I have to admit that my last day of cycling was not only anticlimactic but also a real slog. Maybe it was a hangover from the Fundy Parkway our simply a realization that the trip is almost over—who knows?
What I didn’t realize is that we were in for an amazing stay in Summerside with our hosts Leigh and Sandra. We’d have many laughs and Charles would have a few days to reminisce about his time in PEI working with Leigh and the RCMP.
Sleeping “athletes”
Leigh couldn’t believe how much the two athletes could sleep (“athletes” said with the perfect PEI accent dripping with sarcasm). We did manage to tour parts of the island and see Charlottetown.
25th Anniversary of the Confederation Bridge
Approaching the bridge from New Brunswick is quite and impressive sight. This is a thirteen kilometre span across the Northumberland Straight replacing a ferry service that likely operated since Confederation (I made that last part up).
We’re going to have the privilege of experiencing the bridge from a very different perspective; I’ll be the kid in the candy store.
Leigh explained a number of the maintenance items he’s involved in and it’s quite fascinating. There are bearings at the end if the 600 foot spans that support the suspended 200 foot sections leading to the next 600 foot cantilever. The supported sections slide on these bearings as the bridge expands and contracts. His team must lift the bridge section (several hundred tonnes I believe – I wasn’t paying attention here) and then replace the bearing material.
Much of the work they perform is done under adverse conditions be it:
- high winds
- extreme temperatures
- and fast moving tides
Leigh, over his career on the bridge, has developed solutions to address the above factors, in many cases where nothing exists due to the uniqueness of the bridge and its environment.
Oh, and I now understand why cyclists are not allowed to cross on their own!
Another perspective
We’re getting spoiled: we emerge from the bowels of the bridge and find ourselves boarding the boat for another view of this engineering marvel.
Seeing the bridge from water level was so amazing. It gave me an appreciation for the scale of the construction project itself. The piers and bridge sections were built in a yard and moved on a rail line to the wharf’s edge where an enormous barge/crane took the sections out to the crossing site.
That’s it
A drive to Moncton to catch the train to Montreal. It’s been 28 days since Penny, Charles and I left Ottawa, twenty of them on our bikes for about 1400 kilometres.
Zero flat tires
Sounds like you had a blast. Well done guys, looking forward to catching up this week.
Thnx Paul (and Charles) for sharing your adventures with us… what an achievement!!! Your pictures, your comments, your jokes??? made us feel like we were biking alongwith you!!! Take care and hope the train trip back proved to be a nice restful scenic voyage home… train travel another way of touring beautiful Canada… Welcome Back home!!!
Was fun having you along Leona and great to be home too
0 flat tires is an accomplishment!!
I’d take the odd flat over a twisted derailieur any day 🤓
Congratulations on completing your journey Chuck and gang. Thank you for the pics and stories – What fun! Inspiring, too. Will J join you on the next adventure?
What a great accomplishment! I really admire everyone’s endurance, I feel exhausted just following your adventure. Thanks for sharing all the stories and pictures.