Follow Ramesh's Journey - Archives
Day 172 - St. John’s, NL - Cycle to Walk End-Eve!
- Tue, September 30, 2008
Today I woke up feeling refreshed, improved and ready for the day. My illness had waned, and all systems were go for me to spread the message of Cycle to Walk. The morning started out at Bowring Park when we met up with Paddy Daly and Krissy Holmes – hosts of the widely popular “Out of the Fog” program. Thanks so much to you both for taking the time to learn more about Cycle to Walk and for helping us spread the word to people in St. John’s and around Newfoundland! The more we can educate people about today’s realities of polio, the sooner we can make it a disease of the past.
Day 171 - St. John’s, NL - Non-Cycling
- Mon, September 29, 2008
Today was an odd and unusual day. I’m sick with a slight fever, a runny nose, and a cough – yuck! Cycle to Walk was supposed to present at Booth High School this morning, but we had to cancel. I’m very disappointed that we called the event off, because sharing the message of polio eradication, education, and rehabilitation with young people has been such a highlight of the Cycle to Walk campaign. I’ll try my best to re-schedule that presentation prior to leaving The Rock!
Day 170 - St. John’s, NL - Non-Cycling
- Sun, September 28, 2008
This morning the team shared the message of Cycle to Walk with members of Cochrane Street United Church. It was an extra-special visit, as I was able to speak with children during their Sunday school class. It always brightens my day when a child smiles after seeing what Cycle to Walk is doing to help end polio. When Sunday school was over, I overheard a child ask her mom whether she had received the polio vaccination when she was young. Thank-you to everyone we met this morning for your kind words of support, your donations, and for giving us the opportunity to share the message with you.
Day 169 - 3.7 km away from Cape Spear, NL - 22 km
- Sat, September 27, 2008
It was a sunny and gorgeous day in the St. John’s area today. It may sound funny, but I truly feel as though we’re in Newfoundland now. Our route took us through picturesque Petty Harbour – a lovely little fishing community. Chris Wright ran alongside me for a good part of the ride.
Day 168 - St. John’s, NL - Non-Route Cycling
- Fri, September 26, 2008
Today started in-studio at 7:15 am when listeners in St. John’s joined host Jeff Gilhooly and I on CBC Radio’s morning show. Afterwards, the team met up with Chris Wright and went to Holy Heart High School, where Principal David Cooper and the student council had invited us to speak about Cycle to Walk and polio. Over 1,000 students were in attendance. A walk around the block with the entire student body followed the presentation, and I was asked to lead the group on my hand cycle. Thank you so much to all of the students and staff at Holy Heart for your enthusiastic response to Cycle to Walk. I hope to see many of you at City Hall on October 1st at 1:30.
Day 167 - St. John’s, NL - 78 KM
- Thu, September 25, 2008
The sun shone brightly, the westerly winds howled, and the hills wouldn’t stop – Today was the last big hand cycling day of Cycle to Walk’s journey across Canada. I can’t believe it’s been 165 days since the journey began on the West Coast. As the team continued into the city, we were so happy to see Valerie Royle, Vice-President of the Cycle to Walk Society. Val flew in from Whitehorse to visit family and to assist with our wrap-up at Cape Spear and in St. John’s. After our short roadside reunion with Val, we continued up the hills. As of this evening, it’s official: we’re in St. John’s, NL!
Almost There
- Thu, September 25, 2008
Day 166 - Whitbourne, NL - Non-Cycling
- Wed, September 24, 2008
What a treat it was to arrive at Whitbourne Elementary this morning and to have all the students and staff greeting the team as we rolled in front of the school. Students cheered and showed a welcome poster that they had all signed for us. After the extremely warm welcome, everyone cheered us into the gym prior to a presentation about coming together as a global community to get rid of polio once and for all and assisting polio survivors who need rehabilitation and support.
Day 165 - Whitbourne Elementary School, NL - 50 km - 7,000 km Mark!
- Tue, September 23, 2008
“How many people know what polio is?” When I asked that question today, not one student put up their hand.
Day 164 - On the Atlantic Ocean - En-route to Newfoundland & Labrador
- Mon, September 22, 2008
Who’s excited to wake up at 4:00am? The Cycle to Walk en-route team is!! We were on the road to the ferry terminal at 5:00 am today so we’d be on board for a 7:00 departure. The voyage from North Sydney to Argentia is going to take about 19 hours, and we’d like to send out a great big thank you to Marine Atlantic for providing a discount on our fares, and for allowing us to sell t-shirts, take donations and share the message to passengers aboard the MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood!
Day 163 - Sydney, Nova Scotia - Non-Cycling
- Sun, September 21, 2008
Today went something like this: breakfast – sleep – emails – sleep – lunch – sleep – emails – dinner – pack – sleep!
Day 162 - North Sydney, Nova Scotia - 44 km
- Sat, September 20, 2008
This morning I sat down in my hand cycle and thought to myself, “Wow this is the last cycling day before we reach Newfoundland & Labrador!” I loaded up on carbohydrates and protein to prepare myself for what Bertha would call ‘a little knoll.’ The little knoll has a name – Kelly’s Mountain – and it rises 240 metres from base to summit.
Making a cross-country trip to eradicate the disease that “knows no boundaries”
- Fri, September 19, 2008
Making a cross-country trip to eradicate the disease that “knows no boundaries”
“Polio doesn’t discriminate, nor does it have any boundaries,” he said. “We all need to come together to eradicate it.”
Day 161 - 44 km away from the Newfoundland ferry! - 101 km
- Fri, September 19, 2008
After a scrumptious breakfast at Home Again Bed & Breakfast, Chris and I headed to 101.5 The Hawk FM to meet with Scottie O and Courtney. I love it when on-air announcers hear the message, believe in it, and share the possibility of a polio-free world with their listeners. Upon returning to the team at Home Again, we met several schoolkids waiting for their bus across the street. Of course, we went over to introduce ourselves, talk with them about polio, and give out Cycle to Walk wrist bands. Soon afterwards we said bye to our new friends Jennifer and Jordan Phillips at Home Again B&B, and were on our way.
Day 160 - Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia - 85 km
- Thu, September 18, 2008
This morning the Honourable Peter MacKay joined the team for one of our most original meetings to date! Mr. MacKay took one of the hand cycles for a ride through New Glasgow with Rotarian Rick Goodman and me. Constable Graham Purvis, of the New Glasgow Police, escorted us safely through traffic.
Rotary works to eradicate polio
- Thu, September 18, 2008
Day 159 - Just outside Antigonish, Nova Scotia - 47 km
- Wed, September 17, 2008
The team is now back in Nova Scotia after a few great days on Prince Edward Island. Once again we’d like to send out thanks to our hosts Tom, Barbara and Gordon – we really felt at home in Charlottetown. Prior to boarding the ferry this morning, we met up with Rick and Marjory Haugh, who are on holiday out here on the east coast. This isn’t the first time we’ve met these two: the Cycle to Walk team first met Rick and Marjory on Day 106 on the ferry across Lake Huron from South Baymouth to Tobermory. What are the odds that we would run in to one another a second time nearly 2000 km down the road? What a coincidence! Thanks to you both for taking the time to say hello and for supporting the dream of a polio-free world.
Handcyclist campaigns to eradicate polio
- Tue, September 16, 2008
Day 158 - Charlottetown, PEI - (Non-Official Route Cycling)
- Tue, September 16, 2008
The team hit the road at 6 am today to visit Rotarians in Sunnyside, PEI. The club’s president, Sandy Rundle, announced that the club has been so inspired by Cycle to Walk that they will make a significant contribution to Rotary International’s PolioPlus program in honour of Cycle to Walk in the near future. After some best wishes, donations and an interview with the local paper, we headed back to Charlottetown – but not without stopping to check out the Confederation Bridge first.
Day 157 - Charlottetown, PEI - Non-Cycling
- Mon, September 15, 2008
I’m happy that summer’s over and back in school: Cycle to Walk can once again connect its message with young learners and leaders. Today, the team was invited into Professor Barbara Campbell’s Global Issues class at the University of Prince Edward Island to talk about polio in our world and what Cycle to Walk is doing to help address the problem. The presentation was in front of 60 students and faculty members, however, the presentation was captured on video to ensure that 640 additional students would have the opportunity to hear the message via podcast. Thank you so much, Professor Campbell, for inviting us. I’d also like to thank all the students for being so attentive and for showing so much interest in the Cycle to Walk campaign.
A victim reminds us: Polio can still strike
- Mon, September 15, 2008
Day 156 - Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island - 62 km
- Sun, September 14, 2008
Sometimes, in order to progress forward, you need to go back. The en-route team did just that today after ferrying across the Northumberland Strait to Prince Edward Island: we cycled west down the Trans-Canada Highway towards Charlottetown to share our message with the provincial capital.
Day 155 - Pictou, Nova Scotia - 63 km
- Sat, September 13, 2008
Today I wore socks and an under shirt while I cycled, which means we have been on the road for a very long time. It really doesn’t feel like we’ve been on the road for 5 months – time flies when you’re having fun, I suppose. Today’s cycle took the team through some beautiful autumn colours. While I was cycling I thought it would be sure nice if there were even more colours to see, but then I took it back when I remembered a simple truth: fall leaves = colder temperatures.
Day 154 - Truro, Nova Scotia - 56 km
- Fri, September 12, 2008
We didn’t have to get up at 5am – what a treat! The team enjoyed a little more rest than usual before we headed back to Shubenacadie to begin the day’s hand cycling. There were no dog threats today and all went well.
Day 153 - Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia - 59km
- Thu, September 11, 2008
Today we enjoyed one last breakfast with our wonderful new friends and host family in Halifax. We sure enjoyed our short visit here. Thanks again to Marjorie, Bob, Julia, Laura, and Kevin for making our stay so welcoming and homey. Thanks also to Sáb for all that you’ve done for us.
Day 152 - Halifax, Nova Scotia - Non-Cycling
- Wed, September 10, 2008
I don’t think the team could have packed today’s schedule any tighter. We had a great day! It all started off at 7 am when CTV invited me into their studio for an appearance on Breakfast Television. While Chris and I were leaving the studio, three construction workers named Daniel, Roger and Gary approached us, as did a woman by the name of Shauna. Everyone was quite interested in the Cycle to Walk, and they were all both surprised and thankful for the information we provided them about polio.
Ferris wheeling his way to eradicating polio
- Wed, September 10, 2008
Cycle to Walk
- Wed, September 10, 2008
Day 151 - Meeting with the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
- Tue, September 9, 2008
Today was a special day, as the team was able to meet with the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, the Honourable Mayann E. Francis.
Day 151 - Halifax, Nova Scotia - Non-Official-Route-Cycling
- Tue, September 9, 2008
It’s official: the road team can go strong all day on five hours of sleep. Today began at the crack of dawn. This morning, CBC Radio interviewed me for their morning show as I hand cycled towards the Halifax Citadel – a National Historic Site. I can’t think of a better way to start a day than to view the beautiful city of Halifax from such a great vantage point while spreading the message about how we can beat polio once and for all.
Cyclist putting an end to polio
- Tue, September 9, 2008
Day 150 – Brooklyn, Nova Scotia - 119 km
- Mon, September 8, 2008
There were no tropical storms in sight today, and the weather was great for cycling. Before we began today’s ride, we were invited to present to both the Rotary Club of New Minas Sunrise and the Kentville Rotary Club. One Rotarian told me he could recall when insurance companies sold polio insurance back in the 1950s. It was the first time I heard of such a thing. Still, learning that polio insurance was sold in the 1950s isn’t surprising when one considers how deeply polio affected Canadians. Everyone across the nation feared polio.
Day 149 - Canning, Nova Scotia - Non-Cycling (Tropical Storm Hanna)
- Sun, September 7, 2008
Today was only the third day over the course of this campaign that we’ve been grounded because of weather. I thinking that the remnants of a hurricane are good enough reasons not to be on the road cycling.
Day 148 - Paradise, Nova Scotia - 69 km
- Sat, September 6, 2008
After a lovely send off from our new Saint John friends John, Marilyn, Caleb and Andrew, the team boarded the Princess of Acadia for a ferry ride to Digby, Nova Scotia. The ship’s crew was nothing but welcoming, supportive and accommodating of the team, the support vehicles and the Cycle to Walk campaign. During the crossing, we visited with Captain Oral Hamilton up on the bridge to talk about the campaign and learn more about the ship’s operation and navigation systems.
Day 147 - Saint John, New Brunswick - 5 km
- Fri, September 5, 2008
This morning Chris and I took a five-block stroll uphill to participate in two studio radio interviews. One interview was with Victoria and Dave at K100 FM and the other was with Gary and Ricky on 98.9 Big John FM. I’m thoroughly impressed with how each radio host is showing their own excitement for the cause of eradicating polio and bringing attention to listeners about taking responsibility for polio eradication, education, and rehabilitation. Individuals and communities need to come together for causes such as polio eradication, and it’s nice to know that the Maritime Media is doing their part to ensure that Canada’s east coast is hearing the message of Cycle to Walk.
A fundraising journey across Canada by handcycle
- Thu, September 4, 2008
Fight Against Polio
- Thu, September 4, 2008
Day 146 - Saint John, New Brunswick - Non-Cycling
- Thu, September 4, 2008
With 11 public speaking activities today alone, this was by far one of the road team’s busiest days ever. It started off when we left the Hilton Saint John – where rooms have been donated to us – with our wonderful guide and host Marilyn Singh at 6:30 am. Marilyn led the team out to Rothesay where we were invited to present at the Rothesay-Kings Rotary Club. This group of Rotarians (along with the Rotary Club of Saint John’s C2W Committee and several other members) was intensely supportive of Cycle to Walk, and they showed tremendous support afterwards with both kind words and financial contributions to the campaign.
Polio survivor cycles across Canada to fight polio
- Wed, September 3, 2008
Day 145 - Saint John, New Brunswick- 23 km
- Wed, September 3, 2008
The weather bomb finally hit the road team today and we entered Saint John in a heavy rain. We’ve heard so many comments from people about how wet of a summer this has been, but the road team has almost always had great weather We were due for a day of rain at the very least! We’ve been very fortunate.
Day 144 - Thank-You John Firth - 59km
- Tue, September 2, 2008
Today started off with meeting Constable Phil Breedon of the Fredericton Police Force. Constable Breedon escorted the team through the busy streets to City Hall where we were met by Fredericton’s long time Mayor, His Worship Brad Woodside.
Yukon man’s Cycle to Walk cross-country tour earns friendly welcome in Upper St. John River Valley
- Tue, September 2, 2008
Day 143 - Oromocto, New Brunswick - 117 km
- Mon, September 1, 2008
Today was all about teamwork: we divided and conquered! Bertha and John were my supports out on the road while Doug and Kip promoted the campaign at the FREX Exhibition in Fredericton. Chris, as usual, was busy sending out email messages and leaving voice mails to various media outlets so they would be ready for Cycle to Walk first thing after the long weekend.
