Feel free to visit www.randycable.com for more on Randy's extraordinary story. We are in the process of approving a Randy grant to a Saint John family, as one of their sons (aged 7) was recently diagnosed with Leukemia.
And off course it is not too late to donate to the Randy Cable Fund! http://www.randycable.com/fr_home.cfm and click on "The Fund".
We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank very sincerely all those who helped make this journey possible by supporting us along the way. Whether it was a bed, a warm meal, cold oranges, or simply good conversation that they provided, the people we have met (or re-met) on this trip have provided some of the most lasting memories of this experience.
As a small tribute, here is a collection of photos of the people that have helped fill our bellies, give us rest, or simply provide some love and support somewhere along the way:
Uncle Chris and Auntie Polly for the send-off (banner!) and for fattening us up in preparation for this trip:
Our pallies for enough high fives to last a lifetime and for being so gosh darn good looking:
Uncle Harold for the best directions we ever got:
Marion and Roy for veggie lasagna after an epic mountain pass into Kelowna - perhaps one of the most satisfying meals of the entire journey:
Paul and Deirdre for opening their garage-turned-guest-house to some complete strangers, and for putting some hair on Pat's chest (finally) with some of New Zealand's finest home-brewed rum:
The "Gillatrons" for helping us keep the perspective that crossing the country is no way as hardcore as doing an Ironman competition, and of course, for the chocolate cherry crumble made with cherries from their yard:
The Reverend Judy for leaving us a key to her beautiful home, despite the fact that we've never met - someday we'll drop by when you're actually around!
To Nathalie, Tim, and the family for some first-class crepes and post-dinner trampoline entertainment:
Judy and Paul for the delicious meal and for having the faith to leave their food-filled house to strangers:
Ken, Kathy, Mike, Louise and Brian for the most luxurious camping experience we've had, certainly on this trip, and perhaps ever:
Kelly and Anne for some toe-tapping tunes, and a custom bike-repair shop of which made significant use:
Loree and the fam for some true prairie hospitality, including a roast beef dinner from their cattle farm:
To the former Mayor of Swift Current. We've never met you, but we slept underneath your porch at Loree's suggestion - thank you. Also, please turn your lawn sprinklers off when you are away on vacation.Gisella and Okie for feeding us fresh food from their garden and recounting some excellent travel stories of their own:
Ed and Wanetta for being our grandparents on the road and one of the greatest examples of human kindness (especially to two scraggly-looking young people of questionable odeur):
Barb and Laurie, of whom unfortunately we don't have a photo, because we met for only about half an hour before they entrusted us with their beautiful, air-conditioned home, including a well-stocked fridge. Thanks Barb and Laurie - we had one of the biggest home-cooked meals of the whole trip at your house!
For Colleen, Melba, and Doug for super delicious fishes dishes and shelter from the thunder storm tantrum that night:
To a couple of hosts, Craig and Dorothy, with whom we had such a wonderful visit. You guys went above and beyond. We owe you big time.
The Brennans and Ms. Anna for the least practical but most fun diversion we could have made. Thank you to Terry for orchestrating the surprise of the summer.
Cara, Ted, Kelton, Nacoya, and Ciara, for the unimaginable generosity you showed to complete strangers, and for showing some weary travelers true American hospitality. Thank you also for instilling a true love of fishing in Pat.
For Kees, Gail, Jess, and Tyler for interesting stories and great company and for making us feel like part of the family. Also, thanks for serving us the most decadent vegetable dish we've had: chocolate zucchini loaf.
Becky for meeting us in Espanola and supporting our carbo-loading by treating us to an enormous pasta meal and sending us away with sugar-coated baked goodies:
Jen and Mike for a gourmet meal, re-establishing old friendships, and putting up with Caroline's shiny face:
Aisha and Aaron for talking to Pat about the Rheostatics and for making it the second time that folks have joined us for a ride on this trip since the first day:
To Lily, Wai, Stephen, Phil, and Celia for the best Chinese meal since Vancouver, blowing the Canadian-Chinese buffet in Moose Jaw out of the water:
Caroline's dear Wong brother and sister for giving us a little piece of home as well as a tiny, newborn human being to play with:
Ryan and Kathleen for meeting us on the day of their flight for some eggs benedict. Thanks for the eggs-cellent company, guys!
The Lee family who came together to give Auntie Viola a birthday surprise in Hamilton and providing a much-valued (albeit only partially complete) family reunion:
Melanie and Mia for the opportunity to gab and reminisce with old pals and for getting Caroline a bit tipsy in the afternoon:
Our Torontian hosts Jessie and Zack, who, as they have done so many times in the past, made us feel so at home. We really do appreciate your hospitality:
Jane and Efraim for the best homemade breakfast ever: fresh-baked muffins, spinach quiche, fresh fruit, and freshly-squeezed juice. Huzzah:
Michelle and Patrick for some quality Kingston-style visiting and a delicious lunch at The Flying Goat or something.
Jane and Dave for a good old-fashioned Wolfe Island welcome and a chance to check out how our tire treads ran on some lovely gravel roads...
Alex, Haley, Hannah, Ryan, and Kathleen for some down-home Brennan hospitality and being so polite about Pat's new found facial disfigurement:
Kathleen and Bekah for driving to Iroquois from Ottawa in the pouring rain (better than biking it) in order to treat us to dinner. Wheee! :
This magical man named Dinsmore for escorting us into Montreal during rush hour and dropping us off at the doorstep of our hosts for the evening:
John and Bernie for the breakfast nook, including a healthy supply of both bacon and beer:
To Dean for treating two strangers to dinner on their last night of camping on their cross-country bike trip:
The McLaughlins for a real homecoming welcome, with lots of warm hugs, good stories, and wonderful meals including garlic fingers (finally!) and homemade raspberry pie (finally!). And again, for being so gracious about Pat's face problem.
Michael for treating us three to a night in a 1.5-star motel:
Beth and Helene for some fine dining and star-gazing:
Ann, Terry, Mary and Fred for biking the last few kilometres with us into Fredericton and to Joanne, Alison, Katherine, Meagan, and Thomas (sorry, we don't have a picture of you guys!) for celebrating our homecoming with us:
Kathleen for meeting us in the rain (again!) only this time on the "bikel" to complete this epic journey together with us. Thanks for the warm bed, chocolate cake for breakfast, and for being a most loyal supporter of this trip. Kathleen had a goal to keep pace with 10% of the distance we covered over the summer. We believe she achieved over 12%, totalling almost 800 km.
There it is folks: evidence of the bounty of generosity of which we were the lucky recipients over the past few months. Thank you world.
