Meine Familie in Canada - Meine Homepage

Cross Canada Bike Tour

Bike Tour Logo

Start Date: June 26th, 2009

Wolfgang and Udo are cycling across Canada from "Vancouver to the Ridge of Manitou" (Parry Sound). Wolfgang has volunteered as a Big Brother since early 2002. Throughout his involvement Wolfgang has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment and devotion to our agency and, more important, to the children he has worked with. His consistency, patience and sheer enjoyment of his role as a Big Brother are what make him the embodiment of what Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer should be. We are extremely grateful for all that Wolfgang has and continues to do for children in our community.

All proceeds from their tour will be given to Big Brothers Big Sisters Kitchener-Waterloo & Area in support of our programs.

Final Blog: Monday, August 3rd: About 60 people, family and friends, cheered when they rode into the Golf Club at The Ridge of Manitou. Lots of hugs and kisses after 5 1/2 weeks away, followed by a wonderful BBQ at the clubhouse.

Sunday, August 2nd: the last full day of biking. Udo and Wolfgang ended up in Point au Baril.

Saturday, August 1st: Wolfgang and Udo went back to 'Science North'- a place worth visiting.

Last report had Wolfgang and Udo resting in Spanish from Tuesday, July 28th to early Friday, July 31st. On their way to Sudbury they encountered lots of traffic with lots of trucks. Added to that, the roads were rough and without shoulders. They both agreed that this was the worst stretch of road on the whole trip! Their comment: "we should be shamed to call this road- The Trans Canada Highway." After a nice dinner they went back to the 'Science North' Imax and caught a Grand Caynon movie.

Previous Blogs

Friday, June 26th: Wolfgang and Udo arrived safely in Vancouver with relief when their bikes - pedals, wheels and saddles - came off the plane! By 12:30pm they headed out from Vancouver airport- heading East! Only 9kms into their ride and Udo got a flat tire. Wasting no time, Udo and Wolfgang changed the tire in record time. A local gentleman stopped to talk with them and suggested a much nicer route to Coquitlam- their first overnight. The weather has been perfect for them and last night they stopped in Hope, BC, 160 km into their 4,200 km ride!!

Sunday, June 28th: Wolfgang and Udo woke up to a bit of rain, which stopped as soon as they put on their rain gear! The ride today took them along the Coquihalla Hwy, 4 hrs of uphill to Coquihalla Summit (4068 ft). After a cool beer and a nice supper, off to bed by 8 pm in Merritt, BC.

Monday, June 29th: Their hardest day so far, despite 4 flats on Wolfgang’s bike, they covered 165 km of beautiful scenery, with good weather and ended up in Chase, BC, in a motel right on the Trans Canada.

Tuesday, June 30th: Wolfgang had his 2nd flat (6th on the rear wheel with the new spokes) of the day -still a distance from Revelstoke. He was fed up and called CAA. When he told them he had a flat tire-on his bike- they hung up. Not discouraged, he called back and gave them the make and license of his car (parked in his driveway at home). CAA truck arrived- super-friendly driver- picked them and their bikes up and took them to a bike store in Revelstoke, where Wolfgang got a new rear wheel. After dinner they sat outside looking from their hotel in Revelstoke at RogersPass- their next days work!

Wednesday, July 1: Rogers Pass is 1330m high, a little higher than Coquihall, but not as steep. No problem for them. They are in better shape on the 6th day of their journey and still get along fabulously!! Staying in Golden, BC. Wolfgang can see the ski hill, in Kicking Horse, that he skied down this past February. Udo had a flat tire just after they passed the summit.

Thursday, July 2nd: Lake Louise was their destination- 80 km into the wind felt harder than uphill. There was a 'Great Canadian Holiday' Bus from Kitchener parked at their hotel. The driver, Donald Hoffman, used to be an avid biker and also a Big Brother. Udo and Wolgang talked with him about their adventure and the purpose of their trip; he donated towards the cause- thank you!

Friday July 3rd: Beautiful weather and amazing scenery along the Bow Valley Parkway into Banff and on to Calgary. This evening they stayed with Udo's nephew in Calgary.

Saturday, July 4th:Bassano, Alberta was their final destination for the day.

Sunday, July 5th: The wind is not co-operating; riding into the wind all day. They made it to Medicine Hat.

Monday, July 6th: Another bright day. Early in the afternoon they took a break by the side of the highway. A pick-up truck stopped and backed up to where they were sitting. The driver asked them about their home and destination and told them that his background was Hutterite. He asked them if they had had a good lunch yet; he then offered them homemade bread, summer sausage and bacon- which they happily accepted! Later that afternoon the sky got darker and darker, heavy rain and a severe thunderstorm ensued which made the rest of their ride less than pleasant. They told Karin, Wolfgang's wife that a bolt of lightening struck right beside them-they felt it!! Still dealing with 50 km winds when the rain stopped and the only hotel/motel in Maple Creek, Sask. was really run down- not their favourite day!

Tuesday, July 7th: Today Wolfgang and Udo had the wind in their back and made 140kms in 5 1/2 hrs. Their destination for the evening is in Swift Current, Sask. 2880 km left to Parry Sound!

Wednesday, July 8th: They made it to Moose Jaw, Sask. There was a Boston Pizza close to their hotel, so they decided to have dinner there. (Wolfgang and Udo wear their BBBS Bike Shirts when they go out at night). The lady manager at Boston Pizza came over to talk to them- she recognized the BBBS Logo. When they asked to pay for their meal and drinks, she told them that it was on the house. They thanked her very much!

Thursday, July 9th: Grenfell, Sask. Weather was good and the terrain is pretty flat and the wind pushed them 202kms today. Wolfgang said they reached 50km/hr at some point. Wolfgang has 'fond' memories of Grenfell- the last time he did the Vancouver to Kitchener bike ride in 2000 he was stuck in a snow storm for 3 days (same little hotel- the only one there!)

Friday, July 10th: Udo and Wolfgang have almost reached the half-way mark. They crossed into Manitoba today and there is only one hour time difference left. They had a good day, but it was cold. Only 7 degrees Celsius this morning and cool again tonight in Virden, Manitoba. - No more flat tires, just rolling along.

Saturday, July 11th: It started raining just as they arrived at their hotel in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. The roads are rough and without any shoulders. Most cars and trucks are very considerate of bicycles, but the odd one does not like to share the road.

Sunday, July 12th: They got through Winnipeg and ended up in Ste. Anne, Manitoba. Udo and Wolfgang love to talk to people and have gotten good advice along the way. Someone suggested taking a little detour along Hwy. 26, adding a few kms to their trip, but a much less travelled route. They only met about 10 cars on this stretch- a welcome change from the Trans Canada Highway.

Monday, July 13th: They rode 100km and crossed from Manitoba into Ontario and decided to take a little break- but Wednesday morning off again!

Wednesday, July 15th: Wolfgang and Udo found a beautiful lakeside hotel in Vermillion Bay. It is so remote, no service on their Blackberry, no e-mail.

Thursday, July 16th: Wolfgang and Udo only biked 50 kms in heavy rain and 10 degress celsius. Wolfgang bought a sweater and gloves- that's how cold it is! They called it quits in Dryden. There was no resturaunt, just a little grocery store where they bought a BBQ'd chicken and two cans of peas!

Friday, July 17: Forcaste in Dryden calls for showers and 9 degrees celsius this morning- It's not just the rain from above but the shower from each passing car & truck sends their way, makes their journey more challenging. In total they covered 107 KM to Ignace, ON.

Saturday, July 18: They found a little motel outside Upsala, not too appealing with lumpy bed. OUr two bikers did not sleep too well and were out early - on their way to Thunder Bay.

Sunday, July 19: On their way into Thunder Bay they stopped and asked for a nice hotel - and a beautiful hotel they found, right on the water, overlooking the harbour. Clean - good beds and a nice resturant. The weather was finally sunny and dry yesterday, but lots of trucks on the Trans Canada, even on a Sunday. The area forecast calls for dry conditions today, -wish them luck!
Monday, July 20th and Tuesday, July 21st: No cell phone signal from Nipigon and Terrace Bay. Wolfgang did manage to call from a pay phone last night. They have had two dry days- He remembers from his last trip how hard this stretch is for biking. He calls it 'The Northern Rockies'. Long stretches uphill, a short downhill and then up and up again. They called it quits in Terrace Bay and were really tired. They are under 1000kms away from The Ridge of Manitou- 970 kms to go!

Wednesday, July 22nd: Today it rained off and on. The terrain is still very hilly. Udo had a flat tire- just minutes before they arrived in Marathon, their last stop for the night.

Thursday, July 23rd: Sunshine all day- a rare treat this summer! Toward the end of the day, Wolfgang spotted another biker coming up behind them. That German pride took over and they stepped into the pedals. Can't have another biker pass them! They stopped in White River.

Friday, July 24th: Another dry day and not too much traffic. 720kms more and they will arrive at their destination- the Ridge of Manitou. They stopped in Wawa tonight.

Saturday July 25th: Another rainy day for Wolfgang and Udo. They had to bike through Lake Superior Provincial Park - no hotel or restaurant on the way. Even in Montreal River, where they ended up for the day- there was just a camp and a little grocery store. They rented a little cabin, bought some potatoes and sausage and had dinner by the campfire.

Sunday, July 26th: They are finally connected again, so we can send e-mails. It looked threatening at times, but Udo and Wolfgang stayed dry today, unlike us. It is still a hilly trek- and they admit to being tired but as soon as they reached the top, of yet another uphill battle, they were rewarded with a 'Million Dollar' view of Lake Superior. Udo and Wolfgang are in Sault Ste. Marie now. They both have lost weight but feel great and are a bit ahead of schedule. Wolfgng and Udo will take it easy and take the next sunny day off to just rest and eat!! JUST 340kms TO GO!

Monday, July 27th: Wolfgang and Udo were just on their way out of Sault St. Marie, when a part on Udo's front bike carrier broke. They found a bike store, where they could not help, but sent them back another 10kms to a hardware store. It was noon before they had the carrier fixed and on their way. Wolfgang and Udo made it to Bruce Mines, a Bavarian Inn. They did have internet, but no hydro. When they woke up the next day, the hydro was on, made a pot of coffee and shortly after that no hydro again. They had to use hot tap water for their granola- not very appetizing!

Tuesday, July 28th: Wolfgang and Udo are sitting at a Tim Horton's in Blind River, after biking 80kms that morning. By evening they arrived at Waterfall Lodge in Spanish, ON. Time to rest for two days- they did not encounter any big delays all the way from Vancouver and are a bit ahead of schedule. This must be a beautiful lodge- Udo and Wolfgang have rented a boat for today. They will go fishing and join other fisherman for a Fish Fry tonight.

On Friday morning they head for Sudbury, stay two nights, continue Sunday to Point au Baril and from there to The Ridge of Manitou for a 'Heroes Welcome' on Monday.

_______________________________________________________________________

Mein Onkel Udo und seine Golfanlage in Ontario

Zu seinem 65 Geburtstag bekam er ein Wappen geschenkt...das hat unserer Familie ja auch wirklich noch gefehlt.Schade das meine Oma das nicht mehr miterleben konnte. Die hätte sich darüber bestimmt gefreut!

Ja auf diesen Onkel kann man wirklich stolz sein.Das was er in all den Jahren aufgebaut hat, soll ihm erst einmal einer nach machen.

Leider zahlen wir Familienmitglieder für seine Auswanderung einen hohen Preis...denn wer kann schon mal eben auf einen Kaffee und einem Klönschnack nach Canada fliegen....

www.ridgeatmanitou.com/
Ridge at Manitou in Ontario/ Canada