Signed, Sealed and Delivered - Part Deux

Yesterday I finally got around to write the post that was screaming to get out. And it was honestly brutal, at least from my perspective. Anyone who will tell you the bike rally is easy is lying, unless you have 2% body fat, are a speedy person with thousands of miles under your cycling shorts, you will suffer. So it’s not all roses and rainbows. BUT, there is a big one, it’s also a magical, amazing, fantastic, uplifting and bloody marvelous experience. Something I think everyone who wants to experience what they can do should do in their life. Seriously.

So while yesterday I gave my account without artifice, today I want to talk about the fun stuff. The stuff that make me smile when I think about it. There were lots every single day. I will organize same way as yesterday, it’s better than having them all over the place. I’m organized like that…  

Departure day: The hugs. Oh the hugs, they were lovely. The hugs from my friend Terry who came to see us off and gave me little ginger covered in chocolate. They helped me a lot. The hug from one of my spin instructor whom I hugged so tight! And his dog Rosie who was quietly looking at all these people around. What a lovely girl she is. The selfies too! I couldn’t stop smiling. I remember tearing up a few times at how supportive the people along Danforth were. The coca cola. Drowning a can of that nectar and feeling the caffeine coursing through my veins. That was nice. The gorgeous scenery on our way to Port Hope. The hills. I love hills. I very often suck on flat but I’m pretty darn good on hills. The sense of achievement at arriving at camp and the sense of pride in saying “135, Sylvie Desroches”. 

Day 2: The water on shoes to relieve pressure, the ice cubes in bra and seeing the faces of the guys after seeing me unzip my top and say “shove the ice in there!” lol The gorgeous scenery. The “hello” from fellow cyclists when you cross them on the road. The funky costumes the road safety crew was wearing to let us know to turn at a certain place. Yes we had signs but having someone blowing HUGE bubbles make you smile no matter how crappy you feel. The free ice cream you get from someone who opened their front lawn for us to stop and have our lunch. The people serving us lunch. The coolers full of lovely ice water, pop, juice so you can hit the road again feeling somewhat refreshed. The second campsite which is so lovely with a beautiful beach.  

Day 3: Red Dress Day! The amazing creativity some put into marking that day. The more outrageous the better! The continuing gorgeous scenery on our way to Kingston. It truly is amazing. The stranger who joined me and said “do you mind if I cycle with you a little bit? I’m on my way home and could use some company”. The arrival at Queen’s University. What a beautiful university it is. It is as close to university as I will ever get in my life. Eat warm food, use the bathroom that is not a port-a-potty. Finding my room, realizing I’m not sharing with anyone! Finding a Coffee Crisp chocolate bar at my door. A power wash force type of shower. Visiting said shower at least 3 times. Socializing with team mates, experiencing the summer camp camaraderie. Walking back to my room in a quiet neighborhood, enjoying the beautiful buildings. Sleeping in a bed I didn’t have to blow up, in a room I didn’t have to set up.  

Day 4: An embracing hug when I needed it. Someone who allowed me to cry and feel miserable. Someone who accepted my apology. Finally arriving at camp, setting up tent and going to the lake. Chatting with a lady who has been a long time camper at the camp site and finding out more about her and her life. Making a connection so to speak. It was great. Getting asked by one of the rustler leader to be part of his team for next year and of course accepting! Candlelight ceremony. So touching and humbling to be included in this. I never had to go through what some went through. I never had to face stigma (well, other than stuttering but that’s not stigma, people laugh at you), always had it easy. As I looked around me and saw people cry, hug each other in understanding, I almost felt ashamed in my privileged upbringing as a heterosexual woman.  

Day 5: Did I mention the fabulous scenery? My goodness the scenery is to die for. I wanted to stop all the time and take a photo. I would have had so many selfies! But I was too concentrating on my “schedule”. The wonderful bike path along a highway. The bumps that made you go “weeee!!!” like a little kid. The person who said “I want to ride with you”. The camaraderie that came from a group of women. There is something to say about women power. I don’t know if it’s because we’re supposed to be the “weaker sex” but bloody hell, team up and you can move mountains! The money that was lent to me so I could have ice cream. The lake, the water on the lower part of my body felt amazing. My legs and ass were feeling soooooo much better. Bag balm and Vaseline.  

Day 6: The realization that it’s almost over. There is a certain excitement mixed with sadness about that day. I was excited about that day because I was going to motherland. I was going to see Quebec, Montreal and the surrounding area in a way that I didn’t get to experience before. The Quebec sign. I didn’t get my photo taken with it so ce n’est que partie remise. The cookie dough ice cream. Me saying “bonjour” with an English accent! Translating to others when they didn’t understand what people were saying to us. Getting to Canal Lachine. Setting on the ground thinking “OMG I’m almost there!”  Going up Berri, turning the corner and not really see anything or anyone through my tears but hearing the cheers. Tasting a beer, sitting alone and bursting into tears because I was so tired and spent, I had no more control of my emotions. Talking to others, taking it all in. We had done it, we had cycled over 600 kms from Toronto to Montreal. WE. DID. IT!!!!

So this concludes the journey I set out 10 months ago when I signed on the dotted line. It has been incredible, uplifting, touching, exhilarating, sad, all these things that make it an unforgettable experience. I have been lucky, I didn’t get injured or hit. I have made some very good friends, I strengthened my relationship with myself. I don’t always love myself but when I think about this, I do. I will always recommend anyone who wants to experience it and come out a stronger person. In many ways, I was very lucky to do it. Where else will you have the opportunity to grow so much as a human being and have such fun doing it?