely feel emotions in the air around the monument. It was so peaceful but yet so powerful.

Today was a nice day. The weather was nice but the overall day was nice also. We took our time. Actually – the first few hours of the ride was rough; literally. The roads are really rough and there are no shoulders to ride on, and since we got pulled over by the O.P.P yesterday I can’t have the RV drive behind me until we get to some two lane highway. So we did the leap frog thing. I have to admit I am not very comfortable without the RV, especially since there are no shoulders. I had a few close calls with vehicles today, but tried to remain cool and just focus on my balance. After a little while the roads settled down but we encountered some road construction so I had to skip that section.

Like I said today was nice – my schedule was a little different then normal. Normally I ride until mid-morning, grab a snack, ride till noon, have lunch, ride the rest of the day and find a campsite. Today I rode until mid-morning and then there was a 600 foot long suspension bridge, 150 feet above a canyon so I decided to check it out while I had the chance to live it up. This bridge was awesome! When I walked on the bridge I yelled RUN! I didn’t see this lady before I yelled RUN but after I saw her; she literally nearly got on her knees and grabbed the railings. I felt kind of bad but at the same time had a little chuckle. Guess you had to be there. She wasn’t impressed; she waited till we crossed the bridge on the way back before she stepped on. Ha-ha. After the bridge we took a few hours for lunch and then I got back on the bike and road the next 45KM into Nipigon. My last 45KM of the day was pretty tough. I had headwinds, some hills, and I guess taking a few hours off for lunch and eating a box of KD and some hot dogs maybe wasn’t the best idea. Sometimes I just don’t know what to eat though. Last night I treated myself to Montana’s all you can eat ribs. It took me about an hour and a half to eat a pound of chicken wings and a full rack of ribs. About 30mins into it I was bored. I am hungry. I am always hungry but I am just tired of eating. I can just here my stomach way down there yelling at me – ARE YOU DONE YET! Ha-ha!

Well we just finished supper. Should I tell you how much I ate? Nah, maybe I won’t, but I guess I’ll let you know that we had tacos. I love tacos!

That’s all for now – tomorrow I am onto Terrace Bay and then I have a rest day. Hard to believe I have a rest day already. It feels like I am flying. I have been on the road for one month now and we are 11 days away from Toronto. I am scheduled to arrive in Toronto on July 19^th but I am going to pick up the pace to arrive earlier so I can have some time to me, myself, and I, family, friends, and of course a visit to some hospitals! I am excited! After Toronto – one month left of the tour and I am D-O-N-E, what does that spell…done. What will I do with my time and energy after the tour? I do not know. But I am off to college two weeks after the tour finishes. I am really excited.

Chow for now!

July 4^th, 2007

Day 32

Upsala ONT. – Thunder Bay ONT.

132.9KM (total: 3004.4KM)

Last night I almost had the worst nightmare a cyclist could have while in the middle of nowhere and attempting to cycle across Canada. When I rode into Upsala I wasn’t sure if I should keep going or not because Upsala isn’t a very big town. So after calling it a day and deciding to stay in Upsala at the local campground that was backed on to a beach and lake (it was very nice) I decided I was going to put my new rims on my bike. In order to do that I would have to remove the tires already on the bike, take off the cassette rings, clean it, and put the cassette on the new rims making sure all the rings were in the right order and correct position – if I made a mistake I could seriously wreck my bike. Just when I was about to put the cassette on the new rims I realized that I didn’t have any grease – so I thought no problem, I’ll take a walk down to the local general store and by some. Nope. Not a chance. When I got to the store it was closed, by not only was it closed; there was a huge guard dog ready to eat me! I decided I would just go back to the RV, put the cassette and rings back on the old rim and leave things the way they were.

Today was a pretty good day. Long and lots of hills, but it will get worse. To be honest, I am not sure what is worse – biking in BC where my longest climb was 53KM or biking here in Ontario where my climbs are a lot shorter but steeper.

We hit the Eastern Time zone today which means we lose an hour. Right now its 7:30PM so it might be hard to get myself to fall asleep tonight.

While biking today I happened to glance over my shoulder and noticed the dark rolling clouds behind me. All I could say to myself was bike harder and I thought, man, if it rains again I’m gunna lose it. Then out of nowhere without even initiating myself to speak, I said if it rains, it rains. No big deal. Just as the clouds were pushing me along all of a sudden I hear sirens. I look behind and I saw the cherries and berries (red and blue lights). The OPP pulled us over. Apparently I need a licence to ride my bicycle on the highway in Ontario. So he took my bike and the whole nine yards from me.

Just Kidding! He was actually impressed with our decaled RV with the caution lights on the back but received a few complaints that we were holding up traffic. I took a look behind the RV and all I could see was camper vans, semi trucks, and cars…Ha-ha. When he pulled us over he was a little annoyed at first but then when he saw that I had to get off my bike in my tight spandex shorts and tight bike shirt I think that was enough to mellow him out – he knew I meant business. Ha-ha. So he shook my hand and wished me well! Thanks!

Once we arrived in Thunder Bay and after showering up I headed to the Montana’s restaurant beside the hotel for supper. After ordering my meal there must have been about half a dozen waitresses who came out to see the amount of food I ordered. Every now and then one of them would walk by and say “you sure you’re going to eat all that”…watch me I replied. Ha-ha.

Well that’s all for now. Still in an area where the connection isn’t the greatest so bear with us as we try to update the website as much as possible when we get the chance.

It's hot here and very humid - about 30 degrees today. It calls for rain for the rest of the week. Grrr!

Cheers

July 3^rd, 2007

Day 31

Ignace ONT. – Upsala ONT.

107.7KM (total: 2871.5KM)

I woke up this morning at 4AM only to look outside and thought I was having a dream. It was so foggy out that I could not even see the wash house directly beside our RV. Rest day I thought to myself...uh I better not. So I went back to sleep praying for nice weather when I woke up.

6AM: beep – beep – beep (my alarm). I took a deep breath and a quick peak outside. Fog - that’s all I could see. And then Marc came in the RV and said it was really nice out, so I jumped out of bed and went outside and the minute I stepped out my attitude changed and I was ready to rock for the day.

For the first hour or so of riding this morning it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. It was like biking through a rain forest as I felt the dampness in the air but at the same time I could feel the humidity and see the sun's reflection beaming off the trees. I loved the weather so much that I stayed on the bike for 3hrs and 40mins/107KM. And then just as I pulled into Upsala and got into some “normal” clothes it poured. For about an hour it rained so hard that it thundered and everyone outside ran for shelter at the local store. I was happy because I was sitting in the RV while the rain poured - but it wasnt on me for change.

Today while biking I got to thinking about how much we take for granted. I know, you’re probably thinking Tim you’re going to think yourself to death. Believe me, when you are biking across Canada you have so much time to think and then sometimes there is just nothing to think about anymore so you start hopping up and down attempting to dance with a little bit of singing or playing hey cow!

But on a more serious note we just got a message from a friend back home saying that one of our friends died in a car accident. It just doesn’t make sense. A young innocent kid who hadn’t even finished school was robbed of his life. When we wake up we are faced with a question everyday – rather you actually ask yourself or the thought ponders in your head every day we ask ourselves if we are happy. Am I happy with my friends, my family, my house, the choices that I make, my job...but even more importantly we ask if we are happy with ourselves. So many of us live day to day trying to find the “thing” to fill the void to make us happier. Rather it is a new iPod or a car, a better paying job or possibly moving to another city to try out a different school. We as people are never content with what we have or who we are. How do we change that? I am not sure. I guess it’s something we have to figure out for ourselves. Or maybe I’ll have more thinking time and can get back to you on that one. But honestly, why is it that we are so blessed but yet we wish we had more. One of the things I learnt during my experience with cancer and while on tour this summer is how quickly things can change and be taken from us. So instead, we should enjoy what we have because we never know when it will be gone. It's something I must remind myself everyday.

Tomorrow I am headed to Thunder Bay. I am going to try and get ahead on a few days so I can spend an extra day or two in Toronto.

Chow.

PS. Here are some pictures for you to enjoy.

Tim with his cousins Sheldon and Madeline in Kenora, Ontario.

Tim with his cousins. (left to right) Draven, Ireland, Tim, and Madeline

Tim with his aunt Donna, cousin Nathan, and uncle Murray

The beautiful scenery in Ontario

Tim not having a good game of mini golf

Tim at the Ontario Border!

Coming into Kenora, Ontario

On the way to Dryden, Ontario...I think.

A mid-morning snack. I thought it looked so good it deserved a picture before I devoured it.

July 2^nd, 2007

Day 30

Dryden ONT. – Ignace ONT.

111KM (total: 2763.8KM)

This morning was nice when I woke up and my aunt Donna had breakfast all ready to go for me. Pancakes and bacon; it was awesome. She made extras for the road and by snack time they were all gone.

I am inspired by those who are biking across Canada just for the heck of it. If I had a buddy with me I think I could do it - someone to talk to, encourage me, support me, make me laugh, and just hang out and ride together. But for me, riding across Canada without a goal or motivation would be so much harder. I know I am biking across Canada alone but at the beginning and end of every day I know I am biking for a reason and at the end of the day I can say another day that I accomplished for the 10,000 kids fighting cancer in Canada. While riding today I thought – I just can’t wait until the next hospital visit. If I had more time and did not have to be back in Calgary for September and could do it all over again I would take more time to spend with the cancer kids. I don’t know what it is, but when I see them I see me and yet at the same time I see something I do not understand. And what I don’t understand is that at the age of 14, why would a kid have to literally fight for his life. Why should a kid have to face that fear and wonder if he’ll live long enough to graduate from high school, go to college, get married, have kids of his own, make a living, retire, and watch his kids do the same thing?

Not a day goes by that I don’t think about what I am doing and what inspires me and not a day goes by that I don’t imagine my next hospital visit and pray for the ones I will meet.

I am sitting in a campsite in the town of Ignace where almost everything is trashed from the Tornadoes. As hard as some of my days have been because of winds, rain, heat, etc – seeing something like this I think to myself...suck it up, some have it way worse. And unfortunately tomorrow does call for showers.

So far things are going well. Our new drivers are on board and we are all enjoying ourselves. It’s tight living conditions but I am grateful I have an RV and don’t have to set up camp after a long hard day of biking. I think we are getting used to our new home and living with each other. Every now and then in the middle of the night I’ll hear rumbling/squeaking noises and I’m pretty sure it’s not the RV walls rattling. After this trip I’ll know everyone so well because apparently some of us talk in our sleep. The other night I woke Christa up because I was yelling at somebody.

Well, that’s all for now. Tomorrow I will write you from Upsala. Yea don’t bother looking the name up on the map, half these town’s I made up because I needed a route plan. Ha-ha. Just kidding.

Cheers

July 1, 2007

Day 29

Kenora ONT. – Dryden ONT.

128.7KM (total: 2652.8KM)

After I got up, showered and ate this morning I had about 45mins to just relax. I never have time in the morning to relax. A usual morning on tour is wake up at 6AM, shower, eat, stretch, prepare the bike, and while we drive to our take off point I normally get dressed and stock up on snacks. So this morning was nice for a change. Marc and I kicked back in the bed of our hotel room and watched the movie John Q. I haven’t seen that movie in forever!

Well as we headed out this morning we realized we were headed in the wrong direction. Trust me, as much as I love the west I think I’d rather not have to re bike what I’ve already biked - although the scenery is nice.

Once we got ourselves turned around and headed in the right direction I think I would have preferred biking west today opposed to the east. I was headed directly into the wind and what do ya know, it rained again. But today’s rain was kind of nice. It was a warm rain.

Just before we entered the town of Dryden an RV passed me that was decked out with Canada flags with a head sticking out the window yelling my name. I thought to myself...is that aunt Donna? Sure enough, my aunt Donna, uncle Murray, and cousin Nathan were headed east for vacation and timed it to meet up to me. So my cousin and I rode the last 10KM into Dryden.

Right now I am sitting in a campsite just outside of Dryden. The campsite donated a site tonight – thank you! Just before we started supper a cyclist rode in and set his tent up right across from us. I invited him over for summer and we found out that he flew all the way from Holland to bike across Canada!

Talk to you later!

June 30, 2007

Day 28

Rest Day in Kenora ONT.

Well today was a rest day in Kenora. While my bike was down at the bike shop getting repaired my cousins from Winnipeg came up to join Chirsta and me and take us to a local beach. To be quite honest, not a lot went on today. After we got back from the beach we all went out for lunch downtown Kenora and then headed back to the hotel to meet up with Marc, Cheryl, Kassandra who will be taking over Bruce and Bette’s position and joining us until Toronto.

Oh yes, before I forget I picked up my bike and it is all working. Thanks to the guys at the Hardware bike store for getting everything running smoothly!

Before we knew it the day was over, the whelch’s were headed back to Calgary and tomorrow I will be headed onwards to Dryden.

Like I said before we aren’t in an area where we get an internet connection so bear with us and we will update the site when we get the chance. Thanks.

Chow!

June 29^th, 2007

Day 27

Reynolds MB. – Kenora ONT.

104.6KM (total: 2524.1KM)

Today was another fairly short day. I over estimated the distance so yesterday and today was shorter than expected. Not sure if it was because I loaded up on bug spray or if the bugs just weren’t out, but I didn’t get harassed near as much. Today was a really nice day. I think it was about 30 degrees today. The roads were relatively flat right up until the Manitoba/Ontario border. A couple of rolling hills and then a little climb to the Ontario boarder. Once at the boarder the trees took over. I felt like I was biking in a jungle today. Rock faces lining both sides of the road, tree after tree and all different types, birds of galore. Like I’ve said before it’s hard to put into words the beauty. Not sure if you’ve figured this out yet but I’m not a big fan of bugs - spiders, ants, bees, flies...anything. But snakes don’t bother me. But I love the outdoors. And the two kind of go together.

Today was another hot day. When we woke up this morning I could sense a complete mood change – a good one. With the new scenery, new province, last day before a rest day...it just brought light to the day. Today was amazing. There are lots of lakes here in Ontario. I thought BC was nice. Ontario is really nice. I love it in the fall when all the leaves turn different colors.

My bike is still giving me problems. The chain isn’t hoping rings like it should, and my derailleur will only pick up the first 2 rings on the front. But I managed to meet up to some bikers on the side of the road and one of the guys fixed it for me until I got to Kenora where I headed directly for the bike shop for a tune up. I never realized how much wear and tear a bike could take.

While downtown Kenora Christa and I decided to rent a kayak and go kayaking. It was awesome!

Tomorrow is a rest day. Bruce and Bette depart while Marc, Cheryl and Cassandra join us to Toronto. Looking forward to these next couple of weeks!

Sorry for the delay in updates. We aren’t in an area where we get coverage so we can’t access our email and update the website daily. Only in major cities and hotel stops.

Keep an eye on the website as Christa has a new video to upload and there will be more pictures in the photo gallery.

June 28^th, 2007

Day 26

Winnipeg MB. – Reynolds MB.

87.5KM (total: 2419.5KM)

Another short ride today. My distances are going to be getting shorter. During the prairies I decided to pick it up a bit. Physically I feel like I could be doing more, but I think I’m playing it safe. At the end of the day by the time I shower up, have supper, stretch, journal, have a second supper, get ready for bed, and oh yea, eat again it’s time for bed. As you already know through my blogs, I’ve been eating a lot. But we’ve got a problem. Being that our fridge space and storage space in the RV is limited – we can’t keep up to the supplies – why, because my bed is right beside the food cupboard. Sometimes in the middle of the night Ill just get the munchies out of nowhere and instead of having a banana or apple (something healthy) I normally open a box of cookies or chips and salsa sauce.

So, if it’s not 12 days of rain straight, then it’s so hot that I can barely breathe, if it’s not really hot, then its tornado winds, if it’s not tornado winds its birds swooping at me and last but not least, if it’s not birds trying to attack then it’s gigantic bugs trying to bite me. In eastern Manitoba the bugs are brutal! After talking to a few locals and asking what they were, I guess because of all the rain they’ve had the waters have risen and there are swamps around. I’m still not sure what they are called, I’ve been told they are bull flies, horse flies, and black flies. They are all the same to me. When they bite, they hurt! And I got bit. All I could do was put my head down, keep my mouth shut, and hum shoo fly don’t bother me! It didn’t help. But I made it to Reynolds which I later found out isn’t really even a town; it’s the name of the area.

Well – my impressions of the prairies. I loved it. Honestly. I expected to dread it since everyone talks about how boring and flat the prairies are but before I even entered Saskatchewan I told myself I was going to enjoy every minute of it. The fact that I get to bike from coast to coast (literally) and see the geography of this country is amazing. Every day is a new day and the outcome of the day is decided the second I wake up and plant my feet on the ground. I might know my schedule that lies ahead of but I don’t know the obstacles and barriers I might face. Rather it be rain, tornadoes, killer birds, exhausting heat, there is always a way to deal with it and make it enjoyable. And by remembering what I am biking for and the experience I am having is what makes it enjoyable and memorable.

Seeing signs that say Ontario on them is really weird. It almost feels like a dream. It just doesn’t seem real. The fact that I started in Victoria BC and I’m now in Ontario (or just about) is a long distance to cover especially by bike. I wish I had a camera on my helmet so I could record absolutely everything. We are getting tons of pictures and video footage but it just isn’t enough. What I see while riding is much more up close and personal compared to riding in a car. It’s amazing. I’d like to get an online photo book that I can dump all my pictures on and share them with you. Maybe when the tour is over I will be able to do this.

The campsite we are staying at is really nice. Our RV backs directly onto a river and there are lots of walking trails.

Well that’s it for today. Tomorrow I will write from Kenora, Ontario...let the hills begin!

June 27^th, 2007

Day 25

Portage MB. – Winnipeg MB.

80.4KM (total: 2332KM)

I knew that today would be a short day so I wasn’t in a big rush to get on the bike this morning. I almost kept riding to Winnipeg with the riders I met up with yesterday but that didn’t happen. But as I headed towards Winnipeg I thought, oh man, I should have just biked all the way yesterday. As I look ahead I was one of few people on the road headed east. There were tornado warnings again and I was headed directly for the eye of the storm. Just before I left Portage Christa said, don’t those clouds look kind of funny? As my usual sarcastic self I said Christa, C’mon now, there’s no tornadoes, they are just rain clouds. Well, I was wrong; she was right...again. Ha-ha. All I could think about while riding was how cold and how wet I was but just kept repeating in my head, just keep biking. Then I got to thinking – what am I doing? While everyone is trying to get away from the storm I am headed directly into it. I felt like a storm chaser...on a bike! Ha-ha.

Fortunately I eventually caught up to open skies and the storm was behind me. When I got to Winnipeg I had a police escort into the city and I was greeted by friends and family. From there we headed to the Children’s Museum for a media event and to meet with some cancer kids. After the event I had the rest of the day to myself. We went out for supper with all the extended family and then went to church later that evening. I’m a little concerned that after the tour is done I won’t be able to shed the calories. For supper I had a burger with fries, a plate of pasta; some sort of alfredo noodles, then I finished off my little cousins plate of chicken fingers and fries...I think the waitress almost threw up.

My time in Winnipeg was short but very enjoyable it. It was nice to see friends and family. Friday is our last day with Bruce and Bette since we have new drivers coming on board to drive from Kenora to Toronto. Then once we get to Toronto we will be able to visit with more family and friends. After Toronto there is one month left in the tour; it’s gone by so fast!

We don’t have any internet connection right now. So we can only update the site and receive emails when we stop in major cities or hotels...bear with us. But thanks for the emails asking where the journal updates are – it means people are reading them. Thanks!

June 26^th, 2007

Day 24

Brandon MB. – Portage MB.

142.1KM (total: 2251.6KM)

Well, that was a quick day if you ask me. Banker’s hours! I kind of like this job. I am happy that I pushed on and biked as far as I did yesterday, even though I never completed my day. I went to bed nice an early last night and apparently it stormed again. I was so tired I slept right through it all. We drove back to where I left off yesterday. I was getting pretty excited as I looked out the window and saw the fields blowing to the east. Once I stepped out of the RV I almost fell out when the door was almost ripped off the hinges. Once on the bike I decided to take advantage of the tail winds and stayed on the saddle. All 142KM in 4 hours!

I met up to three other bikers on the road today. They started in Victoria in June 5^th and are also headed to St. John’s Newfoundland. I guess they saw me on the news on the plane! How weird is that? Biking with them was really fun and definitely encouraging. Hearing their different stories and what inspired them to bike across Canada and the fact that they don’t have an RV and everything they have is packed onto a bike and no matter what the weather they keep going. It’s so cool to see that they have each other to support and encourage them!

Well, tomorrow I land in the city of Winnipeg. My mom is on the plan right now headed to Winnipeg. I will get to see her tomorrow along with my cousins and friends. We have a busy day scheduled for tomorrow but I am really looking forward to it!

Just waiting till the tour settles down and I will be in touch with Lululemon clothing and still waiting to hear a reply from Seventeen magazine – I have to admit, I’ve never modeled for anything except for being in front of cameras for the tour. I guess this could be another experience. Ha-ha.

Today was a much better day. Thank you to everyone who sent me emails and messages to encourage me! I really appreciate it.

I will try and blog tomorrow night but it’s a very busy day and we have limited connection in Manitoba so we don’t always have access to the internet. Here are some pictures for you! Christa will have a new video up soon!

Tim with the Weibe's (local restaurant owners). They fed us tons!

Bruce and Better praying over Tim before his ride.

Tim with the riders he met today. (Front: Dave & Lisa. Back: Tim & Leah)

Keep it real!

June 25^th, 2007

Day 23

Moosomin SK. – Brandon MB.

104.6KM (total: 2109.5KM)

Well, today will be a short journal entry as I am bagged tired and I am not sure why. Well actually, I do know why I am tired and by the end of this entry I’m sure you will also. At around 2AM this morning I woke up to the RV being lit up and rattling from the thunder and lightning! I love thunderstorms! Even though there were warnings for Tornadoes it didn’t even occur to me that a Tornado was about to take out the campsite, but I was AOK (okay) because I like thunderstorms. Anyways, I woke up at 5AM safe and sound and everything was still sitting up right. I had planned to be on the road around 6:30AM/7AM but due to the weather we were contemplating if I should bike. And before I forget to mention – the other reason for our late departure was because we had owners of the local restaurant open up 2hrs early (just for us) to make sure that we were all fed and ready to go for the day. When I had told them not to go all out and that cinnamon buns and muffins would be great they decided that wasn’t enough. We had the works. Eggs, toast, hash browns, sausages, bacon...you name it. When we were all ready to leave they had egg salad sandwiches ready for the road and even a homemade Saskatchewan Pie! What a great start to the day.

So like I was saying about the Tornadoes before – there was a tornado that touched down last night in Moosomin where we stayed and there were 8 that touched down this weekend in Brandon. The longest one was 40mins long! So basically today was the toughest day of my life because of the winds. I was pretty discouraged walking into the hotel tonight because up until this point I have biked every kilometre and have given it my all. Not completing a day just didn’t feel right to me. I still had 40 more kilometres to go, but with the weather I just couldn’t put in another stroke. After I finished my ride I told myself to not worry about it, Ill finish off the rest of the day tomorrow and will make up for it. Days like this are expected, and every day is not going to be perfect weather with tail winds.

When we pulled over for lunch I was starting to get pretty tired. I’ve been tired all day. I think the time change and trying to wing myself into getting up earlier is affecting me. At lunch time I managed to have a couple of minutes to sleep and then I went for a little walk and talk to myself.

And this is what Tim and Tim talked about:

- There are 10,000 kids who are fighting cancer in Canada. They are all watching me and have expectations for me. I feel honoured that I get to fulfill their expectations.

- Time does not matter – I will get there when I get there.

- Stop focusing on the negative and focus on the positive.

- One stroke at a time.

After a few minutes to myself, stretches, and a glass of coke I was back on the bike and biked as far as I could. I did my best and that’s all I can ask of myself. One person that kept me going today was Allan Hobson who is a Leukemia survivor and climbed Everest.

I think my days are going to start getting shorter now. I need to start getting more rest. But don’t worry mom and dad...no need to be concerned! I am AOK.

Well, good night to you.

June 24^th, 2007

Day 22

Indian Head SK. – Moosomin SK

153.2KM (total: 2004.9KM)

This morning started off nice and early at 5AM. I wanted to be up early and on the road to try and avoid to heat. We had a surprise visit from Bruce and Bette’s cousin this morning. It was nice to visit with her.

It was a chilly start this morning but it was so nice to be out early. I don’t know what it is but there is something about being up early in the morning. No traffic, little noise, the feeling of being alone even though the support team is traveling closely behind. For me, being up early is just a time for me to be alone, focus, and prepare for the day. Actaully the entire day was really quiet. No emails, no calls, no nothing. It was nice for a change.

We arrived in Moosomin shortly after 1 in the afternoon. Today almost felt like another rest day. There is a nice little beach here at the camp site so that was our first stop.

Today was a very interesting day while riding. While riding this morning one side of the road was lined with power lines and the poles were like crosses, one after the other for about 50KM. I’m not sure why but it got me thinking that I am not perfect. None of us are. But seeing the crosses brought a sense of forgiveness and grace. Living day to day just isn’t enough. There has to be more to life than just life in itself. We have to make more than just life. I don’t know if you follow but I just think that living each day just doesn’t get anywhere nor does it feel like I’ve accomplished anything. I want to do more with my life. After yesterdays visit with the cancer kids I realized again how many people in this world are in pain. In North America we are so blessed and fortunate to have what we have. But even in our blessed country there are people who aren’t so fortunate; and it extends much further than Canada and the U.S. What I am saying is that there is more to life then settling down, having a nice car, perfect house, appliances, big screen TV, clothes, friends, family, etc. All those things are great and definitely add to the joy of life – but what about the people who don’t have any of that?

Well, that’s my thought for the day. Apparently the birds in Saskatchewan don’t care for me. All 153KM today was like traveling through a bird village. And 90% of them chased me out of their territory and attempted to attack. All I could say to myself was bike faster, faster, faster! I made it though. No birds got me.

Well tomorrow we will be in Brandon Manitoba.

And before I forget to mention the campsite sponsored us 50% off tonight and tomorrow morning one of the local restaurant owners is coming to work early to feed us before we leave! I’m excited and thankful. I think Better is also. Cooking in this heat isn’t fun!

Bette and Bruce depart Friday and Marc, Cheryl, and Cassandra come on board from Kenora to Toronto. We will miss Bruce and Bette. The last week has been fun – but we also look forward to having the Fenske’s come on board!

Chow!

PS. Dont forget to check out our new videos if you havent. (At the top of the page)

June 23^rd, 2007

Day 21

Rest Day in Regina SK.

Oh wow! If I eat any more food we might have to order a custom bike to support me! Not much of a sleep in on a rest day. I guess I’m so used to getting up at 6AM that I just couldn’t sleep in. My morning started off with a nice little breakfast down in the lobby of the hotel. After I got myself seconds I headed up to the room to do some emails and phone calls and to prepare for our media event at the Regina Visitor Centre. Right before we headed for the visitor centre I made a quick stop at McDonalds for some more breakfast. By this time I had my third breakfast of the morning...all I did today was eat, eat, and eat.

I was interviewed by CTV, Global News, and The Leader. Today was probably the biggest turn out yet. I had lots of cancer kids come and meet me and give me their messages. It was nice to be inspired and encouraged again. Although I have to admit, for some reason I felt a little discouraged after today’s visit. My heart really went out to some of the kids who were there today and their stories. Some of them have permanent side effects from the treatment. It’s not fair. I started to feel bitter and almost angry. I’m not so much concerned about myself, but when I see kids that young who are going through cancer, I think why? Their innocent and just like every other kid, they just want to be a kid! I tried to calm myself and remind myself that unfortunately this is a reality and kids as young as 8 months old are affected by cancer. And that’s why Spokeman Tour exists – to help give these kids another shot at life. There hasnt been one person that we've met who has not been effected by cancer some way shape or form. It's everywhere!

Tim with some cancer kids at the Regina Visitor Information Centre

After all the media stuff was done and the kids presented me their pictures I had the chance to hang out with these kids on a more personal level. We all went to McDonalds for yet another meal! Today was probably one of the most personal and meaningful experiences I’ve had with the kids yet. To be able to go out with no cameras, no signing consent forms, no talk about cancer – and to just hang out! There are no words to describe it.

Well, basically just hung around all day. Went swimming, after swimming I had 4 egg salad sandwiches, and then after some more lazin around we headed out for supper. I think my meal should have been paid for since I ate an entire pizza. I have to admit, the last few bites were a little painful! Ha-ha. But I ate it!

Bruce, Bette, Christa, and Tim out for supper!

Now I am just taking a few minutes to myself in my room. Tomorrow is calling for showers and 30 degrees above zero. Let me think. Sore butt, hot, exhausting weather versus Wet, rainy, cold, miserable weather....I think I’ll stick to the sore butt and heat! I am getting used to it. Apparently there has been a few tornadoes the last few days.

On Wednesday I will roll into Winnipeg and then on Friday I will be in Ontario! Wow! So far so good!

I plan to be on the road at 6AM tomorrow morning to get a head start before the heat.

Alrighty!

Chow!

June 22nd,2007

Day 20

Moose Jaw SK. - Indian Head SK.

150.1KM (total: 1851.7KM)

Today was an amazing day! I went to bed nice an early last night so I was ready to rock when I woke up this morning. Gotta tell ya, I'm lovin the hotel stops. It's so nice to jump in the pool, pay a little visit to the hot tub, take a couple of trips down the slide, back in the pool, dry up, eat supper in the RV, do my journal, watch a little TV....anyways, sorry about that.

Yesterday when we arrived in Moose Jaw we headed directly for the bike shop. I dont know how and where it went but my front brake fell off. But I got it replaced. I could have done without - Im on a one way cruise mode to St. John's. I hope you sense the sarcasm cause Im just kidding around. I think its the fact that I've spent the last 7 days on a bike and I finally get a rest day. I have to admit the hotel isn't located in the best spot; fast food restaurants wherever I look, and if you know me, I love the stuff.

Well I was joined by two riders this morning from Moose Jaw. Friends of mine - the Gray's, called their friends in Moose Jaw and told them about my tour, so they joined up with me for part of the morning. Thanks guys! It was nice to ride with you this morning.

Tim, Terry and his wife at The Moose before heading to Regina

Terry and his wife biked with me for a little ways and then turned around to head back to Moose Jaw. As I was coming into Regina I met up to a 70 year old fella who was just trekkin along. We biked together for about 10mins or so. He goes biking everyday! He said he would love to bike across Canada and has always wanted to but thought maybe he should just give up on the idea now. He was a funny one! Although he does plan to bike from Regina to Saskatoon with his grandson.

The heat in the afternoon is starting to get pretty tough to bike in. I think I heard from someone that it was 35 degrees today! As I stare ahead into the distance where the horizon meets, all I see is the heat rising from the ground. My heart pounds and my lungs gasp for just one more breath of air. But each breath I take I long for one more. Each drink of water I take is not enough to quench the thirst. As the heat starts to pour on in the middle of the afternoon my adrenaline kicks in as I am reminded why I am doing this. No one said it would be easy, no one said everyday would be fun, but its a challenge and its an adventure - which I love!

We pulled over for lunch this morning and as we were eating lunch Bruce looked out the window and said, oh look there goes two bikers. To which I replied, oh Ill catch up to them. Just joking around and not really thinking that I would. Well to my surprise I actually caught up to them later in the afternoon and we biked to Indian Head together. I have to admit I forget the guy's name but the girl's name was Melanie. She is from Quebec. She left Vancouver on June 9th and is headed to St. John's. When I caught up to them I asked if I could join them and Mel says, Are you Tim! I said, uhh yea. She said, Ive heard about you all over the news in BC, Alberta and through word of mouth here in Saskatchewan and was hoping to bike with you but thought you'd be way ahead of me. We hope to catch up to each other sometime during my tour.

Once we arrived in Indian Head I headed directly to Esso where I bought a nice big slurpee! It was so refreshing. I was also met my the local newspaper and some community supporters came out to cheer me on! Thanks guys!

Tim and some Indian Head supporters

Well, tomorrow morning I have a media event at the Regina Visitors Centre where I will have the chance to meet some more cancer kids and collect some letters, cards, pictures, etc.

I'm going to try and start waking up a little earlier and hoepfully get on the road around 6/7AM to get most of my riding in before the heat of the day. I think my days are going to start getting a little shorter. Pretty comfortable days so far.

Alright, talk to you tomorrow from the beautiful city of Regina after a very nice rest day!

Chow!

June 21st, 2007

Day 19

Herbert SK. - Moose Jaw SK.

125.1KM (total: 1701.6)

I'm mad. Your probably thinking why Tim, that's a pretty descriptive word right off the top. Well to be honest, I was just about to save my blog and log off and head er to bed. But no, my fingers decided that the back space key looked a little nicer and ended up deleting my entire blog. Grrr.

Anyways, Ill give this a second crack and try to remember as much as possible.

Chad, you were right when you said that Moose Jaw was windy. But you never warned me that it would work against me. Its alright buddy, thanks for trying! All 125KM today. It was about 30 degrees above zero. Hot, windy, and I am b to the u-r-n-t - BURNT! I put on sunscreen today but I guess not enough.

I am glad to be finished for the day. As soon as the RV parked I put on my swimming trunks and jumped in the pool. How refreshing.

At one point today I felt like I was in the tour de France. I jumped out of my saddle and pumped my legs as fast and as hard as I could go. It felt like a race for the finish line as the adrenaline raged through my body even though I wasnt racing anyone but myself. After about 10KM of a full out sprint I sat back down on my seat almost reading to fall off the bike. I thought to myself, what am I doing? 30 degrees above zero, direct head winds, eight and a half provinces to go. Why am I racing? It was fun while it lasted.

I got to thinking about the cancer kids at my next visit. I wonder what the visit will be like? How old will the kids be? How young? How long will they have been fighting cancer for? What kind of cancer do they have? As the sun continued to rise and the heat poured on and the winds continued with resistance I noticed I was starting to get a little moody and impatient with the wind. But after a little chat to myself I soon changed my attitude. I thought to myself. 1. I am biking across Canada, what an adventure. 2. I survived cancer and now I am doing this, what a miracle. 3. Time does not matter, I will get to the next city when I get there. 4. Im only in Saskatchewan, if im complaning now, well then I better shape up or ship out! I can hear my mothers voice in my head. "Come on Tim, get going!" As she claps those annoying clappers trying to encourage me on. I suppose it works. Even though your a whole province away mom your with me in my thoughts.

Im supposed to be joining some riders from Moose Jaw tomorrow. They plan on riding with me for part of the day. One more day and then a rest day! Yippy!

Well, being it is starting to get late and I erased my entire journal entry, I better get going. My other one was way better. Oh well - what do ya do?

Just want to send a shout out to my little cousins Madeline, Ireland, and Draven from Winnipeg. Ill see you soon!

Alright, Im off to bed! Ive got the air conditioned cranked!

I made it! What a long day, hard day.

June 20th, 2007

Day 18

Tompkins SK. - Herbert SK.

124.0KM (total: 1576.5KM)

I set my alarm for 630AM because I wasnt really in a rush to get on the road this morning. I have to admit I was a little worried this morning when I woke up and no one was moving, especially when I came back from the washroom at 6:45 and everyone was still in bed. Ha-ha. Up and atem fellas! We got some cycling to do!

Last night Christa and I went for a cool down walk around the town of Gull Lake. The atmosphere in Saskatchewan is very different than Alberta and very different then what I expected. Probably because Saskatchewan is very laid back compared to Alberta, but just the scenery alone is amazing. Way different then what I thought it would be. It's beautiful. I dont know if I could live here in Saskatchewan because I am a city boy but I love the smell of the air here, the big open blue skies, and the friendliness from the people. Last night when Christa and I were walking almost every person we saw waved at us, asked how we were, and carried a conversation with us.

The sunset last night...

I woke up at about 4:30 in the morning. As I laid there in my bed all I could hear was birds singing. It felt like I was sleeping in the middle of a bird sanctuary. Some might not necessarily enjoy the sound of a million birds chirping, but I thought it was amazing!

We headed up to Tompkins where I finished my ride yesterday and I jumped on the bike at 840AM, destination Swift Current for Tim Hortons. They don't know this yet but we plan on stopping there so often this summer that by the end of the tour we are going to buy them out! Ha-ha, just kidding.

This is Saskatchewan! I think I see the CN Tower - Nevermind that's a cow!

Today was a fairly quick day. I biked 124KM in 4.5hrs but I didn't expect so many hills. I probably climbed more hills today then I did in all of Alberta! It was very HOT today. In the middle of the afternoon I took my bottle of water and dumped it all over my head. The bugs were really bad today. At one point I looked at my arms and there was bugs all over my arms. I'm noticing that the goffers get a little slower in the mind as I get deeper into Saskatchewan. I find it strange that when a 160lbs cyclist is coming they scatter off into the bush, but when a fully loaded semi truck is flying at them at 110KM/h they stand and hesitate as to what they are supposed to do. Should I run? Which way? No, maybe I'll just stand here. No I better Rruun....dead. I came up to a goffer today, and I was literally two feet to it and It finally ran. I prepared myself for a squish! I've learnt a new game here in Saskatchewan. In Alberta I played a lot of "Hey Cow"! Now I play "Wake up Goffer"! None of them seem to budge yet.

Tim yelling at the Cows again!

Rolling hills in Saskatchewan

Well, overall today was a good day. We finished shortly after 1:30. We are sitting in a little campground in Morse about 13KM east of Herbert. I owe a big thanks to two people. My friend Mariah for lending us her computer and Sarah at Five Star Communications for setting up an internet connection. Without you guys I would not be posting this blog! Thanks a mill!

Ive learnt a few things today. How much I take things for granted. During my battle with cancer I really started to appreciate life and what I have been blessed with. But now that I am finished treatment and living a normal life style again I find myself having to take a few steps back to remind myself of what I have and to not get too far ahead of myself. While I was riding today I took out my ear phones. It was so nice to hear my chain on my bike, the birds chirping, and the blowing of the air.

So far I have to say the trip is going well. Now that the weather is nicer the trip has been much more enjoyable. Overall I have to say the trip has been relatively easy. I mean don't get me wrong, Ive had my tough days especially with all the rain and a few physically demanding days in BC but other wise I am having lots of fun, seeing lots of country side, and enjoying the experience! But keep in mind I still have 2 months to go, I'm sure I will experience some tough days soon enough.

Last night when I was talking with my mother on the phone she told me she payed a visit to the local blood clinic and saw two girls who were donating blood in honor of Spokeman Tour. Thanks girls! It will go a long ways. When I was sick I received over 20 blood transfusions. One bag alone took 4 hours to complete. I could be at my all time low, and with a bag of blood and some extra fluids I was a 180 degree turn around...no joke.

Well, we just got invited to the Lions club tonight. We are apparently having steak dinner! This day is awesome. Three plates of spaghetti for lunch, steak dinner tonight, an air conditioned RV - my it's going to be hard going to college in the fall.

Bruce and Bette send a hello to everyone, especially the grand kids!

Talk to you all tomorrow from the beautiful city of Moose Jaw!

Bruce, Tim, and Bette

June 19th, 2007

Day 17

Medicine Hat AB. - Tompkins SK.

138.4KM (total: 1452.5KM)

I write this to you from a campsite in Gull Lake while I sit outside under a tree and listen to the birds chirp. I had a very good and needed rest last night. When I woke up this morning at 6AM I really did not want to roll out of bed. I was dead tired, and loving the 4 puffy pillows that surrounded my head. Pillows make a good night sleep! And this was a brand new hotel, so the pillows had hardly been used. Anyways, enough talk about me sleeping. I woke up this morning not feeling so great. I had a sore throat, still kind of do. I took some fisherman's friend tablets and a couple teaspoons of fish oil and prayed that I would be good to go. And good to go I was. I was delighted this morning to find the best continental breakfast Ive ever had. Eggs, sausages, english muffins, toast, cereal, bagels...anyways, here I go again! You can tell the weather is getting nice because I'm starting to go very into detail about my day. I can just hear my mother right now. Tim, careful what you say on the net, so many people see it. Thanks cop Heather!

Actually, I just got off the phone with my mother and father. It was nice to hear their voice. Don't worry mom and dad, I have not forgotten about you. I think about you every day while I ride. And yes I do miss you, but I am enjoying myself very much. Everyone is getting along and I think Bette and Bruce are having a good time. We just finished supper. Bette is a wonderful cook, and so is Bruce! They pray for me every morning before I get on the bike - right on the side of the highway. Thank you Bruce and Bette!

Before I got on the bike this morning I realized I was missing something. My green bracelet that says WE WILL WIN on it. I put it on because I knew I had a long day ahead of me and I knew that when I put my head down to peddle hard I will see the green bracelet and be reminded that we will win! Together!

Another sunny day! I cannot tell you how happy I am. Mary...the spokeman is happy! For those of you who don't know Mary is the director of marketing and communications and the Childhood Cancer Foundation and she is always emailing me or calling me to make sure things are well and I am happy. Thanks Mary!

Well, I am now in Saskatchewan. When I look at the map and see how far Ive travelled I think wow! Ive biked that entire distance...by bike! Somebody give me some ritalin!

I made it! The sign should say, Tim...Naturally.

A couple that pulled over to meet Tim while he was taking a picture at the Sask. border.

So far so good. The weather is amazing but there are TONS of bugs. Every so often I will quickly duck or dodge a bug. Saskatchewan has these huge black bugs! I dont even know what they are. When we stopped at the SK border for a picture I looked at my feet and both Christa and I had like 50 red ants crawling on our feet! You could say we did a little dance in the middle of the highway and we kick our feet trying to get these ants off!

With 5 flat tires, over 300 people who have signed the petition, almost $45,000 in funds the Spokeman Tour is still rolling! Congratulations and thank you everyone!

Now that I am all caught up on my blog's I can enjoy my evening!

Chow everyone! Hope your day was as nice as mine!

June 18th, 2007

Day 16

Bassano AB. - Medicine Hat AB.

150.3KM (total: 1314.1KM)

Well today started off a lot easier then yesterday. Since Bassano didnt really have much to offer for a campsite we headed to Brooks and stayed there last night. I was jumping for joy as I saw the sun set and the sky turn an almost orange/red color. I knew today would be a day of hope and sunshine. I was ready for the sun and I think the sun was ready for me! With the open blue skies and a nice tail wind I rode from Bassano to Brooks, approx. 50KM in just over an hour! I was flying! Just like every other major city, Tim Horton's is a priority. When we were there I was surprised when I saw an old friend from Airdrie, Cory is his name. Good to see you Cory! Congratulations on the engagement, all the best!

Tim with Cory (left) and Cory's friend

PS. Cory's friend is not his fiance!...I just realized that came out the wrong way. Sorry Cory.

Back on the road and headed for Medicine Hat...good ol' rattle snake country. Fortunately I never saw any but I'm pretty sure I heard some rattling coming from the bush.

I can't remember if I updated you on the funds yet so If I did, here I go again. Yesterday, which was literally the hardest day yet, we received $1000 in donations just travelling from Calgary to Bassano. As painful as the ride was, it was all worth it when the day was over. To date we have raised $40 000 for the Childhood Cancer Foundation of Canada! I've only biked two provinces...I wonder what the rest of Canada will bring? Thank you soo much everyone...your support is much appreciated!

While leaving Brooks there was a nice pond and a fountain shooting water...I received a nice mist as I past it. Shortly after, I found myself standing on the side of the road with a flat tire in one hand and my rim in the other. My 5th flat tire of the tour. Pretty soon I'll be so good at changing tires that I'll be able to leave the rim right on the bike. But thankfully I already had a tire all ready and good to go!

Tim in the middle of the no where prairies with a flat tire!

Not only is today my first day of sunshine, but it is my first time in two weeks that I get to sleep in a nice double bed, showers, swimming pool, hot tub...okay  so we're staying in a hotel. But I guess I got to stay at home for a couple of days too, so that counts!

The sun! I seriously was starting to think the end of the world was taking place with all the rain I've had.

I made it! All 150KM! Medicine Hat, I have a greater appriciation for you cause you brought me sun!

To finished the day off. Christa and I payed a visit to the local clinic again. She is AOK! (AOK stands for ok...just a term I use) We had a nice dip in the pool where there was a water slide. I was tempted to book the hotel for a couple days and call an early rest day. But there is a schedule to follow and another city to get to...or town if you wish to say. What do they call them in Saskatchewan? Ha-ha.

That's all for now folks. Sorry for the delay on the blog's. Like I said, my rest days turned into busy days and we had no connection to our webpage manager. But we are good to go. Make sure you check out the site for updates, details, and new video blogs, etc.

Here are some pictures I will share with you from some of this weeks adventures!

Tim with the riders and supporters for the Banff to Calgary Ride

Tim leaving Banff with the rest of the riders

Police escort into Calgary. Thank you CPS!

June 17th, 2007

Day 15

Calgary AB. - Bassano

128KM (total: 1164KM)

This morning was a late departure since I had to speak at my church. I wasnt able to get on the road till about 12:30. I had the best experience ever today. I was joined by two riders. One which was one of my trainers, Matt King and Mark who to my surprise is friends of Bruce and Bette my drivers for this leg of the tour.

Tim and Matt headed for Bassano

Honestly, today was the hardest day yet. My 12th day of rain straight. And it rained, and rained and rained. In fact, it poured! All I could think about was the letter of encouragement Karen gave me. Karen is Christa's mom. I can't repeat the words exactly cause I dont have the paper in front of me but she said something like this:

Who you are is not defined by what you start but by what you finish!

My dad also gave me a little word of encouragement while travelling through BC. Little does he know that those words will probably stick with me for the rest of my life. He told me that for every hill that I climb up, there is a hill on the other side going down. I'm not sure how that will work in the prairies but im sure I can figure something out. For every dead goffer I come across...10 more are lying ahead...I dont know, maybe you think of something and email me! Ha-ha.

I have to admit that today was probably the most discouraging day. It literally poured and by the looks of it the skies had no intentions of opening up. I thought about those two words of encouragement from Karen and my dad and remembered my visit with the kids at the Alberta Children's Hospital. I also took off my watch and put it in my pocket. Time did not matter. As long as I finished the day before sun set I would be okay.

I was so encouraged by Mark who also rode with me. He's been through so much and even under the pouring rain he continued to bike forward and never said peep. You could tell by the look on his face that he could care less if it was -40 below and snowing...he was having the time of his life! Thanks Mark for your inspirations and determination.

Mark wasn't able to ride the entire way so once we took off Matt and I continued on. About 30KM just outside Bassano we pulled over into a gas station for a mars bar. We needed a quick fix but we probably should have just kept going. To get back on the bike and get our muscles moving and blood flowing was more painful then getting pelted with rain. But we made it to Bassano and what do ya know! The skies opened up and the sun poured down! Finally...SUN!!!!

Tim and Matt at the finish line in Bassano

We rode into Bassano and all Matt could say was, well this is Bassano. It might have been a population of 200 people in the middle of the prairies. Im not even sure how I found this place on the map.

So apparently my encounter with the jeep in Hope, BC was not enough. Just as I was about to stop the bike I encountered a hole - a very large and deep hole. But by the time I saw it, it was too late. I hit this pot hole and literally went over my head. I landed on my hands. Ouch! My wrist instantly started to burn and I thought I broke it. But I wasnt worried about myself, I was more worried about the bike. It looked like a train just hit it. With a few tugs and pulls I managed to straighten everything out and make it look like a bike again. Magic I know. I am okay though. Besides from another massive bruise on my leg and a sore wrist, I am good to go!

The pothole which I fell head over heels for!

To finish off the day we invited Matt and Dale (Dale came down to Bassano to pick matt up) to stay for supper. Bette fed us lots and it was very delicious!

Well...praying for sunny skies tomorrow. I think im ready any day now.

Don't forget to check out the photo gallery with updated pictures and check out our new video blog.

Chow

June 16th, 2007

Day 14

Banff AB. - Calgary AB.

130KM (total: 1036KM)

This morning was an early morning as I had to be at the Banff Rec Centre at 700AM to meet the riders who were riding with me. I got to the Rec Centre to find more than just riders. There were friends and family that drove all the way from Calgary to be there for my departure. The weather was a little chilly and was calling for showers so we all got bundled up as best we could and headed out for our 130KM ride to Calgary. I was joined by 7 riders who raised funds through pledges. One group of guys raised approx. $1500!

From Banff we headed for Canmore which is about 30KM up the road. By the time we got there we were all soaking wet and freezing cold. One guy had a flat tire and one guy broke a rim. But, nothing could stop us. By this time I was starting to get sick of the rain and head winds but I continued to push on. It was nice to have riders with me to encourage me and keep my motivation high.

With a couple of pit stops along the road for a snack or a bathroom break we eventually rolled into Calgary around 1:30 in the Afternoon. The City of Calgary Police came out to escort us in. I am thankful for them because there is no way we would have been able to bike into Calgary with all the constuction and tight shoulders, sometimes even no shoulders.

I have pictures of the day somewhere on my computer but can't seem to find them, so when I do I will make sure I get them up and running.

That's all for now!

June 15^th, 2007

Day 13

Rest Day in Airdrie AB.

Ahh – what a nice break! A much needed break. I write this message to you from my RV while driving out to Banff to prepare for tomorrow’s big event where I will be joined by 12 riders as I head east to Calgary. I sit here listening to my music on iTunes starring out the window at the amazing scenery. I struggle to find the words to describe the experience I’ve had the last few days at home and the experience I’ve had through my first province. I look at the rolling hills and the trees; the different shades of green and what seems like a painted back drop. To me, each hill represents a child who is currently fighting cancer or the 10 who will be diagnosed today. I remember my many rainy days in BC. The winds, the hail, the hills, the burning sensation in my legs, and I continue to remember that each hill that I climb there is a slope on the other side. Each hill I climb is one more child who has a second chance at life. Not because of me but because of the supporters, sponsors, people, and kids.

These past few days of rest has been a time to recoup after 9 days of rain and lots of hills, but even more importantly a time to recoup, re energize, and re focus by spending some time at another children’s hospital. Yesterday we had a press meeting down at Eau Claire Market where I was joined by kids currently fighting cancer or are survivors of cancer. To top it all off I was even joined by a cow! A little girl who is part of the 4H club sold her calf and donated a portion of the funds to Spokeman Tour on behalf of her younger brother who is currently fighting cancer. After the press meeting I visited the Alberta Children’s Hospital oncology clinic. What a time we had! I was greeted by the many doctors and nurses that treated me while I was going through cancer. We shared some cake as it was my birthday and then I had the opportunity to once again spend some one on one time with the patients. The Calgary visit was very different than the Vancouver visit. The kids here is Calgary were very young - as young as 3 months old. Unfortunately this is a reality but that is why Spokeman Tour exist – to help save the life of a child, increase the rate of success, and to get a month designated for kids with cancer – why? Because fighting cancer at such a young age can be a very difficult thing to go through. Especially when you are as young as 3 months old and cannot understand what is happening. The fear in the eyes of a 3 months old baby is heart wrenching because little do they know that the doctors and nurses are just trying to help.    

 Left: Tim new friend...$500 dollars was donated by this little girl!

 Right: Little Parker currently in treatment for cancer

I had the chance to grab a few hours to myself today. While driving around and listening to music I felt a weight fall on me. I felt the burdens of the many people in our country and our world. I was reminded how great I really have it. Despite the pain and darkness I have experienced – over all I am well off. I’m not talking well off financially or materialism but I’m talking about me as a person. I believe there are many of us who are well off but we don’t take time to be thankful for that. Unfortunately life isn’t always going to be great. It’s not going to be what we hoped it to be. It’s not going to be promising. It’s not easy. And trust me, that’s much easier said than to believe and accept. I believe that there are many of us experiencing pain and darkness in our lives and we just feel like giving up. What does life have to offer us? What do we have to offer life? But the answer is...Everything!

We don’t have to give what the world expects, but instead we can give what we expect of ourselves and we can do that because of the experiences we’ve been through. The way we handle our experiences and what we do with them is offering something to the world. Something that is great. What we learn through experiences cannot be learnt in high school or post secondary but is only learnt through experiences – good or bad; easy or hard. I can’t promise life will be easy. In fact, I won’t promise life will be easy. It will be hard. We will face moments where we would rather give up. But let me tell you that we choose our outcome. Our attitude and character defines who we are. Sometimes the answer won’t come looking for us; we have to go looking for it. And sometimes we won’t be able to find the answer – why; because we have to create the answer. Sometimes we have to be the one who picks up our own feet and makes the first step.

I met a girl at the Alberta Children’s Hospital yesterday. When I walked into the room I saw a girl who looked like she was in so much pain. She was breathing through an oxygen mask because her lungs were just too weak to breathe on her own. She looked so afraid but at the same time looked so strong and determined. She said to her mother “I am not ready to die; I still have my whole life to live.” That is what taking the first step is. She doesn’t know why she was diagnosed with cancer. She doesn’t know what the answer is, but as hard as it was she took the first step and said I will make the answer. And the answer will be to live!

My question to you is – what is your outcome? Have you found the answer or are you waiting for the answer to come to you or are you making the answer?

-The pain that we endure today is the strength that defines us tomorrow-

Are you ready to take the first step? It’s not easy, but with each other we can do it.