don't you worry what the future holds.
We've gotta have heroes to teach us all
to never give up on a dream.
Claim the road, touch the sun,
no force on earth could stop you run.
When your heart bursts like the sun
never never give up on a dream.
Shadows fall, daylight dies,
freedoms never got a place to hide.
Search forever finish line
but never give up on your dream.
- Rod Stewart – Never Give Up on a Dream
Day 34: Thunder Bay to Nipigon
112 kms / 69 miles
"Dreams are made if people only try. I believe in miracles...I have to...because somewhere the hurting must stop."
112 kms / 69 miles
"Dreams are made if people only try. I believe in miracles...I have to...because somewhere the hurting must stop."
- Terry Fox
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=g1HheJV-pNM
I thought that it would be relatively easy to get started fresh and early this morning given it was spectacularly beautiful weather outside (sun and blue skies!!), I had slept in a bed, and thought I was pretty much organised. I have learned however that I operate best on a routine and as soon as I am thrown out of that routine things seem to go pear-shaped. This morning was a perfect example of that. I managed to emerge from the University residence at around 7:30 after a warm shower and assumed that everyone would be taking it easy and max their time in the dorm rooms… I was totally mistaken..! I was one of the last ones to have breakfast and the initial plan of grabbing a second breakfast at the Timmy’s just down the road from the residence was tentatively put on hold. BC was in a similar boat to me as realised that his sunglasses had been lost… only to be found in the aptly named, ‘lost and found’ in the University Office… which didn’t open until 08:30. He could see the sunglasses behind the thick security glass
but could not get at them. So, BC’s plans for an early departure were also delayed somewhat which inevitably made my late start less of an issue.
Ian, in all true fashion, decided to start cleaning his bike about 30 seconds before we pulled out of the parking lot… So funny. We were all like, 'Ian.............. that is why we have REST DAYS!!!'
We did eventually stop at Timmy’s (about 3 minutes from the university) where we hummed and hawed over the forecast whilst sipping coffees and gorging on donuts and breakfast sandwiches and teased Brendan about his sunglasses. Shambles.. ! The forecast wasn’t great – rain and thunder – but we hoped that it would hold off for a few more days. It was hard to get up the energy to head out and brave the traffic (and potholes) of Thunder Bay but it felt good to be on my bike again with the sun shining down on us. Bliss..! I was looking forward to today because we were going to stop at the Terry Fox Memorial.
We headed uphill out of Thunder Bay (stopping to take pictures of ‘The Sleeping Giant’) and through to the Terry Fox Memorial. The views as we headed out of the city were gorgeous – I have never been to Thunder Bay before and I must admit, it is one of the most ‘outdoorsy’ and relaxing cities that we’ve come through during the trip.
The Terry Fox Memorial - Never give up on a dream
The Terry Fox Memorial is a wonderful memorial with Terry's statue atop a long stone edifice. Terry's memorial is beautifully situated, high on a hill overlooking Lake Superior and the Canadian Shield. The memorial is engraved with the history of Terry's life as well as the emblems of each of Canada's 10 provinces and 2 territories. This is a mighty place. Because of our late start it was relatively quiet around the memorial which really helped to create a serene and powerful presence around the memorial. It was an incredibly moving moment and I could only begin to understand and relate to Terry Fox’s achievement and the strength and determination that he must have
had… The miracle of Terry Fox was that he was an ordinary young man who turned his response to pain and loss into a triumph of hope and courage.
About Terry Fox
Terry Stanley "Terry" Fox, (July 28, 1958 – June 28, 1981) was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer treatment activist. He is considered one of Canada's greatest heroes of the 20th Century.
Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and was raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. After losing his right leg at age 20 to cancer, the young athlete decided to run from coast to coast in order to raise money for cancer research. Beginning by dipping his leg in the Atlantic Ocean at St. John's, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980, aimed to dip it again in the Pacific Ocean at Vancouver, British Columbia. His pace was daunting. He ran an average of 42 km a day — the distance of a typical marathon. No one had ever done anything similar to the task Fox was undertaking.
He could not finish his run, however, as the cancer spread to his lung and he was forced to abandon the course on September 1, 1980 just north-east of Thunder Bay, Ontario after 143 days, running 5,373 km (3,339 miles) through Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario. A few days later, Canada's CTV netwo
rk telecast an impromptu telethon to raise money for cancer research and to, in spirit, keep Fox's Marathon of Hope going. Many Canadian and Hollywood celebrities took part in the event which raised more than C$10 million.
I thought that it would be relatively easy to get started fresh and early this morning given it was spectacularly beautiful weather outside (sun and blue skies!!), I had slept in a bed, and thought I was pretty much organised. I have learned however that I operate best on a routine and as soon as I am thrown out of that routine things seem to go pear-shaped. This morning was a perfect example of that. I managed to emerge from the University residence at around 7:30 after a warm shower and assumed that everyone would be taking it easy and max their time in the dorm rooms… I was totally mistaken..! I was one of the last ones to have breakfast and the initial plan of grabbing a second breakfast at the Timmy’s just down the road from the residence was tentatively put on hold. BC was in a similar boat to me as realised that his sunglasses had been lost… only to be found in the aptly named, ‘lost and found’ in the University Office… which didn’t open until 08:30. He could see the sunglasses behind the thick security glass
but could not get at them. So, BC’s plans for an early departure were also delayed somewhat which inevitably made my late start less of an issue.Ian, in all true fashion, decided to start cleaning his bike about 30 seconds before we pulled out of the parking lot… So funny. We were all like, 'Ian.............. that is why we have REST DAYS!!!'
We did eventually stop at Timmy’s (about 3 minutes from the university) where we hummed and hawed over the forecast whilst sipping coffees and gorging on donuts and breakfast sandwiches and teased Brendan about his sunglasses. Shambles.. ! The forecast wasn’t great – rain and thunder – but we hoped that it would hold off for a few more days. It was hard to get up the energy to head out and brave the traffic (and potholes) of Thunder Bay but it felt good to be on my bike again with the sun shining down on us. Bliss..! I was looking forward to today because we were going to stop at the Terry Fox Memorial.
We headed uphill out of Thunder Bay (stopping to take pictures of ‘The Sleeping Giant’) and through to the Terry Fox Memorial. The views as we headed out of the city were gorgeous – I have never been to Thunder Bay before and I must admit, it is one of the most ‘outdoorsy’ and relaxing cities that we’ve come through during the trip.
The Terry Fox Memorial - Never give up on a dream
The Terry Fox Memorial is a wonderful memorial with Terry's statue atop a long stone edifice. Terry's memorial is beautifully situated, high on a hill overlooking Lake Superior and the Canadian Shield. The memorial is engraved with the history of Terry's life as well as the emblems of each of Canada's 10 provinces and 2 territories. This is a mighty place. Because of our late start it was relatively quiet around the memorial which really helped to create a serene and powerful presence around the memorial. It was an incredibly moving moment and I could only begin to understand and relate to Terry Fox’s achievement and the strength and determination that he must have
had… The miracle of Terry Fox was that he was an ordinary young man who turned his response to pain and loss into a triumph of hope and courage.About Terry Fox
Terry Stanley "Terry" Fox, (July 28, 1958 – June 28, 1981) was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer treatment activist. He is considered one of Canada's greatest heroes of the 20th Century.
Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and was raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. After losing his right leg at age 20 to cancer, the young athlete decided to run from coast to coast in order to raise money for cancer research. Beginning by dipping his leg in the Atlantic Ocean at St. John's, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980, aimed to dip it again in the Pacific Ocean at Vancouver, British Columbia. His pace was daunting. He ran an average of 42 km a day — the distance of a typical marathon. No one had ever done anything similar to the task Fox was undertaking.
He could not finish his run, however, as the cancer spread to his lung and he was forced to abandon the course on September 1, 1980 just north-east of Thunder Bay, Ontario after 143 days, running 5,373 km (3,339 miles) through Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario. A few days later, Canada's CTV netwo
rk telecast an impromptu telethon to raise money for cancer research and to, in spirit, keep Fox's Marathon of Hope going. Many Canadian and Hollywood celebrities took part in the event which raised more than C$10 million.Despite the setback, Fox wasn't ready to admit defeat, and on several occasions in the fall of 1980 there were reports that the runner might be well enough to resume his marathon.
Terry Fox died on June 28, 1981 at the age of 22, one month before his 23rd birthday. However, his Marathon of Hope captured the nation's attention. He was proclaimed a national hero, and the annual Terry Fox Run events organized all across Canada, in the United States, and in other countries around the world, have raised more than $400M for cancer research.
To find out more visit: http://www.terryfoxrun.org/
________
It was impossible not to feel overwhelmed reading the inscriptions on the Terry Fox memorial – one which especially caught my attention was:
"Dreams are made if people only try. I believe in miracles...I have to...because somewhere the hurting must stop." Terry Fox
Brendan, Andrew, Ian and I left the memorial in a state of quiet contemplation – we were all pretty quiet and we were all reflecti
ng on the journey that we were on. I made a mental note to think about Terry Fox’ achievement next time I started to complain about the cold, my aching muscles or the rain…
We continued on route 17/11 in anticipation of the ‘major construction’ which many of the locals had warned us about. We stopped for some refreshments and another snack at a small convenience store owned and operated by a German couple and met up with Jocelyn, Ken and Kyle. This was the same convenience store which had a wonderful, rich aroma wafting from the front doors… We sat outside eating our Snickers bars wondering what smelled so good. Andrew finally made the move and went in to enquire what smelled so tasty… The owner looked a bit confused and stepped aside to reveal a newly opened can of steaming ‘Bow Wow’ dogfood… This is a fine example of how ravenously hungry we have become!!!
We continued on the road and passed some cool roadside markers showing our location relative to the 'rest of the world' near a hostel and then encountered a very rough section of construction that lasted for about 5 kilometres at around km 61 of the trip (near Pearl). It was pretty brutal – I felt as though my bike was being shaken apart and it was hard to avoid
the giant potholes, rocks, and flying debris from the giant machinery and road crushers grating the road and preparing it to be paved. I feel as though I have become an expert in road-construction on this trip..!
Part of the construction was fairly easy riding as they had just ground the old asphalt an
d we were able to keep a steady pace. Another piece was just packed earth and stone roadbed that had just been watered down. We managed to ride on the dry side, but it was loose and at times I skidded around on my bike struggling to keep control. It wasn't helpful to have a stream of large semi-trailer trucks flying p
ast us with their big wheels and their loose cargo. The traffic certainly wasn’t sympathetic to our light little road bikes..! I was happy when the construction had finally ended and we were able to continue on and enjoy what was relatively good pavement.
The strange thing about the rest of the journey is that we cycled it pretty uneventfully. The Cue sheet mentioned that there would be climbing past Dorion so we kept expecting things to get more difficult but they never did..! The alleged ‘climbs’ never materialised. We stopped for a break at another convenience store where I indulged in an ice-cream bar and ate half of Andrew’s 2-day old peanut butter (and jam) sandwich. Beggers can’t be choosers..!!
We were just cycling past the route 628 turn off at a fairly hefty pace when Brendan suddenly slammed on his brakes and pulled over off the road. He’d been bitten by a wasp on his ankle and is allergic to wasp stings. We kept a close eye on his ankle for about 5 minutes and washed the bite out with cold water. Fortunately BC didn’t have a reaction to it but we did keep a very close eye on him and the tall grasses and wild flowers growing along the shoulder of the road.
It was nice to pull into ‘Stillwater Tent and Trailer Park’ at around 3pm which was relatively early for our standards. I was on Galley Duty so after putting up my tent alongside a stream with BC, Andrew and Ian, I headed off to start my vegetable chopping routine. The weather was still sunny and warm but there was rain the forecast. Fortunately Galley Crew was fairly straight forward tonight and we were ready at 6pm sharp with a feast of chicken stir fry. Everyone was relaxed and happy after such an inspirational day of riding. The highlight of the trip for so many people was the Terry Fox memorial and we all reflected on how lucky we all were to have this experience and be able to do it in such good health. Terry is and will always be a true hero to Canadians.
Andrew had his ‘butt surgery’ today as well – without going into too much detail (best get the story from him) – he was
forced to go under the knife on a make-shift gurney – a picnic table under the light of the setting sun by 'The DoctOr' who was decked out in his most stylish bicycle kit and latex gloves. Fortunately the doctor on the trip, Graeme, had his surgical tools (which included 2 very long, sharp needles and syringes) available and was able to go to battle with Andrew’s backside. While we are unsure whether it has actually solved the problems, it has certainly made for a few chuckles. Andrew treated himself to an icecream to battle the pain. I do feel sorry for him and am once again SO thankful that I have absolutely no ailments - I believe that this is thanks to my wooly sheepskin bicycle seat cover named Polly.
I am now sat outside of the internet room watching an approaching storm come in. The sky is a dark black and you can feel the rain in the air. There are loads of little black bugs that are starting to feast on my neck and arms so will soon turn in for the day. A wonderful and inspirational day and hard to believe that we are nearly through our journey across Canada. Tomorrow will be a big climbing day but also a day nearer to the ‘official’ half-way mark on our trip..! Hopefully the rain that is about to fall will pass during the night and leave us with sunny skies for tomorrow… If only I could be so lucky!!
Terry Fox died on June 28, 1981 at the age of 22, one month before his 23rd birthday. However, his Marathon of Hope captured the nation's attention. He was proclaimed a national hero, and the annual Terry Fox Run events organized all across Canada, in the United States, and in other countries around the world, have raised more than $400M for cancer research.
To find out more visit: http://www.terryfoxrun.org/
________
It was impossible not to feel overwhelmed reading the inscriptions on the Terry Fox memorial – one which especially caught my attention was:
"Dreams are made if people only try. I believe in miracles...I have to...because somewhere the hurting must stop." Terry Fox
Brendan, Andrew, Ian and I left the memorial in a state of quiet contemplation – we were all pretty quiet and we were all reflecti
ng on the journey that we were on. I made a mental note to think about Terry Fox’ achievement next time I started to complain about the cold, my aching muscles or the rain…We continued on route 17/11 in anticipation of the ‘major construction’ which many of the locals had warned us about. We stopped for some refreshments and another snack at a small convenience store owned and operated by a German couple and met up with Jocelyn, Ken and Kyle. This was the same convenience store which had a wonderful, rich aroma wafting from the front doors… We sat outside eating our Snickers bars wondering what smelled so good. Andrew finally made the move and went in to enquire what smelled so tasty… The owner looked a bit confused and stepped aside to reveal a newly opened can of steaming ‘Bow Wow’ dogfood… This is a fine example of how ravenously hungry we have become!!!
We continued on the road and passed some cool roadside markers showing our location relative to the 'rest of the world' near a hostel and then encountered a very rough section of construction that lasted for about 5 kilometres at around km 61 of the trip (near Pearl). It was pretty brutal – I felt as though my bike was being shaken apart and it was hard to avoid
the giant potholes, rocks, and flying debris from the giant machinery and road crushers grating the road and preparing it to be paved. I feel as though I have become an expert in road-construction on this trip..!Part of the construction was fairly easy riding as they had just ground the old asphalt an
d we were able to keep a steady pace. Another piece was just packed earth and stone roadbed that had just been watered down. We managed to ride on the dry side, but it was loose and at times I skidded around on my bike struggling to keep control. It wasn't helpful to have a stream of large semi-trailer trucks flying p
ast us with their big wheels and their loose cargo. The traffic certainly wasn’t sympathetic to our light little road bikes..! I was happy when the construction had finally ended and we were able to continue on and enjoy what was relatively good pavement.The strange thing about the rest of the journey is that we cycled it pretty uneventfully. The Cue sheet mentioned that there would be climbing past Dorion so we kept expecting things to get more difficult but they never did..! The alleged ‘climbs’ never materialised. We stopped for a break at another convenience store where I indulged in an ice-cream bar and ate half of Andrew’s 2-day old peanut butter (and jam) sandwich. Beggers can’t be choosers..!!
We were just cycling past the route 628 turn off at a fairly hefty pace when Brendan suddenly slammed on his brakes and pulled over off the road. He’d been bitten by a wasp on his ankle and is allergic to wasp stings. We kept a close eye on his ankle for about 5 minutes and washed the bite out with cold water. Fortunately BC didn’t have a reaction to it but we did keep a very close eye on him and the tall grasses and wild flowers growing along the shoulder of the road.
It was nice to pull into ‘Stillwater Tent and Trailer Park’ at around 3pm which was relatively early for our standards. I was on Galley Duty so after putting up my tent alongside a stream with BC, Andrew and Ian, I headed off to start my vegetable chopping routine. The weather was still sunny and warm but there was rain the forecast. Fortunately Galley Crew was fairly straight forward tonight and we were ready at 6pm sharp with a feast of chicken stir fry. Everyone was relaxed and happy after such an inspirational day of riding. The highlight of the trip for so many people was the Terry Fox memorial and we all reflected on how lucky we all were to have this experience and be able to do it in such good health. Terry is and will always be a true hero to Canadians.
Andrew had his ‘butt surgery’ today as well – without going into too much detail (best get the story from him) – he was
forced to go under the knife on a make-shift gurney – a picnic table under the light of the setting sun by 'The DoctOr' who was decked out in his most stylish bicycle kit and latex gloves. Fortunately the doctor on the trip, Graeme, had his surgical tools (which included 2 very long, sharp needles and syringes) available and was able to go to battle with Andrew’s backside. While we are unsure whether it has actually solved the problems, it has certainly made for a few chuckles. Andrew treated himself to an icecream to battle the pain. I do feel sorry for him and am once again SO thankful that I have absolutely no ailments - I believe that this is thanks to my wooly sheepskin bicycle seat cover named Polly.I am now sat outside of the internet room watching an approaching storm come in. The sky is a dark black and you can feel the rain in the air. There are loads of little black bugs that are starting to feast on my neck and arms so will soon turn in for the day. A wonderful and inspirational day and hard to believe that we are nearly through our journey across Canada. Tomorrow will be a big climbing day but also a day nearer to the ‘official’ half-way mark on our trip..! Hopefully the rain that is about to fall will pass during the night and leave us with sunny skies for tomorrow… If only I could be so lucky!!
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