Nova Scotia, last stretch to Halifax

Two days ago I arrived in Nova Scotia, the last province for me in Canada. I cycled for about a week together with Chris Prior from Toronto. It was good for a change to ride with someone else and make stupid jokes. We made it through Quebec and New Brunswick. Nice cycling but nothing special since I'm getting a little bit spoiled with scenery every once in a while. Quebec was amazing for touring with lots of bike lanes everywhere!

I'm so happy to be on the coast again. Enough inland country for me. I never seen so much trees in my whole life. I still have quite some time in Canada since my flight to Iceland will be leaving on september the 6th. I'm gonna enjoy the coast and prepare myself in Halifax for a little bit colder weather. Some cycling parts have already been sent to Iceland by de vakantiefietser , excelent service.  I'm wondering how I will manage there without Tim Hortons... Yes, I'm addicted now...

One of the highlights of this world journey: the worlds largests axe,  World of Warcraft fools better recognise this!

Fishing boats @ Digby, famous for the delicious Digby Scallops. They taste good.

Lighthouse @ Gilberts Cove

Ottawa

I'm currently staying at the eldest son's house of the family i met in Conquest Saskatchewan. It's now time to upload some pictures and videos from the trip! Enjoy....

Singing Kum Ba Yaaaaaa in Halstad, Minnesota where I camped in a park. The local church had there monthly picnic there, lots of burgers (but that's obvious).

Crossing time zones screws up your sleep pattern. Instead of waking up at 6, I start to wake up at 7...

Taggart Lake Campground just before Matawa was a relaxing spot to take a rest...

Changing Directions

Not too long ago I decided to make a new plan for my trip. I didn't really feel like going to New York anymore. Lots of "big city cycling", which I'm not very keen on. I crossed into Canada again and the new destination is Halifax, Nova Scotia. It has been a good decicion so far becaus now I'm enjoying the canadian hospitality again! I camped in the garden of a nice family in McKerrow. I got a private Johnny Cash concert there! I also took a very nice day off at Taggart Lake, free laundry at the campground and very good people for cyclists like me. There is so much enthousiasm!

The roads have been pretty busy the last days. There was a civic holiday in Ontario which meant that the roads where packed with campers, 4x4 and lots of trailers! The number 17 doesn't have much of a shoulder so a lot of vehicles got the finger! I better buy a helmet one of these days...
Anyway, a little 2000km to go to the coast. I'm looking forward to that! Unable to upload any pictures, maybe later... I'm on my way now, there's a bicycle waiting for me outside!

Article in the Estevan Mercury newspaper

Rockies and Prairies

Since I've been meeting so many people on the road I decided to write my blog in english. The writing might not be the best but I give it a go anyway! Enjoy!

Near Kicking Horse Pass 

The last weeks I made my way through the rockies which were amazing. I think it has been one of the better mountain ranges so far on the tour. Especially the wildlife was great, cycling out of Lake Louise I saw 4 Grizzlies on one day, and I finally have proof! Cycling in the rockies is quite easy since the highways don't have very steep gradients for the big trucks but the climbs can be long. The weather has been really good to me with just a few showers. I'll let the pictures do the talking....

Bear Proof

After the mountains I decided to make some progress accros the prairies. This turned out to be very easy with a tailwind but one day it was driving me crazy with a strong headwind. On days like this it can be very lonely but there will always be a nice day coming. I took a route around Calgary towards Drumheller which had some interesting rock formations. The prairies are a lot more enjoyable than I expected. The way the clouds are forming here is very cool and everything is so open. But the muskietos are horrible this year because there was a lot of rain.

Hoodoos @ Drumheller

Prairies

Two day's ago I arrived in Outlook, which is a small town in Saskatchewan. I met Chantrie and Jared and they offered me a camping spot in the backyard of Jareds parents house at the lovely town "Conquest". Pat made very good cocktails and the next day we celebrated Canada Day at Lake Diefenbaker with some nice watersports! It's so nice to meet wonderfull people like them.

Grain elevator @ Conquest

Trans Canada Highways

Tjonge jonge wat was het een gedoe om op het vliegtuig naar Canada te raken. Ik had een one-way ticket gekocht in Tokyo maar dat was niet voldoende! Ik moest een return ticket boeken volgens Air Canada! Daar had ik niet zoveel zin an... Ambassade gebeld in Tokio en die hebben me op het vliegtuig gekregen. In Vancouver was het een beetje bijkomen van de reis en niet veel van de stad gezien. Er zijn erg veel daklozen op straat in Vancouver. Tijdens de Olympics hadden ze deze mensen afgevoerd naar een eiland.

De volgende dag op pad. Er zijn hier ongelofelijk veel fietsers aan het touren. Na een paar dagen Chris en Amy uit Toronto ontmoet waar ik nu een beetje mee opfiets. Dit heeft als resultaat belachelijk korte dagafstanden maar Canada is prachtig! Er is nog sneeuw op de bergen en de bear-count staat nu op 3. Pinnen gaat bij de drive-in en koffie is prima bij Tim Hortons, de goedkope canadese variant van Starbucks.

Gisteren via een onverharde Logroad een prachtige fietsdag gehad. Veel vlinders en Maple Leafs.
Genieten dus. Current Location; Revelstoke