Thank you all.

Home and celebrating

Here is the last video from Animoto.

Click on the hyperlink found below

——>>>>>>>>> Last recap.     <<<<<<< ——

Local media:

New articles:

• “Ottawa Region Media Group’” Please follow this link:  http://www.yourottawaregion.com/news/local/article/853439-cyclists-cross-canada

• Arnprior EMC: http://www.emcarnprior.ca/20100729/news/Cyclists+pass+through+Arnprior+on+way+home+to+Ottawa+from+Jasper

Map of our trip,  

follow  this link to see a more detail map.

Thank you again

Mario, Chris and Mike

Wir haben es geschafft. Am Donnerstag 22. Julie sind wir wieder sicher zuhause angekommen.

start zur letzten Etappe in Pembroke

Das Kilometer total war 3925 in 28 Tagen Velofahren mit einem Tag Ruhepause in der mitte. Wir sassen ungefahr 200 Stunden im Sattel in dieser Zeit. Der laengste Tag war 7 1/2 Stunden auf dem Velo. Ein Abenteur das wir nichtb so schnell vergessen werden. Es war komisch am Freitag nicht auf dem Velo zu sitzen, meine Beinmuskeln haben sich nur langsam ans nichts tun gewoehnt.

Speziellen Dank an Sandy; Sie organisierte eine Willkommen Party vor unserem Haus mit Zielband und Champager, auch das erste Bier nach 30 Tagen war auch sehr gut.

Interview in Arnprior

Wir hatten vier Interviews mit verschiedenen Zeitungen, zwei schon 60 Kilometer vor Ottawa in Arnprior mit Lokal Zeitungen. Es gab viele Fragen, und eine war : wuerde Ich das wieder machen? Die Antwort ist Ja, aber nicht dieses Jahr.  Unser Team harmonierte sehr gut, Mario und Ich sind etwa gleich fit und so konnten wir immer ungefahr die gleiche Geschwindigkeit mithalten. Danke an Mike, unser Begleit Fahrzeug fahrer, er hat uns sehr geholfen mit dem Wasser und Verpflegung bringen, Zelt plaetze finden, Zelt aufstellen u.s.w.  Die Fahrraeder hielten wahrend der ganzen Reise, ausser meinen 6 platt fuessen hatten wir keine grossen reperaturen und auch keine Stuertze.

letzte Verpflegungs Pause

Beste Impressionen von der Reise:  Die groesse von Canada und  USA.

Vielen Dank fuer die DeutschKommentare und Gratulationen aus der Schweiz (Mado, Madeleine, Jamie, Alfred, Guido) es hat mich sehr gefreut.

Bis zur naechsten Reise

Chris

Spokesmen for Canada

Have a look at these links from the Ottawa Citizen and MEC.

 Ottawa chefs cycle 3,700 kilometres home from Alberta -a By Daniel Drolet, Citizen Special July 24

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Spokesmen+Canada/3317430/story.html#ixzz0uavM22tL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EMC

Algonquin profs stop in Arnprior after cycling from Jasper

Posted Jul 23, 2010 by Theresa Fritz

Read more

http://www.emcarnprior.ca/20100722/sports/Algonquin+profs+stop+in+Arnprior+after+cycling+from+Jasper

Hello all,

Highway #17

15 more kilometers to Ottawa

As you know we got in yesterday afternoon (Thursday July 22), after 29 days of cycling, 3,925 km, about 198.7 +/-  hours sitting on our bike (but who’s counting).  We were asked several times ‘why did you want to do a trip like this’.  We both love a challenge and  this is something that I wanted to do for the last 4 years and Chris was crazy an off to come along.  When you think about it, it is a great way to see our country and the U.S.

It was tough but we sure had a good time.  This trip wouldn’t have been possible without the help of lot of people: 

•   Our spouses, Pam, Sandy and Joanne had to be willing partners.  So when the boys were out there having fun;  they had to keep our home fires burning, cutting grass, gardening, taking care of the pets and so on.
• Mike, our driver, was quite instrumental into the success of this trip, he was calm, organized and very helpful during the whole trip.  Thank you Mike
• David K. has been our support manager and public  relations person.
  

  David K. and you know the other two, having a last business meeting at "Tim" in Arnprior

    David had us lined up with 4 newspapers when we got home (3 locals and the Citizen). (oh yes and You Tube video)

• All of you who read our  blog and wrote comments, thank you.  Whenever we were reading them, it made us felt good.  So Pam, Sandy, Joanne, Mado R., Chelsea, Natasha,  Penny and Wayne, Andrea, Todd, Tessa, David K. , Elizabeth, Madeleine, Margrit, Tim, Cindy, Peter B, Dave F., Madeleine, John D., Kirsten, Lynn D. , Lynne O., Dan, Rosie, Jocelyne, Rachael, Moira, Lloyd, Jess, Ahmad, Jennifer, Dan L., Liz and Mark, Janice, Kim and Howard, Bryan, Carolyn, Lynette, Vanessa and of course to any of you who didn’t have a chance to write a comment,  your thoughts were  with us.
• And last but not least my loving wife who supports me in my dreams and who I love oh so very much.
  

  Our first drink together.

Thank you

Mario

Chris & Mike

Hello all,

We just got in safe and sound.   Since we haven’t seen our family and friends in  awhile, we are catching up.  This post will updated tomorrow.

Thank you

Well we finished the second last day (barely). This was one of the tougher day’s of the trip.  It started out slow do to the most hills in a 80 K span.

The hills itself would have been OK, but  adding the worst road (Mattawa to Deep River) on top of it made it tough to sit on the bikes. Now we add several downpours of heavy rain which made it almost impossible  to ride, specially with the big trucks showering us every time they pass us.

Rain, traffic, hills and no shoulder to ride on

We had to wait out the rain twice and finally in Stone Cliff the sun broke through the clouds.  Our goal was to have Breakfast at Timi’s in Deep River (70 K), which turned into Lunch by the time we got there.

The second part of the day was easier, no more hills the road got better and stayed dry. Traffic really picked up between Petawawa and Pembroke. The total of today was 130 K and it was almost 4:30 pm by the time we reached Pembroke. 

We visited  Klaesis European Cafe and Bakery in Pembroke (former students of the Algonquin College  Baking & Pastry Arts Program) .  Make sure you stop in next time in Pembroke they have excellent bread and pastries.

getting ready for the second last day of biking

This is the last night on the road, it was a long trip but we have seen so much, a lot more and of course at a different speed compared to doing this in a car. I probably have to ride my bike on Friday to Tim Horton just  to keep the routine.

I like to thank Sandy for the support (doing all the chores and walking Axel) while I was gone for over 4 weeks.

Thank you for all the comments and good wishes throughout this adventure. Signing off  for tonight,

Chris,

Mario & Mike

Taking a rest at Nipissing Lake

Today we did over 160 km, the road were ok, the weather was good.   We are staying in small town name Mattawa located by the Ottawa River.  We are very excited to see signs for Ottawa, we are almost home.  This trip has been amazing, we learned a lot about Canada and the northern part of the USA.  People have been friendly and very helpful. 

Early morning in our way to Mattawa

I thought that I could do the best of:

1. Restaurant most consistent (value/cleanliness/location) across Canada – Tim Horton
2. Best Breakfast – pancake – Perkins
3. Best pizza Carlito’s Pizzeria, Banff Inn, Banff, Alta
4. Best road – Canada – Alberta #1, USA North Dakota #2
5. Best Campsite KOA - Bemidji, Minnesota
6. Best Hotel/Motel – Banff Inn, Banff, Alta
7. Best bicycle shop – Dutch Cycle,  Regina, Sask.
8. Best City/town – Jasper, Alta
9. Best bicycle day – Day #13  we did 202 km
10. Most friendly police officer – Ashland Wi.

Almost homeeeeeeeeee

Distance left: 299 km = 2 days of riding

We should be home Thursday, July 22, 2010

Two more blogs and see you all very soon.

Mario

Chris and Mike

 An early start with a cloudy sky, almost no wind, made it an average speed day. After 50 K we stopped at our favorite breakfast place (Timi) in Espanola.

shoulders on # 17 are not the best

The shoulders on #17 were OK until we got close to Sudbury.  There is a Hwy 17 bypass in Sudbury, but it did not allow bicycles on it.

We had to take regional road # 55 into and through Sudbury for about 40 K (which really slowed us down).  I don’t think there was a 20 foot stretch of smooth road in  Sudbury. The worst road and the worst drivers so far belong to Sudbury.

 Some drivers came rather close (not giving us any room) to the shoulder. Mario talked to a Sudbury police officer which was parked on the side of the road. He told him that cars have to yield to us, and if possible get the car’s license plates and call it in.

 We encountered the heaviest traffic in the last two day’s so far, between Sault. Ste Marie and Sudbury. Hagar, the place we stay tonight is almost halfway between Sudbury and North Bay. We did a total of 165K today and we have about 40 K tomorrow morning to Tim Horton in Sturgeon Falls.

Mario is checking over the bike

 The weather was helping today in getting the good distance we made. Cool and overcast until about 2 pm, at 3 pm we received rain for about 30 minutes and after that blue sky with hot sun for the rest of the day. Can’t wait for that cold beer when we get home.

 Ottawa is getting closer, but we have a few big hills to climb around Mattawa we were told. After that it should get easier.

 I like to say a special hello to my “godson” Jamie in Switzerland who reads the blog or at least looks at the pictures.   

 Signing off for today,

 Chris,

 Mario & Mike

Here is review #4 of our trip, please click on the link  ”Review”  found below and it will bring you to our Animoto review

 ======= >>>>>>>>>  Review    <<<<<<<<=======

Enjoy it

The two chefs and the apprentice brigade

 

In der zwischenzeit sind wir wieder in Canada eingetroffen. Wir haben die Grenze in Sault Ste. Marie ueberquert, vom Staat Michigan nach Ontario. Bis nach Ottawa haben wir jetzt noch ungefaehr 800 Km zu radeln.

 

Mittag Pause am letzten Tag in den USA

Vor zwei Tagen erreichten wir die 3000 Km marke.  Wir waren fuer ein Total von 15 tagen in den USA . Von North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin nach Michigan.

Die Strassen waren sehr gut, besser als jetzt in Ontario.

 

 

Marquette an Superior See, in Michigan

 

Die letzten paar Tage fuhren wir fuer lang zeiten dem Superior See entlang, es ist der groesste der von den vier grossen Seen.

 

 

 

Es hatte kilometer lange Sandstraende die zum baden einluden.

 

Wenn alles gut lauft sollten wir am Donnerstag oder Fritag zu hause sein. Bis jetzt nahmen wir nur einen Tag frei und an zwei Tagen fuhren wir nur bis Mittag an einem  der zwei Tagen mussten wir aufhoeren weil ein grosser Sturm mit Hagelwetter  uns einholte.

 

Bis jetzt hatten wir recht Glueck mit dem Wetter was hoffentlich anhaelt bis wir zu Hause sind.

 

Bis zum naechsten mal

 

Chris