TAKING IT UP A GEAR

TAKING IT UP A

by Sandra Jones photos by Rae-Anne Guenther

Gear

We were in the best shape of our lives and had a real sense of accomplishment. Of course we were also happy to get home and sleep in our own bed again...

DAVID PATTERSON

On an island with an enviable climate that’s conducive to year-round adventures, it’s not surprising to meet people with a love of outdoor recreation. Ocean, mountains, lakes, and forests are the playground for the fit and fun-loving.

It’s that lure of the idyllic lifestyle that draws many to settle in Fairwinds, including David and Nancy Patterson. Getting close to retirement and wanting to find a home that suited their plans for an active life, the couple requested a work transfer from Winnipeg to Victoria in 2007 to see what the Island was all about.

A quick nine months later and the couple was living fulltime in a condo they purchased in Fairwinds. David says one of the big draws with the location was the ability to live around a golf course. “Both Nancy and I play three or four times a week so to have it right down the street was a big plus.”

But golfing was just part of the plan for the Pattersons who also love to run, ski, swim and now cycle. “We did a number of marathons and in the last eight or nine years, we moved onto the triathlon and that’s when we started biking,” recalls David. Triathlons ranged from familyfriendly versions at Qualicum Beach to Olympic-style competitions in Victoria.

For the couple who likes a challenge, tackling the Ironman in 2015 was up next. “It was a 4-km swim, a 180-km bike ride and a full 42-km marathon,” says Nancy. “We had 17 hours to complete it. Since then we haven’t had the enthusiasm to do another but we really enjoyed the cycling part of it.”

So, a couple of years ago when a friend suggested they get together to do an ‘epic’ type of trip, the Pattersons’ thoughts turned to a cycling adventure on a grand scale. “We proposed that the three of us cycle across Canada,” says David, “and our friend agreed!” We spent a year planning our route to figure out how far we would go in a day, what the elevation gain would be and where the nearest campsites were located.”

Ultimately the Pattersons and their friend were accompanied by their friend’s husband who drove a truck and trailer along the route which served as the group’s accommodation. At the last minute, another cyclist decided to join in on the mini peloton and the group of five hit the road on June 1, 2018.

In total they rode 7,961 km and arrived in Newfoundland 96 days later. “Overall we experienced over 51,000 meters of elevation gain and we were able to ride an average of 97 km a day. Some days were shorter distances, but others, like when we caught a tail wind in the prairies, we were able to do 150 km in one day,” notes David.

Despite their detailed planning, the group had to adapt from day to day. “We had to change things on the fly if

facing Inset

The couple in Labrador

background

The cross-country route from coast to coast

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David and Nancy Patterson

campsites weren’t open,” says Nancy. And of course, not every day was an easy day. “On Day 16, it was raining and only +5°C as we went through Crow’s Nest Pass. When we stopped for the night, we were cold and miserable and covered in coal dust from a nearby mine.”

But their worst day came just east of Thunder Bay when one of the cyclists went over his handle bars and cracked some ribs. “He spent 10 days in the hospital and ended up taking the train back.”

Fortunately the challenging days were overwhelmingly compensated for by an abundance of memorable moments and experiences. For David, one of the highlights was the chance to see Canada from a new perspective. “What impressed me was the variation in the landscape across Canada—it’s incredible! When we went around the Gaspé Peninsula it was drop-dead gorgeous. And, when we crossed northern Ontario, we must have counted 15 lakes in just 100 km. When you’re in a car you’re more focused on the road ahead, but when you’re on a bike, you’ve got lots of time to look around and take it all in.”

For Nancy it was the people they encountered along the way—fellow cyclists, locals and even small-town media— who made a big impression. “We had stopped in Virden, Manitoba and a local woman started telling us about the history of the town and asking about our trip. When we got on our bikes and headed back to the highway, a car pulled past and stopped ahead of us. It was a reporter from the Virden newspaper. The woman we had spoken to, went to the newspaper office to tell them about our trip and they tracked us down on the highway and took a photo of us in our team shirts! Everywhere we went, people were so nice and friendly.”

After over three months on the road, the expedition wrapped up in St. John’s, Newfoundland and the Pattersons flew home to the Island. “At the end we were exhilarated. We were in the best shape of our lives and had a real sense of accomplishment. Of course we were also happy to get home and sleep in our own bed again,” laughs David.

Now, two years later, the Pattersons’ ‘pedal to the metal’ lifestyle continues with plenty of time for golfing, cycling and running. “The primary motivation for moving here was to be able to do the activities that we love,” says David. “We also took some great advice from my dad who advised us to retire where everyone was from somewhere else. That’s Fairwinds. It has been so easy to meet people and integrate into the community. This was the right choice for us.”