"On the Trail"
Saturday, August 25, 2001: I'm Home! - Mirror Lake to home - Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - 52 km
Frank here...
It's funny, the night before both my flashlight batteries died and part way during my bike ride on the very last day, my bike computer also gave out. What timing!
I awoke to a cool and foggy morning. After a nice chat with the staff of the camp I found myself again on highway 11-17, nearing my home-town of Thunder Bay, Ontario.
As I was nearing the outskirts of Thunder Bay, I saw a group of cyclist going the opposite way than I. I had to stop and chat. Bob, Fern and Bill were part of a small group circling Lake Superior, I think that Fern was 73 - COOL! We all inspired each other. They were quite intrigued to meet someone on his last day of an eleven and a half month world odyssey, and I was excited to see some older folks following the same route as my first ever multiday bike tour around Lake Superior. Wind to your back everyone!
I was getting more and more pumped as I neared the McKenzie Inn. It is an inn and restaurant that recently reopened and was a great meeting spot near the corner of Lake Shore Drive. I got there about one hour early which was quite unusual for me, but I needed a buffer just in case I got a flat or other problems. The owners of the inn were expecting me and offered me a free breakfast. I only had time for a cool drink then was met by Louise. I wanted to ride down the highway a bit to the sign of Terry Fox. Terry Fox is one of my heroes. He tried to run across Canada on one leg and one prothesus. Earlier in his life he lost his leg to cancer. Unfortunately he was again consumed by cancer by the time he reached Thunder Bay, and died shortly after. He did, however, leave an everlasting legacy worldwide. I was honoured to have a picture taken beside the Terry Fox Highway sign.
Just before we left to take the pictures (Louise in car, I on bike), my aunt Carmelina and uncle Vitale showed up. It was so nice to see them. Fifteen minutes later, by the time Louise and I returned from the picture taking, there were at least 20 other family and friends. My parents Anna Maria and Dominic, sister Teresa, her husband Kenny and two children, Dominique and Thomas, my brother Sam and his kids, Russell and Danielle, my brother Angelo's kids, Alexandra, Ross and Claire and many friends. Angelo rode on his bicycle with some of the Thunder Bay cycling club and showed up a few minutes later. What a great reception!
I was surprised to have Thunder Bay Television and the Chronicle Journal there as well for interviews, photos and videos. After more photos, a number of us rode to the Lake Shore Inn and were met there by more friends and work mates. We all had lunch there and were sung some songs by one of my old friends Wolfe who is a musical hero of mine.
From there we headed to the Hodder Inn for refreshments. Some went home and some came along. Angelo, Louise, Guy and I continued to visit and finally headed home for dinner.
My goodness, I was home. What a journey - Oregon, California, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, China, Italy, New York, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario. Oh and I musn't forget my short stops in Austria and Tunisia, Africa! I only dreamed about it before, then it became a reality - fond memories peppered with 11,000 kilometers of challenges, excitement, fear, love, sharing, illnesses, frustrations, beauty, hills and headwinds, sandflies, cries of encouragement, poverty and unselfishness, music and laughter, beaches and great historical ruins, hospitality and guidance.
Again I want to thank Tad and PeaceBike for giving me such an awesome opportunity. Even with my visual limitations he was willing to not only embark on an unknown journey but also take on the added responsibility of helping me when I needed it. He did it with love and patience.
Also Louise Trudel, Kathy Beckwith, Angelo Pollari, Kathy DeCampo were all very instrumental in helping me realize my journey.
THANK YOU ALL!
- Wind to your back!
- Frank Pollari
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