Sadly, Alex passed away in June of this year.\u00a0 We thought we would publish the somewhat daily blog posts in Alex\u2019s memory.\u00a0 Alex\u2019 obituary has been included at the end. We think you will agree that Alex was an amazing human being and lived a very full life. \u00a0 -Diane<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Distance Covered: 490 miles \/ 789km<\/em><\/p>\n Alex will be rolling into his hometown of Creston on Friday or Saturday, depending on distance\u00a0covered! An update will be sent out on this. Alex and Terje found an injured fawn on the side of\u00a0the road as they were skiing and stopped to make sure it got some help (Nicole drove to the\u00a0nearest restaurant and the owner knew the owner of the house where the fawn was). They\u00a0also met up with a 10 year old boy named Liam and his father who are cycling from Vancouver\u00a0to Calgary! The local Overwaitea in Grand Forks gave a great discount on supplies (Nicole\u00a0went for groceries while Alex and Terje put their feet up and aired out their socks) and the\u00a0owner of the campground in Midway offered them a complimentary stay to support the cause!<\/p>\n When they arrive in Trail, Alex will be a doing an interview with the local KBS radio station.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Distance Covered: 535 miles \/ 860km<\/em><\/p>\n Special thanks to Johnson and Johnson \u201cHealing Blister\u201d for helping the skiers blisters heal up\u00a0Biography Press and Articles Photo Gallery Ski Across Canada Community Work\u00a0overnight! Great testimonial to them forthcoming. Duct tape also seems to be helping\u2026Nicole was approached by a giant elk but was unable to get the camera in time (or was it\u00a0hallucinations from being on the road for this long?)\u00a0The Friday night plan is to camp out on the top of the Salmo-Creston summit then start\u00a0heading down into Creston at about 7 am (walking the steep sections). They\u2019ll probably be a\u00a0welcoming committee at the Summit Creek Campground!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Distance Covered: 727 miles \/ 1170km<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s been about a week since our last update (I\u2019ve been out of town) so I\u2019ve got plenty to cover!\u00a0I\u2019ll go day-by-day through the past week so you can catch up.<\/p>\n Nelson, B.C<\/strong>. \u2013 Overnighted at Gerrick Cycle parking lot. A couple of kids were rocking the\u00a0RV and thumping on the sides. Nicole shooed them away as Alex and Terje weren\u2019t waking up\u00a0for anything! They all went to the Terra Nova for breakfast \u201cwith the civilized\u201d. Interviewed with\u00a0KBS (local radio station).<\/p>\n Salmo, B.C.<\/strong> \u2013 Bob and Donna Thicke met the group at Salmo. Bob cycled 25k along with\u00a0skiers. His wife and two dogs kept Nicole company. Alex and Terje skied until 9:45 pm in the\u00a0rain and pitch black to the top of the summit. Nicole was behind lighting the way and warning\u00a0the traffic. It was \u201craining cats and elephants!\u201d<\/p>\n From Nicole: \u201cTerje and Alex were skiing in sync it was neat. I got mesmerized at times but Ididn\u2019t run them over. When they reached the top they commented on the strange feeling. Alex\u00a0asked how fast they were going \u2013 it felt like a flying experience. I had looked at the spedometer\u00a0it stayed at 0. Honest, I was barely moving. So now I automatically say, you are going 0 km!!\u201d<\/p>\n Creston, B.C.<\/strong> \u2013 Left the Summit at around 7 am and were greeted at Summit Creek\u00a0Campground by a welcoming committee! Vera and Dick came partly up to be first to greet\u00a0them. Christine Munkerud was there and with Bev Pozniak. They had hot chocolate for the\u00a0group. The TAP ladies were there to greet, including Dorothy McEachern (92), who tried out\u00a0the roller skis!\u00a0At Millenium Park, they were greeted by Walt Pozniak, our favorite Polish mechanic. When he\u00a0greeted them, Alex said he would kill for a feed of pierogi. Walt went home returned with dish\u00a0of pierogi enough for 6 normal people. Alex and Terje cleaned up the dish and three bowls of\u00a0fruit!<\/p>\n Alex, Nicole and Terje would like extend a big thank you to everyone who was there to greet\u00a0them in Creston! By the end of day, they had 770 dollars for Team Diabetes! Note to Vera \u2013the homemade bread and jam lasted until Yahk!<\/p>\n Yahk, B.C.<\/strong> \u2013 Arrived at 7:30 pm after leaving Creston at 2:30 on Sunday. Met Roy Johnson\u00a0and wife at Goatfell. From Nicole \u2013 \u201cWe met our friends Mike and Marlene Mitchell, who own\u00a0the Goat Mountain Soap Co. (makers of Beaver Butt soap). They also have ice cream (32\u00a0flavors). Great light meals. Alex had the biggest chocolate waffle cone \u2013 he wolfed it down then\u00a0had supper. We spent the night. Marlene told me she also has sugar free ice cream for\u00a0diabetics. We were parked next to ice cream stand with our diabetes prevention sign facing\u00a0traffic! Not a protest we love ice cream!\u201d Fresh coffee and shower luxury in the morning! Alex\u00a0started at 6:45. They also met Annette Agabob, her mother and 2 boys heading for\u00a0Saskatchewan. They will meet them when they come back in 2 weeks. Her 9 year old is a\u00a0Type1 diabetic. His name is Austin.<\/p>\n Cranbrook, B.C<\/strong>. \u2013 Arrived at 4 pm with a welcoming committee! Left off at Gordon\u00a0Armstrong\u2019s then they met Marg Johnson (an E.R. Nurse from Creston working in Cranbrook). \u00a0She said \u201cyou roll safely Alex. I don\u2019t want to see you in the emergency room!\u201d Doreen\u00a0Roseberg (she brought them a linguini\/meatballs sauce dinner with rhubarb for dessert) was\u00a0there as well as Rose and Fred Stevens, Barb Lockhart (who donated some swiss skin care\u00a0products and money), friends from speedskating Bob, Dave, Grayson, Ian, Barb with kids\u00a0Andrea and Eric, Big Foot running club members (Alex and Nicole are members) Rose, Walt,\u00a0Barb, and Gerry, Alex\u2019s former boss Don Corrigal just out of the hospital (he had an embolism\u00a0to his lungs \u2013 50 year old karate teacher and lucky to be alive \u2013 he had to come see Alex his\u00a0role model!) and his wife Wendy, Kathy from Environmental Health Officers office, Joan Currie\u00a0(Nicole\u2019s support person when with Continuing Care), Jill Johnson (started in Licensing after\u00a0Alex retired), and Area Governor Toastmasters Arla Montieth. Hopefully, I\u2019ve got everybody!<\/p>\n A Horse Pasture, B.C<\/strong>. \u2013 Travelling en route, they stayed overnight in a horse pasture on\u00a0crown land (opened and closed the gate). Special mention goes out to Creekside Cabins \u2013 RVs\u00a0in Galloway (Cheylene, Gracie and Champion the black lab)! MaryLou from speedskating\u00a0dropped in, and Doreen Roseberg brought more food! Ed and Marion came over from the gol\u00a0course to visit as Nicole and Alex were passing by.<\/p>\n Fernie, B.C.<\/strong> \u2013 Stopped by the police! For a chat\u2026it was officer Clem Vanderhorst,\u00a0Commercial Vehicle Safety Officer. He is a runner with the Big Foot Running Club and been\u00a0looking out for Alex and Nicole. So no speeding ticket for the skier! Alex broke the 1000 km\u00a0mark at Wardner. The skier completed 92 km today before settling for the night.\u00a0Sparwood, B.C.\/Alberta Border \u2013 Alex and Nicole visited the Sparwood Wellness Center\u00a0and met with Betty Downey \u2013 diabetes nurse and pain management consultant. They did a live\u00a0interview with her. Nicole has been practicing her taping skills at the Alberta border! The last\u00a0stretch has been rumble strips and very little shoulder but he made it.<\/p>\n Brockett, Alberta \u2013<\/strong> Nicole parked at the Brockett gas station. The native fellow (Brockett is\u00a0a reservation) was very friendly said his people are getting diabetes from too much sugar. As\u00a0Nicole cycled back to Alex, a mad dog came chasing after her, running up and down the side\u00a0of the road! The dust was flying \u2013 he didn\u2019t get on the road \u2013 smart enough for that. When Alex\u00a0came by, the gate was closed \u2013 no doggie! Nicole had Alex prepared to use his poles as self\u00a0defense! Alex is learning French as he skies \u2013 one sentence every day. He practices as he skis\u00a0\u2013 the first was \u201cJe suis foux.\u201d Today is \u201cje m\u2019appelle Alex, je suis la mari de Nicole.\u201d Not a\u00a0moment of wasted time, even while skiing across the country!<\/p>\n A phone update from Alexis Virginillo (Alex and Nicole\u2019s daughter and my sister): Alex covered\u00a0more than 100 km today, with a great Alberta tailwind. He\u2019s even considering rigging up a\u00a0backpack frame with a sail (I\u2019m not even kidding) to take full advantage of the wind. If that\u00a0happens, I will DEFINITELY get pictures of that! Alberta also has much larger paved shoulders\u00a0on the roads than B.C. (a full lane) as well so traffic is not a problem. Alex has been praising\u00a0Alberta all day!<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s sounds great. He\u2019s feeling good and eating well. He\u2019s recovering well after each day. He\u00a0said that mom is taking great care of him. Mom\u2019s complaining that she hasn\u2019t had any junk\u00a0food in a while. They\u2019ve been eating pretty healthy. She hasn\u2019t had an opportunity for a Tim\u00a0Horton\u2019s coffee fix. He says he\u2019ll be in Saskatchewan by Saturday. They are moving now!<\/p>\n Distance Covered: 1017 miles \/1637km<\/em><\/p>\n The province of Alberta has been conquered! Alex completed a record 121 km on his first full\u00a0day through Alberta (nothing like a good tailwind to help things along). They camped at\u00a0Coalhurst at Miners Park \u2013 nice with showers! Upon arriving in Lethbridge, Alex and Nicole\u00a0stopped at the public library to send along a batch of pictures with great help from librarian Deb\u00a0Smith. Thanks for the help!\u00a0Alex survived #3 Truck Route through Lethbridge. In retrospect, they realized it would have\u00a0been better to walk \u2013 busy road! They camped that night in a Safeway parking lot.<\/p>\n A Quote From Nicole About an Experience in Trail, B.C.<\/p>\n \u201cI had to call the RCMP when Alex and Terje were not showing up. I was waiting for them 7 km\u00a0from Trail for 2 hours, asking people if they had seen skiers on the road. They looked at me\u00a0funny and drove off quickly! The police said no incidences reported but they will send a car.\u00a0Meanwhile, a Cominco trucker stops. I ask him the same questions. He said on his first trip out\u00a0to Salmo they were at Fruitvale \u2013 \u201cthe guys with skateboards on wheels and ski poles.\u201d Bingo.\u00a0They were already at Salmo by the time I cancelled my police call and took a few deep breaths\u00a0and drove to them. They knew I hadn\u2019t seen them on the left side of the highway. The bleepingwalkie-talkie did not work until I was a few feet from them. We learn.\u201d<\/p>\n A BIG thank you goes out to Barb Lockhart for her donation of Arbonne International skin care\u00a0and sunscreen. It stopped Alex\u2019s bad subburn and red nose! The foot care creme is excellent\u00a0also (especially after skiing 120 km!). She has generously sent along another batch for the\u00a0road ahead. Be sure to check out her website: www.barbs.myarbonne.com\u00a040km out of Medicine Hat.\u00a0Great weather and excellent roads. They got a bit of shopping done and dined at Perkins \u2013took home apple pie! Wunderbar!\u00a0They met up with a fellow by the name of Ron Smyth, a cross-country skier who owns a lawn\u00a0and garden business in Medicine Hat, Alberta. He wanted those skis! It\u2019s a quiet Sunday and\u00a0they are at Irvine, Alberta, only 16 km from the Saskatchewan border.<\/p>\n Irvine, Alberta-\u00a0<\/strong>They left Irvine at 6:30 and went to tourist info at Walsh, Alberta. \u201cThere were two cyclists\u00a0(Graham and Kyle) that we had met at Mission BC. They had one damaged wheel. We offered\u00a0to drive them to Medicine Hat. Very grateful young men. They could have been stuck there for\u00a0days. So that\u2019s our good deed for the day. We dropped them off at a cycle shop. They just\u00a0graduated college, from Burlington, Ontario.<\/p>\n Saskatchewan Border-\u00a0<\/strong>The TV isn\u2019t working out here and Alex is missing the results from the British Open golf\u00a0tournament! Alex is experiencing spastic arms from poling all day (and even at night when he\u2019s\u00a0sleeping!). Thanks to Dr. John Berardi, sports nutritionist, for suggesting a large dose of\u00a0calcium\/magnesium. That did the trick!<\/p>\n July 19th<\/strong> \u2013 finished 80 km on the way to Swift Current!<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Distance Covered: 1380 miles \/2221 km<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cForever in Saskatchewan! Yesterday was a difficult day for Alex \u2013 that means bad roads, no\u00a0decent shoulder or no shoulder \u2013 cursing the Saskatchewan Government! Alex is wearing out\u00a0his ski tips on this pavement.\u201d\u00a0Alex and Nicole stopped in in Herbert, SK, and visited Max and Hedi Gossweiler at the Lone\u00a0Eagle Motel for laundry. They also raise alpacas (www.swisslinealpacas.com) and are\u00a0considering moving to Alex and Nicole\u2019s hometown of Creston in the future (this was even\u00a0before Alex and Nicole visited). Also, thank you to Brandine Allen (she is a gestational diabetic)\u00a0for her generous donation to the cause!<\/p>\n Regina, SK- \u00a0<\/strong>\u201cWe are sailing! Strong tail winds since Moose Jaw. Met Alison from Vancouver, B.C. and Rob\u00a0from Brandon, Manitoba. They taught english in Taiwan. They are cycling from Vancouver to\u00a0New York City. Got their picture. Then a guy from Sundance\/Calgary area with a camper and\u00a0three teenagers heading to Lake Superior. That was before Regina. When coming into Regina,\u00a0I flew around the Ring Rd. I missed the exit to #1 Winnipeg but Alex was ahead and there he\u00a0was turning right \u2013 I thought what is he doing then I saw the sign too late to exit. So four km\u00a0to the next exit back-tracked and found my skier!\u201d<\/p>\n Balgonie, SK –\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cWe just had a few hours visit with Cheryl Solvey (family friend who lives in Fort Qu\u2019Appelle,\u00a0near Regina). She and her daughter Kirsten found us on the road at Balgonie, fed us supper at\u00a0Subway and gave Alex a haircut in the Subway parking lot (ed. note: Cheryl is a hairdresser)!\u00a0The neighbours were looking but we didn\u2019t care! Haha. Got a picture of that. So we are\u00a0overnighting in the school yard off the highway.\u201d<\/p>\n Indianhead, SK- \u00a0<\/strong>\u201cWe had lunch at Indianhead. Fish and chips, hamburger and chips \u2013 what a treat! When I was\u00a0cycling along with Alex, we had a cow herd staring at us \u2013 great fans! We talked to them and\u00a0they jogged along with us\u2026we actually started a stampede out in Saskatchewan! We are really\u00a0losing it here. Nobody but cows to talk to!\u201d \u00a0\u201cWe also saw two solar cars or electric cars (not sure what they were)? They were shaped like\u00a0jets with the head of driver showing up in a dome. They were speeding along. One said\u00a0Missouri on it. Not a hallucination\u2026 They\u2019re from the Auburne University of Calgary. Supposed\u00a0to be 10 more on their way through here. Did I tell of the duct tape around the wheels? The\u00a0back ones extended their life span by 500 km! 3 cheers for duct tape! We are now onto brand\u00a0new pavement \u2013 great for the skis, hard to pole on the smooth surface. They never thought a\u00a0skier would be out here!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Distance Covered: 1646 miles \/2650 km<\/em><\/p>\n Just out Grenfell, SK –\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cWe caught up with a family from Brandon, Manitoba who were stranded out of gas just 2 km\u00a0out of Grenfell. So I drove him to pick up gas and then caught up to Alex. Our good deed for\u00a0today. Not moving so well today. Alex put new wheels on \u2013 he had one ski going left on him.\u00a0His shoulders are talking to him so we will propably take a couple of days off [Editors Note \u2013that couple of days ended up being the next afternoon!].\u201d\u00a0\u201cThere\u2019s a team of chiropractic students who left Victoria, June 17 to cycle to St Johns. They\u00a0are ahead of us. Their website is www.unleashcanada.com. Check it out! All kinds doing the\u00a0Canada trek.\u201d<\/p>\n Whiterood, SK<\/strong> \u2013 July 26th \u2013 Happy 21st Birthday to Nicole!<\/p>\n \u201cHaving a leisurely day. Breakfast at Lee\u2019s Chinese Diner. They had hotcakes and sausage on\u00a0menu but she had never heard of it \u2013 we asked for scrambled eggs over easy on plate \u2013 that\u00a0was an experience. An old guy, Walt, kept us entertained he remembered the 1950 flood in\u00a0Manitoba \u2013 the boat was just outside your kitchen door. The ladies coffee group wanted to\u00a0know where we were from\/going where.\u201d\u00a0\u201cWe went to the library to email pictures. There was a group of summer program for kids. The\u00a0librarian asked Alex to give a talk they were a very quiet 8 kids. Again, very helpful ladies at the\u00a0Whitewood library. We went for groceries at Coop Food Store. There was a lady following meat Co-Op who gave me her membership number \u2013 she was a Finlander. The lady ahead in line\u00a0said she was Swedish, last name Berg. We were stuck there for a while! We also found an\u00a0article on the solar-powered cars we saw heading for Calgary from starting in Austin, Texas.\u00a0We saw them first!\u201d<\/p>\n Red Jacket, SK- \u00a0<\/strong>\u201cIt was difficult to find an overnight parking spot that is not mosquito infested! Got a thunder\/rain\u00a0storm after we got back to the RV. Well planned! We met Dominique & Alexandre, French\u00a0immersion teachers from Abbotsford. They are cycling to Montreal and he has his black\u00a0Labrador, Betsy, riding in the trailer! Dominique carries most of load and she said he got Betsy\u00a0to walk up those mountains and lightened his load by 83 lb but not her load.\u201d<\/p>\n Twin Creek, Manitoba-\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cWe hit some highway construction \u2013 great new pavement but Alex got his ski wheels tarred\u00a0and graveled. We went to a car wash and soaped them up (didn\u2019t get pic!). It all coagulated\u00a0and he scraped it all off. We have been breakfasting out on most days and love it. And salad\u00a0for supper \u2013 I just have to plan foods for 5 meals in between for Alex! We had breakfast at\u00a0Virden with the RCMP \u2013 no problems! Friendly fellow belongs to the Lions Club. He had to go\u00a0do some thrashing today. Another guy talked to Alex for about 1\/2hr while he was checking the\u00a0RV oil. I was tempted to hit the horn!\u201d<\/p>\n Carberry Junction, Manitoba- \u00a0<\/strong>\u201cAlex started with a 5 km walk due to road conditions. We were at Carberry Junction overnight.\u00a0We found a spot at a Conservation corridor fenced off area. We were getting ready for bed\u00a0when we suddenly had a herd of cattle mooing at us. They wanted to visit! They eventually\u00a0shut up. We are using the walkie-talkies. They apparently work in Manitoba. Portage Prairie will\u00a0be next milestone.\u201d<\/p>\n Portage La Prairie, Manitoba<\/strong> \u2013 You know he\u2019s hungry when Alex is eating\u00a0French Fries!!!\u00a0\u201cWe found Portage La Prairie covered 71 km. I cycled maybe 35 km altogether. The pavement\u00a0improved\u2026but on the other side of the Highway! So Alex faced the traffic. The last sign said 75\u00a0km to Winnipeg so we hope we make it tomorrow. We had take-out dinner\u2026chicken ceasar\u2026\u00a0as the restaurant was closing and lots of fries the skier craving fat. Must go to bed now.\u00a0Mosquitos find their way in here.\u201d<\/p>\n Winnipeg, Manitoba –\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cDining out on Greek food! We are staying at the Boulevard Motel. Alex is worried about his\u00a0skis so we brought them into the room!\u201d\u00a0\u201cGreat to hear from all the people with the well-wishes! The sign said 235 km to Kenora,\u00a0Ontario, so we are gearing up again. The Winnipeg bypass is a quite isolated way out of\u00a0Winnipeg. We had turned at the second exit (Roblin) and searched for a motel. It was a long\u00a0drive right into downtown with our rig \u2013 no motels! It\u2019s amazing\u2026when you don\u2019t want one they\u00a0are everywhere. Good thing it was Sunday.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Distance Covered: 2013 miles \/3220 km<\/em><\/p>\n There\u2019s been no email service for most of the trip through Manitoba and Ontario so I\u2019ve got a\u00a0phone update to pass along from my sister, Alexis Virginillo (see below).\u00a0They\u2019re doing quite well and should hit Thunder Bay on August 11th.Phone Update:\u00a0\u201cThey are now passing through Dyden, Ontario, en route to Thunder Bay. They are happy to\u00a0be out of Manitoba. The mosquitos were insane! The roads weren\u2019t much better. The roads in\u00a0Ontario are pretty good. Alex is enjoying the scenery. Lots of lakes and bushes. They are\u00a0eating well. He even had a Kokanee beer yesterday. He\u2019s so tired of drinking water that Nicole\u00a0is giving him Perrier carbonated water just because it tastes a little different. Ginger Ale is his\u00a0drink of choice also. Alex said he\u2019s like a furnace right now. Throw anything in there and he\u2019ll\u00a0burn it off. He said from the neck down, he looks 17, but from the neck up, 100. HaHa.\u201d\u00a0\u201cThey\u2019ve found the truck drivers in Ontario to be so polite. The drivers for Bison Transport have\u00a0been wonderful. They are blowing their horns and giving them plenty of room on the road. It\u2019s\u00a0basically the same drivers who see them on their routes as they go back and forth. The drivers\u00a0for Yankee Transport have been great also.\u201d\u00a0\u201cThey had an interesting experience at their camp ground last night. A black bear invaded the\u00a0camp ground and had to be shot. The people staying in a tent were pretty freaked out and\u00a0worried they\u2019d be his next dinner. Apparently, the bear broke into the local liquor store the night\u00a0before. No word on what he consumed after breaking in.\u201d\u00a0\u201cThey are in good spirits and keeping up a good pace. They\u2019ve had some pretty hot and humid\u00a0days, which has made it more difficult. But, they are hanging in there. People continue to be\u00a0supportive along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Distance Covered: 2460 miles \/4176 km<\/em><\/p>\n Iron Bridge, Ontario-\u00a0<\/strong>As Alex was rolling along in Thessalom, a lady stopped him and gave him 10 dollars. Her\u00a0name is Janet Hoyle. Then the day moved on and a black government truck whipped around to\u00a0Alex. Two people got out and waited for him to catch up. It\u2019s Richie (Nicole\u2019s nephew and my\u00a0cousin) and Karen, his coworker. They are heading to a staff meeting in Sault. As I drive by,\u00a0Richie waves at me and smiles \u2013 what a surprise ! They will see us on way back to Sudbury\u00a0after meeting. We hope to be in Sudbury by Saturday.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n Letter To Bison Transport (Trucking Company) From Nicole Nilsson:<\/p>\n Subject: Most courteous drivers on the ROAD!<\/p>\n My husband, the Rollerskier, and I want to thank all your drivers for being so respectful and\u00a0always driving safely around us. Your truck drivers really stand out as the most professional on\u00a0the road. We have encountered Bison trucks from Alberta to Ontario on our trek across Canada\u00a0from Victoria BC to St. Johns NFLD and we commend them for being excellent drivers.\u00a0Presently we are heading to Sudbury and the road shoulders are not great for rollerskiing so\u00a0we are trying not to impede the truckers. Just wanted to get word to your drivers that they are\u00a0doing excellent work!<\/p>\n Sincerely. Nicole and Alex Nilsson- Ski Across Canada<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n From: Don Streuber, President of Bison Transport<\/p>\n Thanks for taking the time to affirm our professional drivers and their conscientious efforts to\u00a0drive safely and courteously. I will be sure to pass on your email to them through our monthly\u00a0newsletter. Safe skiing!<\/p>\n Don Streuber<\/p>\n President & CEO<\/p>\n Bison Transport<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n From here, I will start back from where we left off on the previous update\u00a0and work forward to where they\u2019re at right now.<\/p>\n Dryden, ON- \u00a0<\/strong>Alex said this was the best day so far. Wide shoulders, great weather and the friendliest people\u00a0including truckers heading back to BC and Alberta. They toot and wave and get all excited to\u00a0see us. Dryden is a very clean city with a big pulp and paper mill. They will be cutting jobs. We\u00a0went to Wabigoon (correct spelling), which is a mostly native community. Found a quiet\u00a0campground \u2013 only us there. We saw deer, Canada geese and a huge bird (maybe a falcon).\u00a0I had seen this very old little man at a Dryden cemetery, sitting near a recent grave with tons of\u00a0flowers around. He had a giant brown umbrella shading the grave site and he had parked his\u00a0old decrepit Volkwagen van next to the place. A real sad picture it made.\u00a0August 7. Alex changed some wheels. We started at 2945k this morning. The shoulders are\u00a0a little skinnier but still they are so safe for us. I\u2019ve already cycled 15 km. Got take out breakfast\u00a0with Finnish pancakes and strawberries. I said to the owner, the Swedes also make those. He\u00a0said my wife is Finnish, so they are Finnish pancakes. Okay with me!\u00a0A fella from Sudbury, Vic Delbosco, stopped to talk to me at the RV asking if that was my\u00a0husband back there. He was impressed as he is also a cyclist\/skier. He has a daughter in\u00a0Fernie with an Aussie guy \u2013 they work at the ski hill. We\u2019ll see him in Sudbury. He mentioned a\u00a0shop called the Outside and that we should stop at there. That was the second time he saw us.\u00a0We ended up in Agnace and went for dinner at The Burger Scoop. They make their own\u00a0burgers and home fries and sell wild blueberries. Those little berries are labor intensive! The\u00a0owners knew Bill French, the Cranbrook health inspector. He had worked in Dryden and met\u00a0his wife there. Petite world. Slept outside town in bear country I hardly slept \u2013 every little\u00a0squeak I heard I figured the worst.<\/p>\n English River, ON <\/strong>-Hit the 3000k today! Are we almost THERE! There is a place called English River coming up \u2013\u00a0we will overnight there. Two interesting cyclists stopped to chat. The 25 year-old is Vox from\u00a0Austria (they must be promoting Canada over there!) Quite the athlete. He is going Victoria to\u00a0Halifax then Newfoundland if he has time.\u00a0He met this retired fella from Quebec City, Richard Hebert, who recently retired from Indian\u00a0Affairs and his dream was to cycle from Vancouver to Quebec. His wife let him go for it and he\u00a0said she\u2019s probably enjoying every minute! The two are like father and son having great time \u2013\u00a0they met in Kenora. Vox has a website: www.voxgoescanada.tk. He told us about 4 guys\u00a0roller skiing through Norway. He said they think they are the first to roller ski 2000\u00a0kmwww.nordicmonsters.at. They were 4 guys \u2013 1 drove and 3 skied, taking turns driving. They\u00a0were sponsored. We took pics and they took pics! We are invited to overnight at Richard\u2019s when\u00a0going through Quebec City.\u00a0Alex will walk last 5km of the day because of sore toes. Nothing new just pressure from skiingall day.<\/p>\n Upsala, ON- \u00a0<\/strong>I\u2019m at a pullout which says \u201cNo Parking Snow Plows Turn.\u201d Not expecting snow today. There is\u00a0TONS of garbage at these spots \u2013 mattresses, baby diapers etc.\u00a0Had an officer visit on board here while I was fixing Alex toes. OPP \u2013 his lights were flashing\u00a0but we hadn\u2019t noticed him. He said, next time you pull over make sure that you\u2019re not so close\u00a0to the end of a curve. I said I would be more attentive of that for sure. Then we had a little visit\u00a0so the police know we are there now!\u00a0The sign in front here says Upsala 40 km we are in Scandanavian Canada.\u00a0We are progressing. Heading to Raith. We had breakfast in Upsala and tried to get a little\u00a0history of the settlers. An older lady, Cecile Kenuck, had been there 59 years. No phone, no\u00a0power, and dirt roads when she and her Polish husband moved there from Thunder Bay. She\u00a0gave a generous donation to Diabetes. Her husband is a serious diabetic and her son, too. She\u00a0wants a postcard from Newfoundland. She said CN Rail was the big attraction for the\u00a0immigrants \u2013 Polish, Swedish, and Finnish. They all homesteaded huge parcels of wilderness!\u00a0She said Upsala was big in the old days \u2013 200 people. She remembers a Mr. Karlsson \u2013 no\u00a0Swedes left here now.\u00a0Later in afternoon, I saw Alex talking to a cyclist. I was at a pullout. Talk, talk, talk, then he\u00a0cycled to the RV. His name was Greg Dawson from England. His website is\u00a0www.transcancer.com. He been sponsored but he said this so great, he will pay for his trip and\u00a0donate all the money. Got to know all about him in short time!\u00a0So we are off again just passed Raith maybe 10 people live here! There is time change here?\u00a0Doesn\u2019t matter to us. Overnite at Shabaqua in Hydro station. We are getting bold. But this was\u00a0a safe place<\/p>\n Thunder Bay, ON-\u00a0<\/strong>Did our shopping and tourist thing. We went to the Marina info centre \u2013 the oldest in the world,\u00a0they say! Alex walked the 8 km out of Thunder Bay to the Terry Fox monument. It was a very\u00a0moving experience to look up at this life-like sculpture. Dozens of people came and went while\u00a0I waited for Alex so I was asked to take lots of group pics. A couple from Lloydminister, Alberta\u00a0asked about our trek. Turns out their son and family live in Cranbrook [about an hour from\u00a0Creston, where Alex and Nicole are from]. He\u2019s a Harley Davidson dealer. I asked if it next to\u00a0Tim Hortons and she says yes! We chatted for quite a while. Their name is Crockett.\u00a0Back to shopping \u2013 we went to the Nutrition House. Josh Kolic, the manager, was extremely\u00a0helpful. His website is www.nutritionhouse.com \u2013 Thunder Bay. Alex sat on his glasses last\u00a0week so I brought them to Shoppers Optical. Gail Johnston straightened them out, no charge.\u00a0Thunder Bay is a great city, friendly people. the Librarian was very helpful also!\u00a0I noticed we had an extra passenger on board this evening. I don\u2019t know exactly when that\u00a0happened but a little field mouse was darting about trying to escape. I left a piece of cheese\u00a0out in small box we have. It was still there untouched but no sign of any mouse. So the\u00a0passenger disembarked in the nite! Paving for 15 km and Alex had to walk. We overnighted with\u00a0bulldozers\/paving equipment at rest!<\/p>\n Terrace Bay, ON- \u00a0<\/strong>Lots of beautiful scenery. I remembered all this from 35 yrs ago when Suzanne and I crossed\u00a0Canada in a Volkswagen. The roads are good \u2013 I cycled up those mountains and down. We\u00a0overnited at Gravel River. Still have Mr. Mouse on board. Trying to lure him off! The roads\u00a0were great for Alex, great scenery now that we have rocks and trees. Big improvement from\u00a0the swamps and lonely cows of Manitoba!<\/p>\n Aug.15th<\/strong> \u2013 very gorgeous. We are at the head of Lake Superior.<\/strong> Stopped at a beach \u2013 nice to\u00a0relax. There was a gal from Kimberley, B.C. heading home \u2013 we gave her our business card,\u00a0so it is heading to the Kootenays. She is a photographer and was in Whistler for 15 years \u2013\u00a0making a change in her life! Another couple there were from Ottawa. We talked about Diabetes\u00a0with them. We had a spaghetti feed in Scrieber then went on to Terrace Bay \u2013 it was a neat\/tidy\u00a0town. The library was open so I checked my email. We slept at an abandoned baseball pitch.\u00a0At 5 pm, the bugs come out and so did the insect repellent. I repaired one screen with, guess\u00a0what, duct tape on the inside and outside. No mosquitoes getting in here tonight! Impressed\u00a0Alex with my repair because I used duct tape!<\/p>\n Marathon, ON-\u00a0<\/strong>Another day. Slept poorly. The mouse is getting to me. Either he goes or\u2026\u2026\u2026.. This weather\u00a0is holding out cool nights and warm days! While at the pullout 5 km from Terrace Bay, someone\u00a0flung a plastic water bottle at our RV! I looked out the door and saw two transport trucks. I said.\u00a0\u201cYou bastard!\u201d I checked for damage \u2013 the smashed bottle had a 5 dollar bill in it! It was clear\u00a0water but I sanitized the 5 and hung to dry! An anonymous donor!\u00a0Talked to a flagman \u2013 he was waving the SLOW flag at Dad. Got his pic. Got to Marathon.\u00a0Groceries at Extra Foods. I was desperately searching for a solution to the mouse situation.\u00a0Canadian Tire was closed. Library too. A nice lady at Can-OP had mouse traps. Overnight at the\u00a0Marathon entrance. LAST NITE for Mr. Mouse. Less than an hour after I set trap. Sorry mouse.<\/p>\n White River, ON-\u00a0<\/strong>Left Marathon at 8 am. Good day for rollerskiing and cycling. Stopped at Dunclake \u2013 yes, that\u2019s\u00a0how it was spelled! Nice fella, slightly challenged, very interested in our trip. Went by two huge\u00a0mining areas. Williams Mines and David Bell. They are making an actual mountain from the\u00a0rocks they excavate. Camped at Pic Mobert place run by First Nations. Dilapidated, but we had\u00a0power etc. Water not safe for drinking. Next stop is White River.\u00a0Aug.18th at White River Home of Winnie the Pooh. A fella from Winnipeg captured this bear\u00a0Winnie. It ended up in the London Zoo for its remaining years. The story must be available\u00a0somewhere! Went to Med Clinic for Robaxisal \u2013 still muscle spasms in Alex\u2019s arms at night. Dr\u00a0Taylor gave me Flexiril \u2013 it has some sedation but the doctor thought he would not fall asleep\u00a0skiing! (Alex out there skiing loves doctors!)\u00a0Food stop at H\/C Family Lodge. Henri and Carole are great people \u2013 they take foster teens\u00a0and try to get them in the working force. Pretty tough. Carole\u2019s mother has Alzeheimers. Henri\u00a0treated us to a supper of homemade soup and blueberry pie with ice cream for me. Overnight\u00a0between White River\/Wawa.<\/p>\n Agawa Bay, ON- \u00a0<\/strong>We are slowly getting down to the Sault. The elusive Sault. Up the mountains, down the\u00a0mountains. Alex doesn\u2019t want to say mountans in ON but they are big hills, he said. The\u00a0provincial park is beautiful. We stayed at Old Woman Bay. Last nite and tonite at Agawa Bay.\u00a0All pretty routine today. Got 61 kms for a grand total of 3753 km to date.<\/p>\n Pancake Bay, ON- \u00a0<\/strong>Pancake Bay was named by Voyageurs who only had flour left when they got to this bay, so\u00a0they only made pancakes!! Roads are in rough shape \u2013 hope they improve soon. Not safe for\u00a0me to cycle today but Alex says no problem. He\u2019s challenging the traffic. It\u2019s a shame the roads\u00a0are in such bad shape. We are 25 km from the Sault!\u00a0Thought the Provincial Park would never end \u2013 it was 83 km! Left Agawa Bay early still lots of\u00a0huge climbs\/descent! Lake Superior has surf but we don\u2019t see any surfers! Gas price is $1.09\u00a0here, the highest so far was $1.12 not good for our budget! Anxious for Sault Ste. Marie as it\u2019s\u00a0a pretty isolated park and not many pullouts. Found takeout fish\/chips very good. Camped at\u00a0Pancake Bay real nice park showers.<\/p>\n Sault Ste. Marie, ON-\u00a0<\/strong>Leaving the Sault. Ah, got to move on before the snow flies. Very late start at 2pm. The good\u00a0news is WIDE shoulder for past 20 km. Hope it continues!\u00a0Remembered one odd encounter on Aug 18th. His name was Albert (French). He showed up in\u00a0the middlle of literally nowhere with just the clothes on his back \u2013 no pack no water. He was\u00a0wearing a clean checkered red jacket, good walking boots. It was like Albert dropped out of the\u00a0sky. Alex was taking a break so Albert got the folding chair \u2013 we gave him water, potato salad,\u00a0cole slaw and a bag to carry it all. He had been in Sault at the Salvation Army and heading for\u00a0Thunder Bay 250 km for him. He said he had a friend there, no family. Poor devil! Still wonder\u00a0what happened to him. He left us walking straight as soldier with his pack. We gave him some\u00a0money of course!!<\/p>\n Bruce Mines, ON- \u00a0<\/strong>This day 57 and we are at 3936 km. We will break that 4 thousand today! All\u2019s well, I think! A\u00a0couple from Ancaster near Hamilton ON asked for our card for where to donate. \u201cThis is the\u00a0second time we see on our holiday. You are amazing \u2013 we want to donate to your cause!\u201d\u00a0Brand new pavement right now after Bruce Mines as we head to Thessalom.<\/p>\n Distance Covered: 3280 miles \/5278 km<\/em><\/p>\n Picking up on the updates from Sudbury, Ontario:\u00a0Just met a couple from Creston, Bridgit & Duncan Currie with two kids. They were looking out\u00a0for us along the way. Had a visit on the roadside.\u00a0Bad shoulders, or rather none, so Alex walked 15 km. We are now at the four lane area \u2013 yea!\u00a0Arrived at Richie\u2019s (nephew) in Sudbury at 7pm. Met Jane his girlfriend. Edwina (niece) was\u00a0leaving for work. We had a great pasta dinner and Jane made blueberry\/apple pie. Great visit.\u00a0The fella we had met near Ignace, Vic, came over for dinner. He\u2019s planning to cycle with Alex\u00a0this morning out of Sudbury.<\/p>\n Leaving Sudbury, Ont.-\u00a0<\/strong>We had a great send off from Edwina, Richie & Jane. Richie had a pair of x-country with poles\u00a0on the front lawn. They were original back country wooden skis with original antique bindings \u2013\u00a0very valuable! He was proud that he paid ten dollars at garage sale for them!\u00a0Had about 30k new pavement up to Hagar. Stayed at RV motel field with picnic tables. August\u00a029. Started at 8:30 in heavy fog but it is lifting. Alex has flashing lights on fanny pack so he is\u00a0visible.<\/p>\n Big Thanks for hospitality to Richie, Jane and Edwina. We really enjoyed our stop in Sudbury.<\/p>\n Big Thanks to Steph, Jacinthe, Sue, and Mike for the welcome to North Bay. Had a great time!<\/p>\n Thanks to Vic Del Bosco for meeting up with us in Sudbury. We had met him on Aug.7th near\u00a0Ignace. See you in BC sometime!<\/p>\n Thanks to Doug Winters for trying to get his North Bay Jr Ski Team to meet with us. Sorry it\u00a0didn\u2019t work out! Good Luck to these future Olympians!<\/p>\n Near Hagar, Ont.- \u00a0<\/strong>Roads are baaad but can\u2019t turn back! Very few pullouts so I parked at the Saphire \u2013 Spur motel\u00a0at Warren. I asked if was ok to be here for a couple hours. The manager, a retired trucker, was\u00a0very accommodating. A few retirees were sitting having coffee and cigarettes and shooting the\u00a0breeze \u2013 nice little community.\u00a0At the viewpoint of Lake Nipissing, we met a Vancouverite, Kevin Melanson, originally from\u00a0New Brunswick. He works as engineer in Vancouver. Stayed overnight about 15km from North\u00a0Bay.<\/p>\n North Bay, Ont.-\u00a0<\/strong>North Bay is about size of Cornwall, which was a surprise to me. I remember going to visit as a\u00a0child ma tante (aunt in French) Rhea and family. Called her but we had no time to visit. Skied\u00a028 km only. Steph (nephew) met us at the turnoff to Corbeil where they live. We went for lunch\u00a0and Jacinthe (his fiancee) joined us. Then Suzanne (Nicole\u2019s sister) came along. Sue and I\u00a0went shopping \u2013 yea! It\u2019s sad to be shopping deprived!! Steph whipped up a Gourmet meal. We\u00a0checked out the site for the Log home Sue and Mike (her husband) are setting up. The lake\u00a0view is out of this world \u2013 wonderful location! Had a good nites sleep in a normal bed no trafficwhirling by. GAS prices are going UP \u2013 yikes to our budget.<\/p>\n Leaving North Bay, Ont.-\u00a0<\/strong>Meeting with NB Jr Ski Team didn\u2019t happen. Ok. We had a leisurely visit with the Bouchers\u00a0before they gear up for the wedding! Plan remains flexible here. We will decide which way to\u00a0go in Pembroke \u2013 will be visiting Patrick (nephew) Norm\u2019s (Nicoles\u2019 brother) son \u2013 hope he\u00a0knows condition of roads. We are looking at Hwy 148 through Quebec. See Alex coming up the\u00a0hill. Huge hills in ON. Time for canned lasagna cold of course and coleslaw!<\/p>\n Deep River, Ont.-\u00a0<\/strong>RAIN!\u00a0A BIG Thank You to Craig Storey of XCOttawa.com for posting a request for road\u00a0recommendations on his forums. And a big thank you to everyone who replied with advice! It\u00a0always helps to hear from people who ski in that area where the best routes are.<\/p>\n Jacques Dumont<\/p>\n Pierre-Olivier Derego<\/p>\n Devasish Paul<\/p>\n Chris Pella<\/p>\n Patricia Careau-Auld<\/p>\n Lynda Chouinard<\/p>\n Louis Tay<\/p>\n Skiers from the group will be joining Alex as he goes through the Ottawa area!<\/p>\n Matawa, Ont.-\u00a0<\/strong>Was a great visit with the Bouchers! Headed to Matawa. Met a young couple from Niagara\u00a0Falls, spending summer holiday at Dunlop Crescent. Their names were Shelby and John \u2013\u00a0good visit! Had an IGA grovery store manager deliver my groceries to the RV \u2013 3 blocks\u00a0because of no parking for BIG me. His brother is diabetic. We talked BORDERLINE diabetic \u2013\u00a0who thought that up \u2013 you are or aren\u2019t.<\/p>\n Overnite outside Matawa \u2013 no name pullout<\/p>\n SEPT. 1\u00a0<\/strong>Weather was good. Almost uneventful day \u2013 we need some of those. Got lot of cycling in \u2013\u00a0maybe I will get fit TOO! Found the perfect camp spot parked and cycled back to Alex 5 km.\u00a0When we returned, excited scared people were throwing their picnic and their kids into their\u00a0van and yelling at us \u201cthere\u2019s a BEAR breaking into your RV!\u201d Another couple got out of their\u00a0vehicle and said its only a small bear! With all the noise we were making the young bear was\u00a0unable to get to Alex\u2019s old sardine can in our onboard garbage. He took off like a bullet \u2013 it\u00a0sure can move fast! I was glad it was AWAY from us and no Big mother bear with him! The\u00a0garbage was dumped in bear proof container pretty quick.\u00a0Surprisingly no bear nightmares! The couple made a donation to the cause \u2013 Paul & Muriel\u00a0Lariviere from Quebec<\/p>\n Day 90<\/strong><\/p>\n Distance Covered: 3653 miles \/5,879 km<\/em><\/p>\n We are beyond Quebec City. Levis is right across the St .Lawrence River from Quebec City. I\u00a0took pictures of Chateaux Frontenac from Levis when we did the 13km Parcours des Ances\u00a0last evening (ski\/cycle) and 13 back to RV. We are very impressed with the beautiful\u00a0countryside all along the St. Lawrence. Alex wishes he was fluent in French. People want to\u00a0talk to him about what he\u2019s doing. Le skieur!\u00a0After that enjoyable 26km we went for fish & chips and parked at the Metro shopping centre.<\/p>\n Today Sept. 17th<\/strong> \u2013 Rainy dull day all day. Left Levis at 8:00 am in the rain. We are heading on\u00a0#132 to Riviere du Loup then we head across to New Brunswick.\u00a0Met Herb Maguire from Saint John, New Brunswick in the rain today. He was heading home\u00a0from a few years living in Ottawa. He was home sick so got on his bike and headed home. Very\u00a0fine fella \u2013 he was happy he wasn\u2019t the only crazy person out on the road in pouring rain and\u00a0wind beating on you! He visited with Alex then with me and again with Alex when he caught up.\u00a0Gets lonely on the road in the wind and rain.\u00a0So we found a great RV park and we got power\/sewer\/laundry\/water. Luxuries of home and\u00a0shower! Almost happy it rained today.\u00a0Picking up the updates from Pembroke, Ontario (backtracking to catch up the most current\u00a0update above).<\/p>\n Pembroke, Ontario-\u00a0<\/strong>Gas up to 1.20 ouch! Traffic not too bad \u2013 we are getting acclimatized. Made a call to Patrick\u00a0and Bonnie, my nephew. We\u2019ll stay with them in Pembroke.\u00a0Outside of Pembroke, we met Sylvie Dubois from Sturgeon Falls. She is a French columnist for\u00a0their local newspaper. Her husband is Norm Gareau, their son Alex. Took pics. They have a\u00a0bilingual newspaper in Sturgeon Falls. They are heading to Hull. Sylvie\/son Alex will parachute\u00a0for 1st time.\u00a0Good visit with Pat & Bonnie, Madison 3 and Ashley 18mths. Lots of fun till their bedtime.<\/p>\n Thank you for the hospitality!!<\/p>\n Cobden, Ontario-<\/strong><\/p>\n That was day 68 on the road. And to date 4,602 km.<\/em><\/p>\n Met Kem Holtz from Cobden. He gave me samples of the Gasoline Pill add to your gas tank\u00a0and increases your mileage up to 20 percent! I will try when I gas up. Website is\u00a0www.kem.rainbowrush.ca. Order from Nutrition store, it says on his card. I bought some meal\u00a0replacement packs called Pure Trim \u2013 no soy no whey no dairy no aspartame no sucrose.\u00a0Awareness Corporation out of Langley BC. Got a bottle of Complete and Harmony. All herbal\u00a0and veg. See if our skier gets better mileage with that in his tank!! Would you add his website\u00a0\u00a0to our list of sponsors. I may become a distributor- dad said you haven\u2019t joined that one before!\u00a0Went to the Info Center at Cobden, a couple originally from Holland were working as volunteers\u00a0\u2013 it runs with volunteer manpower!<\/p>\n Overnite in Renfrew Walmart park. Had a hot chocolate at Tim Horton\u2019s \u2013 that is luxury!<\/p>\n Kanata, Ontario- \u00a0<\/strong>From Renfrew we got to Kanata eventually. On #17 until it became #417 aaaaaah.\u00a0Expressway! We knew that. Met Harris Kirby son Nathan and friend wearing Fernie t-shirt\u00a0(sorry forgot name). He was followiing our progress through the xcottawa.com link. They were\u00a0rollerskiing on backroads \u2013 gave us Backroads of Eastern Canada and a donation to cause. He\u00a0warned us about the beginning of the expressway. At the right time we had a backroads book!\u00a0There was a 3 ft smooth shoulder for about 15km. Could not get Alex off the Queensway! OPP\u00a0gentleman policeman stopped Alex between Antrim & Panmure and\u00a0questioned Alex. He said all the safety precautions and clothing lights, etc. Ok to continue but\u00a0have bad news \u2013 it ends in a few km. Then this nice man said \u201cI wish you a HEROES welcome\u00a0somewhere along the way!\u201d\u00a0Alex of course was mad as a hornet when the beautiful paved shoulder ended!\u00a0Also the Sturgeon Falls couple & son Alex stopped to talk to Alex then to me. They had\u00a0parachuted \u2013 they were thrilled and wanting to take lessons. On their way home, they invited us\u00a0for dinner, bed and breakfast in Sturgeon Falls. Lovely people!<\/p>\n Alex walked last 5km into Kanata \u2013 Day 69<\/strong> and to date: 4669km. Overnight at Walmart.<\/p>\n September 4, 2005<\/strong><\/p>\n We want to dedicate this day to my dad. Its 7 years today since he died. He would have\u00a0thought it\u2019s a crazy way to get across Canada. We think about him a lot as we meet people on\u00a0the road asking if we are diabetic. No, my dad died of complications of diabetes, I tell them.\u00a0That we are close to Cornwall (where he lived) on this day is weird and wonderful.\u00a0A Comment On The Trek From An Elderly Italian Grandmother<\/p>\n From Alexis Virginillo\u2019s (Alex and Nicole\u2019s daughter) husband’s grandmother<\/p>\n \u201cI told mom about my conversation with my husband\u2019s grandmother. She immigrated to Canada\u00a0from Italy in the 1960\u2019s and is now 87 years old. When she heard about dad\u2019s journey, she said\u00a0(translated from Italian) \u201cGod must have told him to do this and is continuing to push him along.\u00a0No sane person would do this.\u201d Alex laughed so hard when he heard this that he insisted it be\u00a0posted on the website.<\/p>\n Ottawa, Ontario-\u00a0<\/strong>We had to get lights checked brakes & emergency this morning. Betty Ruda escorted us to the\u00a0RV place. Met Albion Road Trailer Sales Ltd. Mervin Sheldrick. What a great guy! Got photos.\u00a0Betty lead us into Quebec to #148 la Route Verte. Big THANK YOU to Betty for hospitality,\u00a0food for 4 days (possibly!) Escort out of the Capitol and a generous donation! Can\u2019t beat that!\u00a0The Route verte is ideal Alex is in heaven has plenty of room. There is traffic but not a\u00a0problem.\u00a09:30 started out with Craig and Pierre on roller skis with Alex. They are from Ottawa ski team xc.\u00a0Pierre\u2019 s father Jean-Louis is in the follow-up vehicle with me. Estimate 30km paved cycle\u00a0path including the Ottawa Western Parkway \u2013 just great. I got to cycle the last 10km with the \u00a0ski athletes!! Welcomed to Parliament Hill by Betty Ruda, Marg & Bernie Becker.\u00a0And we later went for Italian dinner at Robbie\u2019s. The bartender had heard about it on the late\u00a0news on his way home yesterday \u2013 no discount but great food. Betty treated us to dinner, bed\u00a0and breakfast. Wonderful friends we have and we met Beula & Peter, friends of Beckers. They\u00a0joined us for dinner \u2013 talked fitness. Beula is fit but the rest of us are starting a jogging program\u00a0tomorrow!!<\/p>\n Thanks to the XC Ottawa team! Many thanks for escorting us to Parliament Hill! We are veryappreciative of you joining us on the Ottawa Western Parkway from Kanata. We wish you well\u00a0for the upcoming ski season. We will look for your name in the sports headlines!<\/p>\n All the best.<\/p>\n Nicole\/Alex.<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.xcottawa.ca\/archived\/2005_alex_nilson2.html<\/p>\n Gatineau, Quebec –\u00a0<\/strong>Today we are having trouble remembering Alex said I thought you were behind me when he\u00a0got his FIRST flat\/blowout. I was ahead! Fortunately we had our walkie-talkie ON!\u00a0Back to crossing into Quebec at Gatineau, densely populated all along. Very friendly people.\u00a0Drivers are little more intense here so I I pull over quite frequently. The skier has been\u00a0rewarded with wide shoulders off and on. La Route Verte is great for skiing & cycling.\u00a0Montebello stands out as a great vacation spot beautiful! Got to Lachute on Sept 7th eve. We\u00a0walked a few blocks to have breakfast. The skies opened up on the way back- raining rest of\u00a0the day. We covered 17km that day and my dear sister Mireille came to pick us up to take us to\u00a0Cornwall to visit my mom and then head to North Bay nephew\u2019s wedding. Could not miss when\u00a0we were in vicinity and had transport!<\/p>\n THANK YOU\u2019S From Nicole and Alex<\/p>\n Mireille Roderick for being the caring person that she is and providing R and R\u00a0(rest\/recuperation) for us.<\/p>\n My dearest maman Thank You.<\/p>\n To Carole\/ Claude, our roomies in North Bay \u2013 generous beyond words. Appreciate it.<\/p>\n Again, big thank you to the Bouchers \u2013 great wedding!<\/p>\n To Lise and Ted Rudolph greatly appreciate your support. Lise it was wonderful having you\u00a0share our trek \u2013 some stressful moments for sure! I need you with me for your clear thinking!<\/p>\n We are near Joliette. Settled for nite in truck pullout.<\/p>\n (skipped 9th, 10th, 11th ) we are\u00a0at 4,869km. Getting there surely!<\/p>\n Maskingonge, Quebec –\u00a0<\/strong>Made it to Maskinonge \u2013 that was 80km for today. This village was flattened by a tornado in\u00a01991 and no deaths. It has been totally rebuilt. We are staying in the Harnois gas station\u00a0parking lot. The kind monsieur said fine. Had 2 \u201cangry dog\u201d encounters. Alex had to use his ski\u00a0pole to prevent dog from biting his leg. The lady was calling dog but he was determined to bite\u00a0the skier, no injuries to skier or dog.\u00a0The other incident was when I parked off the road at an abandoned looking car parts shed.\u00a0When I closed the RV door this German Shepherd came charging at me going for my legs I ran\u00a0across the Hway. The dog stopped right at middle of road I was screaming like a mad woman.\u00a0A truck slowed up to see if I was okay. The owner of the dog came out and dragged his dog\u00a0away and pointed to RV \u2013 like get out of here woman. I was very lucky. I drove out of there\u00a0again like a mad woman. Oh mother!<\/p>\n Becancour, Quebec –\u00a0<\/strong>Had a good shoulder off and on today. Alex wanted to cover more kms today but we drove\u00a0through Trois Rivieres to check out the continuation of #138 but it was a horrible 15 kms\u00a0through the city so we crossed the bridge #55 with help from a kind pedestrian who directed us.\u00a0So we restarted the skier near the bridge on #132 which becomes autoroute #30. This goes\u00a0right to Quebec City.\u00a0St. Angele de Laval and Becancour are lovely villages on the St. Lawrence River south side.\u00a0Picked up a book called La Route Verte looks good. We find most people we ask never noticed\u00a0shoulder or pas d\u2019accoutement! So we are happy with 3 Rivieres behind us!\u00a0Two fellas stopped to talk to dad. When he said he had done 5,000 km, one fella would not\u00a0believe him. Impossible! C\u2019est pas possible. Dad laughed. The fella said I guess because you\u00a0are in your forties it is possible! Another laugh! Dad never got to reveal his age.<\/p>\n NOTE FROM Nicoles\u2019s Sister, Mireille Roderick<\/p>\n It was great to have Alex & Nicole with us on the weekend Sept 8th-12th. Although busy as it\u00a0was with a wedding & family visits Alex managed to convince his wife & his sisters-in-law\u00a0Carole & myself to walk back from the North Bay Country Grill restaurant to our chalet Terrace\u00a0Suites. Sounded & looked easy enough (why didn\u2019t I notice the steep inclines of the hills or the\u00a0length of the trek?) Could it be that I was tricked into being more physically fit and once I found\u00a0it to be enjoyable would pursue this as a daily activity? Time will tell! I think for that day the\u00a0company I was keeping kept me motivated to complete the 4km walk.Easy as 1-2-3 for Alex\u00a0when He has already covered at least 6,000km or more by now. Love you guys & wish\u00a0continued success in your conquest to reach the Newfoundland tip of what we call \u2018 Our\u00a0Canada\u2019.<\/p>\n Lyster, Quebec-\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n We had to drive to Victoria because there no bikes or pedestrians allowed on Autoroute #30.\u00a0We were told not a problem but we didn\u2019t want to proceed there. So Alex has been on the\u00a0Route Verte \u2013 nice packed gravel path off the highway. So I meet him every 10km. This time\u00a0about 20km. Less stress for me. Send him off with sandwich and water and I drive a few towns\u00a0ahead. I will get more cycling this way too.\u00a0Met a Montrealer cycling from Sherbrook to Quebec City. Said a couple sections not good but\u00a0from here to Quebec, pas de probleme!<\/p>\n The roads in New Brunswick are excellent so we\u2019re moving right along! We left the church\u00a0parking lot (where we were camped out) early \u2013 we didn\u2019t want the minister chasing us off \u2013\u00a0just kidding! It kinda looked abandoned.\u00a0We had a warm sunny fall day. The red leaves are brilliant colors. I got cycling about \u00a0\u00a0sections so approximately 30 km. Gorgeous day. The Hwy #2 bypasses Moncton but it was\u00a0sure a busy area. By 7pm we were at Memramcook exit so we drove there.\u00a0Chatted with a few residents, the gas station guy, his friend Peter Goddett who was a\u00a0meteriologist. They gave us some history of the Acadians. Then we asked another fella\u00a0directions to the only open restaurant in these parts \u2013 also very friendly and interesting. His\u00a0name was Marc Goddett. He said Peter was his neighbour but no relation.\u00a0So we ended having cheese and jam sandwiches because it was too late for the restaurant!\u00a0Very historical area. The Memramcook means the crooked river. We are parked in huge\u00a0parking lot next to the museum and info center.<\/p>\n Catching up on previous days updates from just outside Quebec City<\/strong><\/p>\n Montmagny, Quebec- \u00a0<\/strong>We left Montmagny early from a campsite called Camping des Erables de Montmagny. It was a\u00a0better day but still hefty winds against Alex. We are on the shores of Fleuve St Laurent. I\u2019ve\u00a0been using my French a lot since we\u2019re in Quebec. \u201cOu est la piste cyclaire? New words for\u00a0me.\u00a0We stopped at the IGA for groceries and met Jocelin Boisvert from Berthier. He was wanting to\u00a0know if we are getting media coverage \u2013 \u201cwhat you are doing is amazing!\u201d Lots of huge home \u00a0and manicured properties and NO garbage on sides of road like all other provinces.\u00a0Alex was intercepted by a lady policeman questioning his mode of transportation. She had\u00a0never seen anything like that before! All the way from BC! Her English was good. So they had\u00a0a good talk. Her name was Isabelle of the QPP, Unit #5127.\u00a0We saw hundreds of Canada geese on a trial run south. The sun was shining on them \u2013 it was\u00a0spectacular. When we were ski\/cycling at 6pm, the fog rolled in. Poor visibility\u2026 not for us at\u00a0our SPEED but other vehicles so we got back to RV p.d.q. And it suddenly got very cold too.\u00a0We found another campsite. The owner was away so this cute little old lady who has a trailer\u00a0here and comes for 5 mths of the year for past 20 yrs. said \u201cpark anywhere you want the boss\u00a0is away \u2013 no charge!\u201d So we are here with power so I made TOAST and TEA for bedtime.\u00a0Luxury again!\u00a0Got an email from Liana Holesek Keller [former neighbor in Creston \u2013 suffering from thyroid\u00a0cancer]. She is back working and coping. Best wishes to Liana! We love her quote \u2013 she said\u00a0she now LIVES IN THE MOMENT not FOR THE MOMENT. That\u2019s exactly what we are doing.\u00a0So thanks. Liana, you are a courageous gal!<\/p>\n SIDE NOTE for Sept 9th<\/strong>:<\/p>\n In Cornwall, we went to Bicycle World to have 5 tires changed for the skis. A young man\u00a0named Shawn was great and very patiently changed the tires. He said \u2013 15 minutes should be\u00a0done. Not so easy! Took a couple of hours. That\u2019s why we had change of tires at a Bike shop!\u00a0Big THANK YOU to Shawn of Bicycle World in Cornwall!<\/p>\n Camping de Aulnaies, Quebec –\u00a0Day 81<\/em><\/strong> and we are doing absolutely incredible! Started at 5,194km this morning. The little old\u00a0lady from last night at the Camping de Aulnaies (camping is a french word now), her name is\u00a0Jeanine Michaud. She came to say goodbye to us at 8am. We gave an envelope with a 20 and\u00a0our card to her for the owner of campsite. Then we got her life history. Her husband passed\u00a0away last year. Her first summer at trailer park on her own. Very courageous lady.\u00a0We met the other two people \u2013 a couple from Montreal. Everyone\u2019s gone home. Maybe one\u00a0hundred trailer\/campers all closed up for season. Back to the story \u2013 as we were leaving the\u00a0owner drove in, so we visited with him. He was happy we had gone ahead and parked for the\u00a0night and he spoke English with difficulty but he did so Alex would understand. Nice people.\u00a0It is sunny now. Alex is shedding clothes. At 11am, he ate 2 Egg McMuffuns! Healthy and\u00a0rapide!<\/p>\n Riviere du Loup, Quebec- \u00a0<\/strong>Today we did 60 km from Notre Dame de Portage to Riviere du Loup then Alex was on Route\u00a0Verte cycle path, which is compact gravel but not as smooth as the other section to Quebec\u00a0City.\u00a0It rained mostly all day. Even thunder and one lightning strike, which sounded pretty close to\u00a0where Alex was. I asked if he dropped his poles \u2013 he said he just skied FASTER! God that guy!\u00a0I parked near the cycle path and biked 20 km to Alex. He had enough food and water, but his\u00a0waterproof stuff was wet on the inside.\u00a0So I cycled back at top speed to bring dry clothes\/power drink etc. I decided to drive close to\u00a0the last 5 km of the path which crossed the road \u2013 follow me so far? I parked at the entry to thepath. I was getting my waterproof stuff on when he skied up YEA!\u00a0He got dry stuff on took the mud and gravel off his skis and completed the last 5km. On his\u00a0own \u2013 I would not get wet again! We looked for a camping site but there were none so we are\u00a0at Rest Area near the cycle path. Wet stuff is hanging all around us. Hope it dries ! We use\u00a0newspaper in boots and runners to absorb the dampness \u2013 a Terje Munkerud tip. Thank you\u00a0Terje!<\/p>\n NO OTHER humans on the cycle path though we did see a deer.<\/p>\n St. Louis de Ha Ha!, Quebec- \u00a0<\/strong>Alex skied 18 km on the cycle path while I dried the wet stuff from yesterday. Ugh! No camping\u00a0or laundromat \u2013 only one Auberge closed for season! Told Alex we have to move faster!\u00a0We\u2019re now 15 km from New Brunswick border. We are on the only Highway that takes a person\u00a0to NB so it\u2019s busy but everybody is courteous\u2026mostly! We made it to the New Brunswick\u00a0border by 6 pm. We had supper at the Irvine truck stop (backtracked appoximately 2km into\u00a0Quebec to get to the truck stop!) No beer available to celebrate so peppermint tea \u2013 why not!\u00a0Interesting people yesterday \u2013 a Quebec Hydro employee gave me directions to the meeting\u00a0area of Route Verte at St. Louis de Ha Ha. We chatted about diabetes \u2013 his 2 brothers are\u00a0diabetic and he said it\u2019s not gonna happen to him. He donated a twonnie \u2013 all he had on him \u2013\u00a0his wife holds the purse strings which is only right!! Once at a checkpoint there was a well\u00a0driller standing around as the machine did its work. Once he started chatting, there was no\u00a0stopping him \u2013 so we got his history, family history, etc. Nice fella from St. Louis de Ha Ha!\u00a0Alex did not socialize along the way \u2013 he has his nose to the road. We are on a mission. We\u00a0are the only 2 white haired people to cross Canada in this manner! We met a lady from Toronto\u00a0at the \u201cWelcome to NB\u201d Info Center. They were heading to NB, Nove Scotia, and Prince\u00a0Edward Island. We spent the night at the Irvine 24\/hr Truckstop.\u00a0Quite chilly this morning \u2013 fall is in the air! We got started real early with breakfast then get on\u00a0the road. We are on #2 Hwy near Edmundston NB. Alex said this was a very small province. I\u00a0said \u201cyes, it looks small on the MAP!\u201d<\/p>\n St Leonard, New Brunswick- \u00a0<\/strong>The rain has let up. All\u2019s good. Just left St Leonard\u2019s library. Big thanks \/ merci beauoup to the\u00a0librarian and her assistant for helping me send pictures along. They send their prayers and bon\u00a0voyage! We need all kinds of prayers \u2013 gotta to complete this trek!<\/p>\n Beardsville, NB- \u00a0<\/strong>We are in Beardsville \u2013 we passed Perth-Andover 5km ago. We found 24 hr Gas station \u2013 not\u00a0a problem to spend the night. We had a late start \u2013 lots of things to disconnect when you have\u00a0an RV. There was a bit of light rain then it cleared and we had sunshine. Turned out great. Alex\u00a0skied 64km brings us to grand total of 5,576km to date.\u00a0This afternoon a school bus was coming out onto the highway. When the driver saw Alex, she\u00a0got all excited \u2013 the kids were all cramming in front to watch the skier! All of them were waving\u00a0and the driver was giving the thumbs up. I was behind on the bike \u2013 they just looked at me \u2013\u00a0no hoopla!\u00a0A lady stopped Alex and wanted to take his picture. She had seen him in Grand Falls earlier in\u00a0the day. She wanted to know about the skis. Her husband is a trucker so we got good info on\u00a0the roads. It sounds like pretty smooth sailing to Nova Scotia.\u00a0Better day for me. Was able to cycle about 30km. Staying cooped up in RV in the rain\u00a0yesterday was not good. \u201cMy mother said there would be days like that but she didn\u2019t say HOW\u00a0MANY!\u201d\u00a0It was nice to run into a restaurant for breakfast! Very cool to cold. A cattle truck parked a little\u00a0too close to us last night \u2013 it just like living on the farm!\u00a0It\u2019s 9:50 am, Atlantic time, I think it is called. The next big town\/city is Hartland and we stay on\u00a0Hwy #2.<\/p>\n Long\u2019s Creek- \u00a0<\/strong>We accomplished another 71km yesterday. We were overnight at Longs Creek at a deserted\u00a0RV park. It was open and the power was on so we made ourselves comfortable! Slept well but\u00a0woke up to a rainy day!\u00a0Yesterday, we gave a diabetic pep talk to a few employees at an Irving gas station. They were\u00a0having their cigarette break. I didn\u2019t see any cigarettes, to be honest. The manager was very\u00a0friendly and said that all donations in this whole town POKIOK were going towards this young\u00a0girl who came tenth in \u201cCanadian Idols.\u201d So maybe the girl from Pokiok, NB will make it big!\u00a0Alex saw this car on the shoulder of the road \u2013 the drive shaft was down on the road. He asked\u00a0the young girl if he could help \u2013 there was a baby in the car too. He got her mother\u2019s name and\u00a0# and when I got to Alex with the bike, I called her mother and left a message. Then I called\u00a0911 \u2013 pretty neat. The RCMP said they would take care of it from there. That was near\u00a0Oromocto. So we keep moving across towards the ocean.<\/p>\n So we are at Gagetown at their one and only campsite. It is pouring rain and the wind is\u00a0rocking the rig! The manager gave us discount. And he got a FREE lecture when he told me\u00a0was Type 2 diabetic!\u00a0Completely DONE!!! St. John\u2019s,\u00a0NFLD and back home in Creston!<\/p>\n Total Days Roller Skiing: 95<\/strong><\/p>\n Total Distance Covered: 3790 miles\/ 6,100 km<\/strong><\/p>\n More detailed updates from Nova Scotia to St. John\u2019s, all the way back to welcome to Creston!<\/p>\n Springhill, Nova Scotia-\u00a0<\/strong>Crossed that BORDER to Nova Scotia. Alleluhia! Only covered 53 kms. It was a battle all the\u00a0way with strong winds. Alex was exhausted. A trucker stopped to ask Alex if his RV back there\u00a0had broken down (when Alex was walking). A nice guy!\u00a0Springhill is 5km from Hwy#104 which leads to Halifax. We stopped in at Irving gas station. I\u00a0asked if we could park overnite. Sharon, nice lady, tried to call her boss. He was not home so\u00a0she called the RCMP \u2013 they said at Information Center it is well lighted and next door to the\u00a0Police Staion. So we have their blessing. Raining now and still windy. We pray for better\u00a0weather tomorrow.<\/p>\n Brookfield, NS- \u00a0<\/strong>Left Walmart\/McDonalds at 835 am. Tried the Scenic trail on old #2. No shoulder and we were\u00a0aggravating the yard sale people (buyers and sellers!) So we did 15km of that until Brookfield\u00a0then got unto the freeway #102.\u00a0The truckers returning from Halifax are giving happy toots (is there another word?) Alex called\u00a0them \u201chooters\u201d \u2013 had to correct him about hooters. Anyhow, things are going well. We are\u00a0exactly 80km from Halifax.<\/p>\n Dartmouth, NS- \u00a0<\/strong>We are settled for night ata 24 hr truck stop. We have 35 km into Dartmouth \u2013 a change from\u00a0Halifax because of the bridge to cross to Halifax allows no pedestrians. To Dartmouth is directly\u00a0to the Atlantic Ocean!!\u00a0Met this friendly fella Andy Frosst who told us about the bridge. He offered to have us park at\u00a0his place on Monday and he will drive us to the Airport and pick us up the next day. He looked\u00a0at Alex\u2019s attire and said \u201cyou are just an ordinary guy\u201d and could not believe he is 70! Then he\u00a0looked at me he said \u201cI know you\u2019re NOT 70\u201d \u2013 I thanked him for that! He said to Alex \u201cyou\u00a0don\u2019t look rich who is paying for this trip?\u201d Alex said we just on pensions. The guy asked his\u00a0ladyfriend for 20 dollars to give to us!! We have his business card Frosstie\u2019s plumbing!\u00a0Also had a fella stop behind RV and he asked what Alex was THAT for! He is a truck driver\u00a0and saw Alex on Cobequid Pass yesterday. He donated to the cause.\u00a0Made it to Dartmouth harbor. YeaYeaYea. Checking out the ferry which crosses over to Halifax.\u00a0Will take a quick tour of Halifax.<\/p>\n Arrival time 1:10pm NS time.<\/p>\n St. John\u2019s, NFLD- \u00a0<\/strong>Just highlites as others are waiting to use this computer in the lobby of the Quality Hotel.\u00a0Wonderful to have normal environment \u2013 no transport trucks whizzing by! Met at the airport by\u00a0VOCM reporter \u2013 checkout his website www.vocm.com \u2013 write up about 70yr old guy!\u00a0I talked to CDA regional director Carolann Smith \u2013 they (her, Debbie Team Diabetes rep and\u00a0Darren) they will run with Alex skiing to City Hall which is Mile 0. In the morning at 11am.\u00a0Telegram reporter Tara did a phone interview with us and sent a photographer to our room \u2013\u00a0done. In the paper in the morning, he thought. All for now as it happens! St Johns is a very old\u00a0and interesting city!<\/p>\n The Next Day<\/p>\n We have made it! The last km was with three reps from Candiana Diabetes Association. We\u00a0are heading to Signal Hill then to St Johns airport. NTV coverage and Telgram newspaper had\u00a0an article today. We just called KBS so the Kootenays know.<\/p>\n A big thank you to our children Alexis & Nick for taking care of their parents! And to family, to\u00a0friends and new friends we met!<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what has appeared on today\u2019s VOCM radio website:<\/p>\n Roller Skiing Odyssey Ends<\/strong><\/p>\n October 4, 2005<\/p>\n A 70-year-old BC resident, who ended his cross-Canada roller skiing odyssey in St. John\u2019s,\u00a0says he hasn\u2019t let age become a barrier to a healthy lifestyle. Alex Nillson says it was his goal\u00a0when he left home in June to draw attention to healthy living and diabetes prevention. Nillson\u00a0says he doesn\u2019t have any aches or pains after thousands of kilometres on the road. He arrived\u00a0in St.John\u2019s yesterday. He flew in from Halifax, because time constraints prevented him from\u00a0roller skiing across the rest of Nova Scotia and the island of Newfoundland.<\/p>\n Epilogue \u2013 The Trip Home<\/strong><\/p>\n Can you believe no email from your parents for 12hrs! We had a great visit with Dave and Ann\u00a0Harris, formerly of Creston now living in Baddeck NS. Luxurious B n B! Tour of Baddeck, the\u00a0best clam chowder in NS and a quick visit\/photo for local newspaper. Too quick a visit. Now\u00a0back on road. Have to catch up on my trip log today but not right now!\u00a0This nice man Andy Frosst picked us up at the airport. Our RV was safe in his yard while we\u00a0were away. So early to bed start off early towards ON!\u00a0Traded in RV for Ford Ranger with cap(canopy) 4\u00c5~4. Nice. Busy with that today.\u00a0Last night dinner in our honor organized by Mireille (sister) and Lucy from my nursing class. We\u00a0were met at door of the Cornwall Golf\/Country Club by reporter of Seaway News.\u00a0There was about 35 people there, including grandmaman. It was wonderful evening. Mireille is\u00a0a great emcee and Alex and I gave speeches. Well done, if I can say so. There was a gal from\u00a0Cornwall CDA Branch coordinator Linda Rodgers at the dinner who was very impressed with\u00a0our achievement. The couple with her, he is diabetic and going to Honolulu for marathon with\u00a0Team Diabetes. His wife writes scripts for murder mysytery dinner theater. She offered one to\u00a0us as a fundraiser for us free if it\u2019s for Team Diabetes. May take her up on it. Then caught up\u00a0with how my nursing friends are doing. And family my uncle JeanPaul\/wife Claudette from\u00a0Ottawa were there and some cousins. Don and Robert were there they are working on sugar\u00a0shack. Ginette is at Germaine\/kids. We are 700 dollars closer to our goal of fundraising! Can\u00a0you check were we are at or tell me how to find out.\u00a0Monday we meet with Carolyn Waldo (was synchronized swimmer Olympian) with CJOH. Going\u00a0to Ottawa for the interview. We are having a packing day. Now Chinese food for supper \u2013 yum\u00a0yum.<\/p>\n Welcome Home to Creston!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Karl Alexander \u2018Alex\u2019 Nilsson<\/p>\n December 13, 1934 \u2013 June 30, 2022<\/strong> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" October 4, 2022 On June 25, 2005, then 70-year-old Alex Nilsson began his roller ski journey across Canada to raise awareness for Type II diabetes. His [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jenex.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/ski-across-Canada-Map-300x246.gif\")
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jenex.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Alex-Nilsson.jpeg\")
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jenex.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/XC-Across-Canada-RV.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nTrail, B.C. \u2013 Day 13<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Salmo-Creston Summit, B.C. \u2013 Day\u00a014<\/h5>\n
Lethbridge, Alberta \u2013 Day 21<\/h5>\n
Swift Current, Saskatchewan \u2013 Day\u00a026<\/h5>\n
Grenfell, Saskatchewan \u2013 Day 30<\/h5>\n
Tache, Manitoba \u2013 Day 35<\/h5>\n
Upsala, Ontario \u2013 Day 40<\/h5>\n
Near Sudbury, Ontario \u2013 At jct of\u00a0hwy#6 to Espanola and #17. \u2013 Day61<\/h5>\n
Near Ottawa, Ontario \u2013 Day 68<\/h5>\n
Day 74<\/h5>\n
Just Before Rollerskiing Odyssey ends –<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Oct.4th \u00a0St. John\u2019s, NFLD<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Total Days Roller Skiing: 95<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Total Distance Covered: 3790 miles<\/strong>\/ 6,100 km<\/h5>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jenex.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Alex.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nIn Loving Memory ~
\nAlex Nilsson passed away on June 30, 2022 at the Creston Valley Hospital at the age of 87.\u00a0He was born in Sweden and traveled the world before making Creston his home.\u00a0Alex was predeceased by his parents, three brothers and his wife Nicole.\u00a0He leaves behind his children Alexis (Doug) and Nick (Kelly), his sister Ella, his partner Serena Naeve and his close friends Terje and Christine Munkerud.
\nAlex had many interesting jobs in different parts of the world before arriving in Creston as the public health inspector for Creston and surrounding areas from Kootenay Lake to Moyie Lake for almost 30 years.\u00a0Alex dedicated a tremendous amount of time and effort to the betterment of the town of Creston. Up until his passing, he was still a member of a number of community boards. At his peak, he estimated the number to be over a dozen at one time. Cresteramics, Kootenay Employment Services and Spectrum Farms are only a few of the organizations that benefited from his knowledge, leadership, generosity of spirit and kindness. He saw people who needed his help and didn\u2019t wait for an invitation. He just did it.\u00a0Alex was also well known in the Creston sports world. If a club didn\u2019t exist, he started it. From soccer to cycling to skiing to tennis to golf. You name it, he played it.\u00a0His feats of endurance are the stuff of legend, both organized and of his own invention. He cycled from Creston to Calgary in 24 hours with his friend Terje. They then cycled from Creston to Vancouver in 48 hours.\u00a0His crowning achievement was his roller ski across Canada adventure from Vancouver to Newfoundland in 3 months.\u00a0Alex was an extraordinary man who lived an extraordinary life.
\nIn lieu of flowers, friends wishing to make a memorial contribution may do so to the Nicole Nilsson Memorial Hospital Fund c\/o Creston Valley Community Foundation Box 701 Creston, BC., V0B 1G0 or to the Creston Hospice Society, PO Box 612, Creston, BC V0B 1G0.
\nCelebration of Life was \u00a0held September 17, 2022 at 11 am Creston Room in the Creston & District Community Complex.<\/p>\n