LOOKING FOR ACCOMMODATIONS

Listed is the trip schedule for Newfoundland. Should anyone wish to accommodate me (Gary Jones) and son-in-law (Brian) 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 - Aug 16th (Monday evening)
(Ferry) Port aux Basques to Corner Brook (accommodation arranged)
 
Day 2 - Aug 17th (Tuesday evening)
Corner Brook to South Brook (accommodation arranged)
 
Day 3 - Aug 18th (Wednesday evening)
South Brook to Gander (accommodation arranged)
 
Day 4 - Aug 19 (Thursday evening)
Gander to Come by Chance (looking for host)
 
Day 5 - Aug 20 (Friday late afternoon)
Come by Chance to St. John's (accommodation arranged)

BICYCLING NEWFOUNDLAND

Dad has been invited by Russel Metals St. John's to continue his journey to Newfoundland making the journey a true coast to coast challenge and cause.  They have offered to help in anyway they can.  Dad is taking them up on their offer and is leaving August 15th by truck (thanks Russel Metals Halifax) and arriving via the ferry in Port aux Basques Monday morning and cycling from there to St. John's.

Follow dad's challenges and accomplishments daily as the blog will continue to chronicle dad's journey.

ODE TO GARY JONES BY Donna & John Connely

Morning dawns...a day looks beautiful..bright
Gary Jones bikes into Point Pleasant Park
An incredible wonderful sight!!!

Gary we are sorry
Not to be here on this occasion
To welcome you home
On your trip across the nation

In fact you're the only friend we know
Of whom we all can boast
You have driven your bike
From the West to the East coast

Was there an agreement
What route to take...your destination????
Cuz it would have been quicker
If you went by a railway station

Some said "He has a fear of flying"
And some may think he might
why would he do something like that????
Instead he thought he'd bike.

Heading down that way
On the move towards East, take care
Cups of tea and hospitality
A quick change of underwear

We are sorry we are not here in person
On this auspicious occasion
To welcome you home
But we're on vacation

But don't think for one moment
You are not in our thoughts
We thought of you often...
Perhaps even lots!!!!

We heard that directions
We're yours along the way
Sometimes you would wing it
To see how thing could play

And we also heard in Bathurst
You had a surprise do
With family and friends
There welcoming you!!!!!!

From Victoria in May
To Halifax in June
An unbelievable accomplishment
We're over the moon!!!!

Anything is possible
If you think it's worthwhile
And Gary you've gone the distance
That one extra mile!!!

Your road goes its own way
No matter what you take
You have God in your heart
In the joy that you make

Trucks planes and birds
All passed by you with glee
A lonely biker on the road
You were there for all to see

Just to let you know
There were some questions
Some of them were rude
And some were suggestions

But they wanted to know why
Although they thought it lewd
They missed you in the park
You weren't biking nude!!!!

I'm, sure that perhaps
You had a good reason
With Maritime weather
You're part would be freezing

An exciting adventure
It's sure that you had
We give a toast to you
You make us so...glad

All our best wishes...from all that you see! We love you so much.
Donna and John Connely

HOME COMING

Dad was given a gerbera daisy yesterday that stayed on his bike for the whole journey and released it into the Atlantic.  The daisy was in memory of a dear friend (Lindsay) of Barb and Gordie Miller's (Dad's hosts in Truro) son and daughter in law's who passed away from cancer in February.  Lindsay had requested to have lots and lots of gerbera daisies at her service and Barb and Gordie planted the daisies for her this summer in their flower pots.

Dad, Brian and George left Truro to cycle to Halifax and were joined by Ray Hannabury around Stewiache.  They were met on the side of the road by Ron Jackson.  A Tim Hortons meeting was arranged.  Ron went ahead to Tim Hortons in Dartmouth and telling the storey about dad, coffee and muffins were on the house for the cycling group.  Patrons at Tim's gave contributions to dad for his journey.  A picture was taken of dad and the staff of Tim Hortons.

Connor and Nathan (grandsons) and Joe (son-in-law) joined in the ride at the top of Point Pleasant Park where they all cycled down to the bottom to Black Rock Beach.  Dad entered the Park with a grandson on each side to a row of gleaming Russel Metal trucks all honking their horns and over 200 people waiting to greet him.  He continued cycling and went to the beach where he "dipped his wheels."  Geoff Regan, MP Halifax West, was on hand to greet dad upon his arrival and dad was presented with a House of Commons Certificate for cycling coast to coast.

Representatives from the Cancer Society and  the QEII Foundation were at the Park to welcome dad home.  Dad presented two cheques for $13,000 each.  One to the QEII Foundation - Thyroid Oncology and the other to the NS Canadian Cancer Society.

A welcome home BBQ was hosted by Trinity United Church.  Mom, my sister, April and I wanted to have a BBQ to welcome dad home and thank all who supported him.  In the United Church fashion they all wanted to pitch in and help and in the end the congregation did it all and our family was able to sit back and enjoy the event.  THANK YOU is not enough to say, BUT A MILLION THANK YOUS!  This was no small BBQ.  There were three grills going and three tables full of salads.  Over 200 people were on hand to celebrate.

THANK YOU to George Clark and Ray Hannabury who participated in a leg of the ride to raise awareness of thyroid cancer.

Dad's home, but this does not mean the end of the blog.  There is still more to come.

DAY 47 - TRURO TO HALIFAX - HOME SWEET HOME

Dad had a great ride into Truro with Gary Burns.  They arrived shortly after noon.  A BIG THANK YOU to Barb and Gordie Miller for hosting dad last evening.  So much generosity, warmth and hospitality.

Dad met with Wayne Smith at the Trees of Life in Truro.  Wayne Smith is the sculptor of the Trees of Life, which is three trees, each with 12 rings representing each month of the year and the 12 days of Christmas. Each tree has a butterfly on top symbolic of the cancer society and a ring on top, which is reflective of an angel's halo.

The sculpture also boasts of a poem, created by Smith. It's called the Tree of Life 2008 and states: Like the tree of life the memories still keep on growing. As we all grow older we have to share the time with others because we all need each other to grow together and be stronger.

 

The trees of life is in down town Truro off Young and Prince Street.

We were in Truro bright and early this morning. Brian and George Clark, another cyclist, joined up with dad in Truro to cycle into Halifax. Let's hope there will be others along the pick up spots. Katherine Guinan, a thyroid cancer survivor showed up at the Community Centre in Truro to wish dad well and to let him know what an inspiration he is. As I was leaving Truro, I saw three cyclists in Tim Hortons. They did not get far maybe 2 km up the road before having a break. I guess it is true, a trucker and a police officer cannot pass a Tim's.
 
Today dad is cycling from Truro to Halifax arriving in Halifax at Point Pleasant Park Black Rock Beach at 3pm to dip his wheel in the ocean. Please see the route below and please join in to cycle with him. If not cycling, be there to greet him on his arrival with some huge cheers! Let's make this as big a celebration as it should be. Hope to see you all there!!

BBQ at the Trinity United Church in Timberlea at 5:30 pm this evening to celebrate and share dad's stories of his journey.  Please come and enjoy!

DAY 46 - PICTOU TO TRURO

Good morning everyone, yesterday was a very rainy day for dad.  However he was on the 2:45 pm ferry from Wood Islands into Nova Scotia and this was his goal.  He was greeted at the ferry by Mayor Joe Hawes as well as the Warden of Pictou Co in the pouring rain.  FANTASTIC!  He was escorted by the RCMP into Pictou - THANK YOU MATT!  He is now in Nova Scotia - all provinces are now behind him!!

He had another cyclist join him from the ferry to Pictou, Susan Jones' brother Ken Hetherington - THANK YOU!

A BIG THANK YOU to his hosts Patti MacKenzie's parents.  Patti is an employee of Russel Metal Halifax.  She and Tim (also an employee of Russel Metals Halifax) and their two boys Keegan and Hayden were on hand to greet dad went he got off the ferry.  THANK YOU!  They had fireworks last night after the rain stopped.

Dad started his day at 7:30 am this morning at Tim Hortons where he met up with Gary Burns - Rev. Helene's husband.  He is joining dad today and they are cycling to Truro.

Tomorrow dad is arriving in Halifax at Point Pleasant Park Black Rock Beach at 3pm to dip his wheel in the ocean.  Please see the route below for his day tomorrow and try and join in to cycle with him.  If not cycling, please try and be there to greet him on his arrival with some huge cheers!  Let's make this as big a celebration as it should be.  Hope to see you all there!!

DAY 45 - BORDEN TO PICTOU

Yesterday dad arrived in PEI and was greeted by Harvey Stewart and his wife.  They were waiting for him when he arrived on the Island.  They went to Tim Hortons for a coffee and a few stories were shared I am sure.

He arrived at his host's place around 9 pm.  THANK YOU to Gloria Churchill who hosted dad last evening.  The chocolate with a butterfly attached was on dad's pillow.

Today dad is on his way to Pictou.  He has approximately 118 km to cross the Island to catch the ferry.  When dad was trucking the Island he waited for the ferry constantly - this time dad is considered a "walk-on" and should have no problem getting on the ferry when he gets there.  Hopefully no waiting today!