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Weekend Riding Plans: How about 150 km on Canada’s Day 150th Birthday?

Sam B

Wish us luck. Also clear skies and tail winds. It was Cate’s idea. We’re riding 150 km on Canada’s 150th birthday tomorrow. The group of riders is Cate, Sarah, David, and me. We’re riding from London to Port Stanley and back for 100 km and then a bonus trip to Belmont and home for 50 km.

After there’s a BBQ and Tracy and Nat will be there too, along with my kids and my mum too. Maybe even Jeff it looks like. Yay! (He’s off on a boating adventure. You can read his blog about that here.)

I’m glad we’re doing this. I think many of us have complicated emotions about Canada Day this year. Cate wrote an incredibly thoughtful piece about Canada’s 150th birthday, our colonial past, and the ongoing injustices towards indigenous people. See her  Colonialism 150: my tiny disruption. 

Cate writes:

“I’m trying to listen and read and pay attention, and I’m doing one tiny gesture that feels meaningful.  I’ve been asking for recommendations about small Indigenous organizations that are doing work with little resources.  I am picking 10 and sending each of them $150 leading up to July 1.  And then I’m going to try to learn more about the work that each of them is doing, and how I can be a true ally.  And then on Canada Day, I’m going to ride my bike 150 km and think about what I am grateful for.”

I’m excited and I’m ready to ride!

If you’re Canadian, do you have any plans to mark the country’s birthday?

Published by Sam B

Philosopher, feminist, parent, and cyclist! Co-founder of Fit Is a Feminist Issue, co-author of Fit at Mid-Life: A Feminist Fitness Journey, published by Greystone Books.

3 thoughts on “Weekend Riding Plans: How about 150 km on Canada’s Day 150th Birthday?”

  3. Best of luck and it’s a great way to celebrate on the journey of being Canadian.

    We’re cycling off to hopefully hear Ian Tyson (Canadian country /folk singer) sing “Four Strong Winds” along with 1,500 other guitar/string players. I’m in the Canadian prairies.

    Yesterday for last 2 days, we cycled the Legacy bike trail between Canmore and Banff..2 round trips with views of the Rocky Mountains along the way at every turn. It was bright sunny, hot and the mountains rose along the way. Path is parallel to TransCanada Highway…which spans the length of Canada..over 8,000 km.

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