Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Sunday, June 21, 2009

day 3 continued





Our last big hill was quite a surprise to us. As we cycled through a small community there were hills but the last very steep part turned to the right so it was out of our view. It took a lot of mental persuasion and prayer to make it that hill. It also helped when Russel got out to take a picture & I was not going to have him taking a picture of me getting off of my bike going up a hill.

WE ended at St. Vincents Beach. We stopped to take a picture by this sign on the way back. We were less than 5 KM from where we had turned around the day before. What a beautiful place to stop. The sea fence behind us is to keep the waves back when the ocean is rough, and across the road is a fresh water lake that is also fed by the tide.

I want to thank Eric and Russell for making the Newfoundland portion of Cycle for Campers possible. Praise the Lord for the beautiful weather and for His providing for many of you so that children & teens in Atlantic Canada can attend a Bible Camp and hear of God's Love and experience it in action.

My bike is back in pieces now and in its box ready to fly home. My flight leaves at 1:50 pm and I arrive in Halifax at 3 pm. I am looking forward to spending the last half of Father's Day with my family.

Happy Father's Day!

Last log





Hi all,

Sorry I did not get a post up yesterday when we were finished. I did not want to hinder the studying of a grad.

We were certainly blessed with another beautiful day. No rain to be had and just a few clouds. The Lord answered the desire of my heart to both finish the 270 Km and to be able to see His beautiful creation while I did it. Last year our one day along the coast it was raining and foggy.

Day 3 - Saturday
We decided to start at the former end seeing how we were not able to go where had been planned the day before. So we got out at the TCH and headed south to St. Mary's. You can see the sign in our picture.

I begin to wonder who kept picking the direction as we were cycling into the wind. It was just a moderate compared to Friday though and we were making good time. The amount of traffic was a little heavier, it being a Saturday and in cottage country. One of the unique characteristics of NL is that there are lakes and ponds all over the place. They certainly are a part of the beauty and lure to the weekend fisherman.

We cycled along fresh water lakes for a time and then we were far enough south to reach the salt water. The air coming off of that cooled us down. Even though there was a breeze against us we had gone 52 KM by our 11:30 lunch time.

After lunch we had a lot more hills and twists and turns in the road. I had to be more careful of my speed going down hills as I did not want to go too fast on the turns and the not so perfect pavement. You can get a bit of our perspective of the turain from the pictures.

continued...

Saturday, June 20, 2009

NL CFC DONE

80 km in 3 hr 22 minutes
Average speed 23.4 km/hr
Top speed 66.8
At 1:45 local time

from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

Friday, June 19, 2009

Day 2 End


We saw this twice.

Day 2 NL



Hi, Day 2 is complete. The pic of Eric & I holding the sign is from the start point this am. It was at the beginnings of what is called the barons. What does that mean? The land is bare, well almost. Very short grass and a very low Juniper bush. The park sign pic, us by the van, and Eric & I are also from that area as well. I am not exactly sure where the pic of Eric is from.

If yesterday was the day of hills than today was the day of wind. The weather man was calling for a west wind, we were heading west, of up to 30 KM/Hr. Well they were right on the wind part. It was very strong and got stronger as the day progressed. Let me explain. If we want to go 25 KM/HR and the wind is against us 50 km/hr then we have to push as hard if we were going 50. When we got t othe tops of the hills the wind was even stronger.

At the end of 50 KM we had just completed a very large hill. It might even be called a mountain in some places. On the way up I had shifted down to #1. That is OK. We were out of the wind. 3/4 the way up the hill it levels out for a bit but we were not sheltered any more. The wind was so strong I could not shift to a higher gear. When we got to the top we decided we should consider driving to the end & cycling with the wind. As we drove the road changed directions and we discovered our time driving might be a wast of time. So we went back to St. Peter's. the top of the 2 KM long hill to be exact, and started back to where we came.

What a change. WE now had the wind helping us instead of hindering us. We traveled the next 40 KMin 1 1/2 hours. At one point I was going 55 KM/HR on a straight stretch with a small incline. We even had to break going down a hill because we would have been going too fast on a windy hill with not so smooth road. However, I did take the opportunity on a small but steep hill to set a new personal speed record of 77.1 KM/HR.

So, there are 2 sets of stats below because we changed directions. Had we not, we might still be there. ON the way home I checked the weather for one of the communities we went through and the west wind was 44 KM/HR with gusts of over 50.

Tomorrow is the last day of 80 KM. The cycling will be done but the donations are still needed! I could aslo use a sponsor to help with the expenses of holding Cycle for Campers.

Thank you for your prayers & support!
Gary

PS - Hi to my family at home!

Day 2 done

40 km more for a total of 90
Last 40 in 1 hr 28 minutes
Ave speed 27 km/hr
Max speed 77.1 km/hr

More later

from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

Wind

WIND!

from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

1/2 way

50 km
Ave 18km/hr
2 hr 34 min

from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

The barons



from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Day 1 Details





Hi,

Wow what a day of contrasts. We started out at 9 am. The first hour or almost 30 KM was fast and easy. WE traveled along over 30 km/hr. At the end of that road we turned right onto the Irish Lop. Most of the next 70 km was up or down hill. We would just get up a hill and then down again. The fun part of that was getting to go over 50 km/hr many times and almost breaking 70. The not so fun part was the up hills. Many very steep and long hills. I don't think I would have made it if John McNair at Outdoor Elements had not replaced a faulty part on my bike with a part from his bike.

It was a warm sunny day. Yes I am in Newfoundland. It is supposed to be warm tomorrow as well. I made sure that I put on lots of sun screen. All except the inside of my arms. They are a bit red, but I put on some aloe.

My bike worked good, even though I had to put a few parts back together. I did adjust the angle of handlebars tonight and put some more air in my tires. I had to go buy a pump as I did not have a hand pump with a proper gauge. It is a Can Tire special and does not work to great so it goes back tomorrow. I should have bought the last one that is like mine at home.

The picture by the van is before we started. The next is the South Shore Arena just south of Witless Bay. That is an iceberg in the background. As you can imagine the wind off of the water was a bit cold. The other sign pic is close to where we ended. We ended about 2 or 3 km past the sign but it was the only sign around. Tomorrow we cross the barons. That will mean wind as there is nothing to stop it.

Thank you for your prayers and support. WE the donations collected so far including what I have been given here, we are up to $4600.

Gary

Day 1 NL

Day 1 complete
100 km
Average speed 22 km/hr
Max speed 69.9 km/hr
Time - 4 hours & 25 minutes

from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

Day 1 NL

On our way to start point. Sunny day.

from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Arrived

Arrived safe & sound. Bike is back together. Weather forecast is great!

from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

Airport

I am at the Halifax airport waiting for my flight. Arrived at 9am and put my bike in a box right through.

from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

More NB pics








Some more NB pics. Guest book is from the NS information center.


Newfoundland











Above are some pics from the NB Tour.
Well, its off to Newfoundland tomorrow. I have to leave Sussex by 6 AM in order to get to the Halifax airport early to make sure there is room for my bike on the flight. We will cycle 270 KM in 3 days. You can check out the map on the cycleforcampers website.








My bike is at the shop getting a once-over and being put into a box. I will put it togther tomorrow in NL and back in the box for the flight home.








WE have almost $3600 in now. Pray that the funds will continue to come in so that more children and teens can attend Bible camp this summer.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Bugle-Observer Article

Cycling for God, an article in the Bugle-Observer was published today. Read about Cycle for Campers online http://bugleobserver.canadaeast.com/lifestyles/article/685783
Sorry Neil. His name is Neil Craig. Thank you to the Bugle-Observer!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Booked Flight

Hi all. I will be adding some pics as soo sa I can. My laptop is in the shop so It may be a few days. I shared with some of you that I was having trouble flying to Newfoundland with my bike. Well I checked with WestJet out of Halifax and no problem. They don't even charge extra if it is my 1 of 2 luggage pieces. Off to NL in 2 weeks.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Day 5 & NB Complete

Day 5 – 107 KM

 

Total 547 KM in 5 days. Details & pics tomorrow.

 

Gary – Now we need more donations!

 

Gary B Long

Administrative Director

CSSM Ministries Atlantic Branch

17 New Line  Rd., Sussex Corner, NB E4E 2X9

506-433-6792

 

Cycle for Campers Founder

www.cssm.ca/cycleforcampers

 

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

End day 4

We were in Sussex by 3pm for our 100 km for the day.

Pics are start & near the end.

from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Done day 3

115km 27 KM/h ave 4 hour 15 minutes riding

from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

Fredericton city hall



from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

1.50



from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

Day 3 lunch



from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

Monday, May 25, 2009

Day 2

What a great! Even tough it rained some in the morning and The wind was blowing very hard, which made it cold, we saw God provide. The wind at our backs from Florenceville to Hartland gave us a push of over 40 KM/h. After my interview at the Bugle/Observer we went to visit an announcer at the radio staion who Neil knows and she got me a live interview. We averaged 27KM/h and talked to a lot of people.

Beginning pic of Neil infront of church and end of a mailbox on routr 105.

from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

Monday

Cool day but making good time we are at my Mum's in Somerville right now. Stopping at the Bugle Observer in Woodstock as I got a call this am.

Pc of the Beechwood dam.

from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

Sunday, May 24, 2009

pics

The pic of the sign is from the NB Quebec border and the other is from just north of St. Lenard.

from my mobile device
Gary Long
www.cycleforcampers.ca

Saturday, May 23, 2009

day1

Great day. 112km wt average speed of 24km per hour

from my mobile device
Gary Long

Friday, May 22, 2009

Early morning


I have to be at Neils for 6am & then north 2 hours. We should be on our bikes by 9am.

from my mobile device
Gary Long

Getting ready

Tomorrow is the first day. We are still in need of a driver for Wednesday from below Fredericton to Sussex .

from my mobile device
Gary Long

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Test

test

from my mobile device
Gary Long

Drivers needed

We are only a few days away from CFC 2009. We are in need of some drivers for my van.

test

Test from laptop

 

Gary B Long

Administrative Director

CSSM Ministries Atlantic Branch

17 New Line  Rd., Sussex Corner, NB E4E 2X9

506-433-6792

 

Cycle for Campers Founder

www.cssm.ca/cycleforcampers

 

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Bike Home

I brought my new bike home last week. We received snow all weekend though so it will be some time before I get on the road. I am not sure if Neil (in NB) or Eric (in NL) have been out yet or not. Maybe they will post and let us know.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

New Bike

Hi,

My new bike is at the bike shop, Outdoor Elements in Sussex. I stopped in for a few minutes yesterday. Wow, does it look great. Can't wait to get on the road.

Gary

Friday, March 27, 2009

Ordered Bike

Hi Everyone,

If you have read my blogs from the past you will know that I have ridden only borrowed bikes the past 2 years for my rides. I train on my own old bike. After the problems that i had last year I decided it was time to buy. After some shopping in larger centers I came back to Outdoor Elements in Sussex. As always, a great place to shop. Thanks John!

What did I get? A Rocky Mountain Oxygen 50 AC. I am looking forward to the road ahead.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

CFC 2009

The third annual Cycle for Campers season has begun. Our website is being updated, the new brochure in being printed, and I am looking for a bike. Pray that the funds that I need woudl come in for a bike. No more borrowing.