Friends Will Be Friends! Tales while running Victoria to Crofton
That is the title and theme from these last couple of days along the Trans Canada West Coast edition of Canada’s linking highway. As we run (and may I say, a tad quicker than usual) because of the winds of support at our backs from the ever-faithful “Knuckle Heads”, steering cars clear of two runner’s intent on making their marathon.
Andy is now named “steady Eddy”, as his while riding camera techniques are becoming the stuff of Hollywood legend, capturing shots of us along this famous Canadian Highway on the far west coast! Jeanette is our “holistic talker” with stories on herbs, different flower concoctions and the like. While Rick (now extended to Richard), is the thinker in the gang, figuring out the next bike move to keep the rear of the posse’ patrol, clear of traffic.
Running through Mill Bay the day before we were given the unofficial key to the city by way of the Mayor, Bad Brad Sinclair, his Co-Mayor’ette, Lara and Deputy (now in charge of his own wee community), Deano (who’s wife Candy gave birth to their first a few months ago), so now he’s learnin’ the ropes of Mayor’ ship in the land of child.
They are my friends from long ago who are aptly named, “the 7th day Adventurist’s”, whose mission is just that, seize the day and grab adventure in any way you can (mostly on weekend’s).
They ran us through the Bay and our pose’ of Knuckleheads became a duel posse’ of 7th Day Ad’s, with Amber and Racy Verna doing her crewing duties.
We finally changed the “MILES RAN” to reflect the real miles under feet, and not the usual 1,000 behind it usually reads.
The day culminated with another BBQ at Steph’s sister’s place in Crofton paradise. Ash, Ben and the boyz, Noah and Tait, welcomed us all in for a night of shower’s, clean clothes and a BBQ rivaling anything we’ve experienced so far! I must mention, Steph’s Dad and Mom, Steve and Mish did the cooking and hosting duties until Ash and Ben could arrive home from camp duties down the lane.
So the next day, smelling a lot fresher than the night before, R41P and our posse’ of NHeads took off running once again, through the back road beauty of Crofton and her outskirts. We even picked up a NEW member of the Run For One Planet run team! Steph’s amazing sister Ash joined us for the first 20km’s of the day!
Ash is also training for her FIRST marathon in October at the Royal Victoria on Thanksgiving Weekend. So she figured a short jaunt with some slow runners would be just the ticket to get her run in for the day. She is a Rock Star of the highest order, as she not only displayed her athletic prowess, she left us with more homemade cookies from Gamma’s secret recipe, granola sooooo tasty it hurts and one freshly baked banana bread to keep us all well fed!
After we said good bye to Ash, we were met by another self-described welcome Mayor, Bill Wood, a long ago friend from our Tsawwassen days (who waited for 3 hours in his lawn chair) in Ladysmith, to capture a big hello, a pat on the back, and a quick update of his family as we ran through his part of town! Thanks Bill, for your tenacity to sit and your energy as we made our way through!
And a tour day would not be complete without some inspiring and in-depth “press”. Ours was by way of another long time and dear friend, Krista Charke, who dropped by Racy, showing us the story she, had written for her newspaper, here in Nanaimo! Thanks Krista, for your belief in us, and sharing the tour with your readership! Can’t wait to return in July for your impending nuptials with Tony!
So there you have it folks, another R41P tour day experience and more examples of how it has been our “collection of friends” that continue to be the wind beneath our feet. Sadly (for Andy), on some days, the wind isn’t just coming from beneath our feet!
We are all Rockstars, Baby.
It was a privilege to run with you.
Comment by Ashleigh — Tuesday, May 5, 2009 @ 9:05 am
мне кажется: отлично..
Comment by плешка — Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 1:00 pm