Well sort of punked….Danielle (congrats on your race yesterday in Ottawa! Way to go!) and I had plans to get together before I left town. Little did I know she was scheming to get me to the cafeteria at work. Thanks to all who took the time to be at this send-off for me, with coffee and cake!! Your generosity, support, encouragement, enthusiasm, and sense of family/community have, and continue, to overwhelm me. I am proud to be part of the Pfizer team and have the pleasure of working with some fantastic people who truly care.  Rest assured I will update the blog along the way as much as possible. Please feel free to write/send along your comments!

I hope to see colleagues from the Field Force along the way; colleagues from Montreal at Sears Angrignon on June 17 by 7 a.m  and others who intend to join for longer rides!

Check out the new information - public awareness campaign.

http://www.youtube.com/Cst2CstAgainstCancer

Out for a walk yesterday evening and was fortunate to see not one, but two spectacular, complete, rainbows. Wow, brilliant purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red. Kind of nice to slow the pace down a bit with this taper and think about why I am doing this ride. Reminded me of the times as a kid when seeing a rainbow was such a magical moment….nice to know it still is. Lots of kids out in the streets playing hockey. The soccer field at Aumais park was busy with young kids playing soccer for the first time. I had a good chuckle at the fact that most uniform shirts dropped to well below knee level (a fact they seemed completely oblivious to I might add), making it just about impossible to run without toppling over!  Cute and fun to see. Also great to see so many parents out there encouraging their kids on the field.

My treat for the day was on my return home along Chemin Ste. Marie - just at the stop-sign near Meloche….2 deer about 10 feet away, and I did not have my camera!!!  None of us dared to make a move and it’s as if we were suspended in time, gazing in wonder and awe at one another; until a car came screeching past and frigthened all of us. Fool.

Slow down on the roads folks…please….there’s no need to hurry everywhere. Arrive alive.

Yahoo!  I did 120 km ride yesterday afternoon/evening out to Ile Perrot, Les Cedres, Coteaux du Lac, St. Lazare, Rigaud, Hudson, Vaudreuil-Dorion, back to Ste. Anne de Bellevue. 4 hours flat and when I made it back at 7 p.m I had just enough time to cut my pathetic dandelions before my sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew pulled into the driveway from Ontario - and I just made it out of the shower when they arrived.

We had a specatuclar day today!  Started out at the DQ in Lachine and managed to ride all the way to the Old Port - 20 km and I am so proud of both Kirsten and Owen for their efforts and riding ability. There aren’t too many 10 yr old and 8 yr old kids that can ride 20 km, on a tank (oops, I mean mountain bike) at an average speed of 17 km/hr! Took us 1 hour to get there - we enjoyed a picnic by the peddle boats and took the opportunity to take some pictures with these Big Wheels! Total of 40 km for the kids! Great job!

One hour to return back to Lachine where those guys loaded up the bikes - I opted to hammer it back along Lakeshore to Pointe Claire Village (20 km) at an average speed of 38 km/hr and beat them there!!!!  A full belly of ice cream for the kids; Fiona and I cycled back home together. We just made it back in time from the rain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxNgYnA1Sys

Filmed this past weekend at Sir Sam’s Inn - Haliburton, ON

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD_S-KxW9ho

I thought I was prepared for the National Rider training weekend in Haliburton, ON, however, the experience proved to surpass all my expectations. Let me share with you why…

The group met at the base for the weekend, Sir Sam’s Inn. Kicked off the training with an evening ride in the Haliburton area led by local National Rider, Eric Edwards. The weather throughout the entire weekend could not have been better for this time of year. We did a 65 km ride along some spectacular roads and lakes. Finished the day with a terrific meal at Sir Sam’s Inn, followed by the Spa recovery for some. The camaraderie amongst riders grew from the moment we met, or in some cases, re-acquainted with one another. I am always amazed at the ease with which conversation begins and flows over 4 +++  hour rides; and then continues as we “Shake by the Lake” or relax in the spa to help the muscles recover and reset for the next ride.

Up and early on Saturday for an 8:45 a.m departure for the first ride of the day. We left as one group and split halfway. Ended up with 135 km on some fantastic roads - Quebec could learn a lesson or two on road maintenance. We returned by early afternoon and spent the afternoon munching, calculating how many bags of Salt chips we could eat on the ride based on caloric expenditure, soaking in the spa to help the legs, back, calves, neck, etc. recover and some more “Shaking by the Lake”.  A few brave souls mustered the courage to jump in the lake. A bit of bike maintenance and some supper. By 8:30 p.m we were back out for a night ride, this time split in two groups from the start for safety.

It’s incredible the natural “noise” you hear when riding at night. Hundreds, if not thousands, of peepers/frogs calling out; deer just a few feet away take off as the double pace line approaches.  We settled on a “2 hours out/2 hours back” route along the 118 that leads into Bracebridge. This would allow for riders who were new to night riding and night group riding some time to get accustomed before we do our 24/7 National Ride segments. The temperature cooled off significantly as we eased into the night. Our group turned around first and it was quite amazing to see the other group approach. You can spot the lights from a mile away, very much like an on-coming car! Unfortunately, you don’t see ‘road kill’ as easily at night, Martin had the misfortune of running over a porcupine, and now appropriately enough has the nickname “Porky”.  Could have resulted in a serious injury or accident; one flat tire and some quills stuck into Ross’ jersey and they were moving again! Once back at the ranch it was a well deserved and needed lights out.

Sunday morning we welcomed another beautiful day looking over the lake. We rode as one group and got to know one another that much better as we exchanged conversation along the way.  Great thing about group riding in a double pace line is that you are constantly having these short clips of conversation with other riders that get picked up from where you left off as you rotate and take turns at the front of the pack. Another specatucular choice of routes by Eric.  The work gets done and we’ve had many good laughs along the way.

Thanks to Larry (aka Lars) who stopped along his way to the “bunkbed depot” to prepare the Trailers for the actual ride. Your tireless efforts are greatly appreciated by all of us as were your inspiring thoughts that you shared with us roadside. An emotional moment for all of us that brought a tear or two to the group and certainly brought us closer together.

We ride for many reasons as individuals. I am honored, humbled and proud to be part of such a great group. As a team, we are strong, passionate, have lots of heart and determined to contribute, to make a difference….and we will with each pedal we collectively turn. Bring it on…

http://picasaweb.google.com/rossrader/NationalRiderTrainingAndNutritionHaliburtonMay9112008More photos to be posted as they become available so check back soon and check back often!!!

Thanks to everyone who came out to support the Shave to Save! About 100 people passed by to encourage us and it’s great to feel, once again, the strength and power of the “Pfizer family”.  A sincere thanks to all.

We got things started with an introduction to the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation and Sears National Kids Cancer Ride. The pre-taped video of Steven Croucher and Tracy Worthington certainly helped shed some light into the effect that childhood cancer has from a child and parent perspective. Thanks Steven and Tracy as I believe your words had a tremendous impact on us all and I know carried us through not only today, but tomorrow and beyond. Health and wellness play an extremely important role in both my personal and professional life, and this has been one way to involve others.  The SNKCR video followed to show how we can all contribute and make a difference (see the blog roll to view the short clip)

 Thanks to Bernard Prigent, VP Medical, and Kevin O’Farrell for their support on behalf of PCLT. Your words of encourgement and support are greatly appreciated.

That said, it was time to SHAVE!  On behalf of all of us, thanks to Nellie and Sheri who took it to task to shave off the hair!  I can only hope that being a part of this day has had a profound impact with you as well. Thanks, and yes - we will have some fun creating and shaping some new hairstyles over the coming months!!

Thanks to the team at IMPACT for supplying the sharp ball caps “Shave to Save 2008″

This has been an emotional day - but a great day. I was so pleased to see kids in the room to listen, learn and be part of this experience. I ask you each to share this with your family, friends, colleagues, neighbors…..spread the word. Thanks for allowing me into your lives with this journey.

You never know what tomorrow brings….

 A HUGE thanks to Scott and the gang at CARAMBOLA CAFE as well as the folks who came out to enjoy a fabulous meal, conversation and support a great cause.  We dined on Thai noodels with salmon; coconut risotto; tiger shrimp with mango glaze and sushi; pork tenderloin with leak pancake. Delicious. I never had the pleasure of dining at Carambola Cafe previously and if you have never been  - please take some time this summer to go and enjoy a meal there! 

KIM, my sincerest gratitude and thanks to you for having put this together. You rock.

Melissa also enjoyed her last night with hair; along with husband Danny and friends!

A great deal of conversation at our table with Kim, Mom (Heide), Tracy and Yannick (good luck with the marathon training and race in Ottawa) - your perseverance and strength through the tough times with your young family sheds some perspective for many and fuels me with inspiration and courage to ride harder; fellow rider and all-around great guy - Keith and Carol (the most amazing energy bar maker - and soon to be retired teacher).  I don’t think Mom realized that this trip involved night riding - and she worries. The conversation and reassurance from Keith about how we go about night rides and long distances over 19 days hopefully helped!

 Keith and Tracy

 Yannick and Carol

 Heide (Mom) and Keith

Thanks everyone for your overwhelming support and encouragement.

 Tomorrow is the Shave to Save.

Shout out to the Grade 7 & 8 students at Centennial Academy in Montreal!

I met with about 70 students to speak about the importance of volunteering and “giving back” to the community. Highlighting the importance of health and wellness; the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride; how good it feels to help contribute to a cause (in this case children and families living with and beyond cancer).

As I said to this great group of youths, you must find something that you are passionate about and is from the heart. Your efforts are greatly rewarded by the feeling of knowing that you can truly make a difference to whatever cause or activity you choose to support. The challenge is adding the volunteer opportunity to some of your own priorities. I can say for certain, from experience, it is well worth the effort, energy and, at times, personal sacrifice.

Any volunteer contribution is worthwhile and doesn’t have to cost a single cent. I asked the kids to spread the word with family and friends or take their bikes out for 15 minutes this weekend with somebody that cares about them.

You can do it too….consider it your homework. (I’ve got your back and will cover the remaining 8 hours 45 minutes of training!!)

Went to see Anne this evening for a fantastic therapeutic massage (West Island Y - Massotherapie Adam).  Should be ready to ride tomorrow! Thanks and GO HABS GO!!