FRIDAY the 13th - it's all good - last day in CALGARY......

SNM Tour Day #13
Another day in Calgary doing media interviews with radio and television in and out of studios.  From an awareness point of view - things were very good (as hoped, in my home town). Thankfully not a day on the road with the constant rain and wind.  I don't have to bore you with the details of shopping and cleaning the Sunshine beast and re-organizing etc etc etc.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT for tomorrow - Saturday a.m. August 14th

I will be running from home to Edworthy Park and hope to meet and greet and start the cycle from Edworthy Park (by Angel's Cafe) at 0800 hrs.  If you want to come for support / encouragement / chat - please come along prior to start time.  If you would like to cycle - please do.  We will be going to Bassano tomorrow, but I'm sure many may want to just cycle to the outskirts of Calgary and then loop back - go as far as you feel comfortable and that would be great. Anything would be great! It is always good to have other riders along.  Monique and I are leaving Calgary and we won't be back home until November!!!!
 

Random quotes of the day

May I never miss a sunset or a rainbow because I am looking down
Sara June Parker

see you all tomorrow am - hope for just a bit of sunshine (and a bit of a tailwind would not be denied!)

Late news, just had the Last Supper at the Dort's (fish and loaves which seemed to keep multiplying) - wonderful as usual. Joe and Les,  if there are better friends in the world, I'm not sure who they are.

Also welcome to Calgary, Shamir and Ranu (so sorry if I am murdering the spelling). 

SEE YOU day

SNM Tour Day #12

SEE YOU = C.U. = CATCH UP

We're in Calgary for the next two days - media work and medical education events ongoing.

Since there are no road adventures or road shots, its time for a bit of education, this is an AWARENESS to ACTION tour as you very well know......

just a few DEPRESSING STATS (Part 1)

ONE     Mental Health is the number one cause of work disability in Canada, accounting for nearly 30% of disability claims and 70% of the total costs.

TWO     Depression will rank second only to heart disease as the leading cause of disability worldwide by the year 2020

FIVE     1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime.


FOUR     The remaining 4 will have a friend, family member or colleague who will.


FIVE ½     While mental illnesses constitute more than 15% of the burden of disease in Canada, these illnesses receive only 5.5% of health care dollars.


EIGHT     8% of all Canadians will suffer from a major depressive illness


TWELVE     Only 12% of Canadians said they would hire a lawyer who has a mental illness


FOURTEEN     Mental health disorders in the workplace cost Canadian companies nearly 14% of their net annual profits


EIGHTEEN     18% of workers in Canada have had a diagnosis of clinical depression


TWENTY     20% of Canadian workers experience a stress related illness per year


TWENTY SEVEN     and 27% are fearful of being around people who suffer from serious mental illness.

You may forget the one with whom you have laughed, but never the one with whom you have wept

Gibran

Cruising into CALGARY - Home Sweet Home!

Day #11 SNM Tour
What an absolutely great, great day!!

Started with a coolish run out of Banff, with a backdrop of the mountains lit up by the morning sun.

(that's an unedited photo from my iphone - still looks great!)

Team SAD no more, Team Happy? met us just outside of Banff and Justine, Geoff, James and I blazed our way to Calgary, arriving easily in under 4 hours even with a few breaks thrown in (thanks Justine - you probably saved me a few times).

These guys are the real thing and I don't say this with false modesty. Whenever I ride with hard core cyclists - I realize that I am a very average, if very stubbornly persistent cyclist. Whenever I climb hills with these same cyclists I am fully humbled, we all get to the top, but after that they are in another league. 

I almost always train alone - running and cycling, so it is a real treat to get out with people.  The training time for me is both physically and mentally therapeutic and to be honest, in my work, I spend each and everyday listening and talking to people for hours on end, so this alone time is sacred.  Having said this, cycling with the team today felt absolutely fantastic, very uplifting and energizing!  Thanks to you all for joining in the tour and I appreciate it greatly!!

This was Lin's last day with us as a support driver - it was great having her along! Thanks to both her and Jeff for their support - "Thanks Lin -  if I said you drove like a big rig trucker take it as a supreme compliment".  I felt very safe with her (literally) protecting my back side!

Jeff and Lin celebrated their 1st annivesary (again) - they were apart for a few days.....

I had a radio and television interview upon arrival in Edworthy Park and have a few media events planned for the next few days.  We just found out that there was a very nice article in the Kelowna newspaper (The Daily Courier) a few days ago - every bit helps and spreads the word of this awareness campaign.

Our day sponsor today was K.B. Lee of Ever Bamboo.  I've been using their products for quite some time now, initially in my running shoes and now virtually everywhere. They have a full spectrum of merch and I will certainly vouch for them - they do what they say they do.  Living in an enclosed space for the next few months, every odour is magnified. I am running and cycling every day - I think you get the point. These products help greatly http://www.everbamboo.com/ .  I don't want to use this blog as advertising but I also can't suppress an opinion if it is strong.

Random quote of the day
Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death
Harold Wilson

We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it
George Eliot

So Monique gets to sleep in her own bed tonight which makes her immensely happy.  Despite us being away only 2 weeks, there is a mountain of mail and business to attend to because we are home and actually have a few days to do it - oh well, bittersweet.....

And how good does it get?  Well, upon our arrival, our neighbor brought over our mail - with a bottle of champagne to welcome us back and congratulate us on completing the first leg of our journey - thanks Karen, it`s the little things that sometimes mean so very much!!

Beautiful Banff Beckons

SMN Tour Day 10
Just out of Golden, came face to face with a big horn sheep, thankfully there was a barricade between me and its horns. I approached a bit to take a photo on my iphone and it approached me a bit, so I took the picture backing up on the run - no need to tick off mother nature or her beasts.

The forecast of rain throughout the day in Golden and Banff put a bit of fear in the tour day.  But all we got were some clouds and a few drops, and saw enough sun to make the day quite pleasant.  The morning was tough on the bike - uphill with a little headwind for what seemed like hours; wondered if we would ever really get going.

 Went over the mighty Kicking Horse Pass bridge - a brilliant bit of architecture and engineering feat nestled in beautifully mountainous landscape - spectacular!

Passed the border of BC/AB - and already one province has been traversed and we've lived to tell the tale.

Lots and lots of construction (as per usual) then onward to always picturesque Lake Louise where the tourists were out full force.  Stopped for a photo-op, some lunch then whizzed off to Banff - the last 20 kms flying by! 

Ah, Banff...It was good to cruise into the familiar town site knowing we had put in a very solid day of running and cycling.

Day Sponsor of the tour is AMSCAR - the Alberta Medical student's Conference And Retreat - THANKS. I was fortunate enough to speak at their last retreat and enjoyed the evening greatly!

Trans Canada Trivia Questions
?what is the literal meaning of Banff
From an engineering point of view - what is so unique about the Kicking Horse Pass bridge?

Random quotes of the day

Humans love to wonder, and that is the seed of science
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The great and glorious masterpiece of man is how to live with a purpose.
Michel de Montaigne

Everything is GOLDEN (except the sky)

Day 9 SNM Tour

Got half the run in today in a bit of sun and then it clouded over and virtually rained the rest of the day and quite hard at that.  Despite this, made it into Golden in reasonable time, WET but HAPPY.



Picked up Lin today, who graciously agreed to spell Monique off for driving for a few days.  As she arrived I instantly got a flat.  My foot pump actually blew apart (never had this happen before) and I was wondering if we had picked up a bad luck charm.  Had no other incidents, so I guess we'll keep her.
Her 1st Anniversary was yesterday - happy Anniversary Lin and Jeff, may there be many, many more.

Very few cyclists on road today (DUH...) but met Carolyn heading for Banff

Went through Rogers Pass Summit and literally ripped through 8 tunnels at speeds which shouldn't be put in writing.  The mountain views were exceedingly ominous - peaks lurking in the fog and clouds all day long.

Able to get a few good shots, here and there, but mostly just tried to get the mileage in before I got too miserably wet.

Thanks to our Day Sponsor - Tom Fitchar of Homes by US Ltd.


random quote of the day

Our goal is not to have a problem free life but to conquer all the problems as they appear along our life-road
Sri Chinmoy

Trans Canada Trivia Time

We passed Rogers Pass today - is Rogers Pass Summit the highest elevation of the Trans Canada??
If not what is??

thought of diana as I went through the tunnels at full tilt

with paparazzi Monique and Lin at my heels............ 

Revelling in Revelstoke

Day 8 SNM tour

So call me psychic, we hit just a bit of water today for the majority of the cycle.  Actually wasn't that bad as the mileage was short and the temperature was pleasant, so all in all, quite a reasonable, albeit wet day, on the road today.

En route we stopped at the historic "Last Spike" monument.  Monique and I recently took my mother on the Rocky Mountaineer for her 80th birthday celebration and got quite a history lesson about the epic building of the railway - it's an amazing story full of triumphs and great tragedies.  Our train trip with her from Calgary to Vancouver was spectacular, we were treated like kings and queens on the train (probably because we paid royally for it!) and the staff were exceedingly knowledgeable guides. A great time was had by all.

On today's journey, we passed Crazy Creek, Miniature Land (I get enough short jokes) and the Enchanted Forest without stopping (?why - might have been the pelting rain driving me on), but we did stop briefly at 3 Valley Gap. We've passed this theme park / hotel / ghost town / tourist spot countless times and this is only the second time we've ever stopped - the first time they were closed for the season.  We met a fellow cyclist Paul who is cycling all over Alberta and BC solo for the next month.

What amazed me is that he only had 3 small pouches, water bottles and the clothes on his back (no back pack), nothing - that's it!! I was shivering thinking about him going through Jasper; he is a very seasoned cyclist and he will be fine. 

Sloshed into Revelstoke and had plenty of time to enjoy the town centre, art galleries and quaint stores.  Bought a small painting at the Public Gallery (fascinating exhibit by a multitude of artists all of which had to produce a piece with the theme "things your mother warned you about").  If you don't know, I LOVE ART, art of all kinds and descriptions - anything original and interesting.  I love to spend time in galleries if I have a chance and savour the artistic spirit of others.  If all goes well, I hope to pick up a little piece of original art from every province we pass through on this tour - it won't be hard, just hope the budget holds and the RV is big enough.

Our Day Sponsor is Brian Hunter who would cringe knowing that I'm posting this - he's been generous and we appreciate it!

Random quotes of the day - first two taken from a piece of art at the exhibit and last from Tom

As you cannot repeal "Murphy's Law", you had best learn to laugh at the absurdities and annoyances you encounter in life...


Be yourself and treasure the uniqueness of others in your life

He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty
Lao Tzu
(working hard at this....)

Little known obscure fact gleaned from the Trans Canada highway

99% of bungee cords strewn on the highway or in the ditch only have a single metal hook - the other end is mysteriously missing..........

  Riding the moose by the welcome sign in Revelstoke - hey, someone had to do it!!

Sailing in to Sicamous

Day 7 SNM TOUR
could also be called Ted-a-healthy in Sick-a-moose
OR Motoring into and Mooring in the House Boat Capital of Canada

The skies were a bit moody today, but we only hit a bit or rain after we were done for the day.  To be honest, overcast, moderate temperatures made for poor photos but great running and cycling.  I know I will regret saying this, but the 135kms today felt like a warm-up, averaging 30+kms/hr on the bike so we HAD to stop and have a bit of FUN as we were almost moving too quickly. Because I said this and it almost sounds like boasting - there will likely be a torrential downpour tomorrow and I will average 10kms an hour and work twice as hard.

But more about the FUN....
As we passed Grindrod - it was their one day summer festival today so we stopped and enjoyed some of the festivities. The only thing I knew about this community before today was that it has a store that sells hubcaps (and I mean thousands and thousands of hubcaps) and I've always wanted to stop and check it out. 

The community seems very committed to their heritage and there were a lot of people in heritage costume dress, with antique farm equipment and cars and displays.
We met the local "Grindrod Airforce" and their orange shirts just shouted out for a photo op.

I got sandwiched by the local Roller Derby team, the River Town Roller Girls from Enderby who kept body checking me until I bought some of their merch - those girls were strong (and didn't take NO for an answer)! www.erdabc.com

Checked out some of the antique cars - here's a trivia question for Victoria's self proclaimed "car buff"
D. Attwell - well big buddy - name the car and the year from this picture to prove to all reading that you truly are the expert that you claim you are - answer in the comment section...

Then we got to meet the mayor - OOH-LA-LA, VA VA VOOOOOM

Today was dedicated to Gabrielle for all her gracious IT help over and over and over again pre-tour and over the last week, and to James, whose enthusiastic support and cycling smarts has helped out greatly. Thanks, we'll see you both really soon (like tomorrow on the highway as you make it back to Calgary). Don't hit me!!

 

The winner of the contest yesterday was Natalie Courcelles-Beaudry - wow, I'm impressed! They are KARHU shoes. The prize will be hand delivered to you in Manitoba on our way through.  Weigh in on the car - maybe you can show Dave a thing or two about trivia.

Random quote of the day
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us
Ralph Waldo Emerson 

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter
ee cummings

Today was definitely not a waste ee!!
Catch you all tomorrow