Day 73 - Edmundston, NB to Perth-Andover, NB

July 25 (Saturday)

Start Time: 6:15 am

Stop Time: 1:20 pm

KM Travelled: 104.9 km

Elevation: +575/ - 639 m

Special Stuff: Shared moments with strangers

At 5:00 am it is dark! Way too dark to think of even getting my bike set up, never mind biking. There will definitely be no more 5:00 am starts (too bad).

As I am pedaling along this morning, I enjoy a misty countryside. The sun has not come up yet - it looks a bit hazy. There is no air quality warnings...maybe it is morning fog that will burn off.

If everything was operating 100% on my bike, I'd be riding along in a silent bliss. As luck would have it, I am accompanied by a constant click, click-click, click-click click sound with each turn of the crankset. It sounds like a metronome that has lost it's mojo. I am getting used to it, and I would be happy if it went away.

My ride took me under a big bridge - that I am lucky to get to bypass. I'm not a fan of graffiti, but this one was too cute to not appreciate. It reminded me to have fun!

Although I get to bypass this bridge, there is another one ahead that I get to take. It must be an old train bridge. I get to ride in the middle with lots of room on both sides - I just need to make sure my bike tire does not get caught up in the wood planks. Unlike the bridge in Quebec (city), crossing this bridge is quite manageable.

The ride went pretty smooth today. I laughed at one point when it felt like I manifested everything I needed. After crossing the bridge, I wished for a garbage can, a bathroom, and some information about what language is primarily spoken here (French or English). About a kilometer after crossing the wooden bridge, I get all three in one stop. There is a rest area for bikers and walkers where I can lean my bike against the barrel garbage can. There are two older couples standing close-by chatting, so I feel safe to use the washroom (I'm sure they will keep an eye out for my bike). A short while later, the couples move on while I have myself a snack. Then a woman who looks to be in her late 50's walks by minding her own business and I decide to ask her what language is spoken here. She is visibly surprised that I talk to her, but she seems willing to chat. She tells me it's mostly French, but everyone speaks English too. We talk for a little bit and I share that I am riding across Canada, starting in Victoria. Upon learning this the woman is gushing with positivity - she asks if she can take my picture to send to her daughter. It was such a lovely little conversation - one that could have easily have been missed had we stayed in our own separate worlds.

Along the ride I meet a older couple stopped on the side of the trail - they have ebikes. They had passed me at the outhouse/ garbage can. If bikers are stopped on a trail, I usually do a check-in and see if everything is okay - all is good. We chat for a bit about my journey and they share that they will be leaving from Rivière-du-Loup in a week or so to take a bus tour to British Columbia. We talk about the fire situation - which I let them know is really bad in some places. They will be going to Whistler - so I let them know they will be going through my home town. As I depart they suggest that I take the road for the next few kilometers because the trail is pretty chewed up from the quads (4-wheelers).

I've noticed in both Quebec (province) and New Brunswick that there are a lot of signs for quads (4-wheelers) and snow mobiles. Sometimes there are dedicated trails for them, and sometimes they are shared with bikers. Much of my route is on a gravel trail - some of it is great, and some of it is terrible. I come across several quads (which is a first for me). Some are driving responsibly, and others make me wonder if they are drunk (at 11:00 am in the morning). I'm afraid to run into an irresponsible quad driver because I would get the short straw in that situation.

I get some country road rides today too. I couldn't help but stop for a picture of the lone hosta in the middle of a field. On one of the backroads, I pass a man working in his yard. I call out a "Good Morning" and he responds with "Good Morning. Have a good day. Safe Travels!" Such a lovely greeting in the few moments that our lives passed one another.

At one point on the ride, I approach a big hill. It's hot and I'm tired. I do a quick check on my map, and it looks like I need to go up. I tackle the hill like a trooper and get to the top, pleased with my tenacity. I check my map and see I've accidently gone the wrong way (by 2 km). Strangely enough, I'm not annoyed. I have a love/ hate relationship with hills. Like everyone, I dread it when I see a hill coming up, but then I shift over to a conquerer mode and get the job done. 2% - 6% grades are manageable, 7% - 10% grades are grunt work, 11% - 14% grades I usually need to walk - thankfully these last ones are few and far between. On the 7% - 10% grade hills, when things get really difficult, I find that my body generates a deep groan (as per google this is "an emotional vocal expression of pain, grief or annoyance") that I have only heard come from my body during one other life experience - childbirth labour.

After the 4 km (there and back) detour, I am thankful to get back onto the correct trail. That gratitude is short lived because the quality of the trail deteriorates and is battered up with large puddles and loose rock. I now understand how bike tire frames can get bent. Today is one of the muddiest rides I've had - and it isn't even raining. I get off the trail as soon as I am able - once again, the bike "trails" have failed me as a touring biker.

I come across more graveyards. I stop to read a few headstones. It's crazy how the entire lives of people are summed up in 10 words. It boils down to the name, birthdate, and date of passing. I look at the full graveyard and think about the experiences, achievements, and accomplishments. I think about adversities that these people overcame and the celebrations that punctuated their lives. It really makes me think about how quickly life passes and how brief our time here on earth is. The generations turn over and in 100 - 200 years we are so far removed from those who descended from us. In 100-200 years, the thing only we leave behind is the impact we had on the lives of others - sometimes these are tangible things (like farmland), but more importantly they are the intangible things (like values and knowledge). I consider my legacy and what I would like to leave behind to have a positive impact on future generations.

Yesterday and today I start planning for completing my ride. Once I get to Fredricton (in 2 days), things will move along fairly quickly. Thinking about the end is a mixed bag of feelings. I feel super excited, AND I know I need to manage this excitement (for my own safety and mental wellness). I also feel sad because I love riding my bike - especially through the farmlands. I think about where I can fit in 100 km bike rides back at home - this will be very difficult to do.

Brian took a picture of me getting to the campsite in Perth-Andover today. Yes, the only shirt I wear is this pink one that I picked up in Regina after absolutely roasting in my dark wool one. It is high vis, cool, provides UV protection and shockingly does smell even after 3 days of sweaty rides (it passed the Brian smell test). I have 3 pairs of biking shorts...so...my laundy cycle is every 3 days - the shirt needs to last that long.

Some may wonder why I am still carrying all my biking gear instead of leaving it with the trailer - as was suggested by a fellow cross-Canada biker. This is a great question. I spent A LOT of time making sure I have everything I need to be self sufficient for this ride. I love how it feels knowing that I have everything I need for up to 48 hours - just in case. I don't feel the weight of the panniers, so I just bring them with me.