Across My Country - Canada by Bike

11/08/2019

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/06/obituaries/annie-londonderry-overlooked.html

She cycled away from her Boston home and into stardom, leaving a husband and three small children for a journey that came to symbolize women’s independence.

02/02/2019

The route I took is now online :)

Cycling Trip - Anna Sienicka June 9 - August 23

06/28/2017

06/11/2017

June 10th, 2015

It’s almost midnight and I can’t fall asleep. My dad’s snoring is getting to me. It is so loud! I even recorded it as I don’t think people will believe me how loud it is. We had a rough day. Getting on a ferry was fun, the ride was beautiful and had some time to enjoy the ocean. I met a cool fellow who was cycling with his friend to Alaska and then kayaking back to Vancouver. One meet really interesting people on trips, that’s for sure. Arriving in Horseshoe Bay was amazing. This place is so incredibly beautiful. I enjoyed watching 3 Irish guys playing cricket. It was so enjoyable to watch. Then I met with Tosh. As expected she came on her motorcycle and she didn’t change much. It is always nice to see a friend along the way. She was kind enough to ride together for a bit. She was going to help me get out of the maze and take me to Highway 7. We took Marine Drive which is a scenic route, very challenging but beautiful. My parents followed us. Vancouver is a busy city and everything went well until we lost Tosh. She was taking a video on a side of the road, then a minute later she was gone. Later on she said she couldn’t catch up and I lost her. Shortly after I got confused with all the bike detours as there are many that I ended up taking a wrong turn and ended up on a bike path going under a bridge. I thought I wasn’t allowed on the bridge and had to take a special path for bikes. Well, there are many bridges in Vancouver and I thought it was the big green one. I got lost, very lost. Interestingly enough I met Gary who took me to the spot I was going to meet with my parents. Gary is a cyclist, he said he lived in Toronto for many years but ended up settling in Vancouver for his retirement. He loves it there. I agree this city is cyclists’ heaven. He was nice enough to cycle with me for an hour until we reached our desitnation. Not only I got lost, my parents got lost, too. My mom was so worried that she went into a shock and now can’t see on her right eye. She sees red spots, she says. I gave her Ignatia, Magnesium and Zinc before bedtime. I hope she feels better tomorrow.
After Gary dropped me off at MacDonald’s at Hastings and Highway 1 I waited for 30 minutes to meet my parents. I called Marius (my boyfriend) and chatted for a bit then decided to keep going and not wait for my folks any longer. It was so hot, too. Highway 7 is a fast moving road. There is a shoulder and I was able to ride it all the way to Mission. My parents caught up with me here and I stopped riding for the day. We started looking for a camping place. We couldn’t find anything for free so we went to Rocky Lake hoping we would find something there. We got lost and found ourselves back in Mission. Right on Highway 7, there was a motel. I approached the owner and told them about the cycling trip and the she gave us a sweet deal, only asking $50 per night. I like the place a lot and think this would be a nice to stay here, maybe even for 2 days. It will be good to rest and check out interesting places near by, maybe we could go on a hike tomorrow?
It’s midnight and I feel hungry again. My appetite is increasing day by day.

06/10/2017

June 9th, 2015
I'm starting today. I'm planning to get to Nanaimo, it seems doable on the first day. My first stop will be in Goldstream Provincial Park, where I will meet my parents for lunch. It is 25 km away from Victoria and by then I will know how I ride, how the bike is and so on. Now, I'm at Rob's. He is a friend of mine for ages. We used to go to psytrance parties in Ontario. He always had great energy and I enjoyed our conversations. He was so kind, shared his smoked salmon with us which he caught himself a year before, who does that these days? Anyway, he left the keys to his house with us so we could stay here for a bit longer as he had to go to work. Soon, I'm gonna go to the beach and find my rock. Then I'm gonna go to Mile 0 an do a video. Everything is coming together. I feel very nervous and kind of tired. My body feels achy and I wonder if it is just stress. Anyway, I gotta do it.
10pm
I made it to Nanaimo! 113 km up and down... I'm beat. I haven't felt so tired in ages.
We stayed at Rob's till 10 am or so and then went to the beach to find the rock I will be carrying with me to the other side of Canada. It had to be a special rock and took me some time before I found it. Then we went to Mile 0 and my dad took a video of me. While videotaping a storm of Chinese people came to take a picture with Mile 0, I had to rush to finish up my video and get going. I didn't realize how popular that monument is.
It was a sunny and hot day today, +30 deg Celsius. I told my parents to meet at Goldstream Park which was only 25 km away. I waited for them for 40 min as I arrived earlier than I planned; they must have gone on a hike. This park is one of the treasures of BC and Canada, there are still many old red cedars growing there. When my parents finally arrived we had some lunch and I headed out. Within 1 km I had my first flat tire. The shoulder was filled with wire, glass and bunch of other junk, I just couldn't believe how fast this happened. I ended up walking back to where we had lunch. Luckily my parents were still there playing with Gabriel in the creek. My dad changed the tube and off I went again.
Overall, the ride was great, I drank over 4 liters of my own aterade (lemon, honey, vitamins, cinnamon and salt). I feel I pushed myself too much today. Plus I got lost in Nanaimo, I barely made it to the motel. My mind was confused and I couldn't focus on directions. The place we are staying is pretty nice, it's called Castaway and it is the most reasonably priced in this area. Nanaimo has the nicest weather of all Canada and it is a popular place for retirement. It is quite pretty here too.
Tomorrow, I'm taking a ferry to mainland. I will be meeting up with Tosh Hyodo, she lives in Vancouver and we will ride for a bit. I believe she is coming on her motorcycle. It's been so long and I'm excited to see her.

05/22/2017

Northern lights in Northern Quebec! This was euphoric experience for both Jakub and I. I have never experienced anything as beautiful as this. These pictures were taken on May 21st and 22nd 2017, some on Yasinski lake and the other on a dirt road near Chisasibi.

05/20/2017

I'm at the end of the world! Radisson is the furthest town situated in the north Quebec. It's literally at the end of the road. You can only fly further north. The Native community is very strong here however they were all forced to be catholic and now many Natives are priests, there is a church and cemetery.
It's goose hunting season and many Natives are gone hunting. Supposedly goose leg roasted on a stick is to die for.

After yesterday camping in -2°C we are staying in the only hotel called Northern lights in Chisasibi, it's $211 per night.
Some highlights from yesterday: Okanaka falls, lichen forest, Yasinski lake and camping and of course Northern lights

05/19/2017

Yep, it's snowing! Amos in May ;)

05/19/2017

First night in Amos, QC. There was a sudden change in temperature in Temagami, ON and it dropped from 26 to 2 degrees Celsius in Amos. Did I mention it's raining here and they are calling for snow? I had to quickly change my sandals to winter shoes.
Amos is a small town around 9k but it's quite pretty here. It's famous for its water packaging plant called Eska. Many people work there. There is also Lithium near by and I guess they are either excavating it or will soon.
Since the weather is really crabby we are staying in a motel. It felt nice to take a hot bath after driving 733 km. Tomorrow sunny between 3 and 13. The plan is to get to Radisson, QC. I am looking forward clear skies and wildlife! Say hello if you are on the route somewhere! Xo

05/18/2017

On a small road trip this weekend! Today Temagami, ON ;) Started with sunshine and 24 degrees and now is down to 11 and rain. Camping or no camping tonight?

05/12/2017

this is cool!