Category: Cyclotouring

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From top to bottom

Everything that goes up must come down.

We were at Lake Louise…
239 km from Jasper on the Glacier Road.
A park warden informed us that it would be impossible to sleep in a wilderness campground in the national park. We didn’t like it but the campsites were closed because it was too early in the season. No choice, especially as a recently awakened mother grizzly is prowling around and our food would be a perfect target!

In Bear Country

We are in the transition from winter to spring. The bears are waking up from their sleep and are also in a new cycle. The wake-up call is brutal and they still haven’t had their first morning coffee! We must therefore be vigilant to avoid a potential encounter.

Sleeping in the woods, with animals…

When travelling, every constraint can become an opportunity.
Our solution: rent a car to Edmonton. We can still enjoy the nature and the national park and we can do some hiking and rest our tired muscles.

So here I am, hiking in Jasper. After my head injury, hiking in the high mountains was impossible for me, as the altitude was unsettling. I felt strong and ready to attempt this 2200m mountain. The happiness of climbing a mountain was coming back to me! I am here, I am succeeding! I undertook the climb. My symptoms had disappeared! Step by step I climbed, step by step the happiness of success permeated my being!

Promising mountains

Suddenly, I can’t go on, I’m shaking…
I feel the symptoms of 3 years ago coming back! I don’t want to experience this weakness again! I am afraid, I am still shaking, I have no balance… a step forward is endless… The summit is there and I want to reach it. I resist and continue even though I am afraid to stay in this state. There is a mixture of happiness and pride at having managed to get so high and despair at the return of the symptoms.

Threatening sky and crowing

1800 metres. How come I can’t go any further, how come my body is resisting, how come my head has no control over anything? And this mountain, so threatening, doesn’t allow me to take a false step…
My travel partner is worried and has to help me to get down safely. I am now back down to 1000 metres; my loss of balance is fading and I am regaining my inner stability.

From the summit to the coulée

Fatigue set in and a few days’ break in Edmonton would be much appreciated. The abrupt transition from the mountains to the plains was necessary…

End of the dream day…

I open the door of this small hotel room… Tears are running down my sunburnt cheeks! The symptoms are back… Half of my head is numb and I am shaking! A rest here will do me a lot of good. I hope that the plain will bring me a salutary lull…

Plains, sweat & dust

Would the spirit of the Bear, encountered in the heights, come to signify to me the need to pull myself together and set up more appropriate limits to assert my personal space and a new rhythm for my peregrinations?

I will have the Plains to answer…

Accompanied by my shadow
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Comfort zone

Travel, adventure, nomadic life is a way of life that feeds my soul, my mind and my heart!

I am in my comfort zone and this helps me to reduce the symptoms of post-concussion syndrome !

The stress of a life that doesn’t suit me is behind me.
It feels so good !

It takes me back a few years and makes me realize that :
for all healing, no matter what the trauma, illness or even depression, the minute we are on our life path or doing what we are passionate about, we accelerate our healing.

It’s a safe bet that if I had gone through the government’s head injury program, I would still be on the treadmill three days a week.  I’m so lucky to have the great scenery flash before my eyes and to feel my legs burning up from the miles of asphalt !

Nature, the outdoors and intense exercise energise and nourish me. I have more stamina than I used to, but when my body gives me a signal, it is sometimes impossible to keep going…  So I have to manage my energy carefully; keep hope alive with realism.

Still on my way in the Rockies, the challenge is great, of course…  And pushing a bike through two feet of snow is extremely difficult !  However, an inner music accompanies me and the intense happiness that this adventure gives me helps me to continue despite all the physical pains.

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The mountain marmots

Deux marmottes en bordure de la route

First week of our crossing of Canada.

Adaptation is the word that sums up the intensity of these first 8 days !  Quite a start to the journey… 502 km in the mountains !  Several climbs that took us to an altitude of over 1000 meters !

Moreover, two people who don’t know each other very well and the challenge of creating a common adventure make this trip intense on all levels !
The muscles have to adapt, our body tries to become one with this vehicle of evolution which is the bike !
The beauty of the landscapes and the intense cold force us to integrate everything in this challenge.

As we are still in the winter season, many beautiful small roads are closed, so we had to bypass some of them !
This created a delay of 2 or 3 days on the planned route. I was still curious about the unexpected and fortunately Frédéric, my travel friend, got on board with my delirium !

Here we are in Osoyoos, a desert in Canada.
We take a short break for a few days to regain our strength. I had a health problem that forced me to rest for a few days (nothing too serious, but enough to stop) and we have to repair Frederic’s bike so that it will be safe for the next 3 weeks in the mountains. His brakes completely failed a few days before we arrived in Osoyoos !
Today we are enjoying a beautiful sunny day on a terrace and we think of you who motivate us day after day!
Thanks again to all of you for your virtual presence !

We’ll talk again in a few days when we’ll be in Nelson.

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In transit

Hello, you may have been wondering where I disappeared to!

After a start full of twists and turns, I will soon be ready to hit the road.

When I arrived in Vancouver, I knew right away that I would need a moment to recover from the stress of the departure and the weather gave me its blessing by serving me several days of torrential rain that made riding a bike very difficult and long distances impossible.
It allowed me to meet a cousin I didn’t know, who is based in Victoria on Vancouver Island. I really enjoyed meeting her.

Then I found myself on a beautiful beach after a long day of cycling, the freezing wind was blowing very hard… As I was about to sleep under the shelter of a picnic table, I met Woody and his 14 year old autistic son William… They welcomed me very warmly in their environment. I was able to put my tent under cover and enjoy their pleasant presence. A beautiful friendship was established…

Then a few days at a friend’s place on the island of Gabriola!
Now that I’m well rested, I’m finally ready to head into the mountains and slowly make my way east.
My heart is filled with joy just thinking about the road, the bike and getting drunk on this wonderful landscape.
Thank you for continuing to follow me.

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Newfoundland (2019)

The end of the world… almost !
Newfoundland is Canada’s only island province. Unique !
You might say that there is also Prince Edward Island or even Nova Scotia… but aren’t they connected to the land by a bridge or a good strip of land ?
Newfoundland, by plane, boat or pedal boat !
It’s worth the trip !

In 2019, I travelled it in duo and cyclo-camping.

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