And...She's Off

After many months of learning, planning, training and troubleshooting, today is finally here and I'm standing beside the Mile 0 sign in Victoria, B.C. I am nervous and I feel like I'm standing in a dream, but no, it is reality. I have everything I need packed into 7 neatly organized, balanced and weighed bags (each with it's own list of contents). Without a system, it would easily be chaos. After much parring down, I have ended up with the bike, luggage and rider coming in at exactly at the maximum recommended weight (YES!!).

Today's ride takes me from Victoria to Abbotsford. My husband and daughter are here with me at 6:30 am to give me a enthusiastic send off. They (along with my other children) have been amazing supporters. I've also invited a new friend, Jayden Beaudoin, author of Cycling From Sea to Sea:100 Days Across Canada. Jayden rides the first 8 km with me and provides me with much needed reassurance and helpful tips. As we cross one of the wooden tresel bridges, a rainbow appears. "That's a good sign" says Jayden and I take it as good omen.

After saying goodbye to my family, and then to Jayden, I'm on my own on the Lochside Trail. I realize that I forgot to put on my recording devices - I'm already 8 km out on my data collection stats. I decide that there's going to be alot about this ride that's going to be imperfect, so I better get used to it - how liberating!

I get to BC ferries (Swartz Bay) at 8:47 with 3 minutes before cut off for the 9:00 ferry - another good omen! Usually when I take the ferry, I tolerate it. Today, it feels exciting. I go out onto the deck, smell the air, check out our beautiful B.C. coast and want to tell everyone about my adventure (but I don't). I won't see this coast again until September. I feel sad, and yet am excited to experience the rest that Canada has to offer.

Once off the ferry I had a pretty smooth ride planned to Abbotsford - or so I thought! Riding along the Boundary Bay section of the dyke, I find the dyke is under construction. It had just moments earlier closed to the public for an undetermined amount of time as some items were being unloaded. The construction workers were not providing information about when or whether the dyke would be opened again. I had to make a tough decision to back-track and find another way around. The 'other way' turned out to be a 12 km detour where I got lost a few times. Not what I needed, nor wanted on Day 1! I try not to let it dampen my mood.

I head into Langley and navigate the traffic and narrow shoulders of the road. I had a few white knuckle moments, but I made it through. I have since thought though that Victoria has some really amazing biking infrastructure - from which many cities could really benefit to learn from.

Eventually my ride ended up at the Costco where I met up with my husband again. He had travelled back to Squamish to pick up our little travel trailer. He insists on staying close by me these first few days of my tour (just to make sure I have a smooth start) - "support vehicle" he calls it. I am grateful he cares enough to ensure that I get off on the right foot (or pedal shall I say). The bonus is that I get a warm, comfy place to sleep for the first few nights (no complaints here).

Riding Stat:

For the record, I'm a real slow-poke biker. My goal is to get to my destination sometime in the day. I stop lots, have lots of snacks and look around. It's not a race for me, it's about the journey.

Day 1 - May 14th, 2026

Start time: 6:30 am

Stop time: 5:30 pm

KM travelled: 131 km (the longest ride I've done before this is 100 km)

Special Stuff - I started crossing Canada and was gifted a rainbow.