I packed the night before and my bag and bike were waiting for me in the car. The air outside was finally clear from the Canadian fires’ smoke. I inhaled deeply the crisp air on my way from the parking garage to my office. The anticipation was building up and the excitement made it hard to concentrate on work. 5pm finally approached and I was in the elevator going down.
I love driving. The distance really doesn’t matter. As I am getting closer to the destination, waves of excitement wash over me. The night caused the roads to be deserted, especially in Adirondacks. I reflected on all the trees that were burned in the fires and my heart squeezed as I passed the forests of the New York Mountain range. I distracted myself with loud music. There was really nothing I could do to change it and I needed to let it go.
I was the only one passing the Canadian border and as the officer asked me questions, I smirked. I was in Canada! Everyone who loves to travel will understand the thrill I felt, and although it was around 12am, I was wide awake absorbing my surroundings with interest.
I arrived to my destination around 1am and prepared a small space on the back of my Rav4 SUV, and next to my bike for sleeping. The night was cool, and my feet got cold in the early morning. I slept quite well, regardless, and started my preparations for the group ride at 7am.
There were two ride choices. Mellow and ‘spicy’ ride (as the leader called it). Of course, I immediately relocated to the ‘spicy’ ride’s space in the parking lot. The check-in started just before and everyone received orange bracelets, and envelopes with some stickers, patches, message for the participants and raffle ticket. I wrote my name on the raffle ticket and dropped it in the jar.
The ride was flat at the beginning and then quickly started climbing as we entered Gatineau Park. We climbed continuously and the group was faster than I expected. I started regretting not eating my breakfast as my muscles worked hard on the way up. We stopped at the top – a viewpoint. And the view appeared to be worth the climb.
Everyone laughed and conversed. It was a great spot for a break.
A few minutes later, we descended on a double track. The way down was very fast and fun. By then, I was at the front of the group having a total blast. I felt a connection to the people I rode with. I think it was a great idea to start the day with a short ride.
We came back to the Meredith Centre and I changed my clothes. I had some snacks in the car. My stomach was growling reminding me of its presence.
The presentations started with Chris Panasky’s (the organizer) welcome speech.
It moved on to Eric Betteridge’s and Jen Adam’s overview of the Log Driver’s Waltz route, which they designed in Ontario region. They are both avid bikepackers, who completed many tours including the Great Divide.
(All routes and events in Ontario and Quebec regions can be found at https://bikepackadventures.ca.)
After their presentation, we were served lunch (they offered wraps, sandwiches and chips for purchase). I purchased a chicken Caesar salad wrap, which really didn’t fill me up as I was in calorie deficit already, but I drank orange juice and the sugar in it satisfied my craving for carbs.
After lunch Carl Pressault presented on bike maintenance on the trail. I added brake pads and a derailer hanger to my packing list. He also showed us how to easily remove the back wheel – I always struggled with that. He discussed all the tools that might be needed during a backpacking adventure mishap. One piece of advice that stuck with me the most was to not leave a loose tube in the bag as it rubs while riding and might get punctured. It also made me rethink about where I pack my tools. I store them in one of my fork bags, but I’ve noticed they are not as easily accessible from there. As I like to keep snacks in my frame bag, I thought that maybe storing tools there would also be a great idea.
Finally, we got to my favorite topic of international travel presented by Alex Garcia. My attention spiked. I was so fascinated that I forgot to make a picture of Alex. Alex traveled to Colombia (one of his destinations) and that’s where my ticket was booked for November 2023. My ears perked even more. My heart sunk though, when he stated that the baggage there might be delayed up to a couple of days. I planned to visit Colombia for only six days. My baggage cannot be delayed! After I talked to him after the presentation, he stated that it doesn’t happen often, and I should always stay positive. On the back of my mind, I already decided to make a backup plan in case it does happen. The discussion during the presentation was lively. Everyone added something from their own experiences, which was nice. I’ve learned that I should get a local sims card for my phone, and maybe purchase a bag tracker for my bike. We also talked about number of stray dogs on the streets of other countries like Colombia or even Romania. Should I have gotten rabies shot? I already knew about removing derailleur from my bike, but removing my disc brakes for packing it in my bag didn’t even occur to me. Thanks to the presentation, I know it now. The other great suggestion was not to book anything in advance as the delays might cause me to lose money. Didn’t I point out already that it was a great presentation?
Alex Gay is an RideWithGPS founder. He made a short presentation on the new features of the route planning on this platform, like which map to choose and why it matters, and how to plan and edit the route. I like the app, however I am paying too much for other apps already.
The final speaker of the day was Meaghan Hackinen. She is an ultra-racer and an author. And she is very inspiring. She wrote a book about her tour along Pacific Coast. https://www.amazon.com/South-Away-Pacific-Coast-Wheels/dp/1988732638 And her new book comes out in October 2023. She participated in Trans Am Bike Race, BC Epic 1000, Transcontinental Race, Alberta Rockies 700, NorthCape 4000 and many more.
If you are curious to learn more, you can check out her website at https://meaghanhackinen.com/
She is a very competitive woman as well, and she shared her stories from the races.
After the presentations, we all had the opportunity to go to a local brewery for dinner and beer. I felt exhausted and didn’t go. I ordered pizza and fell asleep right after finishing it.
