Day 89 – I can hardly believe it, but I’ve finished! Canada 🇨🇦 Has Been Crossed! Due to unusual circumstances, which I’ll explain as soon as I finish my celebrations here at the Shamrock City Pub on Water St, St. John’s, I got to the very end of the road across Canada one whole day early.
I’ve just got back to St. John’s from Cape Spear, the craziest, hilliest stretch of road on the whole trip, and I’m drinking Kilkenny beers and waiting for my surf’n’ turf blow-out supper to arrive.
IOU two blog posts, mostly ready to post but I hope you don’t mind just sharing this moment with me, regardless of timing, after all we’ve been through together. Live Irish music is filling the bar, it’s packed, it’s Friday night, I’m unbelievably glad to have done this, after the years of planning, and the gloves are off tonight.
Easternmost landfall of the entire North American Continent
Front wheel dipped in the Atlantic, after portaging the bike across 100ft of slippery rocks, 89 days after wetting the back wheel in the Pacific, baptising my very special transcontinental bicycle 🚴🏽
Stunned. That’s the only word for it. No more Canada 🇨🇦 left. I’ve used it all up.
There’s a wedding party just stopped in the bar to dance and drink several rounds with everyone before they get on with the reception. This town is great.
CrossedCanada2017. More blog someday soon
Ben xxx
INCIDENTSᐧOFᐧTRAVEL 
Nice one Ben
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Tick ✅
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Congraduation Ben. It was a pleasure to spent time discusssing with you at Louiseville. Regards Jean Chambers
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Thanks Jean! Time has flown. How did I ever get here?
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Massive French-Canadian hat to you, sir!
Nailed it.
Get ***faced.
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Cheers Rob, good to hear from you. Mountie hat firmly in position.
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Next?
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Kilkenny #4 thanks!
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Absolutely astonishing achievement!!! Very well done indeed Ben. I have another £20 for you from a friend who donated that instead of buying me a birthday present. Louise x
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What a kind thought. I don’t quite believe I’ve got here, and there’s a bit more story to tell…
Bx
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We’re in Stroud with Seb and co and have just seen your blog. Amazing, brilliant, incredible, hurray, from everyone here plus loads of love xxxxxxxx
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Thank you, Bucktons everywhere. I’m in bits. Bxx
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Got a bit emotional here on your behalf. Incredible incredible achievement!!! Can’t wait to catch up when you get back. You’ve earned a major hangover tomorrow. Can you even still get hangovers?
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Let’s see …. I’m doing my bit. Thanks so much John. When I finally post blogs 88/89 you’ll find you have a starring role. I’m talking eco cruising, lord love us. Irish bar is perfect, cos no one gives a monkeys if yor croyin in yer point.
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Hahaha! Looking forward to those then! I’m remembering a danish bar right now involving a big old sing song. Mr Elston might remember it well too. Enjoy your salty pint!
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I’m nearly ready to stop them singing “As I walked down the …”etc and start a Bohemian Rhapsody face-off. C’mon!!
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Bring the Uke!!!! Come on!!
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Fantastic, world class achievement Ben, totally impressed. Have been quietly & immensely enjoying your blog & all the wonderful support you’ve had!
Here’s “Cheers” to you!
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Tamsy! Great to hear from you, and thanks. This evening in St Johns Newfoundland is now sponsored by Jamesons. I’m drinking to the health of everyone that’s supported me across the nation. Glad to know you were secretly there all the time. Bxx
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WOW!!!!!!!
Congratulations, Ben, what an amazing achievement! I have so enjoyed following your progress… I shall have withdrawal symptoms without your blog to read every day!
Looking forward to seeing you back at school in the not so distant future.
Safe journey home!
Pxx
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You’ve been there from start to finish Penny, so my next double Jamesons is for you! Thanks for all your encouragement and appreciation. It proves the power of words. Bxx
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Just incredible, Ben.
Only started reading your blog about 2 weeks ago and got hooked. Decided to go with the current posts so now have most of the west part to look forward to. I’m sure it won’t be at all confusing.
Hope you’re weathering the shock ok.
Huge, huge mazal tov…
Steph x
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I’m just trying to resist the temptation to do a Nige style shout-out….sorry, can’t…GONLEE! Thanks Steph, I’m a bit lost for words right now. Oy gevalt. If you backtrack through the blog, I have to say I left a bit of my heart in the wide open Prairies. No one told me that they were enchanted. Bxx
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Only started reading your blog a few days ago, have been trying to catch up with you, hoping to before you crossed the finish line in record time!
It’s been inspirational following your journey & has kept my spirits up as I struggle “up” Constitution Hill of a morning.
Stonking feet !
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As it happens my feet probably are a bit stonking It’s tough on the pedal extremities, this continent crossing malarkey.
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Oops!
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Amazing, Ben! What an incredible achievement! Have a double Jameson for me too! Looking forward to seeing you at the start of term……with the uke?!? Many many congratulations from all the Lodges 🚴🎶xx
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Hi Jane – thanks, you’ve been another ever-present on this trip, and I’m so grateful! Order placed. Me and the uke are a bit inseparable. I may have to sleep at Beechwood for a week or two. Tent in the orchard?? Bxx
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I’m sure we can arrange something….! xx
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CrossingMarkyate2017
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Congratulations Ben, you are amazing! Please can you find something else to Blog about? Safe trip home (are you going to swim it?) x
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Hi Laura! Well, there’s a very famous cable that runs below the sea to Cornwall, an me boikes hevvy enuff to foller it home. Bxx
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Absolutely outstanding. An incredible achievement.
Greg
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Greg! Tell you what, I’ll drink your health for introducing me to St Amroise. Isn’t today St Ambroise day? Pretty sure. Cheers!! 🙏
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Congratulations Dad, you have at least one very proud son 🙂
Rather like Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin series, your blog has been an endlessly fascinating story of travel, landscapes, wildlife, food, signs, music and humanity. I’ll miss it greatly.
Lots of love,
Sam X
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Sammy! I had hard tack for breakfast! Remember that from O’Brien? My wonderful host Stuart made me a Newfoundland specialty of salt cod, bacon, hard tack and egg to keep my wheels turning today. Seems to have worked! Dad xxx
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Well done dad! Proud of you x
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Do oi evah wish you were here?! Thanks Jakeyboy. Still got a few tales to tell but it can wait tonight, eh? “Whisky in the Jar” is the tune getting the Shamrock jumping tonight. What a place. Are u in Father Benjamin? Great tunes. Dxxx
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I tried to post a new video of our map, showing a snaking orange line all the way from Vancouver Island to Cape Spear but the technology was beyond me, sorry. It looks absolutely unbelievable! Did you really do all that? It’s a shame the boys and I are all in different places tonight, Ben, otherwise we’d be having a knees-up for you! I can’t wait to see you on Monday. Enjoy your last two days on Canadian soil, and I hope there’s at least someone there in that bar who knows that you’ve just cycled nearly 5000 miles across their country!
Lots of love and hugs
Susie XXXXXXX
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No one has the faintest idea except the barmaid who keeps bringing me double jamesons as if it was a cough remedy. Xx
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Congratulations! What an incredible achievement!!
Way to go Mr Buckton!
Michelle
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Thanks to all of the Smiths! Strange to think that I’m finishing near the start of term but started in half term before the summer! It’s been a long old ride.
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Congratulations! Very good idea to go to Cape Spear and finish today. Glad there was no rogue wave coming when you dipped your wheel ! Were you able to get a ride back to St. John’s?
Sounds like you are having a great celebration. Enjoy the next couple of days and make sure you get to the Rooms and Signal Hill. Enjoyed having you with us and glad the “fish and brewis ” breakfast gave you the energy to complete your journey.! We finished loading the car just before the rain started – perfect timing.
All the Best,
Stuart &Elsie.
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No ride back by I was floating up those hills without any panniers! I got soaked heading back from the bar though!
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What a truly phenomenal achievement, Ben – many, many congratulations on completing your epic journey. Despite being at opposite sides of Canada, we are with you in spirit, and Gill and I will drink a major toast to you tonight. Enjoy the warm glow of both your achievement, and the Kilkenny!
Stewart
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Thanks to you both! Kilkenny became Jamesons which became a late night. Couldn’t have chosen a better spot to celebrate if I tried. I just asked some locals and they laughed and showed me where I should head. Bx
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Congratulations doesn’t begin to cover your incredible feat, Ben! Amazing! Can you keep blogging anyway, you write so well. Lots of love and enjoy that pint! Helen x
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Hi Helen! Ok I’ll just blog my boring old home life – “Woke up, got out of bed, dragged a comb across my head”. Except that last bit. Bx
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Ben’s quest with his bike is Terrific
Plus Three months of blogs most prolific
Putting miles and pancakes away
Oft a hundred a day
So wheels dipped both Atlantic Pacific.
(Apologies, the Scanning needs work).
Xx
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I’m prepared to ignore the scanning issues because you’ve written me such a lovely limerick Helen! I WANT SOME PANCAKES! Got to get back to normal life, quick. Bx
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Brilliant Ben. Well done! I’ve loved reading your posts. Massive congratulations on something few fellow cyclists could ever achieve. See you in Birmingham. Cheers, Julian.
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Thanks Julian. Glad you’ve enjoyed the blog – it’s made the trip for me!
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Absolutely incredible Ben! What an accomplishment. I will really miss reading your blogs. Never has a surf and turf been so well- deserved. Cheers!
Enid
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Thanks so much Enid. I’ll post the two missing blogs when I get a chance today or tomorrow, so I’m not done yet! Bx
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Just amazing Ben. Of course we all thought you were mad, and what you have done is prove us all right. You really do have to be a bit mad to achieve truly great things. Where shall we put the statue? We’ve just delivered about a ton of clay that never got used on a previous holiday so we’ll get Theo and Nell on to it. So much looking forward to Monday. xxxxx.
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I think I’d like it two please, one for Vancouver Island and the other for Cape Spear. And one for the garden. So three then. Ok? Thanks for everything dad. Bxxx
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Fantastic Ben! What an achievement! I read your blog the whole way and was with you in spirit. Huge congratulations! Must get to see you again – it’s been so very long…. Big hug!
Mick
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Thanks Mick, the support has been incredible, off the chart, and very inspiring when you sort of need a boost. Let me know when you’re next in the uk and we’ll celebrate belatedly! Bx
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Amazing, Ben! Huge congratulations!! I’m am in awe of what you have done and your reasons for doing it. What an achievement. I’ve enjoyed every one of your blogs and am looking forward to the next one….the World? Julie x
Sent from my iPad
>
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Hi Julie! Thanks so much. I’ve enjoyed seeing your travels on FB too! Bx
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All these voices joining up in the ether – it’s extraordinary, like that John Wyndham novel I think it’s The Crysalids, where the action of people telepathising creates a sort of world hum. A great feeling xxx
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It’s an amazing feeling to get all this support pouring out. I had such a laugh replying to everyone last night in the bar – my phone would’ve been going bing bing bing but the music was too loud!Bxx
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Wow!!!You’ve done an absolutely amazing thing Ben and I can imagine that you must be feeling a mixture of euphoria and bewilderment. It’s a good job term starts soon otherwise you might be inspired to start another mad adventure! Have a safe journey back and, yes, I agree with everyone who wants you to keep writing. It’s a pleasure to have your musings accessible. Love, Jessy
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Thanks Jessy. I’ll try and stay put for a bit now I think! The bike will be all boxed up by this evening. Bx
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You’re up early! Fragile today?
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Mmmmm, a touch, but cld be worse! Cycling a lot and eating a lot helped.
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Fantastic Ben! What a life changing experience and amazing achievement. Visited your blog this morning to share in the countdown only to discover you have already dipped the bike wheel ! We will raise a toast from both the Cotswolds and PEI and thank you for making this the summer when Ben the biker came to visit!!! David,Karen and the gang
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Many thanks again for the PEI experience David – a very memorable part of my journey. I hope your Prom went well!
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Ben!! Permission to be proud of you from the Chisholm clan – including Roly??!!!! Mission IMPOSIBLE (certainly !) but not for you! – accomplished with flying colours and buckets and buckets of admiration and frankly awe from us here!! You are an inspiration – no joke.
Tons of love to you with copious quantities of CONGRATULATIONS!!!! from Miranda, Chis, Ella and Amber and of course sloppies from the black lab- Roly!
Xxxxxx
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Thank you all, and can’t wait to find out what on earth you’ve all been doing this summer! Flying home tomorrow. Crazy. Bxx
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This Summer my boyfriend and I drove from Banff to St John’s and back, I wonder if we passed you along our way. I applaud you for doing it on your bike, I certainly couldn’t do it, my mother does long distance cycling but I bet she wouldn’t attempt this. Good on you!
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Many thanks Leigh1980! I tried to chase up your blog too, but found that you’ve shut it down for now. – intriguing!
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Oh, it should still be live. 😧
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