Ron Mitchell

COAST TO COAST — FINAL REPORT

The final day of the 2003 Coast to Coast Against Cancer ride is a short piece of riding culminating in the ceremonial arrival in Halifax. Earlier the day before, the team had achieved it most easterly point on the Atlantic Ocean on the north shore of PEI. It had taken 8 days and 19 hours. Despite that, the arrival in Halifax would have deep meaning and significance to the entire team and it’s many supporters, including family, friends and colleagues.

Another Perfect Day

The previous night’s ride and arrival in Chester, Nova Scotia ended at about 4:30 AM. Now, at 6:30 AM, The Weather Network has already set up for its final interviews of Jeff and the other riders. As a sponsor of the Coast to Coast Ride, the Weather Network was an invaluable source of weather information while the team was on the road. That was the good news. The bad news — from their perspective at least — was that the team had absolutely perfect weather every day of the ride. The sun shone every day, the winds were favourable, there was no rain, and the nights were clear and cool. In short, there was absolutely not one bit of weather drama during the entire ten days… no snow, no sleet, no torrential downpours, no floods, no hurricane winds to blow rail-thin cyclists off their path. Quite acceptable to the team, but not as much of a story as the Weather Network might have hoped for.

Rush Hour

Finally, at about 8:30 AM, the entire team is ready to depart Chester for the final 80 kilometers into Halifax. The team of 8 riders head out onto Route 3 toward Halifax. A nice casual ride along the seashore… unless it’s Rush Hour. As the entourage gets closer to Halifax, the intensity of the traffic increases. All manner of cars and trucks speed angrily down the twisty, rolling highway. Finally, as the road joins onto another thoroughfare, the team rides into the protection of the pre-arranged Halifax city police escort. Also there to grab the moment are several television and radio stations. A good sign that there is some genuine interest in the Coast to Coast Ride here in Halifax.

It’s a Parade

The police lead the riders toward Halifax. About halfway there, a group of Fujitsu employees joins the ride. It’s quite a parade now: 8 C2C riders, another 20 friends riding along, the C2C RV, the Weather Network SUV stuffed with video equipment and operators, and bringing up the rear, the big C2C 18-wheeler, blasting it’s even-bigger horn all the way through downtown Halifax. Passersby are caught by surprise at the late-morning commotion along Barrington Street, but amazingly, some seem to understand and offer their encouragement by applauding as the team passes through.

Triumph

Finally, the parade of cars, trucks and cyclists make the last few turns into Point Pleasant Park. A long glide down toward the water and onto the big open parking lot, the riders arrive to the cheers and applause of loved-ones, friends, supporters and dignitaries. They whiz right past and down toward the beach. Finally getting off their bikes, in unison, they triumphantly walk down to water’s edge. The symbolism of dropping their front wheels into the Atlantic is overwhelming. The job is done, the impossible has been achieved. It’s hard to believe that they can actually stop cycling now. After the expected whoops of joy and fist pumping in air, they each turn and embrace one another, almost surprised that it’s over, and equally surprised at how’s it is overwhelming them. Words are lost in constricting throats, but deep understanding exists regardless. Then suddenly the beach is filled with even more people, all clustering around the team. Wives, girlfriends, children. These are the ones who have supported these riders all along in their pursuit of purpose. Pride and love washes over them like the gentle Atlantic tide at their feet.

A Royal Greeting

After the moment of accomplishment is captured on film at water’s edge, the team gathers itself and heads back toward the park. There, a reception has been arranged. Hosted by Paul Kent of Fujitsu in Halifax, several important provincial and municipal dignitaries are on hand to welcome the team. This includes The Honourable Myra Freeman, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia. She graciously acknowledges the accomplishments of the team, noting for all gathered the magnitude of the effort in terms of days, kilometers and funds raised. She then pins a special Lieutenant Governor’s medal on the collar of each rider to commemorate the ride and the moment.

Guinness and The Royal Reception

Once the official festivities are complete the team immediately convenes at the RV, where a tub of Guinness is laid out. This is a "meal-replacement" that is much favoured over some of Dr. Pat’s concoctions. Each member reaches in, opens and then raises their prize in the air for a team toast to their success. Just then word comes through that Her Honour, the Lieutenant Governor has invited the entire team and family members to Government House for a visit and refreshments immediately following the ceremonies at Point Pleasant Park. It takes some organizing, but the team finally makes its way to Government House. Each member is greeted personally by Her Honour and asked to sign the guest book. In the dining room, a few words of welcome — along with some very dainty finger sandwiches — are offered up by Her Honour. Then a tour of Government House with a few entertaining stories of its past, and finally a photo opportunity for the team on the foyer stairs with the Lieutenant Governor, carefully positioned under a painting of the boss, Queen Elizabeth II. A memorable end to a memorable day and a memorable journey.

Celebration

Finally, the team is able to retreat to Chester for some much-needed rest and relaxation with family and friends. The Chester Yacht Club plays host with an extraordinarily tasty array of hors d'ouevres and main dishes. But no one is really paying attention. All eyes are on Jeff as he personally and publicly thanks each and every member of the Coast to Coast team. As he builds his momentum, he finishes by acknowledging the enormous support and commitment of each rider. Each member has profoundly impacted Jeff in a very positive and life-altering way. He acknowledges and thanks them each for being equally committed to his dream. He then turns to the final and perhaps most important thank you of the night. He manages about three words, just enough for the entire gathering to know just who this next acknowledgement is intended for… his wife and life partner, Dianne. But he can utter no more words. His face contorts, his throat contracts and he tries, but nothing comes out. Finally Dianne rises and they embrace. Everyone there knows just exactly what Jeff intended to say all along.

Feel the Love

It’s a fitting end to the Coast to Coast Ride and this coast to coast journey. The love that fills the room, the love that Jeff feels for Dianne, Brooklyn and Skylar and the entire C2C team is clear to all. It ends with this embrace that takes Jeff back years to the moment he first conceived this coast to coast idea, the reason he decided to do it in the first place: his children, his wife, his family. He feels the love.