Distance: 128.5 km
Ride time: 7:26:37
Average: 17.3 km/h
Max speed: 53.6 km/h
Total: 43741 km
As I have done so many times lately, I thanked Ruth and Jim for such an incredible show of hospitality before I left in the morning. Newfoundland rocks 🙂
It was not just any day on the road today. I was aiming for St. John’s, the Easternmost city in North America – and the end of the road! After today there would be no more North America to cycle.
What would make the day even more special was the fact that two friends were waiting for me. When I studied in Switzerland 10 years ago I had been sharing an apartment with Kevin from Toronto. We hadn’t seen each other since, but Kevin was flying out to meet me at this very day. We would both be staying with Gus VO1MP – a native and a radio amateur I had talked to countless times on the radio but never met in person.
The road is the goal and the goal is the road – a philosophy I agree with when it comes to cycling touring. But then again, we also need more tangible goals in our lives. Since a summer day in Patagonia almost two years ago mine had been reaching Newfoundland by bike. I was just about to have done it!
Newfoundland had a number of final hills for me to climb before the day was over. I was very very tired as I finally could see the city of St. John’s in the distance. Tired, but also happy and proud – and that was what carried me over those final climbs.
I had arranged with Gus and Kevin to meet me at Cape Spear. This is quite literally the end of the road and the easternmost point in North America. After climbing an descending yet another steep hill I could see the famous lighthouse in front of me!
With a big smile on my face I cycled over there to give Gus and Kevin a hug. Thank you so much for coming out and share this special day with me!
As I stood there overlooking the North Atlantic Ocean I was thinking about all the amazing experiences the Americas had offered. The beginning in windy Patagonia, the crazy beautiful Andes mountains, the Inca culture of Peru, the salsa dancing Colombianos, cycling along the Panama canal, meeting great new friends in Guatemala, and finally the overwhelming hospitality of the people in the US and Canada. Damn, what a ride!
Since there was literally no more road to cycle, we put the Bianchi into Gus’s car and drove out towards his house.
There was plenty of catching up to do with both Gus and Kevin – and that was what we did tonight. Tomorrow we will be heading into town for a proper celebration.
And to you dear reader, thank you for being a part of the ride! When things are good, and especially when things are tough, it means the world to know that there are people who care. I hope I’m able to provide a few stories and a good photo here and there in return 🙂
And the adventure is not over yet… stand by on this channel for more!
A big hug to everyone, Thomas
Fantastic! Great pic at the lighthouse!
My Frien…….. you are doing it right!
Congratulations Thomas! I want to let you know that I’ve been following every single post of your blog since the salt flats in July of 2014. What an amazing accomplishment. I saw your Instagram post about Africa the other day…after a much deserved break, do you have a date set for when you will beginning the trek northward from South Africa?
Hi Tyler! How great to know you have been following along since Bolivia. What a ride since then 🙂 I’m heading down to Cape Town soon – very soon. In a few days in fact! Will be celebrating New Year in South Africa, and then back on the road 🙂 Thomas
Well done, Thomas! Thanks for sharing this adventure with us. I was a late follower to this blog, but, as you know, I’ve been following it now for the better part of a year (after spending a couple of weeks reading everything up until then!). Wow, what a trip. So looking forward to Africa! So looking forward to doing my own trip! Bring it on!
Congratulations!!
I’ve really enjoyed reading about your journey. I think I found your blog when you were still in Bolivia, and I liked it so much, I started reading from the time of your arrival in Argentina.
We went to Bolivia several months after you were there, and it’s possible that we were in Guatemala when you were…
Indeed, what a ride! I really enjoyed reading every blog entry, especially after we met at Dayton. I will look forward to the entries from Africa next! 🙂
Hi Tom
Fantastic! It was really great to read all the posts, and in a way, be there with you all the time as well.
EE
Wow Thomas, you brought tears to my eyes reading your last blog!!! It’s been quite an experience for me to follow your travels and I’m so proud of what you’ve accomplished and what your future holds for you. You’ve shown me parts of the world I’ll never see and I’ve learned so much about the people through your words and eyes. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the wonderful experiences I’ve been a part of!!! PS – I’ve always wondered what happens if we get the math problem wrong!!!
Congratulations on the journey through the Americas.
Thank you Fred! I was sad I didn’t get to meet you on the roads in South America, but it was not supposed to be. Now, lets see what Africa will bring. Best Happy New Year wishes from over here!
Hi Suzanne. Thanks for the nice words – and for being a part of the whole trip 🙂 Happy New Year wishes from Copenhagen airport. I’m flying down to Africa now!
Hi José! Thanks for following along, and great to work you in CQWW CW. I’m sitting in Copenhagen airport right now, on the way to ZS1! On the bike ride back I will be coming through Morocco and into Spain. Maybe a little side trip to CT for coffee? Dit dit
Hi Scott! Great that you have been following along. With my new Africa plans I won’t be able to make it over to Dayton in May. I will return another year then – what a time there! Happy New Year from Copenhagen airport! I think you have been here 🙂 73
Not only have I been to the Copenhagen airport, but I slept overnight there the last trip. That place is a ghost town at night (which is good for sleep, but bad if you are hungry). Hope to see you in Dayton one of these years… or the next time I get to Copenhagen!
Thomas, congrats on the epic journey. What an achievement. Well done from all in Cass Bay, NZ.
Hi Phil. That was really nice to get a note from you guys in Cass Bay! Thank you. I was thinking about you the other day because Cape Town somehow reminds me of being in NZ; it’s summer in January, they drive on the left side, and of course the British influence in general. Best wishes to the whole family! Thomas