It’s finally here!! The start of my round the world motorcycle adventure. After over a year of preparation I am totally unprepared. But I was off to Mile 0 in Victoria, British Columbia to start my adventure anyways. I’ve heard that a person will never be fully prepared for an adventure of this type. So I am going with that.
Mile 0
The Mile 0 marker is the start of the over 8,000 km Trans-Canada Highway that spans the entire length of Canada. But it is also symbolic of the the start of my round the world motorcycle adventure. Behind the marker is a statue of Terry Fox. Terry Fox is a true Canadian hero. And as it happens, it is also Canada Day, July 1, 2016.
Terry Fox lost his right leg to cancer when he was 18 years old. He started a cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer research, beginning in Newfoundland on the East coast of Canada, and was to end at the Mile 0 marker in Victoria. Unfortunately, Fox’s journey ended tragically near the halfway mark when he fell ill and passed away from cancer. Since then, hundreds of millions of dollars has been raised in his name for cancer research. He has also inspired millions to achieve their dreams.
Send Off
I was up at 5 am to get to the Mile 0. The day before one of my classmates from Camosun College said she would be there at Mile 0 at 5:45 am to send me off. I really didn’t believe her. I got to Mile 0 at 6 am and to my surprise two of my classmates were there to send me off. Thanks Leila and Michelle! Very special to have the support and encouragement.
Emotions
As I stood at Mile 0, and contemplated the words of Terry Fox, I started to feel the emotions of what I was about to start. I felt relief that it was finally here after a year of planning, struggle and sacrifice to make it happen. There was excitement about the adventure and the places I will see and the people I will meet. And there was also some fear about venturing into the unknown and the risk involved in attempting to achieve my dream and the goal I set for myself. There is no accomplishment without risk.
Dreams
Terry Fox stated,”Dreams are made possible if you try.” That is what I am doing. I hope you are inspired to do the same, no matter what your dream is.
First Day
The first travel Day was simple – Victoria to Abbotsford to meet with my son and drop off belongings I wasn’t going to take but wanted to keep. Hence the weird suitcase on the back of my bike.
Getting there involves taking a ferry from Sydney to Tsawwassen where I was born and raised. The ferry ride is amazing, but unfortunately I have become accustomed to it having taken it numerous times in the past.
A short day was capped off with my son Nick taking me out for dinner to the Cactus Club. And thanks Cactus Club for providing a free appetizer!!
It’s finally a reality!!! I’ll be following your posts. Can’t wait to see all the places you’ll travel through.
Thanks Andrea!! So funny that with all the preparation I am still totally unprepared. I guess that is part of the adventure ha ha. Have a great long weekend!!
Hi Brian,
Can you tell us a bit about your intended route for this RTW journey? Approximately how long do you expect it to take?
Hi Richard! Good question. My basic plan is to have no real plan. But I do have an idea 🙂 I have made my way to Prudhoe Bay, and now working my way south again. I hope to enter Mexico in or around October 1 and ride around for a while. Then it is all the way to Ushuaia. I expect that will take me about 2.5 years as I want to really explore the countries along the way. And hopefully even volunteer at an NGO. Then it is over to Cape Town to work my way up Africa to Finland. Then across Russia and down into Australia. After that it is heading back home along the southern route through Asia to Europe and back to Canada. I have no real time frame. And when I think I have had enough I will stop …. or maybe this will be my life. Who knows. I want to see the sites I have always dreamt about and enjoy my life 🙂 Hope that answers your question 🙂
Thanks Brian. I get the picture. Let me know if you ever come by the Maritimes.