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July 20th, 2009

Greatest Hits from the Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast Tour 2009 has reached the end of the road at Mile 0 in Victoria and the group has diverged towards different roads.  But before we go, we spent some time putting together some reflective thoughts on the wonderful adventure we've just wrapped up to share with you here.

Total distance: ~2100km
Days on the road: 49
Riding days: 28
Rainy days: 6
Longest distance in one day: 100 km 
Highest elevation: the Alberni Summit, aka ‘The Hump’ was 411m
Number of ferries taken: 16
Number of performances: 30
Roadside bear sightings: 2
Flat tires: 15
Broken spokes: 3
Broken wheels: 1
Broken derailleur: 1
Broken chain: 1 
Broken seat post: 1
(Please note that the last three mechanical problems and 8 of the 15 flat tires were part of the on-going saga of Lola, Tangle's oldie roadie.)

Here are some stand-out memories of Performances, Learning Opportunities, and Travel: 

Ultimate Performance Experiences
Our performance line-up completed a full circle when we arrived in Victoria on Friday July 17th to perform for a fantastic crowd that included many Otesha alumni and family, including some familiar faces that attended our first performance in Vancouver two months ago.  This last performance was so fun - as full of energy as those first ones - what a neat experience to be professionally miked.  A couple other memorable performances were the performance at an elementary school in Sechelt on our first long ride day that we barely all arrived in time for - riders pulling trailers were still chewing their sandwiches when we went on!  Also, after a day of theatre workshops with the Rivercity Players in Campbell River, our performance to this crowd that received us so positively as actors.  And finally, our wettest performance was at Rathtrevor, performing to ten brave souls who sat out in a torrential downpour to laugh along with our soaking wet on stage antics.  Really, we enjoyed every performance we put on - we mixed it up by changing roles and using improv to keep things fresh and fun.

Greatest Learning Experiences
We met with Steve at Green Point Campground on Long Beach.  He told us about hunters, bandits, and farmers and left us with the opportunity to discuss Tibetan Bon Philosophy with him.  Fitting, seeing as he suggested we only have five minutes of original thought in a given year, the rest being reaction to what's going on.  Kevin with the Friends of Clayoquot in Tofino also filled our heads with tons of info about old growth forests and the big protests over the big trees which he arranged for us to boat out and see on Meares Island - another top notch learning opportunity.  After the cob workshop at Our Ecovillage (south Vancouver Island), we said, "We love mud!" and after a tour of the Compost Centre in Victoria's Fernwood neighbourhood, we said, "We love worms!"

Hits from the Road
Aside from the Case of the Pilfered Panties (recounted here in an earlier note) and the Ongoing Misadventures of Lucky Lola the Bike, we have a few phrases from the road to share - kids, reason to dream, burned oats, potents, dirty feet, sunny sunshine, "You are loved!", group hugs, "I love bikes!"

Thanks for reading!

Together!!!
- Team Sunshine

July 1st, 2009

Message in a Bottle

It has been awhile since we heard last from the now completed Sunshine Coast Tour.  The following cryptic message in a bottle just washed up onto our shore to complete Sunshine Coast’s epic collection of Notes From the Road.

100 km cycled from Sprout Lake to Green Point Campground
12 hrs on the road - 7 and a half on the bike
12 tired people
Sweet happiness after the completion of the longest group ride
Invigorating sound of waves as weary folks fell asleep
Stuffed bear boxes full of all of things smelly (Real bear hugs are often fatal)
Glimmering sunshine, blue sky and, a salty breeze fill the air
Golden miles of sandy beach
3 special performances in beautiful locations
20 km to Tofino

Banana slug alley
Hopeful thumbs at the ready as hitchhiking takes centre stage
Amazing Wilson (a fellow Otesha-ite) comes to the rescue
Celebratory cake after our Canada day performance
Enlightening conversation in the company of a special human being called Steve

Spinning organic wheel of fun followed by Crackers and chocolate dessert in the darkness under tarps...bliss

2 poor souls rest and recuperate from sickness
3 young ones stumble from the sea after a day’s surfing

Massive Caesars bring delight to many of the group

Welcome donations of buns and cakes from a local bakery
Inspirational trip to Maeres Island

3 stranded castaways are rescued by the team (see message in a bottle below)
1000 year old trees
5 people in one tree trunk

1 special movement to save Clayoquot Sound that helps to heal the Earth.

6 eventful days in and about the Pacific Rim National Park

 The following was found in a bottle that washed up on Maeres Island, just hours after the castaways were retrieved:

Dear Diary:

To beach; or not to beach? Such a preposterous question.

To lounge, to dream:  
On a moonstruck beach of glassy consummation

We devoutly sung our songs of freedom

Feet snuggled deep in royal sand

Silkier than the palms of Marylin Monroe

And hence, upon lifting our starry gaze

The pale hue of the midnight sun

Hath revealed a hue of 7 shades

Swirled around its pearly circumference

Twas noblest to discard our clothes

Like slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

We took our bare bosoms into a sea of wonders,

Who could oppose?

After grunt and sweat on a weary bike,

Naught else could better unravel our toiled minds.

- Not Quite William Shakespeare

July 5th

“When the fog goes it isn’t mist”

 All aboard! The team set sail today from Ucluelet. Heading back to the east. Edging ever closer to our final destination, Victoria. The end is in the minds of the group. Talk turns to lives unknown. Who are these people that I have shared so much with? What makes them tick? What makes their heart roar? What keeps them awake at night? What is their favourite ice cream flavour? All the little details that help bring us closer.

Alas, ‘twas was the hour of 4 PM:

After quaffing and transporting our boards on borrowed ships into town, our mateys finally rest their sore buttocks on the paved deck for some wise tales of old times. Steve from a nearby island walked ye plank to chat with us, put gems in our eyes and ol' ye treasure chests of ideas in our newly cracked minds. Shared stories of great cinematic sieges to save our fellow laddies - the shipwrecked cedars - and mystic tales of water and it's healing memory.

6:00 PM:

Hearty meal-o-grub: Purple Octopus Legs from below yar deck. (a.k.a. just more pasta with yar beets).

9:00 PM:

We sink our tired goblets into bed, after showing our squawk box-o-tricks in a theatre full of young minds.

8:00 AM:

And we awake to a ferocious dry sky. Dawn is literally cracking and cackling. Is it ye angry ol' sea gods? A tsunami? Or last week’s "fermentils" wrecking pillage in our gastrointestinal tracks? The campsite is blowing up in howling screams and chunks of flying oatmeal as we evacuate, lightning on our clipped metal toes.

2:00 PM:

Arr, all of us road rippin’ scallywags wind up savvvy on the decks of Port Alberni, askin' "Whooo be privy to such adventures. Eh?" And off we set sail on a 6 hour journey into Davy Jones's Locker. Our bellies were in scours by the end, saved only by the wisecrackin’ mind of the Pun-Plunderin' Capt'n:

A deep level of respect has run through the team. Bounded by a common love of the earth and all on this planet, a strong healthy team spirit was born, allowing the group to brave the rain and perform in spite of the damp and cold.  This for an equally brave crowd in Parksville. On moments like this you could wonder...why bother? But to talk to the crowd and see their reactions is worth it all. It is a special invigorating feeling, to know that as part of Otesha we can touch so many people’s hearts.

Each day is a total adventure. Each person’s life is in the hands of the team whether the need be directions, or food, or the ability to use bungees in new and innovative ways, or a beautiful wake up call 1st thing in the morning. There are times when things can become clouded – like on our boat ride from Ucluelet to Port Alberni where mist hampered the view. In each of our minds and hearts we have all felt the heaviness pass through but never for too long with such a special group of people surrounding.  A simple smile, a hug, the mere presence of the right person, or a very smelly fart can help the sun to shine in the mind’s eye once more. 

The special moments when complete strangers open their homes and hearts to help us are now almost a common experience. Inspirational tales of individuals doing all they can to spread love to this world and help spread the seeds (sometimes albino) of change.

This trip has been a learning experience for each person. Going from slow difficult consensus meetings to tear inducing rides down mammoth hills (the hump) to warming moments of laughter (while hiding from the rain in Coombs). We are on the homeward road now. The end is getting ever closer in Victoria. Well, it is just the beginning of something new and magnificent. Life after the Sunshine Coast Tour 2009 can never be the same again.

***

July 10th, 2009

The Story of the Cycle-Taurs and the People of the Meadow

Once upon a time, there was a family of 12 nomads. They were known as the "cycle-taurs": half humyn, half bicycle. The family of cycle-taurs were all very exhausted in heart and body. They were yearning for a sign of better days to come.

One day, the family was riding up and down the hills of the Cowichan Valley and over the crest of a hill, they saw a glowing aura coming from a distant meadow. They heard children playing, goats laughing, plants breathing and people working together in harmony. The cycle-taurs decided to go and investigate the glowing meadow. they came upon a land of magic, where love, peace and joy were in abundance. The cycle-taurs all opened their hearts and minds to this new family of the people of the meadow.

The cycle-taurs were invited to learn the ways of the people of the meadow. They learned how to create living spaces with earth and love. They learned how to use all gifts to strengthen their community for good health and good spirit. Most importantly the cycle-taurs learned that the "impossible" was being lived out by the people of the meadow. The family of cycle-taurs experienced a great rejuvenation and rebirth. Their wheels felt rounder, their chains felt smoother and their hearts felt ten times bigger. Unfortunately, the cycle-taurs knew they must continue on their journey. They were sad to leave the magical land of the people of the meadow. Thankfully their hearts were lifted with the knowledge that they would soon return on their own journey of discovery. And so goes the story of the meeting of the cycle-taurs and the people of the meadow.

For two days we had the opportunity to learn, share, and teach at O.U.R. Eco Village in Shawnigan lake. It was a beautiful experience of learning sustainable building by helping to build part of a cob house as well as plastering and adding finishing touches to their art gallery. It was a short but sweet visit, but within minutes we all felt like family.

Cheers,
Sunshine Coast 2009

***

June 25th to 31st, 2009

Mobile poetry reading

Hello Lovely Readers!

We apologize for the long delay in posting this latest Note from the Road. We know you must all be eagerly perched on the edge of your seats, anxiously awaiting the next instalment and we were on the way to the internet café, you see… but the there was this lovely beach... or tree... or live music... or organic farm stand... or locally baked goodie. Those of you who have navigated the beautiful Vancouver Island in the summer can surely appreciate that we've been on "Island Time". And now, with great fanfare and without further ado we are pleased to present Otesha in verse!  What better way to communicate the uncommunicate-able then through....haikus and limericks.  It's like the very best of fourth grade English! Enjoy!

 

June 25th - Comox

Free Hugs and Good vibes

We serenade passers-by

Random Acts of Joy 

A rainy and grey day in Comox, our learning opportunity was cancelled. The team was feeling low but we decided to go out and do some Random Acts of Kindness. Not really knowing what that was going to look like we biked into downtown Comox and exploded in a great big show of love and joy! Passers-by were serenaded, hugs were given freely, sidewalks and pieces of cardboard were chalked with messages of joy, and voices calling out "you're beautiful" and "you are appreciated" filled the air! A couple newspapers and even the Mayor showed up to get some Otesha-style love. Our street party was a great success!

 

June 26th - 28th - Little Qualicum Falls

Mid-tour retreat, we

drink each others words like tea

Together! we grow

Our camp: cool and dark

We covet sunlight like pie 

warm bones, open minds

Like a sly banana slug, our mid-tour retreat came upon us without warning. The old adage proved true: time truly does fly when you're biking 80 kilometres a day. We set up camp in the misty rainforest of the Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park. We were blessed with three days of 'family time' during which we discussed our accomplishments made, our challenges met, and our greatest memories from the past three weeks of cycling as a mobile community of 12 activists. One afternoon of workshops were held at the Goats on the Roof country market in Coombs. We sat and sipped on our organic, fair-trade, shade-grown coffee as goats nibbled and loafed on the mossy rooftop.

   

To kids, it's simple:

"Open the door, go outside"

children speak the truth

This was one of the best suggestions we've received during our "Seeds of Change" game. A tiny, pigtailed child suggested the world would be a better place if we all "just open the door and go outside".

  

June 29th - Sproat Lake

The "Hump", looming large

"Just keep pedaling!", we climb

soar, eagle-like, down

Alberni Summit

You can eat my dirty socks

Parksville, here we come

We had heard about the infamous "Hump" through local chatter and in our minds we had set up the ride as an epic feat to be feared. Thankfully, our walnut-cracking thighs were able to pull our bikes (fully-loaded with our gear) and our two lovely trailers over the 411-metre summit. We flew down and pedalled on towards the deep, clear waters of Sproat Lake where we camped beside amicable bikers Wayne and Bob, and lounged on the sunny freshwater beach like blissed-out iguanas. We recharged our batteries and prepared for the seemingly insurmountable ride to Tofino.

  

June 31st - Tofino

Without warning, he leaps

Salmon in a man's body

Swims through waterfalls

We stopped at an incredible rocky waterfall. As we lounged, snacking on our sandwiches and apples, Duncan, without warning, leaped from the rocks and into the waterfall! We all held our collective breath until he surfaced, floating happily downstream.

  

Tofino calls us on this tireless trek

Once we arrive our legs will be wrecked

On this long windy road we are twelve little specks

Upwards and downwards we ride

Round corners and down hills that are blind

Magic groves and waterfalls we find

Sometimes we wonder "have we lost our minds?"

Upwards and downwards we ride

Just as we reckon our bodies are spent

We see "In 10 kilometres" we will be sent

to the land of Long Beaches and great merriment

Upwards and downwards we ride

12.5 hours. 95 kms. Road grades of 18%. No shoulders. Trucks, RVs and 18 wheelers. Skin-singeing heat. Chamois butter squishing in our bike shorts. We are so hardcore.

  

Cool and deep water

Bodies yearn for refreshment

Naked, we sparkle  

A big "Thank you" to the deep and clear waters of Kennedy Lake where we stripped off our sweaty bike shorts and cooled our aching muscles.

 

Bike

Until

My

Rear

And

Shoulders

Hurt

Need we say more?

  

Our mysic old man Uncle Mike

Smiles creepliy while on his bike

With fire-orange hair

and raw Irish flair

He really has no look alike

A shout out to our beloved Irishman. He may look sweet and innocent but you don't want to meet his alter ego in a dark alley... or a campsite for that matter.

Peace and Love,

Tangle and Ash

    

***

  

June 25th, 2009
Rolling Alive and Great Vibes,
Southern Winds and Whale Fins

After our time on Sointula Island, we awoke to a sunny day and headed down to the ferry dock, where we were greeted by the good vibes and smiles of the locals, some of whom we had the chance to meet and perform to over the last couple of days.

While enjoying our breakfast on the ferry...

Intercom – Good morning everybody, I want to apologize for last week’s mix up. It’s totally our fault that the last day of school free hot dog give away happened a week early.

Otesha – Stops eating. Looks at each other with confusion.

Intercom – We’ll definitely make sure that this won’t happen next year. But unfortunately, I won’t be there because I’m retiring next month. I’m going to miss you all. It’s been great getting to know you over the last 28 years. You can come for tea whenever you like. Again, sorry about the hot dogs.

Otesha – Busting out in mad laughter.

We all really got a sense of the local community spirit of Alert Bay, Sointula, and Port McNeil.

Bike Barn is a great repair shop in Port McNeil. Derrick and family did full maintenance on our two trailers, plus many of our wheels, brakes, and gears. Outside Bike Barn we all sat on the sidewalk chopping fresh veggies, and we ate chips, fresh salsa and guacamole. People soon disappeared to Telegraph Cove and we met a new friend, Tadus. Tadus helped with bike cleaning, brought over his mountain bike, shared stories and halibut he caught, which he helped prepare and shared with us. Dianna baked cookies until midnight, and we all drifted South.

We got to Woss soaked and had fun with the 7 students and 1 teacher at the small school. A feeling of confident determination flowed as we rode 80 plus kms for 3 days. The ferry rumbled as Alea ran with tickets and Duncan begged to be allowed on...we made it to Quadra Island.

Solstice was soaked up on the beaches of Rebecca Spit Provincial Park, the yard-turned-camp ground of Heidi and Len, our gracious hosts, and the warm fire pit. We sang and ripped guitar, and ate like a freegan vegan family. Sunshine and starry skies.

It might be interesting for you all to know that we’re not alone on this cycling adventure.
Here’s some highlights of fellow riders we met along the way:

Solo Jackrabbit: ripped with ease and goatee flying in the breeze. Old school ten speed and lovely smile.

Ride Along: slowed downed and u-turned and rode beside everyone for a quick get to know you. Unique.

Lone star Cowboy: was biking North, played soccer, and was friendly.

Bike Guru Hulk: stopped across the road and spoke of his journey in thick accent. Left Chicago last month and left us smiling, wearing bike shorts and old school loafers.

Old Timer Trekkers: group of 8 heading to Edmonton.

Dread head and Child: Hornby to Haida Gwaii. We shared lunch beside Robert Lake; potatoes, cheese sandwiches and a couple months off work. Mystical and kind.

Cape Scott to Cape Spear Duo: riding custom Naked Bikes in the rain.

Steph de Quebec: aime la frisbee, les planches a roulettes et les etes dans le sauvage. Steph qui sortait d’une randonnee dans les bois, nous a fait voir son etineraire qui courbait comme un serpent sur des routes de gravel jusqu’a Salt Spring.

Not to mention, the ever-present enjoyment of Wild Life on tour: During breakfast in Woss, Clare looked out the window and said, “there’s some blue sky over there.” Huge mountains, breaking clouds, and sun showers. Big stumps and young trees everywhere. Butterflies, vultures, crows, and dragonflies. Suddenly, a silent spotted owl flapping away with a baby bird in its claws, evading two lightning quick fluorescent yellow birds. Wow! Bald eagles soaring. Marveling over little jelly fish and crab. Seals looking with curiosity and then swimming for fish. Washing our hands in the sea, feeling the breeze, the sunset, and a donated vegan dinner from Kameleon Cafe.

A massive highlight of this leg was the workshop in Campbell River. Rivercity, the local theatre group, hosted workshops in a black box. We had a blast leading games, discussing local issues and then making up skits for an hour. Right before performing we had some great relaxing moments of love together, and the energy in the play was awesome.

Dan and Dunc and Sunshine lovers with funk

June 24th, 2009
Salut chers compatriotes!

Un petit message pourr la francophonie!  Je suis embassadeure de notre coin de pays a ma facon; Arrianne Mofatt et les colocs se font entendre et apprecier de tous grace aux haut-parleurs que je trimballe depuis peu.  Ma nouvelle famille de cyclo-environementalistes sont tous bien fier de me sortir des mots ici et la dans la langue de voltaire.

Jusqu’a date, beacoup de bicycle, beaucoup de plaisir et les seuls emissions de gas carbonique que lon degage proviennent de nos petes de bines! Yiha!  Bonne St-Jean a tous.      – Jess

June 15th, 2009
Team Sunshine: On the Leprechaun Lookout

Time flies!  After a fast week of long rides through the beautiful curves heading north along Highway 19 we finally made it through our first week together on our own after our wondrous trainee from the Otesha office, Carla, made her departure in Powell River.  Everyday our team meshes together even more as we learn about the unique qualities each person has brought to our journey; we have become a strong community united by shared passions.

It was an epic 84 km ride from Campbell River to Sayward and we arrived exhausted, this being the furthest distance most of us have previously experienced attached to a bike seat.  We managed a kickin' community performance that evening, keeping our energy high by feeding off each others excitement over the day's riding accomplishment.  The next morning we made another 81 km gain to get to Woss, peanut butter sweating out of our pores in the heat – for the record, our traveling troupe of troubadours has consumed 7 kg of nutty goodness this past week of riding alone.  On the way to Woss the roads quieted and there were amazing views from bridges overlooking rivers and creeks.  The snow-topped peaks at first in the distance, then right beside us, took our breath away.  Eagles soared overhead when we relaxed and snacked on the roadside.  The exhausted trailer-pulling crews arrived after the rest of the team.  They had experienced our first rainfall which refreshed minds and bodies after another hot day of the sun beating down on us and the frustration of the trailer wheels falling off unexpectedly multiple times.

On a cooler day we seemed to get to Port McNeil in no time.  We woke up to gray skies that threatened rain but which turned out to be only a most welcome UV screen.  Cycling in the cool mist was a refreshing change.  Most of us had to open that so-far untouched pannier of warm clothes for this chilly ride - par for the course, switching gears from the Sunny Sunshine Coast to the Wet Coast, ha.  For a lunch stop, some settled on a mossy rock that climbed above the highway rising above a never ending lake; a perfect break for sore bums.  Can you spot the leprechaun in this photo?

This was the last day of the long riding before island times and time off.  The low clouds hung around all day until we reached the camp spot at Port McNeil when the sun finally burnt through to warm us while our smiles broadened as we munched crunchy summer salad, a welcome contrast for bellies full of fermentils (fermenting 2 day old lentil lunch).  We had a great campfire to celebrate Duncan's birthday with a flower crown for the birthday guy, music on the two geet-boxes, laughter, massages, and an awesome sense of pride in the distance we've made in such a short time.  Becky is back and (essentially) healed from her spill last week!  Alert Bay was a neat experience.  After our performance, we explored the community.  There was the world's tallest totem pole and the Umista Cultural Centre  http://www.umista.org/home/index.php Some new friends showed us around and provided some insight into the 'Namgis culture.

Saturday in Sointula found Sunshine Tour members maximizing a day off from riding and performing by washing clothes, fixing trailers, tuning bikes, swimming in lakes and the (warmer) sea, engaging different muscle groups hiking to Puoli Vali Valley enjoying the natural beauty of Malcolm Island.  We relaxed over fair-trade, shade-grown, organic coffee at Gofa Koffeh Café.  We took photos, drew pictures, made postcards, sent postcards, watched the tide ebb and flow.  A wonderful culminating moment was a now-famous dinner masterpiece by our "Socks and Sandals" cooking squad - lentil burgers wrapped in lettuce, salmon gifted from Roberta from Alert Bay, potato wedges, salmon berries, and apple crumble.  We ate outdoors altogether overlooking Sointula harbour.

We were sad to leave Sointula, but had a fun time wiht a school performance in Port McNeil.  Some of us checked out the Whale Interpretive Centre at Telegraph Cove http://www.killerwhalecentre.org/index_wic.html

Spirits are high, we're feeling refreshed and now we’re ready to turn around and do the long rides all over again.  We look forward to arriving at our next haven on Quadra Island where we’ll spend the upcoming weekend.

- Nadine and Alea (and the rest of the Sunshine Crew)

June 14th, 2009
Success in Sointula!

After the team hit the road from Sointula, we received a lovely note with the following posting about their performance. Sounds like a success! http://coastalvoices.blogspot.com/2009/06/otesha-sunshine-coast-bike-tour-2009.html

June 8th, 2009
Hills, Thrills, Spills and Stolen Underwear

First 10 days down, and what a journey! After our training at UBC farms where we were treated like royalty, with meals and activities prepared for us by Carla, Shane and all the lovely Otesha volunteers, not to mention the wonderful grounds, amenities and friendly farm peeps, we were rudely introduced to the reality of a fully "self-supported cycle tour"; i.e. we carry all our gear, even our cooking gear and compost!

First stop: North Van; Big Hills. Second stop: East Van; Steep Hills. Third stop: Horseshoe Bay Ferry to Gibson: Long hills! Hills Hills Hills is the recurring theme of our trip so far. but hills or no hills we arrive smiling to every performance , be it having negotiated rush-hour traffic over the Iron Workers Bridge in Vancouver or arriving 2 minutes before our performance with just enough time to shove sandwiches down our throats in West Sechelt.  The much deserved shrieks of downhill joy can be heard echoing through the Sunshine coast valleys along highway 101. Our top speed so far was clocked at 80km/h!

As well as the down hill stretches, team sunshine Coast 2009 has had so many good times that we will struggle to record them all on this blog. Most of the team is currently in a permanent state of exhausted euphoria which has lasted since the first days of our training week. Here are a few of the most memorable parts so far:

The Generosity shown by hosts and locals . A family friend of Duncan's, Savana, had us over for a gourmet breakfast in Gibson, Margaret, a teacher in Vancouver, offered wonderful food and and ocean front yard for us to sleep in. We had bag carrying friends in Sechelt, great hospitality at the Iris Griffith Center's which included lovely food, facilities and beautiful wild turtles for us to enjoy, the children from Kinnickinick who shared salmon berries from their own backyards, west Sechelt elementary who lent us their Djembes drums to cheer on their students at the mountain bike race, Ryan who helped us in many ways including carrying our trailers up the hill from Powell River Ferry. The enthusiastic and inspiring responses from all of our audiences, including some friends and family in Vancouver – Queen Mary community school, Gladstone secondary, West Sechelt Elementary, Kinnickinick Elementary and Brooks secondary school. Our first community performance at the Powell River farmers market was also a bucket load of pleasure.

Your Support is what makes this trip such fun and keeps us fired up to ensure we deliver our best performance at each new venue.

The laughter, jokes, good food, chilly dips in cold lakes or better yet, in the ocean (!), the hugs, hilarious meetings and general silliness that each individual brings to our group makes our tour so much fun!

And of course the way in which we take care of one another when things don't go the way we planned.

Spill count: 6 flat tires, 1 bike to bike rear ending incident, 4 trips to the bike shop to fix broken bikes, at least 3 bungees (we like to call them bungii because of the story we heard about someone's bungee snapping in their eye, bungee + eye = bungii), 1 person had an up close encounter with a gravel road, all harm is now repair though! All that in just 500 km.. Not a dull trip so far eh!?





















P.S. To whom it may concern, next time you choose to steal the underwear from the laundromat washing machine, please make sure you're not stealing it from the sweaty butts of a cycle tour group! Enjoy them all you can though! (Please note our feelings about this in the photo above)

Sincerely, Clare, Jess and the Sunshine Coast Tour 2009