Hello friends and family,
It has been a week since I have arrived. My life is so incredibly busy and school has yet to start! I am finding it hard to recount my ride for some unforeseen reason. I think it is because it was such an experience filled with so many emotional highs and lows my mind can't organize it all. There is one lesson however that I will always have. No matter how much work I have or how big the challenge, I know I can work through it and be successful. That lesson is so critical to have for the coming months because I hear university is kinda hard haha. As I go out and meet countless people at partys( I call them 2 minute friends) most know my story and who I am. It has been a bit of a challenge not to come across as being full of myself even though I am quite modest. I am just a confident guy I guess. I have made so many great friends in my faculty and floor. My floor is hilarious and we are all really great people for the most part. If you come home at 1 you know your not going to bed for at least an hour because you will start a conversation with a floor mate or my Don. I am so fortunate to have a great rez, it could have been soooooo much worse haha. My faculty is probably the best thing at Queens. My year has 128 students (30 guys and 98 girls) each of those individuals are so diverse and I find myself at home. Our coaches (2nd years) are pretty much the coolest kids on campus. Frosh will be over on Monday and than the real fun will begin. I was awarded ultimate frosh for my faculty. Apparently its an award that is given out the the female and male students that best amplify Phe/kin spirit. I slept through the closing ceremonies and missed the speech! haha I woke up and sprinted like a gazelle the building and ran in just as we were all doing our year dance. I am really excited for class to begin because the material I will be learning is very interesting. How lucky is that! Part of me wants to maintain this blog so everyone can hear how my first year at Queens is going. The other part knows that I will be tremendously busy with athletics, academics and volunteer that it will be impossible. Only time will tell but I think I will be too busy : (
The ride feels like a chapter in my life that never really existed. Almost like a prolonged dream I had over the course of August. I know I will be reading through each day and recounting each experience. I will miss the adventure and having monster quads. I will never forget the pain I went through however. It is almost like a scaring incident in my life. To be honest I went to a place during north Ontario that I thought I would never be able to come back from. It was horrible and it was more than just a ride. I felt like I was killing myself and ruining my life. I don't like to talk about that part and I still think about it often but so far I am back to my normal happy self. No one will understand exactly how much I gave to be successful for this ride which I totally can understand why. I just wish I could talk to someone who has done it the way I did so we could share our experiences. I think my mom has some idea because she was driving through North Bay and called me while crying because of what I went through. I made it to Queens and was successful. I almost died so many times because of cars not seeing me or almost crashing on mountain descents. I have a new appreciation for life and I am so thankful to have to life that I do. I think a key for living life to the fullest is try your best everyday to be the best person you can be. Whether that's putting in the extra effort in school or going that extra km on the run." Just do it" is Nike's slogan and it makes so much sense. The difference between me and the kid that wishes he could do all the things that I have done is just doing it and believing in yourself. Don't hold back on those huge life changes and fully buy into the experience. You will gain so much more "mana points" if you do. I am so stoked for this year and the coming years and the years after that. I refuse to accept that this is the pinnacle of my existence and I hope to still do amazing things year after year. (don't worry mom and dad I am on my own now.)
I may go back to this blog once I can properly recount the ride and go over the key moments and the amazing things that happen. Until than stay tuned every week or so and enjoy your life. We all have so much to be happy and thankful for and I am sooooo incredibly happy I realize that. My life has changed and although before it was pretty great, its just unreal now. Queens was the right school to go to and school starts in less than 24 hours. Back to the grind is what I would usually say but this time its different.
Goodbye and Thank you
Adam Beaudoin
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
It's Over! Welcome to Queens
Also check out Adam on CKWS television here! (Click 'CAMPAIGNS, LOCAL FARE, BACK TO SCHOOL AND A LONG RIDE FOR CANCER' and wait for the last segment.)
Monday, 5 September 2011
Victory at last....the pain is over!!!!!!
Hello,
The past 24 hours have been a pretty big whirlwind. I will start with yesterday morning. I awoke starving at 4am and made a bunch of food. I finally got up at 8am and was excited to hit the road. I said goodbye to family and jumped in the car to get onto the highway. I got on this old country road and it was just me and my music. I will try to recap this crazy adventure but I don't think I have gotten my mind around this whole thing. I thought the wild adventures were over but oh boy was I wrong. I have realize now the environment was throwing everything at me to fail to reach Queens. As I was riding along I saw 2 dogs running. I thought they were playing but then I noticed the huge black lab wanted to kill me. I yelled and sprinted as fast as I could to escape Thunderpunch from being destroyed. I went from 25k to 55k in 3 seconds haha. The dog came within a foot of me snapping at the air as I narrowly shot past. I just started laughing after...what a rush! The day went on and I had to develop patience not to shoot down the road as fast as I could. I made a couple phone calls of thanks and then noticed I was running out of time.....awesome. I was supposed to be there just after 3:00 and by my calculations I had to maintain 30km/h plus for 50km to make it on time. My legs had already ridden 4400 km pretty much straight and the headwind started to get really, really bad. It was the worst of all the trip....fitting. I suffered so so so so so much in the last 30km. There were so many ups and downs and the wind was pushing me back. I didn't know if I would finish let alone on time. My legs were screaming and my mind was exhausted but I powered through. I thought it went on forever but then I saw the sign for Kingston and fist pumped haha but I was still 21km away from Queens. I rode really fast and was in a huge amount of pain and finally reached Queens. As I neared the campus I saw a group of 200 students. I thought, wow I wonder what's going on today...then I saw my mom inside the group. I started to fist pump and raw emotion bled through my jersey. I rode up to the cheering students and hoisted my bike over my head like it was the Stanley Cup. The next 20 min were a blur. I danced in the circle while they chanted the legendary "Oil Thigh" I even gave a small speech of thanks right on the spot. That was hilarious. I saw old friends, met the Principal of Queens, the Director of PHE/KIN and a lot of other great people. I am so stoked to be here now, every ounce of my being/energy/life that I have was put into this ride for the last 30 days. I suffered more than I thought was humanly possible without dying. I met amazing people all across this wonderful country and I finally came home. Queens is my school, Queens is my home, Queens is me. Somewhere between everyone chanting my name or during the pep rally I realized that I had chosen the right school. This ride is huge, so much bigger than me, I can't believe it. It's over now, the constant suffering is over. I did what many people thought was impossible. WE did what was thought impossible. I can't thank you enough....seriously. I will post another final post to recap some of the highlights and talk about what this trip means to me and taught me (you should read that one). My life is incredibly busy and I have to go run across campus to meet up with my res then go to a football game then celebrate tonight..It's OVVERERRRRRRRRR!!!!!!! I will carry this achievement on my shoulders for the rest of my life. It's time for me to go now, I need to start my new life.
The happiest kid on campus.
Queens, Kingston, ON
The past 24 hours have been a pretty big whirlwind. I will start with yesterday morning. I awoke starving at 4am and made a bunch of food. I finally got up at 8am and was excited to hit the road. I said goodbye to family and jumped in the car to get onto the highway. I got on this old country road and it was just me and my music. I will try to recap this crazy adventure but I don't think I have gotten my mind around this whole thing. I thought the wild adventures were over but oh boy was I wrong. I have realize now the environment was throwing everything at me to fail to reach Queens. As I was riding along I saw 2 dogs running. I thought they were playing but then I noticed the huge black lab wanted to kill me. I yelled and sprinted as fast as I could to escape Thunderpunch from being destroyed. I went from 25k to 55k in 3 seconds haha. The dog came within a foot of me snapping at the air as I narrowly shot past. I just started laughing after...what a rush! The day went on and I had to develop patience not to shoot down the road as fast as I could. I made a couple phone calls of thanks and then noticed I was running out of time.....awesome. I was supposed to be there just after 3:00 and by my calculations I had to maintain 30km/h plus for 50km to make it on time. My legs had already ridden 4400 km pretty much straight and the headwind started to get really, really bad. It was the worst of all the trip....fitting. I suffered so so so so so much in the last 30km. There were so many ups and downs and the wind was pushing me back. I didn't know if I would finish let alone on time. My legs were screaming and my mind was exhausted but I powered through. I thought it went on forever but then I saw the sign for Kingston and fist pumped haha but I was still 21km away from Queens. I rode really fast and was in a huge amount of pain and finally reached Queens. As I neared the campus I saw a group of 200 students. I thought, wow I wonder what's going on today...then I saw my mom inside the group. I started to fist pump and raw emotion bled through my jersey. I rode up to the cheering students and hoisted my bike over my head like it was the Stanley Cup. The next 20 min were a blur. I danced in the circle while they chanted the legendary "Oil Thigh" I even gave a small speech of thanks right on the spot. That was hilarious. I saw old friends, met the Principal of Queens, the Director of PHE/KIN and a lot of other great people. I am so stoked to be here now, every ounce of my being/energy/life that I have was put into this ride for the last 30 days. I suffered more than I thought was humanly possible without dying. I met amazing people all across this wonderful country and I finally came home. Queens is my school, Queens is my home, Queens is me. Somewhere between everyone chanting my name or during the pep rally I realized that I had chosen the right school. This ride is huge, so much bigger than me, I can't believe it. It's over now, the constant suffering is over. I did what many people thought was impossible. WE did what was thought impossible. I can't thank you enough....seriously. I will post another final post to recap some of the highlights and talk about what this trip means to me and taught me (you should read that one). My life is incredibly busy and I have to go run across campus to meet up with my res then go to a football game then celebrate tonight..It's OVVERERRRRRRRRR!!!!!!! I will carry this achievement on my shoulders for the rest of my life. It's time for me to go now, I need to start my new life. The happiest kid on campus.
Queens, Kingston, ON
Sunday, 4 September 2011
161 kms second last day
Bonjour,
I am writing to you from a lovely cabin near Plevna. Today was pretty long and tough. It all started at Patawawa. I left by myself and headed down the highway. Michael met up with me once I turned onto Hwy 41. I talked to him about the ride and how challenging it has been. We rode down this great country road and it felt like I was back home. I tried to enjoy it but honestly I just wanted my second last day to be over. We raced along over the countryside and met up with the parents for some food. Michael, Dad and I set off again and I headed into town. Okay, I'm going to be honest as usual. I am so so tired as I write this. My mind is really struggling to write a decent blog haha. I am surrounded by family and it's made me feel the mental aspect of this ride is over. I will never have to push myself to the degree I have for the remainder of this trip. The ride today was long, very humid, hot and hard. I have accepted the fact that this ride will never be easy until I unclip at Queens tomorrow at 3pm. Dave (my uncle) met up with us with 35km to go and we rode to his cabin. My extended family was waiting and I ran out of the car like I was running to my long lost lover. I jumped into their arms and was so happy to see them all. The feeling of isolation is gone. Now only exhaustion is left. I went for a swim in the awesome lake. Tomorrow I have committed to going for a canoe paddle early in the morning to think over the trip. As I near the end of this thing I am finding it very hard to recap it all. So much has happened in the last 30 days. I am so used to suffering incredible amounts it will be weird not really struggling in 2 days time. I may run a marathon or something just for fun haha. I don't think I will ever get into this cycling shape in my life so I might as well use it. I promise I will write a better blog tomorrow but tonight I think I am going to actually enjoy myself instead of slave through the daily tasks. 115km to Queens, just about there!
Night
Adam Beaudoin, the most exhausted cyclist in Southern Ontario
I am writing to you from a lovely cabin near Plevna. Today was pretty long and tough. It all started at Patawawa. I left by myself and headed down the highway. Michael met up with me once I turned onto Hwy 41. I talked to him about the ride and how challenging it has been. We rode down this great country road and it felt like I was back home. I tried to enjoy it but honestly I just wanted my second last day to be over. We raced along over the countryside and met up with the parents for some food. Michael, Dad and I set off again and I headed into town. Okay, I'm going to be honest as usual. I am so so tired as I write this. My mind is really struggling to write a decent blog haha. I am surrounded by family and it's made me feel the mental aspect of this ride is over. I will never have to push myself to the degree I have for the remainder of this trip. The ride today was long, very humid, hot and hard. I have accepted the fact that this ride will never be easy until I unclip at Queens tomorrow at 3pm. Dave (my uncle) met up with us with 35km to go and we rode to his cabin. My extended family was waiting and I ran out of the car like I was running to my long lost lover. I jumped into their arms and was so happy to see them all. The feeling of isolation is gone. Now only exhaustion is left. I went for a swim in the awesome lake. Tomorrow I have committed to going for a canoe paddle early in the morning to think over the trip. As I near the end of this thing I am finding it very hard to recap it all. So much has happened in the last 30 days. I am so used to suffering incredible amounts it will be weird not really struggling in 2 days time. I may run a marathon or something just for fun haha. I don't think I will ever get into this cycling shape in my life so I might as well use it. I promise I will write a better blog tomorrow but tonight I think I am going to actually enjoy myself instead of slave through the daily tasks. 115km to Queens, just about there!
Night
Adam Beaudoin, the most exhausted cyclist in Southern Ontario
Friday, 2 September 2011
161km...hot,humid,hilly,headwind,hell
Hello,
Today qualified for one of the top 5 hardest days of the ride....think about that. It started early with Michael and I waking up at 7:30a.m. We heard a scratching at the door which was the one and only lion killa "Baron" the dog. Baron jumped on our bed and swatted me with a paw. I went flying across the bed and landed on the floor laughing. Baron is an absolute tank and weighs almost as much as me. We ate a large breakfast and the hostess told us she was a natural nudest. My legs are still changing, now they are no longer greek gods but italian stallions. All the muscle that wasn't needed is eaten away and what's left are 2 extremely strong and cut pistons. I left the wild bed and breakfast and headed out on the road with just some spandex shorts. I left the shirt in the car...what a great call. I felt so alive as the wind whipped across my bear chest. Dirt covered my back because the roads were wet but I didn't care. I jumped in a lake just for fun and was having a really great time. At lunch I had done 60km and was feeling super strong. From that point on the day went to hell. The road was so terrible I can't even explain it. Pot holes covered the foot wide shoulder and it was just terrible. Riding on such a brutal surface exhausted me because I had to throw my bike all over tarnation to avoid destroying the rims. I was so frustrated and mad with the roads that I shouted in anger and stopped. I picked up a rock and hurled it at the shoulder to try to hurt it because it was really hurting me. The rock landed in the sand a couple inches away. I starred at my failed attempt to make myself feel better and bing! another life lesson. When stuck in a terrible, life threatening position, one must look at the positive because looking at the thousands of negative things only worsesn an uncontrollable situation. I got back on my bike and headed off down the worst road I have ever had the pleasure of riding on. I met up with the parents and started to rant about how pissed I was. I wasn't mad at them but I just needed someone to listen. I have 2 regrets on this trip, one being riding up on Hwy 17 instead of the 11. Not only is this route terrible in the road condition department it's full of hills the size of North Ontario's stock. I started to get absolutely exhausted and suffered so much. My legs went numb from the constant lactic acid overload. It was horrible....and then the crash happened. My body smashed into my mind and I layed down on the side of the highway. I was so exhausted I felt like I could go to sleep and never wake up. I started to get into tunnel vision while lying on the sharp gravel and cars pulled over. A man came up and asked if I was okay, at this point my parents were around me and said he is tired. I looked like I was dying, dirt and road grit covered every inch of my body. I crawled into the forest like a dog trying to separate itself from people to die. I lay in the forest bed and wondered how I was going to complete the remaining 34km. (not if). The key component to my success for this ride is I don't accept failure, I don't give up. I don't know how I developed my determination but it's there with an undying roar. Anyways mother produced a milkshake and I drank the whole thing.It picked me up big time and I started to smile again. I got on the bike and started to race towards Petawawa. Dad joined in and I cruzed the last bit. We went to the motel, I ice bathed and headed to dinner. At dinner I looked at my mom. Both are eyes got wet and we started to cry. These were not tears because of the hell I have been through. I can't explain them. I have been through so much. I have given every ounce of soul and muscle to this ride and have dug so deep into my being that I thought I may never come back. This ride is almost over. I have 2 days left and only 250km. I won't realize what I have truly done for years but I know its incredible, special, rare and so so powerful. My life will never be the same and so many people have been inspired and touched by this story. 28 days on the road, 4200km, 196 hours on the bike, hundreds of bars and gels, gallons and gallons of water, 10s of thousand of calories burnt. 8 pounds of muscle born, 1 pound of fat lost (probably less, I was very slim to start) and one incredible ride! Its still not over but its dam close. Queen's I look forward to meeting your student body and celebrating with my new friends. Friends in other provinces, I wish we could all be together when I cross into campus. Christmas time in Victoria will be a rage for sure. I'm going to stop writing now, I still have to eat this huge lasagna I bought and am excited for tomorrow's ride. Dave, get pumped. Family, get stoked. I'm only 250 something km away and this dream is going to happen. Love your life, love the people in it, believe in yourself and the human spirit.
Goodnight
Adam Beaudoin
Petawawa ON
Today qualified for one of the top 5 hardest days of the ride....think about that. It started early with Michael and I waking up at 7:30a.m. We heard a scratching at the door which was the one and only lion killa "Baron" the dog. Baron jumped on our bed and swatted me with a paw. I went flying across the bed and landed on the floor laughing. Baron is an absolute tank and weighs almost as much as me. We ate a large breakfast and the hostess told us she was a natural nudest. My legs are still changing, now they are no longer greek gods but italian stallions. All the muscle that wasn't needed is eaten away and what's left are 2 extremely strong and cut pistons. I left the wild bed and breakfast and headed out on the road with just some spandex shorts. I left the shirt in the car...what a great call. I felt so alive as the wind whipped across my bear chest. Dirt covered my back because the roads were wet but I didn't care. I jumped in a lake just for fun and was having a really great time. At lunch I had done 60km and was feeling super strong. From that point on the day went to hell. The road was so terrible I can't even explain it. Pot holes covered the foot wide shoulder and it was just terrible. Riding on such a brutal surface exhausted me because I had to throw my bike all over tarnation to avoid destroying the rims. I was so frustrated and mad with the roads that I shouted in anger and stopped. I picked up a rock and hurled it at the shoulder to try to hurt it because it was really hurting me. The rock landed in the sand a couple inches away. I starred at my failed attempt to make myself feel better and bing! another life lesson. When stuck in a terrible, life threatening position, one must look at the positive because looking at the thousands of negative things only worsesn an uncontrollable situation. I got back on my bike and headed off down the worst road I have ever had the pleasure of riding on. I met up with the parents and started to rant about how pissed I was. I wasn't mad at them but I just needed someone to listen. I have 2 regrets on this trip, one being riding up on Hwy 17 instead of the 11. Not only is this route terrible in the road condition department it's full of hills the size of North Ontario's stock. I started to get absolutely exhausted and suffered so much. My legs went numb from the constant lactic acid overload. It was horrible....and then the crash happened. My body smashed into my mind and I layed down on the side of the highway. I was so exhausted I felt like I could go to sleep and never wake up. I started to get into tunnel vision while lying on the sharp gravel and cars pulled over. A man came up and asked if I was okay, at this point my parents were around me and said he is tired. I looked like I was dying, dirt and road grit covered every inch of my body. I crawled into the forest like a dog trying to separate itself from people to die. I lay in the forest bed and wondered how I was going to complete the remaining 34km. (not if). The key component to my success for this ride is I don't accept failure, I don't give up. I don't know how I developed my determination but it's there with an undying roar. Anyways mother produced a milkshake and I drank the whole thing.It picked me up big time and I started to smile again. I got on the bike and started to race towards Petawawa. Dad joined in and I cruzed the last bit. We went to the motel, I ice bathed and headed to dinner. At dinner I looked at my mom. Both are eyes got wet and we started to cry. These were not tears because of the hell I have been through. I can't explain them. I have been through so much. I have given every ounce of soul and muscle to this ride and have dug so deep into my being that I thought I may never come back. This ride is almost over. I have 2 days left and only 250km. I won't realize what I have truly done for years but I know its incredible, special, rare and so so powerful. My life will never be the same and so many people have been inspired and touched by this story. 28 days on the road, 4200km, 196 hours on the bike, hundreds of bars and gels, gallons and gallons of water, 10s of thousand of calories burnt. 8 pounds of muscle born, 1 pound of fat lost (probably less, I was very slim to start) and one incredible ride! Its still not over but its dam close. Queen's I look forward to meeting your student body and celebrating with my new friends. Friends in other provinces, I wish we could all be together when I cross into campus. Christmas time in Victoria will be a rage for sure. I'm going to stop writing now, I still have to eat this huge lasagna I bought and am excited for tomorrow's ride. Dave, get pumped. Family, get stoked. I'm only 250 something km away and this dream is going to happen. Love your life, love the people in it, believe in yourself and the human spirit.
Goodnight
Adam Beaudoin
Petawawa ON
Thursday, 1 September 2011
148km. great day! and a hilarious night yet again.
Hey everyone,
Today was really great. I smiled, I danced, I laughed and I destroyed kilometers. This ride is so weird. I know there are people who read this thing every day and have followed me from the very beginning. You individuals must be wondering what drug I am taking because my mood jumps around like a metapausal mother. Each day is different and my emotions vary so greatly from just 48 hours ago. I woke up today with a smile and I was ready to hit the road. My dad said the mallet man hit his legs last night and he took a day off. My legs have grown to the size of small children and were ready for a work out. I ate a hearty meal at McDonalds because there was not a motel breakfast. I felt like a rock was in my stomach and set off on the bike with Michael Jackson blasting on the ipod. That guy has some talent incase you have been living in a cave for the last 40 years - like golem. I was having such a good time, the sun was shining and all was great. Chris, thanks so much for working on Lance and Thor, they felt so strong today. I was in no hurry today and peddled along at 25km/h. My mom told me to ramp up the pace or we were driving so I kicked it up to 32 for the rest of the day. I am just going to go out and say this. I have 3 days left!!!! I am so excited I feel like a 6 year old girl about to ride a pony. I have overcome so much adversity, struggled against all odds and battled through monstrous amounts of pain in the last 27 days. I have dug deeper into my being than I ever want to for the rest of my life because going to that place is very frightening...basically I felt like I was dying. Against all this hardship, I have overcome it all. If you read through the posts since day one I think you not only read a story of a young man cycling across the country for cancer but also a transformation of self. I learned like 6 life lessons a day! haha. Today's were, focus on the things you can control and work through the things you can't. A smile is better than a frown. Life is really short and can end at in a moment. Love your family. Live life to the fullest and sing, laugh and love. I sound like a kindergarden teacher but that's what I learnt today through experiences. The day went on and the sun faded into night. I rode until I thought it was unsafe because of the light. By the way, congratulations Ontarians for having the worst and most dangerous roads in all on my trip so far for cyclists. I have almost gotten hit by a car several times in the last 48 hours because the shoulder is a foot wide and there is 1 lane traffic on one side and on the other is gravel. If my wheel goes into the gravel I fall onto the road and get run over. Maybe now you can see why I was so angry yesterday and for parts of today. Anyways, we ended up at the weirdest bed and breakfast I have ever stayed at. The dog is 150 pound lion killer (I'm not kidding) the hostess grabs your face and has a cat that jumps onto your food. I talked to her about reincarnation for 10 mins while the dog looked like it was going to rip Thunder Punch off Lance. She found a chipmunk in the pantry too. Things like this are what makes this trip so special and unique. Tomorrow I hope will be a good day but who knows, I have had some really terrible ones for the last week straight so we will see. I must go to bed now but thanks to everyone for the support. It really does mean the world to me and I wish I could thank each of you personally.
ps I broke through 4000km today, that was pretty great. I also had mechanical issues but sorted that out pretty quick. Im off to bed. Thanks to my friends for still acknowledging me and skyping. I can't wait to see all of you and celebrate this thing properly....that's all for now!
Bon soir
Adam Beaudoin
near Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park
Today was really great. I smiled, I danced, I laughed and I destroyed kilometers. This ride is so weird. I know there are people who read this thing every day and have followed me from the very beginning. You individuals must be wondering what drug I am taking because my mood jumps around like a metapausal mother. Each day is different and my emotions vary so greatly from just 48 hours ago. I woke up today with a smile and I was ready to hit the road. My dad said the mallet man hit his legs last night and he took a day off. My legs have grown to the size of small children and were ready for a work out. I ate a hearty meal at McDonalds because there was not a motel breakfast. I felt like a rock was in my stomach and set off on the bike with Michael Jackson blasting on the ipod. That guy has some talent incase you have been living in a cave for the last 40 years - like golem. I was having such a good time, the sun was shining and all was great. Chris, thanks so much for working on Lance and Thor, they felt so strong today. I was in no hurry today and peddled along at 25km/h. My mom told me to ramp up the pace or we were driving so I kicked it up to 32 for the rest of the day. I am just going to go out and say this. I have 3 days left!!!! I am so excited I feel like a 6 year old girl about to ride a pony. I have overcome so much adversity, struggled against all odds and battled through monstrous amounts of pain in the last 27 days. I have dug deeper into my being than I ever want to for the rest of my life because going to that place is very frightening...basically I felt like I was dying. Against all this hardship, I have overcome it all. If you read through the posts since day one I think you not only read a story of a young man cycling across the country for cancer but also a transformation of self. I learned like 6 life lessons a day! haha. Today's were, focus on the things you can control and work through the things you can't. A smile is better than a frown. Life is really short and can end at in a moment. Love your family. Live life to the fullest and sing, laugh and love. I sound like a kindergarden teacher but that's what I learnt today through experiences. The day went on and the sun faded into night. I rode until I thought it was unsafe because of the light. By the way, congratulations Ontarians for having the worst and most dangerous roads in all on my trip so far for cyclists. I have almost gotten hit by a car several times in the last 48 hours because the shoulder is a foot wide and there is 1 lane traffic on one side and on the other is gravel. If my wheel goes into the gravel I fall onto the road and get run over. Maybe now you can see why I was so angry yesterday and for parts of today. Anyways, we ended up at the weirdest bed and breakfast I have ever stayed at. The dog is 150 pound lion killer (I'm not kidding) the hostess grabs your face and has a cat that jumps onto your food. I talked to her about reincarnation for 10 mins while the dog looked like it was going to rip Thunder Punch off Lance. She found a chipmunk in the pantry too. Things like this are what makes this trip so special and unique. Tomorrow I hope will be a good day but who knows, I have had some really terrible ones for the last week straight so we will see. I must go to bed now but thanks to everyone for the support. It really does mean the world to me and I wish I could thank each of you personally.
ps I broke through 4000km today, that was pretty great. I also had mechanical issues but sorted that out pretty quick. Im off to bed. Thanks to my friends for still acknowledging me and skyping. I can't wait to see all of you and celebrate this thing properly....that's all for now!
Bon soir
Adam Beaudoin
near Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park
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