Thank you

Great Cycle Challenge 2020 – Thank You

Thank you sponsors, for your generosity. Thank you for your well wishes, your cheers and waves as I cycled, and for the encouraging words. I set a big goal – to cycle 800 kms in August and to raise $3000 for the Sick Children’s Hospital. With your help, Team Isaac achieved its goal – 816 kms and $3190. 

     Most of all, I thank Aaron Jewett who agreed to my request to “ride for Isaac”, his eight- year old son who is my super hero – inspiring me to get out and cycle to raise money for research into childhood cancers, to develop more effective and less invasive treatments. I do not have to get up and cycle every day for the next two years, but Isaac has another two years of chemo and lumbar punctures, blood work, and the occasional MRI. I wish him well and a full cure.

       A huge thank you goes to my children Geoff and Catharine, for encouraging me and coaching me in my cycling, and to Bruce who was so supportive of my taking the time to cycle almost every day, leaving him to work single-handed (and without supervision ) on our many restoration projects.     

       I met many wonderful people as I cycled the roads of New Brunswick. My favourite encounter occurred on Friday when I stopped in at Harvey’s Potato. A young boy asked me how far I had cycled? “Seventy kms,” I said.             

       “This summer,” he asked?      

      “No, this morning.” He thought for a moment, and then with a smile asked, “But can you do a wheelie?” When I said, “No,” he grinned and all was right with his world. He did offer to teach me, but I declined his offer.      

       With Aaron’s permission and Isaac’s consent, I intend to ride for Team Isaac again in 2021, to continue to support the work of the Sick Children’s Hospital.  

Thank you,

Johanna and Isaac

Another John DeW special coming up August 29th (UPDATED) Changed to September 12

I’m thinking of taking a trip around the Fundy Parkway and Sussex. Drive to Sussex then on to Sussex corner to Adair‘s Wilderness Lodge. Through the park and on to Saint Martins. And then on to Saint John, Welsford and then to Fredericton through the road to the Junction. I am assuming that the  Coastal Tides Restaurant will likely be full. There are one or two takeouts in the area if we are unable to be seated at the restaurant. I am thinking of leaving from the Burton Courthouse at 10 AM.
Cheers
John

Addendum:
The weather is not looking good for Saturday or Sunday. I am going to postpone the trip until 12 September after the Labour day weekend hoping the weather will be better.

Check for updates.

Do you have this frustration?

Do you have a toolkit with one wrench or socket size missing? I propose that we start a possible solution to this irritation. Simply post here or email me what you are missing and I think we'll find what you need. I inherited a bunch of old tools and partial sets from a friend so I might have what you want. If not, maybe someone else has.
- David

The Great Cycle Challenge Progress Report

      I'm closing in on my goal of riding 800 km in August in support of the Great Cycle Challenge for the Sick Children's Hospital. Today, I reached 543.6 km. I am tired, and am looking forward to getting up one morning and knowing that I do not have to cycle 29.6 km that day to reach my goal.
      I wish the same for Isaac. His goal is to wake up one morning and not have to take his oral chemo. He has had to do it for 18 months so far, and has another two years to go to complete his treatment. And he has to have a lumbar puncture every three months. Monday is his next scheduled one.
      Isaac is eight years old and "when he laughs really hard, he sounds like a cross between a monkey and a squeeky wheel on a tricycle."
     So, getting on a bike and cycling 29.6 km sounds like a good deal, especially if the funds raised through donations result in research and treatment to improve outcomes.
     If possible, please donate to www.GreatCycleChallenge.ca, participant Johanna Bertin. Isaac and I both thank you.

A beautiful day at Rita and Bob's cottage

Last photo is of the three young people who push started the Sunbeam at the Nashwaak Motel. It drove beautifully all the way home.

Johanna

Click on any photo for larger size.

IMPORTANT UPDATE!

GOOD AND BAD NEWS!

GOOD NEWS 1st:  The gathering at Rita and Bob’s cottage is still on.

BAD NEWS:  We will have to change the route to get to the cottage due to road construction at Princess Park which started today.  We took the detour route to go back to Fredericton today and cannot ask FABACians to take the same dusty road when we have to follow each other and that there is possibility of meeting other cars. Then, we would recommend that you meet at Fort Nashwaak, 15 Riverside,  at 2:30 pm for departure and take Hwy#10 towards Minto. Bob will be meeting you at the parking lot across from the Tim Hortons in Minto in around 3:00pm.  He will guide you to the cottage.

Hope to see you all there.

- Bob

Travel plans to the Picnic at Rita and Bob's lakeside cottage

August 19th. Wednesday

The crew usually meets at the Ramada Inn by the Princess Margaret bridge for a 2:30 departure. they then go as far as McGowan’s Corner to take the 690 route.

I will be waiting for them there in the Miata.

We then travel through the Princess Park, Rotary Camp, etc. to Nichols Beach Road, then to number 111 Nichols Beach. We may have to detour at the Rotary camp as there are some signs that are going up but road not yet blocked—it will be a bit dusty if this happens.
This year everyone brings their own food. Rita still makes the Sangria and we supply the beer.

Bob and Rita

and more photos from John

More photos as promised

Thanks to John for these pictures:
(Click on any photo for larger size.)

A magnificent day for a drive

John DeW. planned and led a fine trip to Deer Island. Three Triumphs of Three different models and a flock of BMWs and a Porsche SUV rounded out the convoy.
Good eats are a FABAC requirement and the 45 Parallel filled the bill. Most had fish and chips and a couple had lobster rolls. The blueberry cheesecake was reported to be very tasty.
Thanks to John for heading up this successful tour.
More photos to come.