I am leaving Ontario on Tuesday and heading to the Yukon. It has been well over a year since this thought first crept into my head. I figured I should be doing something significant to mark my 50^th year and that should be a bike ride. Plans for a reunion at an alternative high school I went to in Carcross, Yukon started to come together. So I thought - a trip to the Yukon and a Yukon bike trip.The planning has been fun and a bit stressful. Over the past year I have asked for and gotten the time off work, convinced my family that this is a good idea, challenged myself to get and keep in some sort of reasonable shape (I know that round is a shape but it is not the one I am looking for) and looked at all the details and possibilities required.

You see, I am not the super athlete type. I have never run a marathon, raced a mountain bike or battled in a downhill skiing race - I am just not that competitive. Besides, my body size is more middle linebacker than bike rider. Challenging myself and competition can be two different things. The objective of the trip is not “get” to Inuvik but to “go” to Inuvik and there is a subtle difference in those words. I know I can ride 100 km in a day - I know I can get up and do that again the second day. It will be the fifth and sixth day that will be hard.

I have had a lot of help along the way. From sage advice from fellow bikers to the good folks at Axiom lending support, it already has been quite a ride. There has been much interest generated through my website in support of the Ride to Conquer Cancer, Cameron Helps and the Three Rivers Project and I am happy to help promote those worthwhile charities.

I am at the “counting sleeps” point now. I have even been checking the long range weather forecast even though I don’t really think they can predict that far ahead.

I know I have forgotten something….it is an age thing….but I am not sure what it is yet. I have scores and scores of lists prepared and the outstanding items are getting less and less each day.

I begin riding on August 4^th I will try to check in at Eagle Plains and Inuvik.

Cheers,

David Raithby