We'll be publishing Boomer's updates here as his journey winds its way to the farthest corners of the planet. If you really need to know what's going on right way, why not sign up for the Ride To Survive Mobile Updater courtesy of ZIM Technologies!. See also PREVIOUS UPDATES for past reports.

Update - Calgary, July 12, 2003

Had one of the greatest rides going today, from Banff to Calgary - +8 in Banff when we left at 6 AM - into Calgary in good time before noon with a few stops - nearly froze everything off - but, since Kelowna & our last UD, it has been a week to ride for - as well, we had a precious day at the BC Cancer Centre (Foundation) in Kelowna, last Tuesday, with Janice, Rose & Dr. Lynne Baillie - now before getting to the K., story, Ride to Survive knew of 2 doctors in Canada who were/are focused on Cancer Prevention (awareness & detection) - our first encounter was with Dr. Terry Sullivan in Toronto at Cancer Care Ontario (see Dr. Sullivan’s 2020 presentation on the ridetosurvive.org homepage under “Available Now” - next, last week we had the pleasure to meet with Dr. David Mclean BC Cancer Agency - thanks to Nick Locke, BC Cancer Foundation & now like a flower in wonderland we discover Dr. Baillie in Kelowna - Dr. Baillie has been funded by the Waddell Project (Betty Ann & Stuart) of Penticton - these wonderful people have made it financially possible for Dr. Baillie & the centre team to develop & now deliver a primary cancer prevention program for their community, served by the local BC cancer centre - now, for a bike rider who is trying to take a cancer prevention bicycle ride that we organized for the Ottawa cancer centre on June 29 & replicate it at 27 other provincial cancer centres across Canada next year on June 27’04 - just knowing that there is a regional primary cancer preventionist working hard in Kelowna for her community is a joyous discovery -needless to say, J., R., Dr. B., & ourselves did just about everything but a little jig while we got acquainted outside the beautiful K., cancer centre - so, we have agreed to keep talking to see what we can do next year to hold a prevention fundraising ride in Kelowna, with the Lions Clubs help - can’t wait!

Meantime, Shawna, Mary’s riding friend arranged for us to stay at Claire & Tracy’s house in K., - thanks ladies - hope we left the house in order - we appreciate your hospitality - hope we can return the favour in the future - hope you enjoyed the Stampede - also did some media with the Courier & News while in town

On Wednesday, rode out of K., at 6 AM enroute to Revelstoke - another fabulous ride - up to Vernon in no time - further along the line to Sicamous - the home of houseboating in Canada - then into R., - 187KM mes thinks - beautiful day - since leaving VAN haven’t had a drop of rain - crossing the Columbia R., looking up at the mountains - riding the great BC highways a ride through the province is to live for

Thursday, big daddy Roger’s Pass - 147KM into Golden - nearly killed us - Monique mounted the TREK touring bike - Mary maneuvered the mighty Car Clinic support truck - it is 1330Ms over the pass - then on the other side there is another pass that seemed just as long & harder - the worst stretch was once we were down to the Upper Columbia R., Bridge, in the valley when the heat hit - the last 40 KM into Golden was a heat hell - if we were lobsters you could of heard our shells pop - anyway, into a motel, thankfully that Mary had waiting - jammed in some much needed food & “crash” - 10 straight hours of sleep

Friday, the Kicking Horse Pass - lots of goats & sheep on the road side on the way over - in passing, the day before, we didn’t need a extra layer over the Roger’s - you sure did over TKHP - didn’t feel too bad pulling out of the Motel at 6 - now half way up the pass it became apparent more clothing was needed - hands got so cold couldn’t feel the Hbars - legs & up body shaking a little - you ride up in the shadow of the eastern mountains (name?) - Upper Columbia R., roaring below - CP Rail chugging through the pass - thought of Sir Sanford Fleming (Uncle John’s uncle) - anyway, pushed on until things warmed-up - TKHP is not as hard a ride as the RP, but higher - can’t remember the E., - much colder because of the N>S ride & mountain shadows - now once you get by Field, BC, well it is one joyous 55 KM downhill push into Banff - total ride day 142KM - got into tourist town CAN - Monique had checked into Bumpers before 12 PM - met nephew Preston (who is running the Banff Springs Hotel) at the Saltlik’s for dinner - more needed food - in bed by 9 PM - Banff was hopping with tourists - get out of town

Saturday, up & on the bikes by 6 AM - this time with an extra layer of clothing - it was very cold again - Banff to Calgary is mostly downhill, 127KM - moving along at 30+Kms - had to stop at Tim Horton’s, Canmore to warm-up - again what a way to enter Calgary - each stop along Hwy#1 to stretch a little - you looking back at those big Rmtns, wow, what a place we live in - pretty slick finding our way into Judy & Dean Kittleson’s beautiful home in C., - nicest western warm welcome - tasty egg salad sandwiches - a little shanty to lower the thirst levels - later Judy & Dean laid out a spread of Alberta steak & corn on the cob - lovely dinner - bring on the Rodeo (stampede) - left VAN last Sat - into CAL rode 900KM+ the first week - with a dayoff in K.

it looks very promising for next June 27’04, across BC that we will be able to take the Ottawa June 29’03 ride & replicate fundraising bike rides to raise money (100%) for cancer prevention in some communities - it was great to meet Laura in Victoria - Nick & his team in Vancouver & of course Janice, Rose & Lynne in Kelowna - we have work to do

Sunday, meeting with the Alberta Cancer Foundation - Linda Michelson kindly organizing for us to meet the Alberta/Calgary prevention people (on a weekend) - hopefully we will have a successful ride across Alberta for cancer prevention fundraising, too

next UD will come from Bubba (sister) & the Greek’s house in SherwoodPark (Edmonton) - big luncheon planned at Company’s Coming cookbooks - the CC Team are hoping to publish a cancer prevention cookbook with Ride to Survive in ‘05 - next Wednesday will be the start for our CPbook & many more ideas CC & RTS hope to get done in the coming months to aid in raising $$$ for community cancer prevention & lifestyle

leave C., Monday morning for Red Deer - into Edm Tuesday PM

Cancer can be beaten - some can even be prevented (over 1/2 of cancer case are avoidable) - we have work to do

All the best,

Boomer

Kelowna, BC July 8, 2003

A lot has happened to Ride to Survive since the last update – road the Baja California north to San Diego – it is a must ride for any touring cyclists – xc skied the Canadian Marathon with the 4 Knickers, Heather & Brent – had a wonderful break at home with family – celebrated birthdays, Mother’s Day & other special events – took a CAN-BIKE course in Ottawa – a must for any serious cyclist & launched the 1st Ride to Survive cancer prevention, awareness & detection fundraising bike ride for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre on June 29th – thanks Shannon & Annie - we (ORCC, Lions Clubs of Eastern Ontario & Western Quebec, CHUM, the Citizen & the good people of the region raised $10K on what was a perfect day for a bike ride in the Canada’s Capital City – now we are riding across Canada to meet with other provincial cancer centres to launch more rides, next year on June 27th, 2004 – goal 27 rides next year

This ride is not solo this time – it’s a long story but Monique Menard & yours truly left Ottawa right after the ride on June 29 & drove to Victoria, BC – arrived at the Swartz Bay dock outside Victoria at 9 AM on June 2nd – other than being beaten up by bugs on our windshield, major rain storms & trying to keep the truck full with gas it was a smooth trip – Monique did most of the driving – she is a great Wagonmaster – met with Laura & Barbara at the Victoria Cancer Foundation – we will try to get ride going here next year – here & at every other centre - the idea is to work with the local Lions Clubs, as we did in Ottawa to make the fund raising & ride work – after a much need nights sleep, rode back to the ferry, sailed across strait to Vancouver 0n the 3rd – now, good things just seem to happen to Ride to Survive – last August in St. John’s we met Mary & Shawna who had just arrived on their bikes from Victoria – what a couple of good sports – well, Shawna hosted us in Vancouver (the best) – we met some of her friends (Tom & Sue) – Nick Locke & his Team at the BC Cancer Foundation will work with us to see what we can do to organize rides on June 27, 2004 in Victoria, Vancouver & Kelowna, next year – there is much work to do – of course, while in Vancouver, Ride to Survive successfully won the 2010 Olympic bid for BC & Canada – we probably won’t have time to compete when the time comes

Mary Richardson of Shawna & Mary has agreed to Wagonmaster the ride across Canada this summer – Monique will return to Ottawa for IT work soon – Mary arrived in Vancouver Saturday morning - your rider rode to Hope, BC on Saturday 5rd – up the Fraser Valley – what a beautiful escape from even a city as beautiful as Vancouver – it is 150KM – right out Broadway E., & HWY 7 - a little rain but nice & cool – RTS is hoping to ride across Canada each summer for the next 10 years – what came to mind while riding out of town is how this route will make a grand entrance to one of the most beautiful cities in the world in the years to come – arrived in Hope feeling good – found the motel – a few hours later Monique & Mary arrived

On the 6th, Mary & the rider took on 2 mountain passes – 1st “Allison” over 5K’ – great road – met Monique at Manning Park Lodge for a picnic – then on Sunday the “Sunday Pass” – the road is nice & wide – well surfaced – if you take you time, mind, lungs & legs will serve one well – the ride into Princeton felt good – 137KM - this rider had a flat before Manning – switched the TREK touring bike for the Rocky Mtn – Mary & Shawna did the same ride last year – this time without ponds of gear – Mary flew up the passes like a bird - a good nights sleep by all

Monday 7th continuing on BC 3, 3A & 97 to Penticton & Kelowna was hot – needed lots of water - scenery spectacular – road surface excellent – made a stop at the Bike Barn in P., for a few minor adjustments – finally rolled in to K., - 178KM – Shawna's friends Claire & Tracy lent their house while away in Calgary

Tuesday 8th meeting with BC Cancer in K – tomorrow we will ride to Revelstoke – here comes the Roger’s Pass

Cancer can be beaten – some can even be prevented

All the best

See also, PREVIOUS UPDATES for past reports.