nueva york

The plan for this evening was to be exploring the streets of Portland Maine. I had no plans for a hotel or hostel, I was going to find a bar, buy a drink for a puppy eyed dame, and be whatever she wanted me to be for the evening. That was the plan...

The Reality is that my connecting flight from JFK to Portland was cancelled due to bad weather. The only flight available is to Boston tomorrow afternoon. When life gives you lemons, make a long island ice tea. My brother in laws Aunt lives on Long Island. I called her up and asked if she was available to pick me up. She told me nonsense, hop in a cab and we will pay it. The Cab was $118 plus tip. We had a fantasic dinner, and mucho Vino...

Also, I have always dreamed of sitting next to a cute girl on an airplane, and leaving the flight with her phone number...today was the day. I meet a very attractive blond who lives down the street from my sister in Windsor...she is now known in my phone as, "Delta Ashley".

Life is good...pictures tomorrow...along with a flight to Boston and then a bus to Portland...Ferry to Canada on Sunday morning...call me anytime until Sunday. 530-828-4153

This trip is starting off very well.

-B

Theres got to be a morning after...

This evening seemed so distant a few weeks ago. Tomorrow I fly out to Portland Maine where I begin my journey. My room mates were kind enough to throw me a going away dinner. Here is my roomy Tami and I

There was plenty of Wine to go around, a luxury I shall miss during my ride.

Ted and Emily getting dinner ready in the Kitchen...

I thought I should show you my ride. Everything I am taking fits on my bike.

This is everything on the back, the saddle bags were constructed decades before by my father, he used them on his rides in the 70s.

The front is a little bulky, but it will do...

More to come...keep checking in!

The Plan, The Mission!

I guess this all started about six months ago, when I met a sweet old lady. Her name is Olive Ryan, little did I know she would send me to Canada. Olive grew up on Cape Brenton Island in Nova Scotia. Olive was a resident of The Rafael, in the Northern California town of San Rafael. At the time of our meeting, I was growing Hungry for a life challenge. I used Mrs Ryan's background as a basis for my Challenge.

I first told Mrs Ryan, "I want to go explore Nova Scotia by car".  Olive thought that driving would be a great way to explore her home land.  As I pondered the potentials of my trip, I deemed driving to be a little too easy. At that moment, I recalled the stories of my Father riding his back from California up to Canada. Thus my dream came into fruition.

Tour De Canada was born...

Months have passed...Mrs Ryan is no longer a resident of The Rafael. My dream still lives on. Jan 26th I am flying to Portland Maine. My trip looks a little something like this...

I will take the Ferry from Portland Maine to Yarmouth Nova Scotia. When I arrive in Yarmouth, I will start riding

the southern coast of Nova Scotia. It will look roughly like this map

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From North Sydney, I will hop on a ferry up to Newfoundland. The journey continues...

The arrow you see above represents my brief stop to Gros Mourne National Park. I hope to be able to stash my bike at the ranger station and hike around for a bit.

Once Newfoundland his trekked, I ride onward, back to Nova Scotia. This next picture is what I imagine myself looking like on the Ferry.

I'm on a Boat!

from there, I am going to see how much time I have left until my return flight, which is Aug 1st from Halifax to San Francisco.

If I had all the time in the would, the rest of my trip would Include Prince Edward Island..

So, Ill go into more detail later this week in regard to the bike, gear, camping...ect. More to come.