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
South Korean Love Hotels February 23, 2025