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Editor’s Note: Different members of the Tour de Rock team write a daily blog posting on tourderock.ca. This is the posting from the Campbell River stop. Follow the tour as it continues to Victoria by visiting the blog.
Colleen Henry
Comox Valley RCMP/2014 Tour de Rock Team
What an amazing day we had today! Our team of 24 riders and our committed support crew started with breakfast in Sayward at Skogan’s Diner, where the ladies that cooked for us were up bright and early to make us a delicious home-cooked meal that fuelled us for our ride to Campbell River.
We started out with a crack of blue in the sky. We thought the skies would clear up for us further down the road, but instead they opened up and the weather turned blustery.
That said, we all made it to Campbell River with smiles on our faces!
First stop: Tyee Chevrolet, where we received a warm welcome from the owner and the staff, who provided us with a generous cheque and some refreshments.
We had lunch in Campbell River at the awesome Dick’s Fish and Chips. Dick met us all at the entrance to the restaurant and welcomed us with open arms!
More delicious fuel, I wanted to try the deep-fried Mars bar. I was too full though. I’m noticing, that is becoming a regular occurrence on Tour; there’s so much hospitality from people in every community who want to make sure we’re well-fed and ready to cycle. Trust me, we are! Dick, I will return to try that deep-friend Mars bar.
Ecole des Deux Mondes was the next stop. It’s so sweet to see all of the children; they were all outside waiting and cheering for us! It was awesome. They even made flowers for us.
A quick re-fuel stop at Booster Juice was just what was needed to keep the team going. Thanks so much to the owners!
A special visit to Campbell River Common Shopping Centre truly showed us the heart of Campbell River! Wow! A lot of money was raised by different organizations in this great community. We also met a very special young lady and her family. This girl, who is only five years old, was diagnosed with leukemia a year ago. Her treatment for this disease is three years long. She is almost halfway through her treatments!. Her mother, father and sister are all fighting this disease together with her.
The family told us a heartwarming story of how they were able to attend Camp Goodtimes this summer together, and how this was the only time since the diagnosis that they could let their guard down and all just have fun as a family. Camp Goodtimes did everything else for them. This is why we ride.
This is why we fundraise. This story made all that we have done so far — through months of training and fundraising and these last couple days of riding — so special and completely worthwhile!
Boston Pizza hosted another great fundraiser and not to forget our awesome crew, they delivered pizzas back to them at Painter’s Lodge while they prepared our equipment for the next day.
Such a treat to stay at a world famous fishing resort and an amazing sponsor.
Thank you everybody on Vancouver Island for all that you have done to help support this cause, and thanks for everything that is yet to come.