Day 100 – 47.9 km (total 2445.1 km)
In some ways, it’s hard to believe that Sarah and I stood up on Signal Hill in Newfoundland 100 days ago, ready to begin this project. The details are so vivid in my mind that it can seem like yesterday. And in other ways, it feels like these 100 days that have passed could be 300. Struggling with winter on the Rock seems forever ago. But here we are, 100 days in and on the cusp of entering Montreal.
Sarah had wanted to surprise me this afternoon. She had bought a cake, candles and some champagne and was going to bike out to me on H138 to have a little celebration. Our RV had other ideas. For the past two weeks, Sarah has had to put jumper cables from the auxiliary battery to the engine battery to start it. Every single time. And today, of all days, it not only needed the jumper cables but the generator as well. It took her an hour to get the RV going and as a result, couldn’t make it out to me before I got back to the RV… she was a little frustrated. But nonetheless, she lit the candles, we had a little sip of the bubbly stuff and I took a fork to one of my favourite things – a good chocolate cake!
In some respects, I feel like maybe the Canucks felt last night. It feels amazing to get past the first round, so to speak. Sarah and I have been through and experienced a lot over the past 3 months and a bit and we’re still out here. That in and of itself can be celebrated! We have spoken with over 6000 students and have done our best to share the message of Take Me Outside with integrity. We have made it through a winter that decided to be epic and stick around longer than expected.
And while there is cause to celebrate, tomorrow is another day. Another day of running for 5 hours. Perhaps like the Canucks, the celebration is short-lived as there is much work still to be done. We hope to visit with over 10,000 students in Ontario in the coming weeks. And my legs are in a zone where I actually believe I can run to BC. So today, we celebrate. We celebrate with friends and family who have been extremely supportive of this project. We celebrate with Sammy and Koona, who have also endured this small space for an extended period! And with a clink of the glasses, Sarah and I celebrate 100 days in Lavaltrie, Quebec. Cheers!