In June 2004 I set off across Canada on my bicycle. Or at least I'd planned to cross Canada. It didn't work out, mostly because of the weather, but I did have a great ride.

These pages are an account of that trip, as told through travelogs I sent to friends. I hope you enjoy the ride!

    Just want you all to know I successfully escaped Calgary, after getting turned around in the south end for a half hour or so. Took two hours before I hit prairie. There I was greeted by stiff headwinds, roads that were either gravel, narrow with no shoulder, or just downright busy. It was a tough first day out but it felt good, even though I was making less than 10 K an hour.
    Stopped in Carstairs at a municipal campground, just ahead of a magnificent power storm that soaked things down all night long. Mercifully, I'm still camp savvy enough, despite my cityfication these past couple weeks, to have kept most of my stuff dry.
    The camp was okay, right on the edge of a wheat field extending as far east as I could see. Never really noticed how blue wheat stocks are before, like Kentucky blue grass!
    Am now in Didsbury, odd little place not much bigger than Kaslo. Intend to go west towards the Cowboy Trail and make, I hope at least, Sundre tonight.
    Realized after I started rolling that I've set myself a course almost three times as far as I've already come. Its the equivalent of running to the Ontario border, which I'm glad not to do in this freakish weather. Good thing is, it will eventually lead me home, and save having to transport Blu, BoB and myself by bus or train.
    B & B are both doing well. Blu loves moving, y'all know that. He's just a grinding up these hills. Oh yeah, next time someone tells you the prairies are flat, tell them to get on a bike and ride 100 K, then see if they come back and say it again. If they do, knock 'em out!
    Mostly, I feel relieved to be rolling and have sense the adventure has just begun.
    Talk to you all soon,