Looking forward to videos of the next provinces (I live in Manitoba, and am curious to see how your experience was through our province). You've inspired me to consider a similar ride some year soon! Thx.
Thank you so much Ray! We're glad you enjoyed the videos! I have been distracted by too many things lately and am committed to finishing these films!! Looking forward to Manitoba too - we had a terrific time there ... though the roads were a bit dodgy - even Manitobans agreed!!! Glad this has sparked an interest in cycling touring for you - I hope we will one day see your own journey shared!! All the best (and thanks for the kick in the butt to get on the remaining films!).😃
@@N2L_Never2Late Btw, I noted one comment that asked about your decision to dip down and go through Minn, Wisc and the UP of Mich. Since we moved to Manitoba from Ontario 24 years ago, we've traveled Hwy 17 numerous times to visit family, and also Hwy #2 from Sault Ste. Marie. My initial ambition is to cycle to my hometown in Alliston some year soon, and I would whole-heartedly agree that the American route would be much preferable to the shoulders and in-frequent town along Hwy 17. Also looking forward to your video of that section.
@@rayvanderzaag1371 Thanks so much!! Yes - it IS dangerous and we wanted to honour the concerns of one of our riders who did not feel comfortable doing the 17. One of the cyclists we met crossing Canada took the 17 and was hit! Happily survived and finished the ride. Yet others say it was one of the best parts of their ride ... all to the comfort of the cyclist ... your ride will be your ride ... and it will be wonderful!!
Thank you so much!! Yes - we were just talking the other day about missing the big skies as well … and of course the people … always the good people here!!
It's been a long time since your last post, but man was it worth it. That opening was fanastic, with the wind sweeping over the grass. I've never been to Saskatchewan but I do have a family connection about it. In the 1880s a family member, from Liverpool, decided to uproot his family and homestead in Moosomin, SK. Having watched your video, showing the beautiful vastness of the land, I wonder what that ancestor of mine thought as he and his family were dropped off in Moosomin. To come from industrial Liverpool to farm country Saskatchewan, must have been mind blowing. Thank you for showing me a part of this country that I do hope to visit, someday. I look forward to your further adventures. Cheers
@stapler40 … what a lovely thing to write! Thank you for the kind words - but more so, the incredible personal connection you shared here! I, too, wonder what your relative must have thought when confronted with such a profound change in scenery! It is individual moments and stories like this that make the fabric of our collective Canadian experience so rich. Thank you for sharing this here - I hope you find yourself in the Land of Living Skies one day soon - perhaps you’ll learn what that feeling was for your ancestor as you may feel similar things. Take care!!
Just watched your cycling adventures during Christmas holidays. Wow! We live in Saskatchewan and have ridden some of the areas you did. Sask has a supported bike tour called the GASP and we did 3 tours with them. We have road tripped every province and cycled portions. Looking forward to Manitoba to The Rock.
Hello Sheryl! Thank you for your kind words and for sticking it through the episodes!! It's lovely to hear from fellow cyclists and their perspectives! We will certainly look into GASP! This year has been a bit difficult to get the rest of the films done - but I'm committed to have them done by Spring at the latest! Thanks again!
@@ecocentrichomestead6783 Hello and thank you for watching our video! Yeah - we agreed that the TCH is NOT a road we wanted to travel either. In fact, we used it very little through the Prairies and country as a whole (except NFLD - that was a no choice route!). In Saskatchewan, we arrived on the 321 and took the 21 north to Leader. Then took the 32 to the 1 to Swift Current. That leg to Moose Jaw was the only section of the 1 we took. After Moose Jaw we took the 39 South to Weyburn then the 13/Red Coat Trail on to Winnipeg. We didn’t see the 1 again until just outside of Winnipeg for a wee bit. So, yes, we took it and wanted to not - but that section from Swift Current to Moose Jaw was necessary for us as we had some time-bound commitments to get to Moose Jaw and the alternate roads would have taken us a bit longer. All choices we were content with. We were happy to have stayed off it more than 95% of our journey! Thanks again for watching!!
Why did you choose to ride through three states instead of riding through Ontario fully?? According to the path that you drew on the map you rode through Manitoba and entered the states right at the southeast corner of Manitoba and entered Ontario just after leaving Michigan at Sault Ste. Marie. South around Lake Superior is the USA.
Hello @vikingcalibur3009 - thank you for watching our video! Yes - we did not do the North Shore of Superior in our ride. Each of us had our own asks of the group to make it across and one of us, having driven the 17 on the north shore many times, was not comfortable with the lack of shoulder and truck traffic on that stretch. It is notorious for close calls and worse for cyclists (one of the cross-Canada riders we met was hit on this stretch - happily, she survived). We experienced some of this hairy truck traffic on the 17 out of the Soo. So, we honoured that, as we honoured other elements important to our group members throughout the ride. The ride through the States was not preferable to being in Canada, but provided more road options eastward than the only option of the dangerous Hwy 17. So, we took it. It was fine - and we will be posting that part of the ride soon. It's a fair question - I hope this helps to understand our "why" of that route decision. Take care!
@@N2L_Never2Late Thank you for your response, that is completely understandable about the route that you took. Safety is always important especially on a bicycle vs vehicle. My wife also was hit by a vehicle earlier in her life, so she completely understands. Knowing this, I ride behind her and closer to the road. Making sure she doesn’t get hit again. It’s sad that there is not a better route and safer route option for cyclists on the 17. You guys made the best choice for the route given your experience and that lady that was hit on the 17. I would’ve made the same decision given the situation. Beautiful videos btw Stay safe out there. Happy cycling in 2024!!
@@vikingcalibur3009 Yikes! Your wife was hit! That is awful. Sorry to read that - yes, safety and honouring co-travellers is so important. Yes, we wish there was a better shoulder for the 17 but that may be a long time coming. Thank you for understanding our situation and being supportive! Your kind words about the videos are most appreciated - working on Manitoba now! I have to get going!! jeez! Take care!
I’m ready for more!
Looking forward to videos of the next provinces (I live in Manitoba, and am curious to see how your experience was through our province). You've inspired me to consider a similar ride some year soon! Thx.
Thank you so much Ray! We're glad you enjoyed the videos! I have been distracted by too many things lately and am committed to finishing these films!! Looking forward to Manitoba too - we had a terrific time there ... though the roads were a bit dodgy - even Manitobans agreed!!! Glad this has sparked an interest in cycling touring for you - I hope we will one day see your own journey shared!! All the best (and thanks for the kick in the butt to get on the remaining films!).😃
@@N2L_Never2Late Btw, I noted one comment that asked about your decision to dip down and go through Minn, Wisc and the UP of Mich. Since we moved to Manitoba from Ontario 24 years ago, we've traveled Hwy 17 numerous times to visit family, and also Hwy #2 from Sault Ste. Marie. My initial ambition is to cycle to my hometown in Alliston some year soon, and I would whole-heartedly agree that the American route would be much preferable to the shoulders and in-frequent town along Hwy 17. Also looking forward to your video of that section.
@@rayvanderzaag1371 Thanks so much!! Yes - it IS dangerous and we wanted to honour the concerns of one of our riders who did not feel comfortable doing the 17. One of the cyclists we met crossing Canada took the 17 and was hit! Happily survived and finished the ride. Yet others say it was one of the best parts of their ride ... all to the comfort of the cyclist ... your ride will be your ride ... and it will be wonderful!!
Superbe vidéo... merci !!!
Merci Beaucoup!!
Looking forward to seeing Manitoba, hope you guys made it across the country.
Hey Rita! Yes we did!! Looking forward to finishing the videos too! I’m glad you enjoyed them!! Thanks for watching!!
We both loved this - you showcased Saskatchewan so beautifully! Well done 😀
Dude! We want to see Ontario!
great show. i miss the prairies and the friendly folks there. thnx for sharing.
Thank you so much!! Yes - we were just talking the other day about missing the big skies as well … and of course the people … always the good people here!!
It's been a long time since your last post, but man was it worth it. That opening was fanastic, with the wind sweeping over the grass. I've never been to Saskatchewan but I do have a family connection about it. In the 1880s a family member, from Liverpool, decided to uproot his family and homestead in Moosomin, SK. Having watched your video, showing the beautiful vastness of the land, I wonder what that ancestor of mine thought as he and his family were dropped off in Moosomin. To come from industrial Liverpool to farm country Saskatchewan, must have been mind blowing. Thank you for showing me a part of this country that I do hope to visit, someday. I look forward to your further adventures. Cheers
@stapler40 … what a lovely thing to write! Thank you for the kind words - but more so, the incredible personal connection you shared here! I, too, wonder what your relative must have thought when confronted with such a profound change in scenery! It is individual moments and stories like this that make the fabric of our collective Canadian experience so rich. Thank you for sharing this here - I hope you find yourself in the Land of Living Skies one day soon - perhaps you’ll learn what that feeling was for your ancestor as you may feel similar things. Take care!!
great team, bravo 👏
Thank you so much! No question - we always felt like a "team" when riding together - sharing much along the way!
Just watched your cycling adventures during Christmas holidays. Wow! We live in Saskatchewan and have ridden some of the areas you did. Sask has a supported bike tour called the GASP and we did 3 tours with them. We have road tripped every province and cycled portions. Looking forward to Manitoba to The Rock.
Hello Sheryl! Thank you for your kind words and for sticking it through the episodes!! It's lovely to hear from fellow cyclists and their perspectives! We will certainly look into GASP! This year has been a bit difficult to get the rest of the films done - but I'm committed to have them done by Spring at the latest! Thanks again!
Why ride the TCH on the prairies? There's plenty of rural roads that run close by.
@@ecocentrichomestead6783 Hello and thank you for watching our video! Yeah - we agreed that the TCH is NOT a road we wanted to travel either. In fact, we used it very little through the Prairies and country as a whole (except NFLD - that was a no choice route!). In Saskatchewan, we arrived on the 321 and took the 21 north to Leader. Then took the 32 to the 1 to Swift Current. That leg to Moose Jaw was the only section of the 1 we took. After Moose Jaw we took the 39 South to Weyburn then the 13/Red Coat Trail on to Winnipeg. We didn’t see the 1 again until just outside of Winnipeg for a wee bit. So, yes, we took it and wanted to not - but that section from Swift Current to Moose Jaw was necessary for us as we had some time-bound commitments to get to Moose Jaw and the alternate roads would have taken us a bit longer. All choices we were content with. We were happy to have stayed off it more than 95% of our journey! Thanks again for watching!!
Why did you choose to ride through three states instead of riding through Ontario fully??
According to the path that you drew on the map you rode through Manitoba and entered the states right at the southeast corner of Manitoba and entered Ontario just after leaving Michigan at Sault Ste. Marie.
South around Lake Superior is the USA.
Hello @vikingcalibur3009 - thank you for watching our video! Yes - we did not do the North Shore of Superior in our ride. Each of us had our own asks of the group to make it across and one of us, having driven the 17 on the north shore many times, was not comfortable with the lack of shoulder and truck traffic on that stretch. It is notorious for close calls and worse for cyclists (one of the cross-Canada riders we met was hit on this stretch - happily, she survived). We experienced some of this hairy truck traffic on the 17 out of the Soo. So, we honoured that, as we honoured other elements important to our group members throughout the ride. The ride through the States was not preferable to being in Canada, but provided more road options eastward than the only option of the dangerous Hwy 17. So, we took it. It was fine - and we will be posting that part of the ride soon. It's a fair question - I hope this helps to understand our "why" of that route decision. Take care!
@@N2L_Never2Late
Thank you for your response, that is completely understandable about the route that you took. Safety is always important especially on a bicycle vs vehicle. My wife also was hit by a vehicle earlier in her life, so she completely understands. Knowing this, I ride behind her and closer to the road. Making sure she doesn’t get hit again.
It’s sad that there is not a better route and safer route option for cyclists on the 17.
You guys made the best choice for the route given your experience and that lady that was hit on the 17. I would’ve made the same decision given the situation.
Beautiful videos btw
Stay safe out there. Happy cycling in 2024!!
@@vikingcalibur3009 Yikes! Your wife was hit! That is awful. Sorry to read that - yes, safety and honouring co-travellers is so important. Yes, we wish there was a better shoulder for the 17 but that may be a long time coming. Thank you for understanding our situation and being supportive! Your kind words about the videos are most appreciated - working on Manitoba now! I have to get going!! jeez! Take care!