The Plan

"Get action. Do things; be sane; don't fritter away your time; create, act, take a place wherever you are and be somebody; get action."
- Theodore Roosevelt

Bike across Canada.  It's an idea that has festered away since my friend Tyler did it in 2008.  I like the challenge of long journeys, love biking, and have always wanted a more intimate experience getting to know Canada.

A trip of this magnitude is difficult for the time it requires, never mind the resources and wherewithal.  But I'm fortunate enough to have all three right now.  The last few years have shaken my belief in the predictability of modern life, and so while circumstances may not be perfect, it is time; get action.

I've been gearing up and trying to bike as much as possible these past few weeks, and while I'm nowhere near ready on the physical front...the Rockies will fix that right quick!  I have a new bike all kitted out, have sold almost everything I own, and am almost ready to go.

The plan is to leave on Monday, May 15th from Calgary (this might end up being the 16th for reasons of logistics).  Because Calgary is both close and far from the starting line at Victoria, I plan to bike there.  So leaving Calgary I'll take the Highway 1 route West, cut into Kelowna and then catch the Kettle Valley Rail Trail to Hope.  From there to Vancouver and Victoria where I'll head to Sooke and dip my tire in the Pacific (err...Salish Sea).  Then I'll turn back and take the Southern route along highway 3 through Osoyoos and the Crowsnest Pass.  I'll head back to Calgary to recover for a few days.

Things get less certain at this point because I have haven't planned as much for that far out.  But the rough idea is...

East to Drumheller and towards Saskatoon.  From there East towards Winnipeg trying to parallel the Yellowhead Highway.  At that point I'll have no option but to take the TransCanada through Northern Ontario.  The most dangerous and remote stretch of road will be Kenora -> Thunder Bay -> Sault Ste. Marie.  Then turn onto Manitoulin Island and take a ferry South into Southwestern Ontario.  Through Toronto, Belleville, Prince Edward County to Kingston, north to Ottawa, then Montreal.  Southeast to home in the Eastern Townships and then north again up the St. Lawrence to Quebec City.  Into New Brunswick.  At this point I'm not sure the route I'll take, but likely down the Eastern Coast.  Over to P.E.I. then Nova Scotia making for Cape Breton where - time permitting - I'd like to do the Cabot Trail.  Then the ferry from North Sydney.  If time isn't too tight (and it will be) I'll land at Port aux Basques and bike the length of Newfoundland.  If I need to save on time I'll take the ferry to Argentia where it's only a couple of days to St. John's.

I learned well during my through hike of Vermont that having a plan is important, but trying to stick to it despite the circumstances is a recipe for disaster.  So I plan to be flexible.  This means that this itinerary can and will likely change.  A few things I am going to try to remember and fulfill on this trip (lessons from the Vermont hike):

1) Be better at accepting people's help
2) Be flexible to circumstance and accept whatever happens
3) Be present (aka don't just grind miles)

Part of doing this is to visit as many people as I can.  It's been years since I've seen many of you.  I'll be reaching out but if you don't hear from me please don't take offense.  I've either forgotten you, don't know where you are, am afraid to ask anything of you, or am passing too far away.  Get in touch and give me an earful and I might just find my way to you!

This is the plan.  It will change.  But no matter what comes, it will be an adventure. Get action!