Where are we now?

It’s been quiet on the group blogging front – but we’re still cycling – and some to soon be canoeing.

This is my first group blog post, but after a phone call with my brother’s wife Amanda I realized that I should be proactive and let any family, friends and acquaintances who may happen to look at the page (because apparently some people still do!) know what we’re up to.

At the moment I am sitting in Courtney’s home in Echo Bay just east of Sault Ste. Marie. Doug, Court, Sarah and I are here with Court’s mom and some of Sarah’s family. It’s great to meet the family and friends of these girls who’ve I’ve had the endless company of for these last two seriously eventful months and 5 sweet provinces. Doug and Sarah will be heading off tomorow to NorthBay where they will begin a canoe trip either to Montreal or until mid or late August (whichever comes first). Coady is way ahead of the crew catching a flight soon to Cape Breton to attend the Evolve festival. Ciaran has taken his time to do the Explore Program in Trois Rivieres for a month, after which he will be back on his bike destined for the east coast. Kat, Eddy and Dom left this morning and will be powering their way through the rest of Ontario until they reach Ottawa, Kat’s home base. After spending some time there they will be off to Montreal, Dom’s home base.

I’ve teamed up with Courtney for the moment and we hope to run into Dom, Eddy, Kat, Coady and Ciaran sometime round Montreal.

Things have gotten a lot less formal in our little family and we aren’t quite sure what Ocean2ocean means for us anymore. Doug and Sarah taking to the water is definitely a twist in our journey across the country. I wish them all the best. Paddling rather than peddling, I hope their arms will be able to pick up where their legs left off.

At the begining of the trip we had a group account with which we bought all our food and we shared the responsibilty of feeding each other. We had roles and responsibilities that rotated. We had group meeting with a consensus style voting system. We had a giant tent that held up to seven people. Now we are more just a group of independent young people travelling accross the country with a connection to each other that has lasted from our first days in Port Alberni. I’m sure that whatever the road, or river has in store for us, will be a wonderful journey for the second half of our trek across Canada.

Ontario has treated us to some wicked hills! It’s an amazing feeling to slowly climb up a hill, get the blood pumping and then to fly down the other side, sometimes at 70 km an hour.

Biking along lake superior for hundreds of kilometers has been a treat. We mostly stick to swimming in the warmer lakes though.

Another delightfully surprising accommodation in a helicopter hanger.

I’m looking forward to get back on the highway and to see what Canada holds east of my home in Southern Ontario. Quebec and Maritimes here we come!

Vicki

Decompression/Reflection

We arrived in Calgary on Thursday night – ahead of our travel schedule.  The group stayed a couple nights with the directors of Two Wheel View, a really excellent charity that teaches bicycle workshops, donates bicycles, and organizes international cycling trips for youth.  Rick and Tanya were super inspiring people.  Not only are they philanthropic in their community and welcoming to travellers, they also have done some epic bike trips themselves.  When their sons were just 4-, 6-, and 8-years old, they took a family cycling trip that had them loop down and around North America for 14 months while homeschooling their children.  That’s one amazing early-childhood experience.  I’d love to be in contact with them in the future, hopefully as a volunteer with Two Wheel View.

I spent Thursday to Sunday half-way between being a part of the group and returning to “normal” life.  Even though I was home I had a hard time separating myself from Ocean2Ocean.  Thursday evening I ate dinner at Rick and Tanya’s, then Friday night I slept over there too.  I’ve found it really difficult to sleep alone in a proper bed with so much space around me.  I’ve grown so accustomed to being wedged into a smelly, noisy mass of at least six thermarest-ing cyclists, all cuddling to keep warm.  It’s Monday now, and I still haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep.

On Saturday afternoon we volunteered at The AREA here in Inglewood.  It’s a place I’ve felt quite connected to for the last six or seven months.  I first became aware of its coolness when Locomotive Ghost played at their Harvest Festival in the fall.  Since then, I’ve volunteered from time to time, helping David Winkler with a variety of labour work on the property, as well as doing sound for concerts.  In April I held my Ocean2Ocean benefit there as well, so it felt appropriate to bring the group and give back in some way.  While we helped out with digging another swale for their permaculture gardens, David explained about some of the plans he and his wife have for the space.  I am so inspired to see that this city with its lonely-soul, money-focused reputation can support a community space that is built firmly upon collaborative planning, open-mindedness, and volunteer efforts.  The AREA has a great many exciting projects in the works, from urban agriculture to paint fights to tattoo fundraisers.  They’re currently in the running as a non-profit organization for a Fuelling Change grant through Shell Canada.  Please sign up and vote for them.

Saturday evening I organized a casual house concert/potluck for the group and some of our friends.  Locomotive Ghost entertained our guests for a a good while, and fumbled joyously through our unpracticed arrangements.  I’ve never felt so welcome or so comfortable on stage.  I even forgot my spoken word part in “One Night Left” – something that is a constant terror of mine – and got over the anxiety right away.  I then performed a solo ukulele number on “stage”, which I’ve never done before.  Every effort felt safe and rewarded.  The party continued late into the night, and we celebrated whole-heartedly before settling into tents, beds, and couches.  I was so glad to share music with my Ocean2Ocean friends and host them for a night in my home.

For me, the trip is now over.

Ocean2Ocean has moved on and I’m still here.  I miss them already.  Between this experience and Katimavik (and there isn’t all that much distinction), I have gained more good friends than in the rest of my life put together.  These people motivate me to do things, and they make me feel so thoroughly appreciated.  There are many exciting opportunities unfolding in front of now that I’m back in Calgary. I have a great deal to consider with work, school, music, sound engineering, poetry, sustainable lifestyle choices, family, travels, new friends, and volunteer opportunities.  It feels like all of these things are calling me at once.  The challenge now is to bring the same passionate O2O energy as I am faced with active choices and unknown pathways.

I can’t tell whether to grieve or buckle down to work.  I feel like an author trying to conclude an epic novel, and I now appreciate how hard that must be.  I get to take the easy way out though.  I know this life-defining thrill will have a sequel.

benpnixon

Canmore <3

Hello Canmore!
I made it!
I began this trip with some fears and insecurities that have melted away as we cruised through BC, ahead of schedule might I add.
British Columbia was so breathtaking. The vast wilderness I experienced left a lingering desire and pull to head North. An idea I’ve recently been entertaining and imagining in great detail.
The original plan is to ride into Calgary today. A ride of over 100km that I recall dreading before I left a month ago. Now it seems so leisurely compared to the mountains.
Canmore and everyone in it has been so kind and hospitable. It was nice to see some familiar faces and take time for personal care in a place I sometimes refer to as home.
Rebound Cycle hosted us during our time here, giving us the opportunity to sleep indoors for the first time since Kelowna. We scored some ‘day olds’ from various cafés in town, most notably Rocky Mountain Bagel Co. TheHostel Bear allowed us the opportunity to utilize their beautiful kitchen for group meals, like lasagna and sheppards pie!
The generosity we’ve encountered is magical. So magical, Doug and I decided to stay and extra day in, while the rest of the group travelled into Calgary. We got to visit our roommates and stay in the spare room. We also went to the closing party for the Vision, an awesome indoor climbing gym in Canmore.
It was hard to leave. The ladies at Communitea were full of smiles and support, as usual. It was hard to leave. I truly love this place.
Canmore had an interesting way of putting this journey into perspective. People here do extraordinary things all the time. With almost everyone we encounter, we exchange stories with friends and strangers alike who are living their dreams. It’s humbling and encouraging here in Canmore.
So hard to leave…

Sarah

Into Alberta

Somehow this trip is already coming to a close. It’s difficult to keep up to date with blogs (and keeping in contact – sorry friends) when my life is so focused on traveling, finding food, and setting up camp. Things have really flown by, and I’m now in that awkward place where I don’t want to be done but I’m also anxious to start the next exciting thing that is clearly in sight.

We arrived in Canmore yesterday. In between then and my last blog post we passed through Yoho National Park, ate lunch in Field, ascended Kicking Horse, traversed Banff National Park, and visited Lake Louise. We didn’t have to pay any park fees (despite chatting openly with parks staff and an RCMP officer), and we camped “discretely” twice.

I had issues with my clips a few days ago, so I had to decide between riding the flat side of my pedals – limiting my muscular efficiency – and forcing my clips in – risking being unable to detach myself from my bike if I had to stop. Clips won out. I’m clearly a convert now. When I’m attached to my pedals I feel like my bike and I are one living, reacting creature. I think this is kind of what having a horse would feel like.

I don’t even know what to do without my bike anymore. I’m sure I haven’t spent more than four consecutive waking hours off of it at any time in weeks. Getting back on it is like floating on a tranquil lake. It’s the moment when you step your ice skates from the rubber walkway onto freshly Zamboni’d ice. It’s dropping your backpack and peeling off your socks for an afternoon in a park.

I don’t know how to recap everything that’s happened over the last four days in a way that could effectively convey what we’ve experienced, and I can tell I’m avoiding it, so I’ll just speak to a couple portions of what has happened.

Climbing Kicking Horse
This was our last mountain pass, and it was actually a decent challenge. I don’t really know what a challenge is any more, though. I can either do something or I can’t. The in between is only a matter of time. Regardless, Coady, Sarah, and I decided to make this one harder for ourselves. We’d picked up suit jackets and neckties to wear as we summitted and crossed into Alberta.

So. Hot.

Coady and I geared when we left Field. As we approached the threatening mass of the hill, we stopped to slash vents in our jackets. We also put bouquets of dandelions in our breast pockets.

 

We looked like businessmen who had been mauled by bears while rushing to a meeting in Calgary

The group detoured off the highway to take the old Great Divide Trail that Coady and Doug had mushed dogs on all winter

Rain
Well, we’d made it this far without rain being a real factor, but it had to happen sometime. The night that we spent near Lake Louise was a soaker. We all awoke with soggy shoes and soaking tents. From there it threatened rain all the way to Banff. Some people dodged the showers, but Dom and I got poured on for a good hour and a half, spoiling the alternate clothing set I’d changed into that morning. Banff to Canmore was dry, though, so my positivity was restored.

Rebound Cycle

These guys are letting us all camp in the studio above their shop. Not only that, but when we arrived last night they kept plying us with free beer off the tap in the back room. We sat at the store counter, having our glasses continually replenished while the other staff helped customers. They wouldn’t let us leave until we’d finished off four pitchers between five of us. These guys are awesome.

Crossing into Alberta
We just bicycled across an entire province. Not only that, but we had to ride over mountains for most of the way. Much of the trip hasn’t sunk in yet, but I know this is something I should be proud of.

The mountains are giving way to Prairie grass again

Even parking lots are beautiful in Canmore

Tomorrow we go to Calgary. I won’t return to my house that night because I’m not ready to separate from the group yet, so I’ll camp in somebody’s friend’s back yard. Saturday night is the pot luck/house show that my band, Locomotive Ghost, is hosting for Ocean2Ocean and friends. I’ll try to sort my head out before then.

P.S. This cafe is playing folk/bluegrass covers of old Modest Mouse songs. Tubular.

benpnixon

My Bike/Your Bike

 

Friday morning my pannier was attacked by a bird or mammal. It ate half my Nutella sandwich and obliterated my zipper. If you see a small, bloated mammal near Canyon Hot Springs, please sedate it, pump its stomach and give me back my Nutella.

Yesterday we cycled Roger’s Pass. It seemed significantly easier than any of the other passes we’ve climbed. Hopefully that’s because we’re awesome, but probably it was just because it actually was easier.

The obligatory summit photo, spiced up with a boot.

The Rogers Pass interpretive centre was infested with these buggers. They almost stole my bag of cashews. Why are these rodents set on ruining my life?

The descent through the tunnels was frickin’ intense. We were dashing downhill when suddenly the first one was upon us. Despite our headlamps, we couldn’t even see two feet of pavement. All we could do was pray there weren’t any potholes.

On the ride “down” to Golden, Doug and I passed the time rap-battling with “my bike/your bike” rhymes. We must have come up with a couple hundred of them. Here are some of my favorites that I can recall.

My bike/ Just won the lottery
Your bike/ Sucks at pottery

My bike/ Just let the boss go
Your bike/ Got fired from Costco

My bike/ Swam to Tofino
Your bike/ Still looking for Nemo

My bike/ Got a royal wedding
Your bike/ Had to change the bedding

My bike’s wife just made me a sandwich
Your bike’s wife don’t know where her man is

We’ve crossed into the Rocky Mountain trench. Some of the views are so breathtaking that they actually force me to halt my downhill momentum, dismount, and gape for several minutes. It’s tough to capture the magnitude of this natural experience. A photograph cannot describe the ruthless beauty of these colossal, frigid faces, nor the sense of depth that thrills the air. We are left to utter minute banalities like “this is ridiculous” and “I can’t believe this shit” over and over, until our primal natures have numbed to the awe of each vista.

Last night we stayed just outside Golden (receiving yet another ridiculous deal on a campsite). This morning we arrived in the town and separated for errands. Coady and I went thrift store shopping for our Kicking Horse costumes (stay tuned), while Eddie, Vicky, Court, and Ciaran snagged a bunch more free food.

156 granola bars, 16L of juice

I was stoked to find a CD by an old friend’s cousin when we lounged in Bacchus Books.

Kat then pointed out that Suzie was standing behind the desk. She must have been fourteen the last time I saw her. Dag, I’m starting to get old.

As I write this, I’m perched on a rock over a glacier-fed river. I now appreciate the purpose of having a colour called “aquamarine”. This water looks like life and moves like death.

One more mountain pass to go.

-Ben

Ocean2Ocean from Sarah’s Perspective: The Journey Begins

Over the course of approximately 10 months, I’ve been involved in planning for a bicycle trip. The concept of this trip was birthed in June 2011 by two adventurous souls whom I hold very dear to my heart. Aptly named, Ocean2Ocean, we would cycle from the Atlantic to Pacific! Or Pacific to Atlantic? It didn’t take long for the idea to blossom into online forums, personal research and shared online documents, stretching from Alberta to Halifax. Soon a route would emerge, along with contacts from all across the country. As our excitement and passions for this cross Canada adventure grew, so did the number of participants. From 2 to 4 to our current group of ten! And not to mention some absolutely priceless contributions from Miss CatBrown, who won’t be cycling with us, but poured her heart and soul into the planning process.

Together we shaped and created our reality, which is currently, resting at Christine and Tyler’s (Ciaràn’s parents) beautiful home in Kelowna, BC. We started our adventure only 13 days ago in Port Alberni, on Vancouver Island and will complete it in Halifax by the end of August.

The journey thus far has been exciting and challenging. There are highs that come in the form of pure elation after conquering a summit on a mountain pass, the view from the top as your blood is pumping fresh oxygen into every crevasse of your body, followed by the ride down the other side with a fully loaded bike clocking up to 70km/hr! The physical demands are obviously our primary concern, but there is a realm of other challenges to address including managing group dynamic, personal time and mental health. It’s been a very humbling experience to encounter challenges that bring us back to our most primal and basic needs. It’s easy to learn about yourself when placed in a situation that requires immediate action to find a fresh water source, shelter and food. This is not an often occurrence. Actually, quite the opposite. We often are greeted with open arms, smiles and more food than we can handle – which is quite the task to accomplish considering we burn about 5000 calories a day. I couldn’t be more grateful for our hosts and friendly strangers we meet along the way. An employee from the Merritt Visitors Centre drove up highway 97C the day we left Merritt to bring us all left over snacks from a meeting she had earlier that day. She was such a beautiful person with the biggest smile, who left us with words that will stick with me for life, “If I have much, I will give much.”

Tomorrow we will set out in the early morning to accomplish over 120km in one day; a challenge I believe I am ready for. Destination: Sicamous, BC.

Meet the Crew

The Adventure Begins

Friday night I rode from Duke Point to Parksville. I mistakenly assumed that all of the ferries to Nanaimo went to the same bay, and didn’t realize that my chosen route added an extra twenty kilometers of (mostly) uphill travel.

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I was slowed down on my trip by all of the stunning scenery

After racing the sunset (and riding thin highway shoulders for three and a half hours), I was greeted in Parksville by family friends who warmly welcomed a stranger into their home. I was given dinner, a guest bedroom, and friendly conversation as we bonded over veterinary medicine and old adventure computer games.

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So am I obligated to pick up hitch hikers? Who thought out the grammar on this one?

Saturday morning I loaded my Trek Portland and five panniers into the back of Holly’s pickup truck and got a ride the rest of the way to Port Alberni. Just outside of town, I met the group at the home/art studio of a Couch Surfers host. It was the first time in eleven months that I had seen Courtney, Kat, and Dom. When we parted ways at the end of Katimavik, I figured I might not see any of my group again since I was the only one living west of Ontario. Needless to say, it was a treat to be reunited. We instantly slipped back into a groove of discussing how badly we smell and making jokes about each other’s moms.

As the last person to arrive, I was shown about the property and introduced to our host, Mickey. Mickey is amazing. She is an incredibly resourceful single mother who is raising a truly remarkable child. Her three year-old son, Eli, has been raised by the proverbial village, and it really shows in his intelligence, articulation, and capable nature. What’s particularly neat is that, rather than taking Eli to the village, Mickey has brought the village to him through frequent hosting of Couch Surfing guests.

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Eli and I jamming

We’re doing a minor work exchange to help out in return for Mickey upgrading from hosting one person to suddenly housing a nine-person group. While we’re here we’ll be chopping, gathering, and preparing dead-fall logs for the construction of a living roof. This whole setup is phenomenal. I can’t think of a better way to start the adventure.

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Our logging work so far. Look how pretty they are after I scraped the bark off with a spud.

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Our backyard is a rainforest

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The water on the property is all fed straight from this spring

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Are My Saddlebags Too Big?

I’ve been in Vancouver getting gear together for the last several days. It’s been a larger and more expensive task than I had anticipated. I ended up having to buy a new bicycle, which had not been the plan, so I’m now in debt to my VISA, but I also now have a vehicle that I’m in love with for the first time in my life.

I think it’s nicer than any of the cars that Locomotive Ghost has toured with too. Maybe it should become the new band bicycle.

Anyway, the waiting is finally over now. All the pieces are in order. I have pannier racks, my bike has been custom fit to me, and my mom baked cookies. Tomorrow I’ll be leaving, so tonight I’ve steeled myself to pack.

I’d been nervous about this. After hearing from so many people about how tough it is to pack (I know at least one person in my group had to snap their toothbrush in half), I left Calgary with as little as I thought I could get away with. Three casual shirts. One pair of jeans. Limited underwear. No razor. If I stop wearing deodorant I’ll eventually stop smelling bad. I can wash my hair with hand soap, right?

This evening I laid it all out.

I was prepared for some major puzzling. First step, though, was to just start cramming stuff in and get an impression of how drastic this puzzling would be.

I started cramming and shoving, shimmying and wiggling…

Wait, that’s it? How do I still have three empty panniers? I was certain I would need to invent a way to strap my ukulele, sleeping bag, and thermarest all on top of the saddlebags. The thermarest and sleeping bag are actually inside the saddlebags. I didn’t even put the sleeping bag into its stuff sack! How did everyone else have a hard time. Are my saddlebags too big?

Did everyone else just bring more clothing and toiletries? I had planned to not shave, turn my underwear inside out to re-wear it, smell like a woodsman, and let my hair get greasy. Am I just grosser than they are?

I am now stealing anything remotely useful from my parents’ hall closet and stuffing it in the empty panniers. Airplane socks? Sure. Toiletry sack? Done. Flowery scented cosmetic samples? Why not.

Tomorrow morning I will run out and buy more clothes. I have shampoo. I packed deodorant. I promise to buy more underwear. I’m still waffling on whether to grow a grotty beard. This awesome shaving cream I found may tip the vote though.

Seriously, what am I forgetting?

Ghost to Coast: Ocean 2 Ocean Community Benefit

I’m super excited to announce Ghost to Coast, a community benefit event that will raise funds to help with my participation in Ocean 2 Ocean. This event will be happening in Calgary on April 21st. You can find the event listing here.
-Ben

This beautiful poster was made by local artist, Mary Sanche.

LOCAL ARTISTS POWER NATION-WIDE BICYCLE ADVENTURE

March 10, 2012 – Locomotive Ghost will host Ghost to Coast: Ocean 2 Ocean Community Benefit at The AREA on Saturday, April 21st, 2012 at 8pm. This multi-faceted, all-ages arts event will raise money for Locomotive Ghost’s Ben Nixon to participate in the Ocean 2 Ocean 2012 cross-Canada bicycle trip. This project encapsulates the adventures of seven youth who are working together to cycle from Tofino, BC to Halifax, NS powered only by their legs and a thirst for positive action.

“Ocean 2 Ocean is about illuminating communities”, says Ben Nixon. “It’s about discovering, spreading, and contributing to positive change being made in towns all across Canada.” Rather than rushing to complete the journey, the group will spread their travels over a four-month period, taking the extra time to meet inspiring citizens and to work in support of a variety of causes along the way. “Our adventures will largely consist of environmental discovery, personal challenges, public outreach, and hands-on volunteering”, explains Nixon.

In addition to supporting Ocean 2 Ocean’s community-minded journey, the Ghost to Coast event will spotlight rarely seen elements of Calgary’s own artistic community. The night will feature music from modern-folk acts, Ram Hoss, Laurene, and Locomotive Ghost, as well as poetry by Ben Nixon, and visual art from teen-aged Calgarians, Mary Sanche and Reid Paulhus. In keeping with one of Ocean 2 Ocean’s focus areas of connecting through food, the night will also include on-the-spot meals, desert catered by Chef Kat, and drinks from Alberta-based breweries.

Donations for admittance to the Ghost to Coast event can be made at the door ($10 minimum), or in advance ($8 minimum) at http://www.locomotiveghost.com. All profits from the evening will support Ocean 2 Ocean. Come out April 21st to engage with positive communities in Calgary and across Canada.

For more information or for interviews contact Ben Nixon by phone at 587-777-2177 or by email with locomotiveghost@gmail.com.