Silver Linings...

Yesterday we enjoyed Juan Diego Flores performing the 9 High C's from the Donizetti's opera Daughter of the Regiment. After a wonderfully satisfying meal, in the cozy warm kitchen of the old farmhouse (beef stew and crusty bread), we retired to the music room. Drinks in hand, we gathered around the piano and sang some of the old standards. Beverly was wonderful on piano and Bette sang beautifully doing a few saucy tunes and reciting a wonderful monologue involving an "up and coming cyclist". I even joined in for a few numbers; it's been years since I'd used my singing voice, but it felt good to stretch my vocal legs, as it were. We sang and laughed into the evening. It was delightful!

Oh, I think I may have skipped ahead, forgive me. I stopped in to see Bette at the Tantramar Theatre on Victoria Street on Thursday and, after visiting with her and her friend Becky for a time, it was decided that I would join Bette and her housemate Beverly for a home cooked meal the following day. I was happy to accept. I met Bette at the theatre at 4pm and loaded all of my belongings into her trunk and back seat and we drove down Victoria Street to their lovely historic home on the west side of Amherst. Bette runs the local theatre company and is very active with the youth of Amherst, and Beverly is retired from her post as the Chief Librarian of the Cumberland Regional Library here in Amherst and is also active in the treatre as well as teaching voice. In calling this post "Silver Lining", I mean to point out that meeting these ladies, as well as many other wonderful people here in Amherst, gives some sense to being stalled here for a time. Bette and Beverly insisted I stay with them for the duration of my layover. The though of me sleeping in the woods while I waited for my new equipment to arrive, was simply unheard of. The first night I slept in the carriage house, attached to the main house, and then next night, because of the chill outside, Bette moved me into one of the "warm beds" here in the house. I'm having the best time getting to know these wonderful and accomplished ladies, and I think they're enjoying my company as well. What an interesting twist!


I just listened to my interview on VPR with Mitch Wertlieb. It's a really good interview. Enjoy!

Damp and Drizzly Day...

It was a good thing I stopped at Canadian Tire last night and picked up a new larger (9x12) tarp in preparation for the predicted thunder storm, and BOY WAS IT A STORM! The sound of heavy rain pounding down on a new tarp is deafening. Thanks to the new nine by twelve, I was dry and warm. It was like sleeping in the Ritz Carlton...kind of. I ran into Wanda today at the post office and she told me my dinner from her and Paul at Diane's in Five Islands is all arranged. As recommended, I'll be having the Flounder, I can't wait. Thanks again! (BTW, I never got your email). I had a nice interview this morning with Mitch Wertleib from Vermont Public Radio. It was cool talking with him since I've been listening to VPR for years. Oh yeah, I talked to Woody at the bike shop back in Brattleboro today and he told me that the new bike was shipped today via UPS. If all goes well, it should arrive on Thursday! Basil is helping me get the bike set up once it arrives and I guess this means I'll be pedalling again sometime this weekend. We're only up to $255 Canadian on my recovered bicycle on eBay. I really hope it does better than that. It's an awesome bike, and I'm hoping to raise a good amount to help support the YMCA. They're struggleing for money and they can use all the help they can get. If you'd like to make a contribution directly, please send it to:

Cumberland YMCA
P.O. Box 552
Amherst, NS
B4H 4A1
(902) 667-9112
http://www.ymcaofcumberland.com

OK, gotta run!

Cheers!

~B

Getting Itchy...

Well, tonight makes two weeks since I first rolled into beautiful downtown Amherst. It's been interesting and everyone's been great, but I'm getting itchy to get back on the road. By the time the bike auction completes and my replacement bike gets here, it will be three weeks. That's how long it took me to get here in the first place. The bright side is that I'll be well rested for the next leg of the trip.
div>I'm heading over to see Bette at the Tantramar Theatre to see if I can put in some volunteer work, since having all this time on my hands without any structure is madening. I'm open to other volunteer gigs while I'm here, paid one's are OK too, but I'm mainly interested in staying busy. I'm attaching my resume; except for the job and the apartment, it's current. If I was using a Mac, this image would be a nicely cropped copy of my resume and
not the silly screenshot that you see here. I just updated the resume with one the one I got from Steve at the library - that's awesome!)Either way, you get the idea. I've been camping at a new "undisclosed location" that is way better than the other site's I'd been at previously. It feels more like a groomed campground than just a hunk of woods that's off the beaten path. I'll stay there until I scout out another spot, maybe closer to the downtown. I filled an entire trash bag with rubbish that was on the ground there, that's the deal I have with the places I camp - I take all my trash with me as well as whatever I find lying around (within reason, there are things sometimes that I can't fit into a trash bag). I guess that's all part of the rationalization I employ for camping for free, that and the fact that before all this civilization happened, that's how travellers did it. I don't believe Lewis and Clark, Lord Jeffery Amherst and his cohorts, or the early Acadians stayed at cozy campgrounds or roadside motels. We've come a long way since those times, but the woods are still the same. Camping, if you haven't done much of it, is great for imposing a certain simplicity on your daily routine. The things to which we've all become accustom wind up getting placed into one of a few categories like "essential", or "worth having, but really heavy", or "not necessary, but really light". Everything comes down to size and weight. If you had to carry all of your possessions every day in order to continue using them, how many of us would be buying plasma TV's? Think about that one next time you're at circuit city, "I'll take the video iPod please". Then again the other real consideration that comes into play is where to charge all of the essential electronic devices. I've got a cell phone (which I'm trying not to use), and a digital camera - that's it. The positive side of camping is experienced when you get to lie in your tent with all your "stuff" around you, everything you need to survive, and the world takes on a sense of simplicity. Get rid of the cell phone and the need to go online to email, blog, and bank and you'll be good to go. I've enjoyed doing the blog and all this electronic communication, but it does tend to impose a certain connectedness that is blissfully avoided when you're speeding down some new and undiscovered road on your way to wherever. Waking up in the morning and hearing the birds (which start singing up here at 3:30am) and watching the sunlight bounce off your tent as the leaves flicker back and forth in the morning breeze is like being in some grand cathedral. There is no more peaceful a place to be. That feeling of reverence will always stay with me long after this ride is over. ~B

Another Day in Amherst

See the bike on eBay!

Real Player Audio Clip - Bike Theft in Canada
Bob Viens was planning to ride across Nova Scotia, but his bike was stolen the day after he arrived. Coming up, a look at bike theft from a number of angles ... from police, to thieves, to bike-recoverers ... Host Kathryn Gretsinger will even speak with someone who was inspired by the theft of his bicycle to make a movie.











But first, WHAT'S UP WITH ALL THE SNAILS UP HERE????

Dateline Amherst!

The bicycle, minus the bags and all of the gear, was recovered Saturday morning in surprisingly good condition. I guess it was too hot to handle. Read all about it in the articles below. Remember all of the photos and the articles, and journal pages expand by just clicking on them. When you're done reading or looking, click the back button to return to the blog. Well, I'm off to Tim Horton's to get some more of this lucky adventure down on paper. Cheers!




Photo by Raissa Tetanish





















Thanks Jean!

It's a Wonderful Life...

On Friday when I was walking from the library down Victoria Street to the police station wearing my bike outfit and my clicky bicycle shoes carrying only my camera bag, my battery chargers, and my journal I had a feeling that, in spite of what had just befallen me, everything would turn out alright, that I'd get through it and that something special was ahead of me while I figured out what happens next. Well, I was right. Yesterday I received a visit from Amherst Police Chief Ian Naylor who was carrying a check from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. Between that check, the donation I received from Canadian Tire, and another generous check that came in the mail this morning, I have more than enough to replace all that was taken from me and to get me back on the road. I can't thank everyone enough for all of the generosity, love, and support that you've shown me during, what has proven to be, the most unusual week of my life. This has been a truly humbling and uplifting experience. I am deeply grateful.

I'd like to encourage any of you who would still like to contribute, but haven't had the opportunity to do so, to send your contributions to one of the following. I'll be doing the same shortly:

The Salvation Army
93 Main Street
PO Box 516
Springhill, NS BOM 1X0
902-667-1574
Jamie Hillier was there for me during a very low point over the weekend.

The Cumberland Regional Library
PO Box 220
Amherst NS B4H 3Z2
902-667-2549
I don't know what I would have done without their helpful and understanding staff.

I'll be posting more shortly, but I wanted to get the word out as soon as possible. By the way, all of the photographs and journal pages pictured in my posts are expandable by just clicking on them. I've been doing a lot of writing in my journal about this experience and I'd like to share it with all of you. I apologize in advance for my handwriting. After you've read the enlarged journal entry just click the "Back" button to return to the blog.

Again, thank you all for being the good apples that chased away the bad.

Cheers!

~B

The Kindness of Others...

Sorry I didn't get to my email and the blog 'til now. I got a job! Actually, I ran into the owner of one of the big department stores in Amherst. He helped out with the bike fund and in appreciation I'm spending a couple of days as a bike assembly technician! Today was exhausting, but at the end of the day the bike department looked fantastic. I couldn't help thinking of my nieces while was assembling the little pink bikes with the streamers.

Anyway, in the end I've come to realize through all of this that, to quote an old philosopher, the Lord helps those who help themselves. I put in the call to Woody at the bike shop and he's building me a new bike - duplicate to the one that's served me so well over the last year and all through this adventure. I can't shake the feeling that I just want my bike back, and since that doesn't seem to be happening, I'm doing the next best thing. I'm even going to have someone at Auto Mall send me an Auto Mall license plate so I can replace my custom Auto Mall mud flap. I was quite attached to it. Since being in the newspapers and on the radio and on TV, I've been flooded with emails and phone calls offering used bikes, vacation homes, and even a date or two (kinda scary). In response to this, I've arranged with the bike shop to start a "Get Bob Back On Two Wheels" fund. I'm using my work money, and any other I might get from work the rest of the week to get me started on replacing everything that I lost and to get me on my way. I had everything down to a science, the riding, the sleeping, the eating, and I miss it all very much. I just want my "life" back and to get on the road. I rode here to see Nova Scotia and the Canadian Maritimes and I plan on doing it.

If you'd like to help, please send whatever you can to:

Get Bob Back On Two Wheels
c/o Burrow's Specialized Sports
105 Main Street
Brattleboro, VT USA 05301

Please make checks payable to: Burrow's Specialized Sports

I'll be having Burrow's send me a list of names and addresses and will be expanding my postcard mailing list drastically for my future travels. Now I just need to ask Woody if they make an alarm for a bike. Beep Beep....

Thanks for all your love and support,

~B

Highway Robbery

And from Vermont's Rutland Herald... (click here)

Taking Stock...

A Bit of a Setback...

Scene of the crime...
Yesterday, I got to the library when it opened at 10am, secured my bike to the tree on the lawn of City Hall (picture here), and while I was getting updated on my blog and email and banking and reading the local papers and planning my route, someone made off with my bike and most of my stuff. I am however fortunate that Amherst Nova Scotia was the place for my misfortune. Since reporting the crime, I have been showered with assistance from many concerned townspeople. The nice woman at the police station set it all into motion, I'll get her name today. Police Officer Mark and City Councelor George were the first on the scene. Mark drove me around in an effort to locate the bike, George and Kerry and Skippy made arrangenments for hotel accomodations, a clothes and personal items shopping spree at Walmart, gift certificates at Tim Hortons (the Canadian version of Dunkin Donuts - only better!), a great meal last night at Teasers, and what knows what. I couldn't have picked a better place to get stranded.

Here's what was stolen...

BIKE:
- Raleigh Mojave 8.0 Mountain Bike
- WTB SLICKasaurus 26x1.5 tires
- Axion Champlain Journey Series Paniers with Axiom Rack
- Topeak QR Beam Rack MTX with MTX Trunk Bag
- Topeak TourGuide Handlebar Bag Mounting Bracket
- Novara Bar Top Handlebar Bag
- HydraPak Big Sur Hydration Backpack
- Cateye Velo 8 Cyclometer
- Topeak Redlight Series Blinking Tail Light
- Shimano Clipless Pedals
- Specialized A1 Dirt Rodz Bar Ends - centrally mounted
- Mirrycle MTB Bar End Mirror
- Alcatraz Cable Bicycle Lock
- O2 RainWear Jacket
- Red Legde Rain Pants
- Auto Mall Custom License Plate Front Fender
- Bell Solar Helmet
- Specialized Gel Bike Gloves
- Specialized Cold Weather Bike Gloves
- Full Cold Weather face Mask and Hood
- Topeak Mini MasterBlaster Tire Pump
- Cassette Removal Tool, Chainwhip, and Adjustable Wrench
- Bianchi Bib Bike Shorts
- Chamois Butter

CAMP:
- The North Face Talus 2-Person Tent
- EMS Down Sleeping Bag - 20 degree rating
- ThermaRest Trail Inflatable Mattress
- Byer Amazonas Parachute Traveller Hammock
- Jetboil PCS Stove with additional fuel canisters
- PUR Hiker Water Purifier
- KleanKanteen 40oz Stainless Water Bottle
- Pro Rainer PVC Rain Poncho
- Corona Razor Tooth Saw
- Princeton Tec Solo Headlamp
- Quisinart 2qt. Stainless Bowl for laundry and bathing
- Stainless Camping Utensil Set
- Custom Clothes Line
- Coffee Cup and Single Serve Melita Coffee Maker
- Ace Hardware 2" (Latrine) Shovel

CLOTHES:
- Eastpack Duffle Bag
- Asolo Leather Hiking Boots with Orthotics
- Leather Light Dress Shoes
- Pearl Izumi Running Pants
- Columbia Khaki Pants
- Socks and Underwear
- Leather Belt
- Wash Cloth and Towel
- Two T-Shirts (one long sleeve, one short)
- Sleeping Cap

PERSONAL:
- Synthroid 125MCG Prescription
- Multi Vitamins and Aspirin
- Tooth Brush and Tooth Paste
- Shaving Cream and Razor
- Sunscreen and Bug Repellant
- Electric Hair and Beard Trimmer
- Dr. Bronner's Liquid Soap and Woolite Laundry Soap
- Mom's Deluxe First Aid Kit

MISC:
- Grundig Mini300 AM/FM/SW Radio
- Mace Muzzle Dog Repellant Spray
- One Large Cornflake


Here's what they didn't get...

- Wallet and ID's
- Topeak TourGuide Handlebar Bag
- Sony DCS R-1 10MP Digial Camera and Charger
- Rollei 35SE 35mm Camera with Ilford HP5 Black and White Film
- Specialized Cycling Shoes with Shimano Cleats
- Sugoi Cycling Shorts
- Burrow's Specialized Sports Jersey
- Pearl Izumi Cycling Socks
- Crank Bros M17 Multi Tool
- Gerber Suspension Multi Tool
- Eagle Creek Tent Locks (2)
- US Cellular LG VX4400 Cell Phone with Spare Batteries and Charger
- My optimism and faith in good people

I refuse to be defeated by this. I fully intend to recover or replace what was taken regardless of how long it might take, and be back on my way. I rode here to see Nov Scotia, and see it I shall! I'll keep you posted.

Thanks Amherst!

~B

Welcome to Nova Scotia!

I MADE IT! The weather today is fantastic and is expected to be for the next few days. The winds off the marshes however is nothing short of insane. In the middle of the night, early yesterday morning, before heading out from Salisbury NB to Amherst Nova Scotia the wind started to blow. I jumped out of my tent to get the rain flap on thinking we were about to have a torrential downpour, but it never rained. After getting the tent secured, I ended up standing in my adopted apple orchard watching the sky in amazement at the intensity of the sky. It gave me the feeling that I wasn't in Kansas anymore. This is definitely a different kind of place. The ride into Nova Scotia was difficult in that my left calf had started telling me "enough already" the day before and was continuing to remind me through mid-day. Fortunately, the winds that had started in the middle of the night were now blowing directly at my back for a good portion of the ride. I was inclined to take it as a sign that I was being "helped" into Nova Scotia, but then I realized that I'm probably not sooo important that the winds would blow on everyone else solely for my benefit. I think nature just happens and we all make the most of it. Anyway, whatever the cause, I was grateful. As soon as I passed through Sackville NB it was even mostly down hill and my calf had stopped it's complaining. I flew into Nova Scotia. When I got to the sign above it I took a bee-line across the lawn directly to it and snapped this photo. Total miles: 950, total time: 22 days (with 2 days off in Bar Harbor).

What's next? I'll be heading out of Amherst probably today and am thinking about heading South (counter-clockwise) from here. I'll be following the coast for the most part with side trips as suggested by the locals. That's all I know for now. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears. OK, I'm off! Cheers! ~B

Nova Scotia or Bust!

I'm in Salisbury New Brunswick, only about 50 miles or so from Nova Scotia. Actually I kind of like this part of New Brunswick. I took the rural route through farm county instead of doing the "amazingly scenic coastal route". I' ve seen enough amazing coastal scenery, at this moment for me it's more about the ride than the scenery. My last two trips to the NB coast have been excruciating and I was yerning for rolling farmland. Well, I found it.



Well, I need to get back on the road. I'll be in Nova Scotia tomorrow!

Cruising through Canada!

I'm in Quispamsis New Brunswick a few kilometers east of Saint John, on Route 100. Once again, I'm at a library that doesn't allow photo uploads - too bad, I have a lot of pictures to share. I made a brief tour through Saint John yesterday afternoon, unfortunately it was later in the day and I had to make my way back out of town so I could find a safe campsite outside of any inner-city complications. I ended up making camp in the median between the east and west bound lanes of Highway Route 1, which I've been stuck on most of the way in Canada. It was a perfect, and relatively peaceful spot, except for the couple of tattletale crows that insisted on heralding my presence as soon as the sun appeared. Thankfully, I brought earplugs.


I had no difficulty getting into Canada, in fact I only needed my drivers license. BTW, bi-lingual keyboards are significantly different that the ones in the states, geez! I've been logging some good mileage days. On Sunday, the day I left Bar Harbor, I did 72 miles, and Monday I cranked through 81. Yesterday, my first day in Canada was 95 kilometers(when in Rome), which is like 58 miles, unfortunately my on saddle-weary behind had reared it's ugly head and I'm needing to back off until I can toughen up again. Today already feels better. I had a coffee and a donut at my first Tim Horton's It was great! I have noticed that the New Brunswickers are hesitant to ask about what I'm up to, unlike the folks all along the Maine border. I think it's a cultural politeness thing. If I manage to break the ice with it, like I did today at the Tim Horton's by saying "this is my first time in a Tim Horton's", then they're very friendly and interested, but I have to initiate the conversation. I wonder if that will be the same in Nova Scotia.

Well, I need to get on the road. It's already 3:10 (I'm on Atlantic time), and I need to get in at least 70 kilometers before I make camp. Route 100 is a nice alternative to the highway. I've also been enjoying Canadian radio. Cheers!

Heading North

I'm getting back on the road today after a much needed rest in Bar Harbor. I love this town! Everyone has been so genuinely friendly and accommodating. My favorite parts have been the ladies at the public library, the Opera House Coffee and Internet Cafe...



Sean and the guys at the Bike Shop, the Diner next to the cutest little Hannafords ever, the nice couple from Indiana who asked me to join them for ice cream, and the little girl who listened intently to our conversation and wished me a cheerful "Good Luck" as she and her folks were leaving the ice cream shop...


and Clodagh (sp?) from Ireland who was sweetheart for treating me to a pint at the local pub. I even got a nice visit from a couple of really nice U.S. Forest Rangers who improved my education on the boundaries of Acadia National Park, oops! No worries, they were impressed by my undertaking and with the way that I had cleaned up some old broken bottles and cans from a camp out on the same spot that, judging from the containers, must have taken place some time in the 1970's. Yup, Bar Harbor's been great. I wonder what lies ahead. I'm off! ~B

Recharging My Batteries

I'm at the Bar Harbor Public Library doing a little route research and taking care of life online. What an amazing building, it was built in 1911 and I don't think it's changed much - right down to the bathroom in the basement. It's great! I've decided to take a break here and explore Bar Harbor and Acadia for a couple of days. I had an amazing camping experience on the ocean last night. Between the sound of the ocean crashing onto the shore and the pitter patter of rain on my tent's rain fly, it was a wonderful sound-filled outdoor experience. I think I have some really nice photos to share, but the computers at this library won't allow photo uploads. I'll try in a few days at the next stop.

I've actually been feeling a little drained. I picked up some vitamins and some aspirin to keep my blood flowing and I had a whole package of all-natural ham for lunch (no sodium nitrite) since I haven't been eating any meat except for the Bumble Bee Salmon foil packages. Maybe I'll find myself a good steak for supper. Isn't that what a cowboy would do? All in all, I'm getting pretty good at this riding and camping thing. I actually jettisoned a whole backpack of extra stuff that I decided I could live without. Turns out I don't miss it at all. I wonder what else I have that I wouldn't miss. I had a nice visit to the laundromat today. My sleeping bag has become quite ineffective and I figured it was because it needed cleaning. I think it worked. It's so nice to have clean clothes and sleeping stuff. The laundromat had a PC for their customers to use and I ended up spending two and a half hour cleaning up all of the viruses and spyware. I left it running like a new machine. My good deed for the day. Well, my time is up on this machine. I was thinking about seeing the Indiana Jones movie tonight. Did anybody out there see it?

I'm in Ellsworth Maine...

Unfortunately, I'm on a PC thaty wants to restart about every three minutes. Heading down to Acadia this afternoon. I just finished 500 miles, I'm a little tires. OK, my three minutes are up! More later! ~B