So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night, I hate to go and leave this pretty site

What a week. What can I say? The week met every expectation I had. Not quite the emotional roller-coaster I was warned about but the best holiday I have had for a long time.

Departure day turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag. Edson and I got up at the crack of dawn and he made his way to his departure point with the Road Safety Crew and I rode with Chris & Harvey. Group photograph over and away we went.

The ride went well enough but a rumour circulated that a rider was down, in hospital and that they had died. Confirmation came later in the week that Jim had passed away. There were previous medical issues and as Gordon, his partner informed us, Jim really wouldn't have known much about it and his last thoughts would have been of riding his bike. 




We arrive at the camp site, put up the tents and go swimming and washing in the lake. Lots of excitement.

Harvey is presented with a framed memento in recognition of his personal achievement of raising over $100k in 3 years.  


Sleep and an impending appearance on live television at 8.45 am. 

Then the STORM came. It was right above us at 2 am and the rain came down in torrents. The lightening was spectacular and the thunder "thunderous" (funny that) and it didn't stop for 6 hours. Our tent remained dry but some woke up (if they slept at all) with a swimming pool in their tent.

The live TV broadcast and my/Harvey/Antonio/Lucas interviews were cancelled as it was too dangerous to extend the mobile transmitter and we waited for 2 hours for the rain to pass and then headed out. See the  CTV DEPARTURE Video ( you can just glimpse me at 2.11).  After 20 km riding the heavens opened again. We were wet, cold and the ride was a pig. I tried with wet socks and shoes and with no socks: each was as unpleasant as the other. The longest and most unpleasant day of the ride.


Morning of day 3 and the sun finally comes back and moral improves significantly. It is Red Dress Day and we face a 50 km ride into Kingston. Rob and I were sweepers which means we are the very last riders and we make sure no one gets left behind. It also means we have to wear "sweeping" brushes on our helmets. Another rider in hospital after being hit by a car and a minor incident right at the end but we get there eventually.

We arrange laundry, grab some food and our gear and head to the hotel for an afternoon by the pool and AMAZING entertainment from Miss C (aka Kevin on our team) and friends.


The following morning its up early again and off to the "champions breakfast". A gathering of the top fundraisers and those having participated in the rally for 10 years or more. As recognition we get "gold jerseys" to wear for the day. We had 12 gold Jerseys in our team which reflects the staggering $182,200 we raised. In total the rally raised $1.27m beating last years total. 

That evening is talent night and after a hilarious last minute (and only) rehearsal which didn't fill us with confidence we go on as the last billed act and got a great response from the crowd. The Gaga dancing was saved by Colin, the cheerleaders were credible and the flag dancing turned into Chris swinging his flags like a pair of strippers tassels. Most of it was performed in the dark but it was vaguely coordinated and as we left an illuminated red ribbon in the dark it touched a nerve. Cheers Mark - a little masterpiece. 

Riding on the euphoria of Talent Night we get into trouble after the show as "well-prepared Mark" has strewn 200 glow sticks around the floor to light our camp area. Almost predictably one got thrown to another camp area which they of course threw back. Fast forward to 11:30 pm with 200 glow sticks being thrown around like a fireworks display to much whooping and hollering until the camp ground owner came shutting us up. Much telling-off and embarrassing apologies in the morning. Rumour has it that the reason no one got kicked off the rally was because a steering group member was on the opposing team and joining in the fun like everyone else. Personally I think it was worth the telling off as it was so spectacular and good harmless fun (AGREED - a little late).  For the record Velocity would have won. 


Thursday is the day that we reflect why we are doing the rally - HIV/AIDS. The day starts by being a safe environment where people can self identify as being HIV positive and ends with a candle lit ceremony on the beach were people can talk about their story of how HIV/AIDS has affected them.  It was fitting that this was the day we wore Clint-shirts to honour Clints memory and the work that he did in raising awareness and of trying for years to get the young persons clinic open. 

9 of my team wore Clint-shirts and were asked numerous times to explain who he was and what he did. Thank you very much Sass, Edson, Renzo, Mike S, Steve, Kevin, Harvey K and Mike "still straight" Larsen for doing that for me. 

Final day - the ride into Montreal. I woke up to find outside my tent, courtesy of Frank and Damian, a bright yellow fascinator to match my bright yellow shoes. I got many a comment along the way.

We rode to our meeting point out side Montreal then rode in single file to the last meeting point. 300+ bicycles riding in single file made a column over 1 km long. It was the highlight for me. It was staggering to see us ride over the river and whichever you looked you only saw riders.

Thanks to Rob for riding with me for the majority of the ride and for helping to keep to keep a great 30km/hr pace for most of the way and for the side by side arrival into Montreal. 

We arrive ( you can see Rob and I at 1.09 in the video - the rest of Velocity a few seconds later) ... a few tears and a frantic search for Edson for a hug. Thanks to whoever took this video and posted onto Youtube. 

This was the most enjoyable, satisfying, heart warming and sociable holiday I have had in a long time with the added pleasure of supporting a cause very close to my heart.


Thanks to my employer for allowing me to stay in Canada to do the rally, to PWA for accommodating our request for Edson to participate, to the rally as a whole for the experience and courtesy and encouragement, to Team Velocity & Crew for the camaraderie and Rob for the on-road company.


Thank YOU very much for for your support, donations and for your interest in my blog and animated packing video. 

Hopefully see you all next year.

TTFN
David x x