Ron Mitchell

COAST TO COAST — DAY 9 REPORT

It’s early Sunday morning, just inside New Brunswick and now eight full days since the team departed Vancouver. The beginning of the ninth day.

Never Quit

The rolling hills of northeastern New Brunswick are deceptive. The Trans-Canada highway is good in places, with wide paved shoulders and two lanes in both directions. Then in other places, it’s a mad house, single lanes, narrow shoulders and traffic in a hurry. The debate continues about whether to take the direct route (dangerous!) or an alternate route (longer!). The decision is made when Jeff stops by the side of the road. He has hit "the wall". He pulls himself off the course, trembling with fatigue. Jeff’s motto is "Never Quit". But today he’s made the most difficult choice: he has pulled himself from the road in order not to compromise the bigger Coast to Coast goal. The right decision, but it pains him more than his aching body. Jamie continues on alone. On the longer, safer route.

At the Intersection of Highway of 104 and 105

Another lesson: always have a REAL map to compare MapPoint directions. We finally catch up to the lone Jamie. A transition puts Freddy, Scott and Hamish out. The next decision is about an alternate route. After consulting our MapPoint online maps and validating with our wireless GPS systems, New Brunswick Highway 104 looks like just the right road. A straight line into Fredericton. Simple to get to as well. Cell phones are alive. Everyone is to meet at the intersection of 105 and 104. Trouble is, no such intersection exists. Everyone is anxious to get moving, and without a real map to locate the wayward 104, we choose the more obvious, but now longer and more dangerous Highway 2, the Trans Canada. After reviewing the maps later, 104 was just a short 10 kilometer side road away. Always have a real map.

The Three-Dollar Shower

Meanwhile, the off-duty drivers have driven ahead toward Fredericton to re-supply, have a meal and rest. Julie pulls the big C2C rig into an Irving Truck Stop. These are amazing places. Truckers rule here. Special seating in the dining room, special menus, a special lounge. Even a laundry area. But the best part is the three-dollar shower. You get a private bathroom the size of some small motel rooms, endless hot water, soap, shampoo, towels. After fifteen minutes, a shower and shave, you feel like new.

Young and Old, New and Worn

Meanwhile the riders continue on. Approaching Fredericton, they are greeted on the highway by several Fujitsu employees. The team stops for pictures and best wishes. Then another long lonely stretch of New Brunswick road toward Moncton. Finally approaching Moncton around 11 PM, another group of local riders comes out to meet the C2C team. It is an unexpected combination of young and old riders, new and worn bicycles. Together however, they produce amazing energy and speed the team through Moncton and on toward Shediac.

Confederation Bridge

Yet another boundary crossed in the darkest par of the night. This time, it’s the bridge from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island. Once again, no cyclists permitted, so the team loads into the RV for the 13 Km drive across the Northumberland Straight. This bridge is only a few years old, but the promise of continuous transport between PEI and the mainland was made more than 135 years ago. Sometimes dreams take a very long time to come true. As the team listens to more dedications, they can only hope that the wishes of cancer sufferers all across North America come true much faster than that.

Summerside, PEI

It’s June 21, the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. How appropriate to include a place called Summerside on the route. The team charges through town and on toward the north coast of PEI before the dawn of a new day.

Day 9 ends in the early morning dew and pale light near North Rustico, PEI. The last full day is set to begin but the team has come to a complete stop.