Cycling in our town and around the world
Wheel Life column - October 14, 2000
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

Gil and Lynne Blair make it seem ordinary for a couple of normal, middle-aged professionals to take a year-long bicycle trip across Alaskan wilderness, through the jungles of Central America, over the Andes Mountains, and down to isolated Tierra Del Fuego ("Land of Fire").

They will give a special presentation and slide show about their cycling epic at the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition's Annual General Meeting next Wednesday, October 18, 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm, at the Oaklands Community Centre, 2827 Belmont Ave (at Kings Road). In addition, political junkies can enjoy hearing guest speaker Attorney General Andrew Petter.

The Blairs, who are lifelong GVCC members, have created a great website at http://www.bicycletheamericas.com. With the motto, "No guts, no story," the site is an excellent resource for anybody who dreams of taking a long cycling tour, or wants to read about the adventures of those who do. The site summarizes Gil and Lynne's trip down the Pan-American highway from Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina. It also offers advice for planning your own extended cycle tour, as well as cycle touring goals and principles.

Of course, you don't need to go around the world for a great cycling experience. There's plenty of adventure right here. Our family had a wonderful time last weekend riding the Lochside Trail through Saanich.

It was a gorgeous autumn day, sunny and fresh. We started at McKenzie Avenue across from Reynolds Junior Secondary School. The first stage took us across the recently completed Blenkinsop Lake Trestle. There we watched a family of river otter play in the sparking water while dragonflies whizzed past, grebes fished, and an abundance of people cycled and strolled along the trail.

Continuing up the Saanich Peninsula, we rode through forests and farm fields, stopped for lunch at Mattick's Farm, watched model airplane flyers, purchased garden-fresh vegetables, explored the Saanich Historical Artifacts Society "Heritage Acres" (our boys LOVED riding the model trains), and got plenty of exercise.

Like most kids, our 8 and 11 year old children enjoy watching videos, playing computer games and hanging out. We often must struggle to get out of the house for a family outing. But once we arrive at a trail, park or beach, the mood changes - the boys become involved in their surroundings. We talk, play and explore the outdoors - an antidote to the stresses and distractions of modern life.

We are blessed to have such simple pleasures and so much beauty at our doorstep. Whether you ride a bike, skate, scoot, walk or use a wheelchair; whether you go alone or with others; whether you travel on sidewalks, recreational trails, or halfway around the world, we hope you too will enjoy exploring this fantastic world under your own power.

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"Cycle Therapy," the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition's (GVCC) newsletter, is now available online at http://www.gvcc.bc.ca/cycletherapy.htm. Each edition is packed with information on current issues, advice, and upcoming activities of interest to local cyclists. You can receive an e-mail notification when a new edition is posted by filling out the form at the website.