Simon Williams

The universe

I am often conflicted with the idea of fate and our own control of our personal destiny. I know….heady stuff. I like to think that its both!

We are given opportunties that depending on our openess we are somtimes able to see them and other times we are not.

That’s what the National ride has done for me. It has opened my eyes to new opportunities and allowed me to dream bigger, think larger and re-affirm that anything is possible.

Here’s to staying open!

Lifes big blessings

A year ago I was asked to write a letter to family going through cancer treatment for their young son. It was the least I could do. I shared some of my story and hoped that letting them know that life does go on, that the battle is winable and in fact these obstacles can turn out to be huge blessings.

Through a myriad of happenstances, (there are no coincedences) I ended up being so fortunate to have met this family and spend yesterday on the bike riding with a brother survivour.

As we rode up the escarpment with our group we managed to hang off the back and had 30km to ride and talk. My transplant was 17 years ago and my friend is now only 16. Yet we could relate on an entirely different level. This very special young man is one of the most intellegent, soulful and thoughtful person you could ever meet.

We talked about our experiences, our treatments, our lives. We rode and chatted and I was in my glory. Somtimes it takes a 16 year old boy to lead the way and once again prove that inspiration and maturity can be found in unexpected places. Thanks for the ride pal! You made my day. Oh yea he is a hell of a bike rider…wow!!!

Happy thanksgiving!

The end of a ride but not the end of a journey.

Day 15….(I know I owe 13 and 14)

As we pulled into lower Sackville (night of the 14th day) there was a buzz surrounding the inpromptu SNKCR village. All 3 teams and all the support staff joined together in a celebration that lasted for most till late in the night and a for a few it lasted till early am. For me it was somewhere in between. This was the start of Day 15.

We all felt that this great adventure was coming to an end and we had a feeling of celebration and a hint of sadness. I guess that’s what they call bitter sweet.

So many of the former National Riders had said that its not about the ride. For me that wasn’t quite true. For me, it was about the ride and this is why: The ride provided the vehicle to raise the money, to meet the familys affected by cancer, to see our great country, to be welcomed into new communities, to feel the warmth of home cooked food on a cold day, to miss our familys, to feel apart of a new family, to acheive a physical goal, to feel a sense of accomplishment, to feel apart of something greater, to give every dollar raised to the cause, to dip our wheel in both oceans, to come home…. For me it was about the ride.

The ride ended on September 23rd 2010 but it does not end there, it can not! Kids cancer causes are so under funded in this Country, it is not right. More needs to be done, should be done and can be done. It is up to all of us.

As we rode out of Sackville towards the ocean the energy was so exciting. We knew we were on our last ride and as the rolling hills made our day a challenge it made our more special by having to push one more time. We pulled into Peggys cove where the majectic rocks of the shore line framed our veiw of the atlantic….we were close.

We were surrounded by our teamates as we climbed to the swiss air memorial and the emotions flowed. Our physical exhaustion opened our souls and allowed for a deeper experience.

We rolled another 50km towards Halifax, my family was waiting at the next stop. I am so grateful for their presence in Halifax.

As I rolled in with Melody by my side the journey (at least the ride portion) was essentially over.

I made it!

With warm embraces from my wife, my parents and my kids I felt all the love, all the support and all the gratitude.

With a ceremonial wheel dip, some cold champagne and the bright sun warming our bodies…it was over.

Thankyou to my amazing wife for holding down the fort and never wavering her support. Thankyou to my parents for Everything. Thankyou to my kids for inspiration and unconditional love. Thankyou to my teamates for getting me through the good times and the bad. Thankyou to my very good friend Melody who was there for every pedal stroke from the first to the last.

To all my friends and supports, I thankyou and the kids thankyou.

All my love
Simon

Made it!!!

What more can I say. With much thanks to my teamates we have dipped our wheels in the Atlantic…..

I will fill everyone in on the last few days later.

Love to all
S

Day 12 mother nature and a few other things

Picture this…a 6 hour spin class with no relief from resistance.

That was our Ride from Montreal to trois rivieres. A persistent 20 km/ cross head wind put the pressure on the body and mind as we rolled along some lovely roads with the St. Lawrence just off to my right. The effort was huge! I am not a great flat road head wind rider. I would take hills and rollers over head wind anyday.

The day was uneventful and we all did well to push through.

I was drained at the end of day finally arriving at the limits of this body. 3 more days to go!

Day 11 motto

Team 1 on day 11 today we ride for those in heaven.

Day 11 and 12

We awoke in pickering as teamates were welcomed back to the fold after many took a night away in toronto. The emotional hangover of the day before was very present and “the wall” was there for many riders.

We rode along the lake on small country roads….little gems that seemed forever away from manic major highways.. Rolling terrain and many leg burners hurt most of us. It was a hard 175km to Belleville, I was suprisingly fresh and aside from the beginings of a compressed nerve the body has held up well. I was proud of the way I rode and the team did well.

One of my teamates is from belleville and we were treated to a great party at the sears distribution center.

Along the way we rolled through little towns and Port hope was especially beautiful as we decended into the historic village.

What a great day!

One more thing

There are certain people who are brought into this world to remind us of the power of our full potential. Josh Nelson is such a person. Not only was he brave enough to get on the tandem but he stood up and made an incredible speech to 200 people. The speech was not incredible because he is a survivour, it was not incredible because he is only 16, it was just plain incredible.

This frail little body with the heart of a lion brought us all to tears with his story of survival, the honor of being a national rider and the message of hope. One day there will be a cure for all. He said that the National riders should be so proud for bringing inspiration and hope to all those kids fighting the good fight. We are making a difference…. Thanks josh!

Day 10 woodstock to Toronto

After saying goodbye to my wife and kids we shuttled to woodstock where we would begin a rather long day. Today was to be a day of ambassadorship and reunions for my teamates. For the first time since Whiterock BC all three teams left woodstock together. Along the way we were to pick up community riders who would join us for part or all the way to Sherway gardens.

Team 1 2 3 on day 10 we ride for Josh because he can!!!!

The first 50 was fast and fun, the country roads were beautiful.

As we picked up more riders the pace slowed till be were down to 20kph. Team 1 seemed to sense where we all were and ended up together at the front of a 500 person group ride. Dan Watt came out and Jenn voluntered…it was nice to see them both.

Sherway gardens was a sea of energy as the cheers incresed we rolled into the event and I could feel for many of my teamates what I had felt the day before. They were home.

My oldest friend Aaron braved the traffic and I was so happy to see him. I showed him around our bunk trucks and filled him in our the rides.

We then shuttled off to Pickering where we had second dinner. (We often have seconds or thirds of every meal…the benefits of burning 5000 calories a day)

We had a little party for Matt our super volunteer who after getting a chance to ride with us proclained that “this was the greatest birthday he had ever had”.

It was great to share it with him!

Thanks for reading!
Love
S