Several rainy days after our safe arrival back in Wolfville I have yet to go out for a casual bike ride. It is odd I suppose, for the biking was pleasurable and so much a part of daily existence for the better part of eight weeks. And it is not just ‘the weather’. For that was ‘then’, this is ’now’, and the return to ‘normal times’ presents its own demands. Certainly cycling will continue to be a favoured recreational pursuit.
There are many to whom I wish to express thanks: Claudia, for her love, support, patience and understanding; other family members and friends who embraced this latest – remember the Fall of ’07 and several months at sea – indulgence; Gary for his comradeship and steady presence during our 54-day biking ‘marriage’; and the many ‘ordinary’ Canadians who’came our way’ throughout the Vancouver-Wolfville journey. As common place as it may sound, I am much impressed and reassured for having ‘taken the pulse’ of our wonderful country this way, and finding it recession frayed but populated by individuals of good intent, common values and spirited individuality.
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Some ‘awards’ are in order. I have bouquets and bricks on offer. The province of Quebec, for their substantial and ongoing investment in dedicated biking trails and bike routes. Bravo!
The owners of undisciplined dogs, the latter bringing at best a discordant dimension to cycling enjoyment, at worst presenting an added danger associated with canine avoidance in a traffic setting. Boo! (To the horror of my friends who are dog indulgers I would tartly suggest a suitable penalty for ‘pets’ who sully the cycling experience: steralization, of the owners.)
The natural wonders of this land, with special mention going to BC’s mountains, the Prairie wetlands, Superior’s majesty, the St Lawrence lowlands, and the Saint John River valley. My, what a country!
The many who, in conversation, added their stories to ours, who gave advice and directions, who served up date squares, who provided ‘guest passes’ to ‘community’ as a natural part of their daily activities. Thank you.
The litterers. I will spare the readers the disgust a review of specific items would call forth. Out of sight these items may be – from the ‘tossers’ point of view, but the ‘collective’ as viewed from a bike is unsettling. I present a (biodegradable) litter bag.
The truckers (with the exception of a sub-group of pig slaughter carriers – whose membership one could smell coming), who gave us plenty of notice of their arrival in our space, who took professional care in sparing us their ‘wind wash’, who – well - ‘get it’. Thank you, and may your example be noted by other drivers, especially those who unnecessarily crowd us out by their seeming inability to venture over the yellow middle line while overtaking.
