Friday, September 30, 2011

Day 36 and 37 Shediac to Moncton, New Brunswick

Day 36 was a maintenance day, it started with me taking the motorhome to Spring Specialty ltd in Moncton to get an exhaust leak fixed. Thanks to James Murray and his crew, who did the work for free! Unfortunately, that didn't fix the real problem, The exhaust pipe at the back of the motorhome is blowing exhaust on the escorts and the medal bearers. Hopefully a solution will be found soon.

Then it was off to the Moncton R.V. center to try and get the electric step on the side of the motorhome fixed. The step is haunted at no-one seems to know what is wrong. A new one is $1200.

Cruisin back to Shediac

At the west enterance to Shediac, you will find the world's largest lobster, as Stompin Tom Connors would say, "in Canada we get to see them all"

Shediac

Shediac looking out into the North Humberland Strait

Parlee Beach, not as nice as Basin Head in P.E.I, but pretty nice


My ride for this week. As drivers we change positions quite often to keep it fresh

downtown Shediac day 37

Another school presentation, this time in Shediac as this french school.........


Our next school stop in Shediac was at the Louis J. Robichaud School, here the medal bearer is one of their own students



Then it was off to the hotel de ville (city hall)
As we left Shediac, it was back to the big lobster for an impromptu team photo, I am on the far left in the blue shirt

While we were there, I met Colin Pick, who is the National President and CEO for the war pensioners of Canada, on holidays from Manitowaning, Ont. , he was telling me how he remembered Rick coming through his town 25 years ago, then he stuffed $40 into my hand to go toward the Rick Hansen Foundation

Later in the day it was off to another school, Ecole Mathieu-Martin, in Dieppe, New Brunswick


Not quite sure about these mascots, a little frightening

outside the city hall in dieppe

Medal bearers posing with the city hall staff

We had 2 motorcycle police leading us today. A little road construction to navigate on our way into Moncton

A news crew from CBC showed up to interview the medal bearers at the University of Moncton

The moose is on the loose

End of day celebration in Moncton, and there is that Ronald Mcdonald again! I heard he is following us all the way to Montreal, some gig!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Day 34, and 35 Summerside ,P.E.I. to Shediac, New Brunswick

Day 34 was an non-relay day. Pat, Don, and I were on a mission today to move two vehicles, the supply truck to Shediac, New Brunswick, and one of the brand new Acura's which was having terrible electrical problems to an Acura dealer in Moncton, New Brunswick. This meant heading for the Confederation bridge. Opened in 1997, it is 12.9 kilometers long, and cost $1 billion to build. It is privately owned.

The toll gate. You only pay going from P.E.I. to New Brunswick. Free back to P.E.I, but then your only other option is a ferry, that apparently cost even more than the toll

What are you going to do? Swim across?

Following Don across
The first thing you notice about New Brunswick, is the french content. It is the only province in Canada that is officially bilingual

I counted 13 warning lights on the Acura as I drove, it was a miracle it actually ran.

A nature center just across the bridge.

When we dropped the Acura off in Moncton, we had to come back across the bridge, this is the view from the New Brunswick side

Someone believed anything is possible


The New Brunswick shoreling , still on the Northumberland Strait
Day 35 started in Summerside, P.E.I. with our endurance athlete, Matt who just joined us, riding his hand cycle

The students gather for the arrival of the medal bearer at Summerside Intermediate School

In this picture, Sony our retiring endurance athlete is shown with his mother, one of the medal bearers today in Summerside
Yes, there is such a place, and it is in Summerside, Piping and performing celtic arts


This lady had the biggest smile on her face from one end of her medal bearer segment to the other.

In Borden-Carleton , P.E.I., just before we cross the Confederation Bridge (again for some of us)

This time, I am driving the motorhome and pace vehicle in front of the medal bearer, much the same as I did on the Olympic Torch Relay, and I even get a police escort.They even shut down the bridge for a bit, so the medal bearer could do a segment.

My view in the side mirror of the medal bearer
First time for twin medal bearers, unfortunately one turned her head when I took the pic

Our two escorts for the day , Jeremy (Fish), not to be confused with my roomie, Jeremy (Nish), and Tyrone wait with the medal bearer in Port Elgin, New Brunswick

High fives for all in Port Elgin

Port Elgin Region School

Bibliotheque publique de Cap-Pele.

Center in the heart of Acadia- Cap Pele (town hall??)

This rear camera mounted on the dash of the pace motorhome is how I guage where to be in front of the medal bearer

End of day Celebration on Shediac, New Brunswick

Home for two nights at the Seely motel in Shediac, are only window was a portel out into the parking lot, looking down on our relay vehicles, nice view