The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Kelly Carrington Staff Writer Heather and Mike Chrupalo were off on an adventure of a lifetime. The husband and wife team gave themselves 90 days to get from Vancouver to Cape Spear, NL. No big deal, right? Take a plane, a bus or even a train and get there in no time. Not for this Flin Flon couple. The beginning of their lifelong dream of bicycling across Canada was just a few strides away. On May 3, the duo began one of their biggest journeys together. After posing for a picture in Vancouver's Stanley Park, they left for the open road prepared for all types of weather. The Chrupalos had done their research and were told that, weather-wise, it was easiest to go west to east because of the wind. In most cases that is true. Except this year. 'The east wind was our biggest challenge,' said Mike. Battling through snow, rain, wind and sun, the couple peddled an average of 100 kilometres a day. Their longest day ended after 147 kilometres. Taking terrain, weather and scenic breaks into consideration, the couple averaged about 21 kilometres an hour on their bikes. Heather and Mike fought up hills, and mountains in some cases, soared down grades and coasted through the flat lands. Heather laughed and said one time the couple even had to fight with the winds to go downhill. 'I even got knocked over from the wind because I was going too slow,' she said. Weather and terrain challenges aside, the couple agreed it was the trip of a lifetime. 'My favourite part was Quebec City,' said Mike, who loved the historical side of the city and its architecture. 'I think the best thing for me was that we set a goal and we accomplished it,' said Heather. Travels Throughout their travels, the Chrupalos visited places like Drumheller, AB, Thunder Bay, ON, Ottawa, Fredericton, NB, PEI, and various places in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. 'The scenery along the north shore of Lake Superior was (amazing),' said Heather. There were too many places and things for either Mike or Heather to pick a favourite. Not surprisingly, they both agreed it would be a trip worth doing again. 'Physically we could do it again next year,' said Heather. 'Financially, you have to wait. It's not cheap.' The pair set off for 90 days and spent their nights in hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and with friends and family. Heather and Mike left their tent at home and 'took a chance' they would find places to stay. That leap of faith caught up to them twice, as they both laugh telling the stories. Outside of Rosetown, SK, the pair was a fair distance from their destination in the middle of a rainstorm. A friendly driver pulled over and offered a ride to Mike, who was a distance behind Heather. He agreed as long as Heather was picked up as well. After lunch with some farmers, the two were dropped off at their destination and found themselves a hotel. 'Those were some amazing people,' said Mike, who noted they met people like them all throughout their adventure. In Woodstock, NB, the couple found themselves in a similar situation. Deciding to end their cycling for the day, they asked for directions to what ended up being a burnt down hotel. See ' Cyclists...' pg. 5 Continued from pg.4 Heather jumped at an offer to ride in an empty truck bed, and the couple went back into town to spend the night. Touring across the country, the Chrupalos encountered plenty of people on the same mission. Some were biking for charity, others were touring their own country and others were visiting from as far away as Japan. 'It's an amazing experience,' said Heather. 'I think...Canada has so much to offer, and to see your own country is amazing.' Heather said too many people spend too much money to travel outside of Canada when there is so much to see across the provinces. 'For me, the thing that impressed me the most was the number of young people we saw doing the same thing,' said Mike. He was impressed with those travellers seeing what the country had to offer at such a young age. 'They will appreciate it. Maybe they will be more politically active when they see how great Canada is,' said the cyclist. The couple laughed when Mike said 'the young people (were) the ones tenting in the snow and rain. They have my respect.' Though thrilled they were able to complete the goal of bicycling across Canada, Mike said he was disappointed they hadn't done it sooner. Heather and Mike left Stanley Park on May 3 and pulled into Cape Spear on July 28. Eighty-five days of touring and the couple made it to the Ottawa area for Canada Day, met a few former Flin Flonners along the way, heard stories and realized connections with both themselves and Flin Flon, and enjoyed each other's company. When asked if quitting was ever an option, Heather smirked and glanced at Mike, who was now looking in the opposite direction. 'No matter what, I was going,' said Heather with a laugh. The pair both said they would do the tour all over again. To keep friends and family updated on their journey, the Chrupalos posted on their Across Canada on a Bicycle in 90 Days blog. 'Once we got (home), someone was speaking to us and said that they saw us on the road in Drumheller,' said Mike, whose location was known because of the blog. Both Mike and Heather encouraged others to challenge themselves and fulfill their own goals.
