Journal Entries

Below is a list of journal entries in chronological order:

• Preparing for PEI August 6, 2007
• Blogging on the road August 15, 2007
• more on technology August 17, 2007
• Day 0 – All is well that ends well August 18, 2007
• Day 1 – Adventuring forth August 19, 2007
• Day 2 – Tired after a long day August 20, 2007
• Day 3 – great ride and great stories August 21, 2007
• Day 4 – Beaches and lighthouses August 22, 2007
• Day 5 – The journey east August 23, 2007
• Day 6 – water and wind August 24, 2007
• Day 7 – Back to Charlottetown August 25, 2007
• Day 8 – Home for a rest August 26, 2007
• A beautiful winter Sunday February 3, 2008
• A day in the classic tracks February 4, 2008
• Skating away February 7, 2008
• Scott and Becky are Going East! February 7, 2008
• Trip to the travel doctor February 19, 2008
• Current Plans February 26, 2008
• Freighter frustration February 29, 2008
• Our Values March 1, 2008
• Another snowy day March 3, 2008
• What would you do if … March 9, 2008
• Learning the Language March 23, 2008
• Freighter Update March 25, 2008
• Shakedown Cruise around Lake Ontario March 30, 2008
• Accepting the kindness of strangers April 1, 2008
• I want to buy a bicycle … April 3, 2008
• What bicycle? Analysis and more analysis April 5, 2008
• What bicycle? Propulsion April 5, 2008
• And the winner is … April 9, 2008
• Troubleshooting slow Internet April 11, 2008
• Encounter World Religions April 12, 2008
• Buying a bicycle as a spiritual journey April 14, 2008
• First rides on a ‘bent April 19, 2008
• His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet April 30, 2008
• A note about writing May 3, 2008
• A quick update May 7, 2008
• Bikes and Crossing the Atlantic May 17, 2008
• Loss of knowledge May 17, 2008
• What’s that sound? May 17, 2008
• Bikes May 23, 2008
• Stage 1 – Canada East of Ottawa May 24, 2008
• Stage 1 – Map May 24, 2008
• Shakedown Cruise – Itinerary update May 24, 2008
• Photo Shoot May 29, 2008
• We are going, heaven knows where we are going … June 1, 2008
• We are off – Finally! June 2, 2008
• A day of rest June 3, 2008
• Using a GPS for bicycle touring June 3, 2008
• We made it to Kingston … and didn’t get too wet! June 4, 2008
• Riding in the rain … June 4, 2008
• Yes, there is sun June 5, 2008
• Hot Humid and Tired June 6, 2008
• 4 H’s – Hills, Heat, Humidity, and Headwinds! June 7, 2008
• Not quite a rest day June 8, 2008
• Sitting under a bridge June 10, 2008
• Canal paths and borders June 11, 2008
• Waterfront Trail – a study in contrasts June 12, 2008
• Short and easy June 13, 2008
• Out of the mouths of babes June 14, 2008
• A note to our email subscribers June 15, 2008
• Mirrors June 15, 2008
• A rest day and visit to Toronto First June 15, 2008
• Going on a croc hunt … June 16, 2008
• We are having technical difficulties… please stand by June 17, 2008
• Hobbling along to Napanee June 18, 2008
• One pedal stroke at a time June 18, 2008
• Serendipity June 19, 2008
• Another day another century June 20, 2008
• Reflections June 23, 2008
• Freighter Update – Savannah to Gioia Tauro June 24, 2008
• A glitch … June 30, 2008
• Overcoming the inertia July 5, 2008
• Our plans – in brief July 5, 2008
• Our 10 minutes of fame July 6, 2008
• We sold the car to the circus … actually the carnival! July 6, 2008
• We left home … finally … July 7, 2008
• A long short day July 8, 2008
• A quick update July 9, 2008
• Camping in the rain … again! July 9, 2008
• Route Verte 1: Oka to Montreal July 10, 2008
• Route Verte 5: Montreal to Repentigny July 11, 2008
• Rest Day in Repentigny July 12, 2008
• Rain rain go away July 13, 2008
• Wetter than necessary July 13, 2008
• Amazing Coincidences July 14, 2008
• Tailwinds July 15, 2008
• Hills and Sun July 16, 2008
• Feeling strong July 17, 2008
• Oh the scent of the ocean! July 18, 2008
• Forgotten “Om”, oh my! July 19, 2008
• Yay, we made it! July 20, 2008
• Thanks for the comments … July 20, 2008
• 20080721 Running errands in Rimouski July 21, 2008
• Photos and boats July 22, 2008
• 20080722 Our first freighter cruise! July 22, 2008
• 20080723 Anticosti Island July 23, 2008
• 20080724 A day of stops July 24, 2008
• 20080725 One last day in Quebec July 25, 2008
• 20080726 On the rock July 26, 2008
• 20080727 Going North July 27, 2008
• The end of the road .. and some sad news July 28, 2008
• Murray’s Mom July 29, 2008
• A bit about Newfoundland July 30, 2008
• Deadman’s Cove July 31, 2008
• The hills of Labrador August 1, 2008
• Around L’Anse-au-Loup August 2, 2008
• Becky is dinner August 3, 2008
• Flat Tire August 4, 2008
• Battle Harbour – Peace and History August 5, 2008
• Dirt versus gravel August 6, 2008
• Caught my eye… a blackfly that is… August 7, 2008
• Farther from Paradise August 8, 2008
• Bond vs. Ranger – how to get to Goose Bay? August 9, 2008
• Hanging out in Happy Valley – Goose Bay August 10, 2008
• Glad to be back on The Rock August 14, 2008
• … Moreton’s Harbour, all around the circle August 15, 2008
• Twillingate, but not Fogo August 16, 2008
• Drip, Drip, Drip August 17, 2008
• It’ll be a bright, bright, bright, sunshiny day… August 18, 2008
• Clyde’s yard August 19, 2008
• Charlottetown Newfoundland August 20, 2008
• A fellow cycle tourist August 21, 2008
• Camping at Bellevue Beach Park August 22, 2008
• Detours, Tailwinds, and Trailers August 23, 2008
• Out and about in St.John’s August 28, 2008
• I’ve never seen a bike like that before … August 29, 2008
• Omelettes, rescues, and ceilidhs August 30, 2008
• A real soaker August 31, 2008
• Highways – fast but boring September 1, 2008
• Along the coastal road September 2, 2008
• A car rescue September 3, 2008
• Time for a rest September 4, 2008
• A few days off September 4, 2008
• 20080910 Bicycle Maintenance September 10, 2008
• Updated plans September 11, 2008
• On the road again September 12, 2008
• Shocking … September 13, 2008
• Church and sleep September 14, 2008
• Out and About in Saint John September 15, 2008
• A short ride and a long ferry September 16, 2008
• Apples September 17, 2008
• Farewell to Nova Scotia … September 18, 2008
• Culture Shock September 19, 2008
• Bikes, bikes everywhere September 20, 2008
• Boston bound September 21, 2008
• Hahvahd September 22, 2008
• Architecture in the Big Apple September 23, 2008
• Puffie rides Amtrak September 24, 2008
• Welcome to Florida September 25, 2008
• Puffie Molts September 25, 2008
• A weekend in the Florida Keys September 26, 2008
• Puffie goes snorkelling September 27, 2008
• Key West and Key Largo September 28, 2008
• Lost the boat? September 29, 2008
• Found the boat! Fort Lauderdale and Port Everglades October 1, 2008
• One more night in Hollywood October 2, 2008
• Boarding the freighter October 3, 2008
• Crew changes and the waiting game October 6, 2008
• Food, Email, and other random sea notes October 7, 2008
• A day in Freeport October 8, 2008
• Grease, fires, and immersion suits October 10, 2008
• Pirates, pigs, and parties October 11, 2008
• A week at sea October 17, 2008
• A day in Barcelona October 18, 2008
• Equipment malfunctions October 19, 2008
• The waiting game October 20, 2008
• Adrift in Italy October 21, 2008
• Just off the boat October 22, 2008
• Couchsurfing in Nicotera October 23, 2008
• Around the knuckle of Italy October 24, 2008
• Random observations in Italy October 25, 2008
• Crossing Italy October 26, 2008
• Our first castle October 27, 2008
• Back in the tent October 28, 2008
• As fate would have it… October 29, 2008
• Wow! Other Cyclists October 30, 2008
• An accidental century October 31, 2008
• A hard day’s ride November 1, 2008
• Wandering about in the past November 2, 2008
• Wild camping November 3, 2008
• At a youth hostel November 4, 2008
• Robbed in Brindisi November 5, 2008
• Gloomy beginnings, warm endings November 6, 2008
• Bike rally and good food November 7, 2008
• On our trip to Greece November 8, 2008
• Bus and Bike November 9, 2008
• The ancient/modern city of Athens November 11, 2008
• Departure for Turkey November 12, 2008
• Arrival in Çesme November 13, 2008
• Becky’s reflections on “The Islamist” November 15, 2008
• Resting up in Cesme November 16, 2008
• Making new friends in Izmir November 19, 2008
• Ephesus, Selcuk and freighter update November 21, 2008
• Back in Izmir November 24, 2008
• Going to Istanbul November 25, 2008
• Istanbul (Not Constantinople) November 26, 2008
• Sending parcels home November 27, 2008
• Topkapi Palace November 28, 2008
• Our first Servas visit November 29, 2008
• The Crescent and Star December 2, 2008
• Lost and found December 3, 2008
• Cave Churches and a bike ride December 4, 2008
• Mountain biking in the land of hobbits December 5, 2008
• From the bottom to the top of the world December 6, 2008
• Iyi Bayramlar December 9, 2008
• A few days in Antakya December 13, 2008
• Inertia December 14, 2008
• Convoy to Syria December 15, 2008
• Another border crossing December 16, 2008
• A temporary home in Aleppo December 17, 2008
• Health care in Syria December 20, 2008
• Dinner and a concert December 21, 2008
• Touring cyclists everywhere December 22, 2008
• Culturally Christian December 23, 2008
• The Citadel and Christmas Eve celebrations December 24, 2008
• Christmas in Syria December 25, 2008
• Church of Saint Simeon December 26, 2008
• Making Plans December 27, 2008
• Welcome to Jordan December 30, 2008
• Israel’s War December 31, 2008
• A quick update January 6, 2009
• Aqaba Reflections January 7, 2009
• Walking in the desert January 8, 2009
• Little Petra, a castle and stark vistas everywhere January 9, 2009
• Starhawk’s comments on Gaza January 10, 2009
• Wonderful Petra January 11, 2009
• Wandering around Western Jordan January 14, 2009
• A brief Servas visit January 15, 2009
• Christmas in Damascus January 16, 2009
• Wandering about Damascus January 17, 2009
• The desert oasis of Palmyra January 19, 2009
• Busing in Syria January 22, 2009
• Reflections on Jordan January 26, 2009
• A brief visit with our friends January 28, 2009
• Another day another freighter! January 30, 2009
• A quick update in Italy February 1, 2009
• Couch surfin’ in Trieste February 1, 2009
• Bikes, trains, and La Spezia February 3, 2009
• A falling tower February 4, 2009
• What is it Romans do? February 7, 2009
• Rome wasn’t seen in a day February 8, 2009
• On a ship to Singapore February 12, 2009
• Welcome Aboard February 13, 2009
• A short visit to Barcelona February 14, 2009
• The Suez Canal February 18, 2009
• A Tropical Day February 19, 2009
• Piracy on the high seas February 21, 2009
• A slow boat to China February 28, 2009
• Singapore – Our first impressions March 2, 2009
• A nice day for a bike ride March 5, 2009
• Tourists in Singapore March 6, 2009
• Freighter update and plans March 7, 2009
• On the road again March 8, 2009
• A little soggy March 9, 2009
• A long hot day March 10, 2009
• A siesta in style March 12, 2009
• Some food for thought March 13, 2009
• Early start, long day March 14, 2009
• Monsoon? March 15, 2009
• Between errands and visas March 18, 2009
• The visa list continues March 19, 2009
• A world religions tour of Kuala Lumpur March 20, 2009
• Freighter frustration again! March 20, 2009
• Too much food March 22, 2009
• Farewell Kuantan March 23, 2009
• Another day on the highway March 24, 2009
• A touch of paradise March 26, 2009
• A sea of colour March 26, 2009
• Resting and planning March 27, 2009
• It began with a crash March 28, 2009
• The kindness of strangers March 29, 2009
• More than we planned for March 30, 2009
• Up, up, and more up … oh ya, and some down too March 31, 2009
• Resting up April 1, 2009
• More ups and downs April 2, 2009
• Beat by the heat April 3, 2009
• Time for a few lazy days April 4, 2009
• A bicycle pitstop in Penang April 5, 2009
• In search of the best value April 6, 2009
• A haircut, a massage, and not a lot of Internet April 8, 2009
• Culture shock April 9, 2009
• Cycling or swimming? April 10, 2009
• w with fish, bucket, bucket, candy cane April 11, 2009
• Bike maintenance April 12, 2009
• Songkram – a country-wide water fight April 14, 2009
• Tired April 14, 2009
• Not so flat April 15, 2009
• Hat Bang Ben after the Tsunami April 17, 2009
• From sea to sea April 18, 2009
• A bit of a splurge April 19, 2009
• Schedule update April 19, 2009
• The Metropolis of Chumphon April 20, 2009
• Emails and feed now fixed April 21, 2009
• Dog! no … Chicken? April 21, 2009
• Thai trains and bikes April 23, 2009
• No missing posts via email April 23, 2009
• One night in Bangkok April 24, 2009
• An elephant ate our blog posts! April 28, 2009
• Overnight train to Chiang Mai April 29, 2009
• Thai cooking class April 30, 2009
• Becky’s Thai cousin May 1, 2009
• Fields, jungles, and elephants May 2, 2009
• Chiang Dao in threes May 4, 2009
• Out to the Burmese border May 5, 2009
• Up, up, up and away May 6, 2009
• A long-tail boat ride May 7, 2009
• Hill tribes, a very white wat, and bugs May 8, 2009
• Booking a boat to China May 9, 2009
• Along the Myanmar Border May 10, 2009
• Big climbs to the Royal Villa at Doi Tung May 11, 2009
• Farewell to Thailand May 12, 2009
• Cruising up the Mekong May 13, 2009
• Welcome to China! May 15, 2009
• Sad news from home May 16, 2009
• Preparing for the train journey May 16, 2009
• A train journey across China May 18, 2009
• Welcome to Beijing May 19, 2009
• Biking around Beijing May 20, 2009
• How hard can it be to buy ferry tickets? May 21, 2009
• A Great day at the Wall May 22, 2009
• Onward to the coast May 23, 2009
• Ferry to Korea May 24, 2009
• Welcome to Korea May 25, 2009
• A day trip to Seoul May 26, 2009
• Not quite escaping Seoul May 27, 2009
• That tree just passed me! May 28, 2009
• Busing in Korea May 29, 2009
• A restful day in Gyeongju May 30, 2009
• Is that a bike path I see? May 31, 2009
• Eastern Korea ain’t flat! June 1, 2009
• Finding the boat! June 2, 2009
• A year on the road June 2, 2009
• Welcome aboard Hanjin Madrid June 4, 2009
• Responsible travel blogging June 5, 2009
• Monday again June 8, 2009
• Welcome home! (almost) June 13, 2009
• Back in Canada, eh? June 15, 2009
• Friends, visits and preparations June 19, 2009
• Ottawa, Ottawa, Ottawa June 20, 2009
• Riding up island and visiting friends June 24, 2009
• Riding up-island June 28, 2009
• You know you are on the wet coast of BC when … June 29, 2009
• Riding Home July 1, 2009
• Reunions July 5, 2009
• Rivers and Hills July 9, 2009
• Northern B.C. attractions: Giant fishing rods and moose July 12, 2009
• Quintessentially Canadian July 14, 2009
• Bear highway July 17, 2009
• Beautiful British Columbia – The Best Place on Earth July 18, 2009
• Icefields Parkway – Take 2 July 20, 2009
• It’s all downhill from here July 21, 2009
• Rocky Mountain House July 23, 2009
• Is that easier than doin’ it regular? July 26, 2009
• Saskatchewan didn’t welcome us, but the people did! July 27, 2009
• An adventure in Kerrobert July 28, 2009
• Like an ant crawling slowly over a giant machine July 29, 2009
• Organic farming and Ancient Spirals August 2, 2009
• Funnel clouds and fun with friends August 4, 2009
• Saskatchewan doesn’t want us to leave August 8, 2009
• Friendly Manitoba – Fact or Fiction? August 11, 2009
• That wasn’t in the forecast August 13, 2009
• Winnipeg, the cottage, and great oatmeal August 16, 2009
• Welcome to Ontario and the land of lakes August 18, 2009
• Sticker shock August 19, 2009
• Indian Reservation versus First Nation August 19, 2009
• Hoo Hoo August 21, 2009
• Oh how we love cottage life August 22, 2009
• How (not) to hang food August 24, 2009
• A day of lasts August 25, 2009
• Yellow eggs and zucchini August 26, 2009
• Sailing, visiting, resting, and rain August 29, 2009
• On the road again … with Terry Fox August 31, 2009
• Wild camping with new friends September 4, 2009
• Thinking outside-the-box and another continental divide September 7, 2009
• Timmins – A mining town September 8, 2009
• A warm shower without a shower September 10, 2009
• High speeds, steep hills, and soft gravel don’t mix – ouch! September 11, 2009
• Following the Ottawa River September 14, 2009
• The Power-full Ottawa Valley September 15, 2009
• Home Sweet Home September 16, 2009
• A crazy move day September 17, 2009
• Thanksgiving Celebrations October 12, 2009
• Adjusting to home October 20, 2009
• Statistical Journey October 21, 2009
• Gear Review: Panniers October 28, 2009
• The new me November 3, 2009
• When right is wrong! November 10, 2009
• Chiang Mai Noodles – Kao Soy November 11, 2009
• Re-integration and future plans November 15, 2009
• Questions and Answers November 17, 2009
• Christmas in the Middle East November 26, 2009
• Fuul – A Syrian Breakfast November 29, 2009
• Flashbacks December 2, 2009
• Have you opened your TFSA yet? December 8, 2009
• What do touring cyclists do in the Canadian winter? January 25, 2010
• Best kept travel secrets – part one February 1, 2010
• Yay, I did it! February 16, 2010
• April Fools joke? April 3, 2010
• It doesn’t really matter if I was right May 13, 2010
• MS Charity Bike Ride June 24, 2010
• Our first S24O June 27, 2010
• Frogs on ‘Bents July 22, 2010
• Iowa? Why Iowa? – RAGBRAI Day -1 July 23, 2010
• Confusion and frustration – RAGBRAI Day 0 July 24, 2010
• Bikes everywhere! – RAGBRAI Day 1 July 25, 2010
• The Grotto of Redemption – RAGBRAI Day 2 July 26, 2010
• Not so short, shorter day – RAGBRAI Day 3 July 27, 2010
• A fun time in Cartersville – RAGBRAI Day 4 July 28, 2010
• The “longest” day – RAGBRAI Day 5 July 29, 2010
• A real soaker – RAGBRAI Day 6 July 30, 2010
• Field of Dreams RAGBRAI – Day 7 July 31, 2010
• A winter S24O December 24, 2010
• We’re back July 11, 2011
• Reflections on the past July 13, 2011
• A bike tour around Ottawa July 16, 2011
• An Outrageous Weekend August 1, 2011
• Flourless Chocolate Cake February 10, 2012
• Early Summer March 21, 2012
• Funny the things you didn’t realize you enjoyed – reading serendipity March 22, 2012
• Riding through the tulips May 9, 2012
• Arrival in Ghana May 18, 2012
• A visit with locals May 19, 2012
• A private tour of Accra May 20, 2012
• Bussing to Benin May 21, 2012
• Wandering about in Cotonou May 23, 2012
• Mobile Phone configuration in Benin May 23, 2012
• Songhai – Africa stands up! May 25, 2012
• Getting to Songhai – wheeled transport in Benin May 25, 2012
• A brief visit to Ouidah May 26, 2012
• Exploring Doutou with Marianne May 27, 2012
• A flat tire and a visit to the local health clinic May 28, 2012
• Crossing Togo and relaxing in Lomé May 30, 2012
• Touring Ghana – Day 1 May 31, 2012
• Ghana Day 2 June 1, 2012
• Ghana Day 3 June 2, 2012
• Ghana Day 4 June 3, 2012
• Images of Rural Ghana June 4, 2012
• Ghana Day 5 June 4, 2012
• Ghana Day 6 June 5, 2012
• Ghana – Green Turtle June 9, 2012
• National Writing Month October 28, 2012
• It’s my life! November 23, 2012
• California Dreamin’ March 11, 2013
• Gives new meaning to ‘bent July 28, 2013
• Leaflets three, let them be … August 8, 2013
• Camping in Northern California (South of San Jose) – Part 1 Pinnacles National Park August 19, 2013
• South San Francisco Bay Rides – Coast and Hills January 25, 2014
• Portola Redwoods State Park – California February 2, 2014
• Not exactly how we planned it June 20, 2014
• Tourist food and ‘fine dining’ September 27, 2014
• Sailing April 19, 2015
• Vacation Day 1 – A comedy of errors June 3, 2015
• Vacation Day 2 – Calaveras North Grove Trail June 4, 2015
• Vacation Day 3 – Calaveras South Grove Trail June 5, 2015
• Vacation Day 4 – Mono Lake Basin June 6, 2015
• Vacation Day 5 – Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest – Part 1 June 7, 2015
• Vacation Day 6 – The Methuselah Walk June 8, 2015
• Vacation Day 7 – Rock Creek and the Upper Hilton Lakes June 25, 2015
• Vacation Day 8 – The End June 26, 2015
• Day hikes at Alum Rock Park June 26, 2015
• Christmas in the deserts December 29, 2015
• Bay area hikes – Mount Madonna – Tie camp loop July 31, 2017
• Eclipses September 3, 2017
• Oregon Part 1 – Aug 22-24, 2017 October 1, 2017
• Washington and the Oregon Coast – Aug 25-29, 2017 October 2, 2017
• Happy New Year – Santa Clara County Parks January 2, 2018
• NorCal Springer Meetup 2018 November 9, 2018
• Thanksgiving in the desert December 15, 2018
• A day at Tassajara May 27, 2019
• Hiking poetry at Villa Montavlo February 3, 2020
• Uvas Canyon County Park February 9, 2020
• Camping at Joseph D. Grant County Park February 20, 2020
• Ed Levin County Park March 7, 2020
• A desert escape March 16, 2020
• Today’s adventure – Mountain biking the Rainbow Basin scenic loop March 17, 2020
• A short hike March 18, 2020
• Yes it rains in the desert March 20, 2020
• Today was shower day March 20, 2020
• A walk along a ridge line March 21, 2020
• Calero County Park April 19, 2020
• Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve May 2, 2020
• Going East once again August 2, 2020
• Nope not hungry at Donner Pass August 4, 2020
• Wimping out August 5, 2020
• Well rested in Wyoming August 6, 2020
• A side trip to visit Wild Sage Cohousing August 7, 2020
• A three state kinda day August 8, 2020
• Four states and a socially distant visit August 9, 2020
• Five states and a Covid test August 11, 2020
• When negative is positive August 13, 2020
• Is that an Alpaca? Getting ready for the crossing August 21, 2020
• Not as painful as we feared August 24, 2020
• It takes a village to move Scott and Becky to Nova Scotia September 4, 2020
• Living in a bubble September 17, 2020
• Moving to Bridgewater September 29, 2020
• We closed, so now the work begins October 2, 2020
• Getting a little settled October 5, 2020
• The Duck Pond October 8, 2020
• Indian Path Commons October 14, 2020
• Fun fungi October 23, 2020
• Gaff Point hiking trail October 24, 2020
• A walk around town December 13, 2020
• A New Year’s Hike – Green Bay to Broad Cove (partial route) January 2, 2021
• Skating on a pond near the ocean – check January 31, 2021
• Rissers Beach Provincial Park February 5, 2021
• Walking in the woods March 21, 2021
• Going East Part 7: Syria and Jordan December 30, 2024