Post trip reflections...September 4, 2013

Now that we have been back a few days, thought we end this blog with a few random facts:

• 18,2000 km. on the bike during the six week coast to coast trip through the ten provinces
• spent $1300 on gas
• spent $3500 on accommodation (would have been more but we were lucky that family put us up for 8 days!)

We have had quite a few people ask us what our most memorable moments were and what struck us most about this vast country of ours...

• there are a lot of trees and bush and rock in this country! :)
• pristine, heart-stopping scenery in every single province.
• special time with family:  Barb, Gil and family; Heather, Eli and Easton in Saskatoon (both on our way down east and on our return trip...could not believe how much the little guy changed in 5 short weeks!); Aunt Kay and Gerry in Ottawa; and Bill and Bev in North Battleford.
• great to spend time with Newfoundland family...thanks Ralph, Nellie and Lynn, and our "kids" Rob, Melanie and granddaughter, Amelia for more great memories!
• were surprised with how prosperous the Maritimes were.  Guess we still had the 'view' of hard times because of the fishery challenges, and had not realized how much oil has changed the face of the eastern provinces.
• the amount of construction going on in the parts of Quebec we passed through.
• how friendly and helpful people in every province were.
• how lucky we are to live in a country that is both breathtakingly beautiful and safe.
• how much we both love the prairies.

For now we are settling back into our new home, getting used to retirement, reconnecting with family and friends and thinking about what new adventures await us. 

Thanks for reading the blog and for sharing emails with us along the way. We had so much fun - every day was a new adventure!!!  We have been having fun watching The Amazing Race Canada as we saw many of the places featured in the TV show.

And remember - to just do whatever your bliss is, make a bucket list and cross things off, and never regret anything that makes you smile!

We saw so much and left much more unseen....Janice and Harry