September 15 2025 New Pics

WE ARE DONE!!!

We completed in our final (18^th) race yesterday at Cultus Lake, BC, and after 4 ½ months away we’re back home!!!

…..I’ll back up a bit, as we weren’t able to update our blog last week due to connectivity issues….

Monday to Thursday last week were long driving days. Our final night in Ontario was spent in Kenora at the Anicinabe Park and Campground. The woman checking us in asked about the status of a cure for ALS – her mom died of ALS in 1989. 

The park was very nice, on the Lake of the Woods with lots of cottages and boats. A momma black bear and her three cubs kept campers on alert but she had no interest in us – the acorns they dine on were much more interesting.

Our next sleep stops were Regina then Canmore the following night. Long driving days, podcasts, and a couple of audio books. And maybe a bit of country music. We stopped at Chaplin, Saskatchewan, a small town on the migration path of several shore birds as well as a source of sodium, which the birds consume. The things you learn when you have to pee! 😊

As we came closer to the BC border, the Rockie Mountains gradually appears through the haze. A sense of peace (we’re almost home), awe (these mountains are friggin’ huge!), and gratitude (wow, we’re so lucky) washed over both of us. And we added visiting the Rockie Mountains more to our list. 😊

The next morning (Thursday) was the beginning of our re-entry into the normal world. We stopped for lunch at Revelstoke where we had our daily ALS connection. As Mike was heading into the grocery store, a woman came up to him with $20. She’d seen our truck and trailer, and then his Tri’ing shirt. A friend of a friend had recently been diagnosed with ALS and the family didn’t know what to do. Mike gave her our contact card and let her know our website had links to ALS Alberta (where the fellow lives). We’ve quickly learned not to leave home without our Tri’ing clothes on as it may be a lost opportunity to help someone and spread the word.

We met my sister and brother-in-law, Tammy and Darren, at Lac le Jeune, outside of Kamloops. After an hour standing in the middle of the campsite catching up (it’s been 3 months since we last saw each other), we got down to setting up our campsite and having dinner. We talked into the night, catching up on each other’s lives, our kids, and life.

The sunrise the next morning was so peaceful….except for the loons, the ravines, and what sounded like a large pack of coyotes attacking something across the lake.

And of course there had to be a lone person fly fishing in the middle of the lake to complete the peaceful picture.

Our next – and final - stop was….CULTUS LAKE for RACE #18!

Our daughter Sydney was waiting for us - several huge hugs followed. I’m still not sure if the ‘sorta’ refers to the ‘welcome’ or to the ‘home’!

 We got to work decorating our campsite!

Good buddies Debbie and Kirk brought pizza from Jim’s Pizza, our favourite pizza place in Vernon! More Vernon buddies, Parm and Rhian, also arrived and we all talked into the night. It’s great to be home, sharing our stories, catching up from our family and friends and feeling the love for everyone around us.

On Saturday we went for a swim to test the water temperature to determine if I would swim "naked" or not........ naked for lake swimmers means to swim with out a wetsuit.... IThe lake was very warm perfect for swimming either way. After lunch we had more visitors, Trevor and Tessa, Art and Marleen, and friends Ali and Emanuel. Then it was off to package pick up and the start of getting ready to race the next day

Then it was race day – Race #18!!! Holy cow, it’s finally here!

The day was overcast, with rain expected mid morning, so we had to race fast to finish before it came. We had a great group of folks out to support us, and a few race too: family – Tammy, Darren and of course Sydney; Team mate – Cody and his brother Josh; Vernon gang – Debbie, Kirk, Julie W, Rhian, Parm ; ALS Board – Elizabeth, Ian and Julie M; friends – Sherry and Christine (and Connie, Christine’s mom via facetime); sponsor and friend David. It felt wonderful to hear the cheers!!

Mike and I both had good races. The water was warm, the bike hilly, and the run flat with a bit of sand thrown in. (Texas, you were in my thoughts on the run, as usual). It was amazing to cross this finish line! Tears, hugs, more tears and more hugs.

At the beginning of the awards ceremony (and just before the rain began to pour down on us), Elizabeth provided the crowd with a wonderful recap of our journey - thank you Elizabeth! I thanked the athletes for donating $3000!

The day – and journey – was capped off by a great night of champagne, food, friends, family, laughter and love.

We are humbled and honoured to have been able to complete this amazing journey. Our bodies held out, the weather was usually on our side, our truck and trailer survived, people at home supported and cheered us on from afar, the race directors were great, and the people who shared their stories with us….we hold them close in our hearts and that’s what kept us going.

Tri’ing to End ALS may be over for this year, but we have no intentions of stopping.