DAY 3 DESTINATION KAMLOOPS

Dad is off to Kamloops today. Checked the weather and it is saying cloudy with a chance of thunder showers but with a high of 22 and a low of 12. Not too bad of a day for biking.

Dad had a bit of a detour yesterday. When he reached Hope, BC he decided to take the Coquihalla Highway as opposed to the Transcanada. The maximum elevation from Hope to Merrit is 1244m. He ended up staying at Britton Creek Rest Area (about 25 km to Merrit) in his tent last night. He said it was a tough climb, but going down the hills was a lot of fun. He was setting up his tent around 7 pm last night. I am sure he is already on the road as it is close to 6 am and heading into Kamloops. The maximum elevation from Merrit to Kamloops is 1445m. Another day of some tough climbs, but going into Kamloops is all down hill and as Dad says "when you are going down a hill, you are having a good day"

DAY 2 - ON TO LYTTON, BC

Spoke with Dad last night and he was an hour away from Chilliwack, BC. It was going on 6 pm so he arrived in Chilliwack around 7 pm. A great ride for his first day considering he had to wait for a ferry from Victoria to Vancouver. His brother was waiting for him in Chilliwack and planning on spending the night and having breakfast with dad then seeing him off. His brother is on his way back to Vancouver and dad is heading off to Lytton. Checked the weather and it looks good going into Lytton today. A great day for a bike ride!

MILE ZERO - VICTORIA, BC

Dad was at Mile Zero bright and early this morning. His brother was at Mile Zero and a coworker/friend of mine when I lived in Victoria. Sending a big THANK YOU for the pictures, support and send off.

VANCOUVER RUSSEL METALS INC.

Dad was at Vancouver Russell Metals Inc. yesterday and received a warm reception. They presented him with a cheque and a lot of support and kind wishes. He is off to Victoria today and will start his ride tomorrow (Saturday, May 15th) at 7:30 am from Mile Zero.

ON THE WEST COAST

Gary is now in Vancouver ready to start his journey. He is leaving Mile Zero, Victoria, BC on Saturday, May 15th at 7:30 am. A Channel is interviewing dad Friday in Victoria. His brother John from Vancouver, BC is going to be at Mile Zero to cheer him on.

Gary's Trip by Ed Peckham

I wanted to take this opportunity to communicate a story to you about a tremendous, ambitious mission, about to be undertaken by one of Atlantic Canada’s recently retired employees.
His name is Gary Jones. Gary is a 65 year old, thyroid cancer survivor, who retired from R/M Halifax in Jan., 2010. His dream, since receiving a clean bill of health in 1998, was to cycle across Canada, raising money for thyroid cancer research. On May 15th, of this year, Gary will realize the beginning of his dream, as he sets out from Mile Zero in BC to cycle across Canada. Averaging 100 miles per day for 45 days.
During his career, Gary has made a tremendous contribution to the success of Russel Metals Atlantic. For 30 plus years, he rolled his 18 wheels throughout Ontario and Quebec picking up product, and more importantly, he rolled those 18 wheels into our customers’ yard. With his life long motto, “Every day is a holiday” engrained into the very fabric of his personality, Gary was an ambassador for Russel Metals throughout his entire career. Now he has traded his 18 wheels in for two and will once again put the pedal to the metal. As Gary so enthusiastically said to me, “instead of hauling metal, I’m hauling hope, faith and attitude”
In an effort to repay Gary, in some small way, for all of the qualitative contributions he has made to Russel Metals Atlantic, we have sponsored his dream. So, you may see him cycle proudly by, in his Russel Metals jersey and a smile on his face. Or, you may get to meet him personally at 1 of the 10 R/M facilities he will be visiting, as he cycles across the country.
Should anyone wish to accommodate Gary for a night, his daughter Christina at christina.cameron@ns.sympatico.ca

And now a few more words about Gary.
He is excited and ready to roll. Equipped with his laser cut butterfly logos ( which represents thyroid cancer) attached to each side of his bike, Gary is confident about his journey. As you can see by his schedule, his personal accommodations were his last concern. He is humbled and excited about the invitation of filling in the blanks day 2 through to 44. One meal, one shower, and eight (8) hours of sleep. Day 8, 17, and 31 are already arranged.
“It is important to have joy and everyday is a holiday”

Looking for Accommodations - Trip Schedule

Listed is the trip schedule. Should anyone wish to accommodate me (Gary Jones) for a night, (one meal, one shower, and eight (8) hours of sleep), please contact my daughter Christina at christina.cameron@ns.sympatico.ca. THANK YOU!


Day 1 - May 15th Victoria, BC to Chiliwack (accommodation arranged)

Day 2 - May 16th Chiliwack to Lytton (accommodation arranged)

Day 3 - May 17th Lytton to Kamloops (accommodation arranged)

Day 4 - May 18th Kamloops to Salmon Arm (accommodation arranged)

Day 5 - May 19th Salmon Arm to Revelstoke (looking for host)

Day 6 - May 20th Revelstoke to Golden (accommodation arranged)

Day 7 - May 21st Golden to Banff, AB (accommodation arranged)

Day 8 - May 22nd Banff to Calgary (accommodation arranged)

Day 9 - May 23rd Calgary to Brooks (looking for host)

Day 10 - May 24th Brooks to Medicine Hat (looking for host)

Day 11 - May 25th Medicine Hat to Tompkins, SK (accommodation arranged)

Day 12 - May 26th Tompkins to Chaplin (accommodation arranged)

Day 13 - May 27th Chaplin to Regina (accommodation arranged)

Day 14 - May 28th Regina to Whitewood (accommodation arranged)

Day 15 - May 29th Whitewood to Brandon, MB (looking for host)

Day 16 - May 30th Brandon to Portage La Prairie (looking for host)

Day 17 - May 31st Portage La prairie to Winnipeg (accommodation arranged)

Day 18 - June 1st Winnipeg to Kenora, ON (accommodation arranged)

Day 19 - June 2nd Kenora to Emo (looking for host)

Day 20 - June 3rd Emo to Atikokan (looking for host)

Day 21 - June 4th Atikokan to Thunder Bay (looking for host)

Day 22 - June 5th Thunder Bay to Nipigon (looking for host)

Day 23 - June 6th Nipigon to Marathon (accommodation arranged)

Day 24 - June 7th Marathon to Wawa (looking for host)

Day 25 - June 8th Wawa to Montreal River (looking for host)

Day 26 - June 9th Montreal River to Sault Ste Marie (looking for host)

Day 27 - June 10th Sault Ste Marie to Blind River (looking for host)

Day 28 - June 11th Blind River to Sudbury (looking for host)

Day 29 - June 12th Sudbury to North Bay (looking for host)

Day 30 - June 13th North Bay to Petawawa (accommodation arranged)

Day 31 - June 14th Petawawa to Ottawa (accommodation arranged)

Day 32 - June 15th Ottawa to Montreal, PQ (accommodation arranged)

Day 33 - June 16th Montreal to Trois Rivieres (looking for host)

Day 34 - June 17th Trois Rivieres to Quebec (looking for host)

Day 35 - June 18th Quebec City to Saint Pascal (looking for host)

Day 36 - June 19th Saint Pascal to Edmunston, NB (accommodation arranged)

Day 37 - June 20th Edmuston, to Kedgwick (looking for host)

Day 38 - June 21st Kedgwick to Campbellton (looking for host)

Day 39 - June 22nd Campbellton to Bathurst (looking for host)

Day 40 - June 23rd Bathurst to Richibucto (looking for host)

Day 41 - June 24th Richibucto to Borden, PE (looking for host)

Day 42 - June 25th Borden to Wood Island Pictou, NS (looking for host)

Day 43 - June 26th Pictou to Truro (accommodation arranged)

Day 44 - Truro to Halifax

Day 45 - Rest (allowing an extra day)