New Brunswick Blows

Normally I start these updates with how the night went, then how the morning started, and then move onto the goal for the day. But I’m not going to do that this time. Not that there’s anything wrong with that format – it’s worked so far. But change is good too.

I’m going to skip the part about the quiet night beside the information centre. And I’m definitely going to skip the part where I confirmed the reports of the violent nature of New Brunswick’s mosquito population. But for the record, the New Brunswick mosquitos are particularly nasty. I can’t be sure but I think they might even be organized. Seriously. At one point I wasn’t entirely sure I was going to make it out of there alive. But obviously, I did. I’m also going to skip the part about my goal for today being an ambitious 155 km ride which would set me up for arriving in Halifax tomorrow – after another ambitious ride. Yes, I’m going to skip all that.

So, where to begin? Clearly the focal point of today’s ride was the wind. The never-ending, gusty – yet constant, will-crushing wind. When I woke this morning (yeah, I know – I said I was going to skip this part – I lied), the wind didn’t sound as harsh as it did when I went to bed last night. I think that was wishful thinking.

The journey from the Jourimain Centre in New Brunswick to the Nova Scotia border was only about 60 km. Normally manageable in under three hours. This was not a normal day. The ride began with a small loop under the Confederation Bridge and that was the lone time I had the wind at my back all morning. Nature was very much not my friend on this day. Despite my efforts, there were many times I struggled to get my speed into the double-digits. It was less than exciting when I started speeding down a hill at a whopping 15 km/h. And yes, I was pedalling at the time. To say the day was a grind is an understatement. Add in the fact that my legs were sore and my stomach wasn’t particularly in a good mood, and I knew this was to be a long day.

Fast-forward three hours and 38 minutes later. Three hours and 38 minutes of constant pedalling, I might add. I pulled into a rest stop with an average speed of a whopping 15.54 km/h. I don’t know how it was that high. You can imagine my disappointment when I went inside to buy a chocolate popsicle only to find none. This day was out to break me.

As luck would have it, while sitting on the curb eating my blue Mr. Freeze, I noticed an Environment Canada vehicle. When the owner of said vehicle came out I couldn’t resist the urge to tackle him and beat him into the ground, screaming, “WHY? WHY?? WHY???”. Ok. No, I didn’t. Seriously, like I had the energy for that? But I did talk to him and he explained how the highway I just rode was pretty much the narrowest stretch in the Bay of Fundy and as such the wind is usually funnelled right up along the highway. I told him I could verify that fact. As could the nearby farm of wind turbines. He then proceeded to tell me that in about 20 km the Trans-Canada into Nova Scotia would be better. He was right.

I returned to the Trans-Canada where it immediately took a 90 degree turn and the headwind I’d faced all morning was now a mix between a slight headwind and a gusty crosswind. This seemed like an improvement. My speed didn’t really improve though as the roads were now seemingly endlessly long mild climbs. At one point I couldn’t figure out why I was going so slow only to realize I couldn’t even tell I was on a hill. A hill with no end.

With the wind, sun, and hills all conspiring against me I also realized I hadn’t been eating or drinking much today. We could now add heavy sweating mixed with chills to the sore legs and unhappy stomach. And I pedalled on.

My new goal was to go 40 more kilometres. That would put me in a position to potentially reach Halifax on Thursday. That would be my happy thought to get me through the last 40 km. And sure enough, at 5:30 I pulled into an Irving gas station and called it a day.

After a nap and lots of water I’m starting to feel a bit better – although, my body still can’t decide if it’s chilled or a heat pump. I’m hoping by tomorrow morning all that will be sorted out. Until then, I’m going to bed.

Today’s totals:
Distance travelled: 104.42 km
Time on bike: 5:52:15
Maximum speed (morning): 25.54 km/h
Maximum speed (afternoon): 50.58 km/h
Average speed: 17.79 km/h

So, as I said, New Brunswick blows. And yes, I realize that if I were heading in the other direction, this whole update would’ve been singing the praises of New Brunswick. Perspective is a funny thing.