Vancouver to Whistler 125km

Average Speed 28km/hr

Riding Time 4 hour 21 min

The fifth tour got started with a big group of people coming out to send us off. As we weren’t hosting the SuperCycle this year, we invited everyone to come ride through Stanley Park with us up to the Lion’s Gate Bridge, and the turnout was spectacular.
 
Several news outlets were on hand along with friends, family, sponsors, and Parkinson Society British Columbia board members and employees to see us off – definitely one of the best send offs we’ve ever received. Founders Branko and Kelly, along with veterans Dave, Rob, Adam, Gavin and Laura, joined new team members Joe and Kim Gard. Mark Bowles, and Mark “Squirrel” Huggan for pictures and speeches, including some heartfelt words from Squirrel, whose father is currently living with Parkinson’s.
 
The send-off is always an emotional time for us, as it’s sometimes easy to get wrapped up in training and forget what the ride is all about. Meeting up with the people whose lives are touched every day by Parkinson’s makes us all realize how important it is to fight this disease, and shows the true magnitude of your contributions. For those of you who weren’t able to make the send off today, please believe us that your help is sincerely appreciated.
 
The send-off also allowed us to introduce this year’s support crew, including Penny and Meagan, who have been joined by Stephanie Vlachos, Andrea Boyes, and Krystle Eng. Though we will definitely miss Wes and Sheri, our amazing support crew members from the past two years, the girls have already done an amazing job helping us out. We are also amazingly lucky to have Tony, Ken, and Geoff on board this year. Tony and Ken are registered massage therapists, and with Ken on for two days and Tony the rest of the tour, our sore muscles and joints will be well tended to. Lastly, Geoff has volunteered his skills as a mechanic for the entire tour, another huge bonus. Being treated like royalty is easy to get used to! All kidding aside, having such a great support crew makes the ride possible – it would be impossible to do this without them all.
 
After the send off, we rode up with a big group to the Lion’s Gate Bridge, then with a smaller group to Horseshoe Bay, before setting off with just the team and Adam’s dad Pat. With some hot, tough climbs over the course of the day, we were all happy to roll into Whistler for a dip in the pool and a big dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory. After some much appreciated massages, we are all ready for bed, and looking forward to another long, tough day tomorrow