Ride The Wave - Trip Log

1. Solar BBQ Send off at ASH Eco-Home – 6:00-9:30 p.m.
   
   This event was truly fabulous in bringing supporters, family, friends, and sponsors together to celebrate the Ride the Wave initiative. The Calgary Farmer’s Market Donations provided the organic food (all meat and veggie burgers were cooked by Helen and Jorg’s solar ovens); Doug Haines of Stoneset made fashionable Ride the Wave posters; and, Liz worked to organize and prepare the BBQ into the success it was.
   
   It was a powerful moment for me to speak to the guests about how Ride the Wave came together. Also, I acknowledged the many people who helped me turn it from an idea to a reality. The $600 of donations collected at the BBQ was much appreciated.
   
   
   
2. Calgary to Canmore. June 21 st to June 23 rd
   
   After nearly two dedicated months --Ride the Wave itinerary, Project summary, Sponsorship, and planning— the moment finally came to clip into my bike pedals and ride away. I was glad to have both Alex’s and my family there to bid us farewell at 8:30 from Crowfoot shopping centre.
   
   It all seemed rather surreal. Most big adventures I have gone on, like my travels to Europe, began with a fast hurtle into the air and without warning. The scenery, atmosphere, climate changed quickly. Yet, on Saturday, seeing the distant Rocky mountain panorama from Calgary in the far distance, and then slowly creeping into the shadowy gigantic rocks was a much different form of transportation. The smells of wildflowers and trees in bloom; the music of meadow larks and the flutter of aspen leaves; and, the feel of summer air and cool passing streams brought me into my present journey to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the natural world. What a tremendously important task lies ahead.
   
   My mother, yes the one who stayed up all night to finish sewing fashionable safety vests for Alex and me, followed by car to Ghost Dam in order to quickly sew the last finishing touches. The endless support my family gives me is astronomical. It was fabulous to have extra support on such a hot day: water, hugs, filming and taking action photos, and of course food.
   
   After nearly 120km of riding, I arrived in Canmore around 4:30 with sunburned lips and some heat exhaustion. I see it as fortunate that Alex’s bike broke down before Canmore, instead of a remote area, in order to wake up to the fact that his bike needed major repairs and we both needed some spare equipment—tires, inner tubes--and to leave the unnecessary stove, pots, and heavy food behind. As Carrie M. experientially said, “all the just in case stuff has to go.”
   
   Lisa, my dear friend from Mount Royal College in Calgary, let us stay at her home until Monday morning. Thanks to her, I was able to mentally and physically rejuvenate after a couple of tiring preparation weeks leading up to the Farewell BBQ and the Launch.
   
   
   SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVE: Mary and Andre Gareau’s Eco- Home
   At 9:00 on Sunday Alex and I arrived at the beautiful home Cottage Magazine marked , “more than meets the Eye.” ` I was really impressed with the detail both Mary and Andre put into the planning and construction of their home. It was as if the Eco-home was a flying machine; I had to see it many times before I believed it. This house finally issued my own understanding of Green building practices: everything that goes into the house from the ground up must be carefully designed with intention and care for its impact on the ecosystem and its carbon footprint. The builders must be more concerned about the material’s use of renewable energy and green technologies than the immediate price tag attached.
   
   
   
3. Canmore to Marble Canyon to Invermere –Monday June 23 rd- June 25th
   
   With a late start at 1:30, the cloudy skies kept the sun away as Alex and I cycled from Canmore on the Trans Canada, Bow Valley 1A, and then Highway 93/95 to Marble Canyon Campground. The daunting Vermillion pass was the most challenging uphill since Calgary; it meandered slowly 4 km up, until the wondrous downhill that brought us into British Columbia. Celebration, unlike any moment so far, was expressed through great jests into the air and screams of satisfaction as we past the Great divide, and shared a fabulous—and much appreciated—campfire dinner with my family. The jam session—Alex playing the didgeridoo, my mom playing the recorder, and I singing and playing the harp—reminded me of the power of music, and how much I wish I could bring my harp along with me on the bike trip.
   
   A grey rainy morning woke us to a breakfast of almond butter and left over baked potatoes before leaving Marble Canyon to Invermere on Tuesday. This was the first day I acknowledged my camera’s purpose, and began taking some artistic shots of our journey through the pristine wilderness of Kooteney National Park. It took Radium pass— the concentration, commitment, and strength—for me to understand the importance of cycling to Vancouver: The commitment, strength, and concentration of what I put into that pass is what’s needed to be seen within Canadians in order for local environmental action to gain momentum.
   
   Eleven glorious kilometres of downhill pulled us into Radium.
   
   
   SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVE FOCUS AREA: Developer Stoneset Equities Ltd.
   Invermere was an important stop to highlight the Eco-Sustainability and smart building practices of the proposed Vista del Lago development. Stoneset, as the main Ride the Wave sponsor, has been an important part of Ride the Wave: they donated jerseys and rain jackets, and Doug Haines personally contributed his time and lent us his tent. The site was an open area with some trees that lead down to the train tracks, and had a beautiful view of Windermere Lake. Lynsay with the Valley Echo took a picture of us in front of the site, and then interviewed me for the next week’s issue. The interview gave me the opportunity to focus on speaking clearly, and not being hesitant or afraid of sharing the Ride the Wave message—the length of time it has taken to have the website fully up has discouraged me from spreading the word just yet. I was reminded of the meeting with Andy Marshall and his advice to think out the questions before hand and bring in a reference sheet. Lynsay asked some great questions: “what environmental advice could you give the Valley Echo in relation to the Ride the Wave vision?” I responded about first creating a composting/recycling program as a part of company policy, with afterwards expanding program to aid employees at home. Still, the question prompted me to think deeper and to understand that because people want practical solutions, they will look to me for these answers. But I see my task as one to create a network of people who are involved in projects of community action, instead of giving advice on how to set up a recycling system.
   
   
   
4. Fairmont to Wasa to Jaffray – June 25 th, June 27th
   
   Before leaving Invermere on Wednesday, I was able to take time swim in Windermere Lake; since triathalon training, it has truly become a meditative practice which I have missed while cycling every day. How fortunate that this trip has flexibility and structure to know a general timeline, yet enough freedom to be able to work with any spontaneous opportunities that arise.
   
   One unexpected surprise, was the two night stay in Fairmont Hot Springs. Tanya, the co-owner of Funtasia and Alex’s past employer, was a welcoming light who listened with wisdom as I told her about RTW and the magic of how it all came together.
   
   The park is nature centered, with the animals, beautiful gardens, and a labyrinth, in its three acres. It was here, that I first realized the importance of looking at environmental issues in a more holistic manner. I am brought back to Okotoks’ Drakes Landing solar development, where I ask an important question: will only solar panels on the suburban style roofs invoke a mentality of care for the earth that will reach into the future? Then, what will create this?
   
   How did I come to care so much about nature—through spending time experiencing the trees, animals, and interconnecting system that sustains life.
   
   How can I learn to engage those who haven’t developed similar values from childhood?
   
   The Ride the Wave vision is becoming wider: I am beginning to see how interrelated environmental problems and their causes are.
   
   
   SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVE: Development of Spirit’s Reach.
   Alex and I arrived at the Spirits Reach Show Home at 4:30 where we spent about an hour with the Developer, Donna Rae, discussing the importance of environmental awareness in order “to leave a legacy of community.”
   
   During my life I have seen Development turn beautiful areas, like the one across from my Cochrane childhood home, into a mesh of toxic building practices and disregard for creating social unity.
   
   Yet, I noticed some important differences in how Donna was taking on the challenge. First, she has been a resident of the Fairmont area for more than 25 years. She has built relationships with people in the community and the current development shows her commitment to keeping the natural eco-systems healthy. Otherwise, it’s just about making money.
   
   I see the higher cost of green technologies will drastically reduce the ability for young people to make a difference even with their lack of finances. Hopefully, in the future, these “green options” will be available to a wider income bracket.