The Next "Big One"

Our next big adventure has been in the planning stages since last summer when Keith started calling all of the Canadian province visitors' bureaus asking for detailed road maps and information, pouring over online maps and, of course, Google-earth and reading up on various areas of interest.  It was in the dreaming stages before that (ever since Keith completed his last big ride--the top of Alaska to the Florida keys--he has been longing for to do another).  Before we were even engaged, Keith and I decided we wanted to do a cross-Canada bike trip... it even went on our list called "Keith and Michaela's Life," laying out the mutual dreams we realized we had, the making of which list was a pivotal point in the prospects of our relationship.  So here we are, in the final preparation stages before our big ride this summer.  We are both very excited.  We have purchased, after much careful research, most of the items on our "gear list."  Here are a few developments:  Another couple, Keith's good friend Mary Hall Burton and her husband B-rad Burton shall accompany us on our journey!!  We are very excited.  Not only shall this make the trip safer (less chance of bear attack, more to help in case of emergency, more hands to flail at the swarms of mosquitoes, black flies and no-see-ums which shall surely beset us), but also, we are so looking forward to their company--they are such a fun, funny, awesome, nice couple (so it seems... : )  Second development-- Keith and I shall be riding tandem.  This wouldn't be our first choice, neither of us have tried it and we know it will come with its challenges.  We have made this choice because of an issue with my knee... we figure this is worth the security of knowing I will be able to complete the ride--you see, we are investing in a bike with a "free-wheel" for the stoker (or person in back).  This means that either of us can stop and coast while the other is still pedaling--we can pedal independently and I can stop and rest my knee (feet on the pedals) when I need to without having to hold my legs out to the sides : p  Only one company makes a bike like this (they have a patent on the free-wheel).  It's quite nice we can buy it directly from the company and the guys we have been talking to are actually the ones who build all the bikes right there in the shop.  Anyway, I'll get better at this blogging thing...  Above is a picture of the da Vinci "Joint Venture" that we will be riding--we will post pictures of our actual bike when we get it!