Vanessa's optimistic!

Before we set out on this trip, we held a discussion about which province was the forgotten one, we all agreed it was Manitoba. And why not? Our itinerary gave us 4 days to complete it. Funny enough, none of us will ever forget our Manitoban experience cause it was a nightmare. Many things went wrong (exploding car tire, broken bikes, broken bodies, terrible road conditions, rude locals, expensive camp costs, inconvenient locations of camp sites). We don't like to discriminate between provinces but the general concensus between all team members is we're glad to be home and out of Manitoba.

I had to purchase new grips and bar tape for my bike. I installed them myself and it couldn't look more homemade. I call it my "Playschool" bike. It's once mute colour scheme is now speckled with sporadic patches of colour. Another tip for second-hand bike owners: Invest in new materials, don't be cheap. Some things just have to be replaced otherwise it can lead to problems down the line.

The riders are injured in some way or form. Mike & I have diaper rash, Dom's heels & Mike's knees are in bad shape, my arm's are numb from the long hours, I have severe sunburn on my shoulders and I haven't had a good night's sleep in 2 weeks cause our campsites have been conveniently located next to trains that run at night. I can't tell you how glad I am to be halfway done this tour. I miss my bed, my family, an income...4 consecutive months of camping is a little much.

Speaking of sunburn, I tried to pop the balls of sweat that had bubbled beneath my skin in a gift shop the other day. Unbeknownst to me, a man was peering from behind a sales rack. He was clearly disgusted with what I was doing but couldn't turn away at the same time. Usually, I would do this in a bathroom but the lighting conditions weren't favourable. What I'm trying to say is: Sunscreen is very important and don't forget the shoulders.

This trip has made me realise the importance of team work. Especially in a group as small as ours. Every problem gets magnetised and crucially scrutinised. If the team doesn't work well together, there will be problems. If not now then later. So if you're thinking of jumping into a similar project, meet your group members beforehand and make sure you're a good fit.

Apparently, the ride from Thunder Bay to Sault St-Marie will be the toughest yet. Dom and Mike have ranted and raved about the difficulty of this stretch since we were in BC. I'm skeptical cause in my mind, nothing can top the rockies. Simultaneously, I'm terrified cause they might be right.

2 scoops of cheer from me

Vanessa