Day One Creston to Woodbury

Yesterday we arrived in Creston after a 9 hour drive. At the high school we had our bikes checked over by the mechanic and got our information packages. I went back to my hotel for my last good night's sleep for a week.

Sunday morning arrived at 6:00 am so that I could have breakfast and get to the school. As it turned out, Granny's at the Hacienda where I was staying was the only restuarant in town open early.

At 8:00 am it was time for the mayor's address and the start of the ride. As it turned out there were over 20 recumbents as a group of 16 came up from Oregon. Today's ride was 110 km with 3695 feet of elevation gain. We started around Kootenay Lake going past the Sidar pub and the Boswell glass house made from 500,000 empty embalming fluid bottles.

We rode into Woodbury Resort to our camp site which was kind of a mass camp with our tents scattered everywhere. Rather than a shower I opted for a swim in Kootenay Lake which I think was warmer than the shower water. Dinner was the cyclist standby of lasagna, salads and rolls in the downstairs of the pub.

I did it ....Almost

I had good intentions of posting each day's progress so people could follow along, however, when combining small town internet access and end of day fatigue from riding, it just didn't happen. So what I'll do is highlight each day one week late.

T-Minus one

Well tomorrow is the big day when we start driving to Creston. I think I'm ready. I seam sealed my new tent last night and I think I have everything I need. I have received good wishes from literally hundreds of people. As is the case with most things, I could always be better prepared, however, I'm finally getting excited. I honestly think I'm going to be able to do this. Who would have thought even as recent as a year ago when I was still looking at cyclists going by and thinking if only I could do that again.

It hasn't quite been a year since I bought my trike, but I estimate that I have about 1200 kilometres on it and should have my one year total to over 2,000 by July 26. Thank you to everyone who has supported me in this effort. I will try and add posts during the trip if time and energy allow.

5 Days to go

Well I went out yesterday and bought myself a new tent. In my preparation, I discovered that since I can't balance on my knees, I can't get into my old pup tent without crashing through it. I have to say it doesn't owe me anything since I got it as a high school graduation present. Yes I did say high school. Thirty-four years is pretty good usage. Now if only some of my body parts did that well.

The daughter of a good family friend just finished riding from Vancouver to Tijuana on my old road bike. So I have a standard to reach for. My gear is almost ready and the carying rack apparently is ready for the support vehicle. Now that it is ready I hope I can get through without using it. The 150 km from Revelstoke to Golden might do me in though. The summit of Rogers Pass is 1332 metres after starting the day @ 440 metres elevation. I certainly should sleep well that night at least.

Eight Days to go

Well one week tomorrow I catch a ride to Creston to start my ride.
My schedule will be:
July 19th ride 110 km to Ainsworth Hot Springs
July 20th ride 110 km to Nakusp
July 21st ride 105 km to Revelstoke
July 22nd ride 150 km to Golden over Rogers pass
July 23rd ride 105 km to Radium Hot Springs
July 24th ride 139 km to Kimberley
July 25th ride 131 km to Creston
July 26th collapse on drive home to Vancouver
I am hoping to be able to ride the whole distance but I am trying to be realistic as well as optomistic. The support will be there but it is going to be extremely challenging.

On another note. I am quite excited for a stroke survivor I met from Saskatchewan. She recently acquired a recumbent trike and is now riding 10 km each day. That was great news. Cycling shoes have solved her foot attachment to the pedals problem just like I had.

Training

Well this past week has been pretty good for training. I've ridden about 215 kilometres over the past week including riding 3 days in a row. I know that seems insignificant when compared to 115 km /per day average that I will be riding in three weeks time (whoops two weeks). The important part though is it is continuing to improve and I am feeling ready for the challenge. I am beginning to feel that my fitness level is more the limiting factor than the abilty of my left leg which is a huge change.

I started this project with the hope of inspiring other stroke survivors to push themselves to improve. I know it has had an impact on some people and I'm sure I will never know who may have benefited from it. I do know that the story has spread and it is my wish that people with challenges will continue to be inspired to a "can do" attitude.

Tribute to A Non-Survivor

We had our program wrap up lunch today for the North Shore Stroke Recovery Centre. One of the volunteers handed around a brochure recognizing the death of one of our members. I met this gentleman while he was in the hospital after suffering another stroke. He had several over the past 8 years. They were the side affects from a brain tumor. I only met this person once but was very inspired by how he tackled his recovery which unfortunately he has had to do numerous times. When I met him he was training for a triathlon which inspired me tremendously. He was training irregardless of the fact that he might have another stroke at any time. He showed me that the important thing was to keep striving to move forward.

He unfortunately lost his struggle on June 28th but I believe he has left a legacy for all those who met him. To do less than my best would not honor his memory.