“After nourishment, shelter, and Companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world”

— Philip Pullman

BIKEPACKING THE LOG DRIVER’S WALTZ

BIKEPACKING THE LOG DRIVER’S WALTZ

We eventually climbed over the escarpment to descend into Shawville, Quebec at the 164km mark for our last possible refuel stop of the day. There were 56km remaining before we reached our destination in Renfew, Ontario. By this point Anne’s saddle region was protesting too many hours of continual pressure, and she was suffering immensely. Spotting a opportunity for relief, she instinctively nabbed a Coke from the freezer and started icing her nether regions. “Oh man, this feels sooooo good,” she declared, melting with the cooling relief.

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Bikepacking the Log Driver’s Waltz

Bikepacking the Log Driver’s Waltz

We gathered just in front of the eternal flame without much fanfare. Though this journey would prove to be amongst the hardest things each of us had ever done, few will truly comprehend the odyssey of which we were about to embark. But our energy was palpable, even with the absence of customary start-line hoopla. With an obligatory start-line group photo and a few goodbyes, we were on our way.

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Day 2 - Benalua to Hinojares: bikepacking the South of Spain

Day 2 - Benalua to Hinojares: bikepacking the South of Spain

The caves pictures above are some of the oldest human settlements in south-western Europe. They date back to the Neolithic Period, approximately eight thousand years ago. These cave sites, and their remnant artifacts have shed valuable inside on life during the prehistoric period in Spain. The caves are built into limestone cliffs, creating a natural shelter for humans and livestock. However, the arid climate, sparse rainfall, and persistent erosion cumulated into an inhospitable agricultural climate, and the economic consequences forced the settlers to move on decades ago. All that remain are the crumbling shells of what once was someone’s home. We saw them everywhere.

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