Final few thoughts...

As I sit here on the plane I think back to the amazing journey I’ve been on – from the mountains and steep passes of British Columbia, the ‘tunnel days’ when giant logger trucks revved their powerful engines as they passed just precious centimeters away from us in the tunnels, gorgeous Lake Louise, the crazy storms of the Prairies, the friendly locals in Manitoba, the steep sweaty climbs and heat of Southwestern Ontario, and the rolling hills and fantastic wide shoulders and smooth roads of Quebec, the mosquitoes of New Brunswick, the rain and golf-course-esque landscape in PEI… and finally the absolutely stunning scenery and steep climbs of Nova Scotia. It has truly been a fantastic, 72-day, completely ‘vintage Canadian’ experience....

"Everywhere Man..." - an epilogue of sorts...

Composed and sung by the 74 Day Tour du Canada 2000*

The origin of that version on the web can be found on the Cycle Canada website: http://www.cyclecanada.com/Wevebeeneverywhereman.html

Stompin' Tom - Cross Canada (CA-NA-DA)

CA-NA-DA, Have you ever heard a maple creek?
CA-NA-DA, Betcha never seen a mountain peak?
CA-NA-DA, In the land of the big snowball!
In CANADA, we get to see 'em all.
CA-NA-DA, Have you ever seen a magnetic hill?
CA-NA-DA, Or a lady on a dollar bill?
CA-NA-DA, Betcha never seen the autumn fall
In CANADA, we get to see 'em all.
...I say in Canada, we get to see 'em all.

- Stompin Tom - "Cross Canada"

(Song dedicated to Ian, Brendan and Andrew)

Day 70: Argentia, NS - Halifax, NS - Toronto, ON

Great Big Sea - "Ordinary Day" - Day 69: Dingwal – Big Bras d’Or

It's a beautiful day, but there's always some sorrow
It's a double edged knife, but there's always tomorrow
It's up to you now if you sink or swim,
Keep the faith and your ship will come in.

Great Big Sea – “Ordinary Day”

Garth Brooks - "Two Pina Coladas" - Saint Louis de Kent - REST DAY

Now I’ve got a smile
That goes on for miles
With no inclination to roam

I’ve gotta say
That I think I’ve gotta stay
‘Cause this is feelin’ more and more like home

So bring me two pina coladas
One for each hand
Let’s set sail with Captin Morgan
And never leave dry land...
- Garth Brooks – Two Pina Coladas

Sam Cooke - "Chain Gang" - Petit Rocher – Saint Louis de Kent – Day 62

All day long they work so hard
Till the sun is goin' down
Working on the highways and byways
And wearing, wearing a frown
You hear them moanin' their lives away
Then you hear somebody sa-ay

That's the sound of the men working on the chain ga-a-ang
That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang

- Sam Cooke - "Chain Gang"

The Eagles - "Take it Easy" - Atholville to Petit Rocher – Day 61

Well I'm running down the road trying to loosen
my load, got a world of trouble on my mind
lookin' for a lover who won't blow my
cover, she's so hard to find
Take it easy, take it easy
Don't let the sound of your own
Wheels make you crazy...

- The Eagles - "Take it Easy"

Tina Turner - "Proud Mary (Rollin on the River)" - St. Damase to Atholville – Day 60

I left a good job in the city
Working for the man every night and day
And I never lost one minute of sleeping
Worrying 'bout the way things might have been

Big wheel keep on turning
Oh the proud mary keep on burning
And we’re rolling, rolling
Rolling on the river

- Tina Turner - "Proud Mary"

Opus - "Live is Life" -Trois Pistoles to St-Damase – Day 59

When we all give the power
We all give the best
Every minute of an hour
Don't think about the rest
And you all get the power
You all get the best
When everyone gets everything
And every song everybody sings

And it's life (nanananana)
Life is life (nanananana)
Life is life (nanananana)

- Opus - "Life is Life"

The Scorpions - "Winds of Change" - Riviere Ouelle to Trois Pistoles – Day 58

I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
An August summer night
Soldiers passing by
Listening to the wind of change...

- The Scorpions - "Winds of Change"