Steve’s Blog – Sept 6-7 – extreme cycling – Clearview NB to Fredricton and Petticodiac

We have been cycling up a storm lately. In the past 8 days we have cycled 1,039 km, with an
average distance of 148.4 km/day. During that time I twice reset my longest distance ever
cycled in a day, and Jim had one as well. Details below, for those who care about cycling stats.
Thanks to a referral from former CBC Radio news anchor Robert Fisher, we had the chance to
meet Harry Forestell, who anchors the CBC Radio news in Fredericton. Harry dropped by our
Fredericton RV site for a chat, and even listened in as Jim and I had a CBC Radio interview with
his colleague. Two things about Harry: he has Parkinson’s and he is an uncommonly friendly,
bright and pleasant fellow, who manages to maintain a stressful job despite his condition. I am
eager to learn how he does it..
This morning would be our last “big” ride. We estimate that the remaining rides will be 100km or
less, (I still can’t believe that we are at a point where 100km is not a monumental event that
would take a week or more of training to achieve.) Today’s route wound up being longer than
planned and, in fact, became my all-time longest ride, at 209.7 km. But to add to that, this day in
New Brunswick was also the most vertical that Jim or I have climbed throughout this entire
cross-Canada trip; not BC, not Northern Ontario, not Quebec. It was also the most vertical that I

have ever climbed in one day: 2,174 m (Jim’s was slightly less as he stopped due to the late
hour and a sore knee, but he will be adding the remainder to his ride tomorrow.
I am so proud of this ride, though it came at a cost: I had to ride home alone in the dark, albeit
with lights all over my bike.
Peaceful sleep awaits.