First Week Ends With Hills Hills Hills

Our morning started off in back in Fenelon Falls where we kicked it off at Fenelon Falls Secondary School. My old high school, 22 years ago I graduated from F.F.S.S., GO FALCONS !!!!!

We spent the morning shaving a few heads and being entertained by students attempting to ride pocket bicycles across the gym in a relay race. Not as easy as it looks.

It was a short ride across the street to Langton P.S, and it's a good thing the team knew where we were going because once again our lead vehicle didn't. You would think after visiting the same school for 5 years R.C.M.P officer Rick Allen, who is affectionately known as "Wrong Way Ricky" would know the route, but not this time. The team rolled into the school without a lead cruiser, giving the best impersonation of a police siren as they did.

As usual, Langton put on a fantastic demonstration of a community coming together to help friends and families in need. From Jello throwing, to head shaving, to cricket smoothie eating, everyone in the school played a role in coming together for a common goal, to encourage Julie to stand up, cancer can be beaten !!!!

From Fenelon we headed north for 37km's to Coboconk to visit Ridgewood P.S. The weather was sunny and warm, a perfect day to ride. For the first time this week the team was able to shed some of the warm clothing and ride in shorts.

Ridgewood P.S kicked off the assembly with their traditional pie in the face contest which is always a hit with the kids. Some of those kids wind up like they are trying out for a major league baseball team, I am surprised some teachers don't get whiplash in the process. For me it is always an emotional school because I have the privilege and honour of riding for Trevor Bartley, a young man who lost his battle to cancer as a teen. A young man who I never had the honour of meeting yet will always be in my heart and I will always ride in his memory. To ride into the school and be greeted by the Bartley family means a lot to the team.

After Coboconk we had a long ride ahead of us to Haliburton. The only problem with riding a bike between Coboconk and Haliburton is the amount of huge hills you have to climb to get there. We managed to do it though, riding into Haliburton around 6pm. One of the nicest rides of the tour, there is nothing more breath taking than the scenery in the Haliburton Highlands.

A the end of the day we had travelled 93 km's and visited 3 schools. I couldn't imagine doing anything else with my holidays.

The team is looking forward to Monday when we get to tackle the infamous Dover Hill and Vinegar Hill.

John