On the Road from Bellingham, WA 12/28/09

Friend (Joe) - Hey Peace Rider man, it's been awhile since I've heard from you? What's happening?

PR - Yeah, I know. Sorry about that, too many distractions. I crossed the border Christmas eve and made it to the outskirts of Bellingham as the sun was setting. I didn't make Tony and Marie's place in Fairhaven on the south side until after dark.

The last time I talked to Marie, Tony hadn't made it back from an Antarctic cruise. I was pleasantly surprised to find him at home when I knocked on the door. He had just arrived a few hours before me as it turned out. He was very glad to be home but seriously jet lagged after several long flights starting in Punta Arenas, Chile. He only had a few days at home before another cruise began. But at least he got to spend some time with Marie and their two young boys. He just left this morning.

F - Which way did you go from Hope?

PR - Since I was already in Hope and close to Trans Canada Highway One I headed in that direction. I switched back to touring tires before I left. It was mostly downhill or flat so I was in Chilliwack by early afternoon. But yikes it was noisy with lots of fast moving trucks and cars. I was glad to turn off and head into downtown Chilliwack. I picked up a new rain jacket I'd ordered and had sent ahead to the local Post Office.

F - Where to after that?

PR - Tom Webb, my Warm Showers host in Kamloops, had given me a map with a rural route to the border heading due south from Chilliwack then west. I past Sardis going south and was supposed to hang a hard right at Keith Wilson Rd. but kept going to Yarrow Central Rd. By this time it was well into the afternoon. The thought came to me that it might be easier finding a camp site on Yarrow Central Rd. which appeared to be closer to the Veddar River than the other way. From here it gets pretty interesting.

F - How so?

PR - Well, I had just passed the turnoff to Cultus Lake when a van pulls over on the opposite side of the road and a man gets out. I'm getting used to this happening by now. We have a conversation. He's a long distance cyclist and was curious about my journey. He asks me if I am familiar with Warm Showers. "Of course," I respond. "I tried calling the one host family in Chilliwack that was listed but only got an answering machine." "Yes," he responds, John and Caroline are friends of ours. They are out of town on a bicycle trip. My wife and I are also Warm Showers hosts. I need to check with her to see if it's okay for you to stay with us but I'm sure it will be."

Now what are the chances that in the whole area it would be the second and only other Warm Showers host to stop with a place for me to stay the night?

F - You're being taken care of?

PR - Yes, and I'm very grateful for it. Gary gave me directions to his place and said he'd catch up with me later. He would be back at 5:00 PM after a trip to town he said. I'd have to hang out for a couple of hours.

F - So what did you do in the meantime?

PR - I had to back track a short way to the Cultus Lake turnoff then head up and over the hill to their place near the Lake. I still had plenty of time to kill so cruised by their house. I wanted to be able to find it after dark. It wasn't hard to pick out, a bicycle hung from the second story balcony as a Christmas ornament.

I headed to the lake next and rode along a gravel trail near the shore. Flocks of geese were calling lake bound as darkness fell.

This is the time of year the locals have the place to themselves, the tourist season over. I could imagine the place packed during the summer. But all was quiet now. A few people were out trail walking beneath a canopy of tall trees along the shore.

F - Sounds idyllic?

PR - You know it was very serene in the waning light reflected off a mirror glass surface. This lake is in a park so there is not wall-to-wall houses around the shoreline.

Memorial benches were placed at regular intervals along the shore. The first one I stopped at said "Forget Me Not." This brought back special memories, of a poem I'd written with that title. Hmm, many friends and family in addition to these souls unknown to me have passed. I remembered.

F - So eventually you found your way back to Gary's place I presume?

PR - Yes, he returned when he said he would and Sheryl his wife a short while later. We had a lovely evening together. Gary is a retired school administrator and Sheryl a teacher at a local college. Both are very active outdoors. Gary is recovering from a bicycle/car encounter. He is a randoneering cyclist, something I knew nothing about. These hard core and hardy cyclists cover long distances in a relatively short time. He was hoping to be well enough to qualify for one of these events in Paris held every four years.

Gary filled in the blanks for me with computer printed maps of Bellingham and a route to my friend's house. I left the next morning.

F - From Cultus Lake how far did you go?

PR - I made it all the way to Bellingham. I was a little surprised at that but the rural roads to the border and beyond were flat and fast riding. It helped that I had some tail wind. The roads are laid out in grid fashion, north to south, east to west

Ducks, mostly mallards leapt into the air from roadside water courses as I passed. Swans with their grayer cygnets rested in many of the fields I passed. I really enjoyed the ride, the sights and yes, even the smells.

At the intersection of Sumas Way and Vye Road I stopped and called Ron Benczi. He is a reporter for Global TV in Vancouver. I had been in touch with him since Hope trying to arrange a TV interview. When I called him again from the Chevron Station on the corner he said a cameraman was in the area looking for me, stand on the corner and make yourself more visible he advised.

F - And you connected?

PR - Yes we did, Kevin MacDonald the cameraman, found me shortly after I called Ron and he filmed an interview with me then some shots of me riding along Vye Rd. and up to the border.

You know the Christmas spirit was also alive and well at that busy intersection.

F - What do you mean?

PR - While I was waiting for the cameraman to arrive, Bruce Kloosterman gets out of his Paragon Feed truck parked near a pay phone booth where I had parked, walks over to me and hands me $10.00 Christmas gift. Before he can escape I ask his name. In the process I tell him many people are praying for me. He gives me a big smile and says prayer is the most powerful force in the Universe. I couldn't disagree. He said he was supposed to be retired as he closed the door and drove off. Nothing like leaving Canada on an incredible high mixed with a tinge of sadness!

F - What are your plans now?

PR - My bicycle is in a local shop being worked on. It should be ready soon. I am also waiting for several packages to arrive in the mail. It could be a couple of days yet before I head south from here. It's been a wonderful time though to kick back for awhile and get rested up for next phase of the journey.

See you down the road a piece.

F - Look forward to it.

On the Road from Hope, BC 12/21/09

Friend (Joe) Hey, Peace Rider glad to see you made it down Highway l in one piece.

PR Yeah, me too. No shoulders, blind curves, tunnels and narrow bridges made this "no walk in the park." But you know I also had help.

F - How so?

PR Just after Cache Creek on a narrow stretch I caught a tire on the transition between the shoulder edge and dirt and fell off the bike. A Mountie saw my tracks in the snow where I fell. He pulled off the side of the road ahead of me further on. He was concerned for my safety on this stretch and cautioned me to be extra careful. From where I was to Spences Bridge and Lytton was the worst he said. He offered to give me a ride but I thanked him and declined. My friend Don Laird has also cautioned me to be extra careful on this Highway The Mountie's warming came just before I headed into one of the worst stretches for blind curves and narrow shoulders.

At blind corners I would stop, look back to make sure there was no on coming traffic then pedal like crazy to round the bend and so on, same way at bridges and other road restrictions.

F - How did you manage through the tunnels?

PR - Several of the tunnels had a yellow caution lights you could set flashing at the tunnel entrance to warm motorists that a cyclist was in the tunnel. At others there was a walkway along one side of the tunnel you could ride on out of traffic. But man, the noise from cars and especially trucks in the tunnels was deafening and nerve racking. You don't think about it as a motorist.

F - And you had blue sky and sunny weather all the way?

PR - Boy I wish. From Kamloops past Spences Bridge to Jackass Summit was fine. It was clear and sunny from Cache Creek following the Thompson River into the canyon. At Jackass Summit, my fourth night out, I camped next the to road on a narrow patch of snow free ground. A few feet the other side of my tent was a nearly vertical drop to the river below The next morning, however, a couple of inches of fresh snow was on the ground. Descending from there, snow turned to rain and it was raining when I set up camp just past Hells Gate. The snow was wet, the ground soggy. I didn't even bother to set up the stove. The trees were wet and I'd have been lucky to get a fire going. My second cold camp but I did have hot dinner.

The next morning more of the same, rain, cold and just about everything I owned wet. I did float high and dry on my air mattress and my sleeping bag remained dry. I was warm until I emerged from my cocoon and got pedalling and the blood circulating.

Rain tapered off later in the day when I hit Hope and The Swiss Chalet Motel to dry out in.

F - You meet any interesting characters along the way?

PR - When I got to Cache Creek late in the day I went in the local grocery to buy a few things like noodles, cheese and bread. I had everything at the register ready to check out but for some reason was distracted and looking elsewhere. Tony in that instant stepped forward and paid for my groceries with a Merry Christmas. What a nice gift and reminder the Christmas spirit is alive and well.

My next grocery stop was in Lytton. I first stopped at a food store on the main highway, but bad vibes. Guard dog on duty, no washrooms and no business. I decided to hit the store in the main part of town even though it meant going downhill from the main highway. Outside the store I asked a driver if he had a pliers I could borrow to put my front fender back on. He did. I was putting it on when I strike up a conversation with Mark Jaccard and Michelle Nickerson. Mark is a Professor at Simon Fraser Univ. in the School of Resource and Environmental Management. Isn't it "interesting" that he deals with policy issues regarding climate change. They stopped in Lytton because that is where the Fraser R. begins. Michelle it turns out plans to make like a salmon and swim the Fraser next summer to highlight the plight of salmon. For more on that see www.ripplerelay.com.

F - What do you mean by "interesting?"

PR - Well, I'm not sure exactly but would like to follow up with him to educate myself further on what governments should be doing policy wise to reduce fossil fuel emissions. He said that BC has put in place a carbon tax, among the first to do so.

F - So you're heading down the road today.

PR - Yes, right after I'm done with this. So we'll see you down the road again.

F - Anything else to report before you go?

PR - I went to the local laundromat in downtown Hope to dry my wet things. When I got there the attendant asked what I was going to do. Dry my clothes I responded. He said you have to wash your clothes before you can dry them, that is our policy. Huh? He did tell me of another place and I went there. So much for business.

Peace Rider on the CFJC Evening News

On the Road Barriere to Kamloops, BC 12/9-13/09

Friend (Joe) - what's the name of that pooch curled up by you.

PR - Oh, he's Buddy, a lovable golden retriever belonging to my Warm Shower hosts Tom and Lorna Webb. They went out this morning. I have the run of the house and use of their computer.

F - So you're in from the cold for awhile?

PR - Thankfully, yes. And it has been COLD, below zero F here.

You know a recurring theme of this journey is meeting people I need to meet. In turn they've helped me build on what I started, especially in areas I'm weakest in. It's a joyful process. I've made many new friends. My hosts are more of such folks.

F - So how are you feeling at this point in the journey, going to "extremes?"

PR - I wouldn't have jumped on a bicycle for a "cool" winter bike ride if I didn't feel the need was urgent. We're fouling our own nest. It's our children that will suffer the worst consequences of climate change if we get it wrong.

It's our moral obligation to do it for them. It's up to us to get off the dime and transition to a clean energy future. They'll need the oil that remains for petrochemicals. There's only so much of the stuff left. Why take the risk of dragging this out until 2030 or 2050.

Future generations may look back on this era with a single question, "they really burned it." Why?

F - It's like being handed a stick of dynamite with a slow burning fuse, eh?

PR Something like that, you don't know when it will explode in your face. A sane person would defuse it, whatever it took, in as short a time as possible, rather than dither, dally and delay.

F - End our addiction to fossil fuels in an orderly fashion. Make sure the needs of everyone are met in a well planned transition to a clean energy future. Is that your idea?

PR - That's right! The USA put a man on the moon in a decade. Set a goal of having all atmospheric poisons planet wide in decline by the end of the next decade. Don't mess around with this. We're literally playing with dynamite.

F - Canada and the USA should be leading the way to a clean, energy independent future instead of being Neanderthals.

PR - At a Peace Conference I attended Dr. Vincent Hardy said, "Obama can't save you, you have to save Obama." And he's right on. It's going to take a real shove and "tough love" from citizens at the grass roots level to make it happen. Look at what Gandhi and Martin Luther King had to do in their struggles for social justice.

F - And look what happened to them?

PR - Yeah, I know but maybe, just maybe, it will be different this time.

But here's the key, we'll continue to make the same mistakes of the past as long as we see ourselves as separate from one another at a deeper level, separate from creation and the consequences of our behavior, and separate from that which is Higher than self. What we give to the other we give to ourselves individually or collectively because of these underlying relationships. A lot more people understand this now.

We are the dreamer awaking from a nightmare. It's time to follow the red flashing detour sign. It's time to end it, unite and come together.

F - Preach on bro, "I'm pulling for you, we're all in this together."

PR - Yeah, it's doable. There's great strength in unity. But how do you wake people up?

F - You're riding and speaking to young people aren't you, gaining more attention because you're riding in winter.

PR - Yes, and I've noticed a shortage of other cyclists on the road. But seriously, it's a great opportunity and privilege I've been given to speak. It's beyond my comfort zone at times, but I'm committed to the journey, whatever it takes.

F- How did your presentation go at the Barriere Secondary School?

PR - Better this time, my message and voice are stronger. There were good questions afterward too. The aftermath was especially rewarding.

F - Glad to hear it but I forgot to ask where you spent the night, camped out somewhere?

PR - No, Jonathan Brady the Principal and Sheri McGregor the custodian, pulled out all the stops to find a place for me. A lot of teachers commute from Kamloops so it wasn't like - easy.

I met Jonathan and Sheri when I walked into the school and told them who I was. I'd called ahead. She found a place 5 km north of town, but I'd have to bike there. Oops, long way, me tired. More calling.

She called the Elementary school and talked to the Secretary. At that moment she "just happened" to overhear Gay Conan, leaving the building, "call her back she said." Gay Conan and Robert Bach were the owners of the place north of town.

I could leave my bike at the school. I changed back to touring tires in the wood shop while I waited for Gay to come.

The shoulders of the road here were mostly clear, a good time to change over inside a warm building it seemed. I'd been on studded tires since Jasper, slower going, more drag. But I really needed them with snow and ice on the shoulders for most of the way to Barriere.

And that's how I ended up spending a delightful evening with Gay and Robert at their Bar F, Hacienda Costalota. You've got to have a sense of humor as a farmer. Small farmers like them are just getting by.

They enjoy the life style with a menagerie of horses, a llama, sheep, chickens, cows, donkeys, pigs, dogs, cats and an occasional coyote that nips in for an easy meal.

A sheep guard dog they had on permanent assignment near the barn stopped most of the "bandits" I was told.

I joined Gay and Robert doing morning chores, feeding, watering and cleaning up after their extended family.

In the distance I saw a cat crossing the yard. Three dogs lit out after it. Robert said, "they don't chase the two resident cats but they'll chase strays off." "Once," he said, "a coyote came in the yard and grabbed a rooster in front of me but he couldn't get it through the fence and dropped it." "I got it back at least," he said.

I was a little slow in getting to Gay's car to head for the school after chores. By the time we arrived classes had resumed. We were supposed to arrive beforehand. But it worked out. More students came later.

Touring tires came off again, whew, and studded tires went back on while I waited. It was snowing again in the AM. At least I had a warm place in the school to do it and air from the wood shop.

Later I wheeled my loaded bike into the gym where 50-60 or so high school students sat on bleachers with their teachers and Principal.

I would never have imagined myself making presentations before high school students but there I was.

F - So how did it go?

PR - In a sea of faces it's hard to tell but very well from later responses. We don't speak from the heart often enough. What happened later was really special.

F - Let's hear it.

PR - I got on the road a little past l PM. The next town down the road was McLure about 6 miles south. I figured I could make 10 miles in the remaining daylight.

I pulled even with McLure with less than half an hour before camp time, about 3:15 PM. Opposite the Post Office, five people walked out from their driveway to meet me. Noel introduced himself, then Josie his wife, and their three daughters Karina, Kimberly and Kathrine.

They handed me a paper bag filled with goodies, food for the road. They are Filipino, slight in stature but tall where it counts most.

It turns out Karina and Kimbery heard me speak at school earlier in the day. They were inspired. Wow, I say that a lot! After speaking the students went off to their next class. I hadn't seen them. They were home from school by the time I reached their modest mobile home near the Canadian Railroad tracks.

They waited, knowing I was coming. Karina said, "remember me, I saw you at the Elementary School?" I stopped there briefly asking for directions to the Secondary School (high school). I went the long way through Barriere to find it.

Noel handed me his card which said they were The Pelayo Family, Musicians and Singers. Josie told me about a place further on where I could camp in the pines. Then Noel said, "we have a bungalow beside our house, why don't you stay here." I thought a moment and said, "why not." I accepted.

I'm being taken care of. I knew it. You cannot give selflessly without receiving, it's the way Love works.

They were in a hurry to leave for Kamloops. Kimberly had a violin lesson. Afterward they were going to church. I was about to go with them, but they were hurrying to leave and I said, "you go on without me." I was in my traveling clothes. I wanted to change. I'll have a relaxing evening I thought. In the bungalow, I found a We Are The World cassette. I'm a low tech guy in a high tech world you know. Their Cadillac of boom boxes had more buttons than some aircraft console panels. Eventually I got it going. It was really nice to hear music again. I miss that on the road. Still, there was a tinge of regret at not going just as they found me.

I was heating water for a hot drink when the phone began ringing in the adjacent room. I picked it up but nothing. I was not pressing the key down hard enough I discovered later. The phone kept ringing then stopped.

I got changed was just about to fix dinner when I heard knocking. I opened the door. Jerry introduced himself. "We have come to pick you up." " What?" I responded, "Josie called me and Alice, she tried to call you. We're taking you to their church with us," he said, "can you be ready in five minutes?"

They didn't tell me they were smokers until I was in the car. "It won't kill me," I responded after their warning.

They were good friends and benefactors of the family I learned. Jerry had helped the family build their small food concession wagon where they sold Filipino food.

Noel was a farm hand. He had lost his job, and for the first time getting an unemployment check. They decided to try something else, maybe a restaurant later. They didn't start until Sept. It was not set up for winter. They had to stop, when it started freezing. It was parked beside their home for the winter.

We arrived at the Kamloops Alliance Church where I caught up with the family. Karina and Kimberley were playing Christmas music, Karina on piano and Kimberly the violin. It was a Christmas dinner with a drama, The Inn Keepers Dilemma afterward. They bought a $20.00 ticket and gave it to me so I could go with them. I was really moved knowing their circumstances.

It was a delightful evening, good food, meeting new people, enjoying a well rehearsed and acted drama.

Karina 16, the oldest, told me she was trying to raise $4000 to go to Ecuador on a Me and We exchange program. She was earning money towards that by playing at the church she said but well shy of the money needed to make a deposit deadline by Christmas day. Wendy, who was seated next to me at the dinner table, had helped her apply.

In the basement shower room of Tom and Lorna's home where I'm at, there is a sign, "kindness is power." What greater love than this to welcome me, a stranger, into their homes and be treated as part of the family.

It is time to end the madness. We're all One.

F - So what are your plans in Kamloops?

PR - I will try and speak at North Kamloops High school on Monday. The local TV station and newspaper were interested in an interview so we'll see. I arrived late Friday so the latter two didn't work out.

Tom and Lorna have taken such good care of me.
Tom ran me around town yesterday looking for replacement rain gear and a camera. The former was old when I started. I need the latter now.

F - I heard there's one long grind heading south from Kamloops, eh?

PR - Yeah, it will be the longest so far but not as steep as some on the Alaska Highway. Part of the package!

F - You know you don't have much on your bike to tell folks what you're up to when vehicles pass.

PR - You're right! Tom had a great idea. He suggested I put easily removable signs with Ride For The Planet on both sides of the B.O.B. I'll put that on the back of my wind jacket as well.

F - So then you're all set for the next leg?

PR - Well, not quite, the sign shop is backed up with Christmas orders so that's on hold for the moment. I was able to get it embroidered on my jacket. That will help until I can get signs made.

F - You haven't told me much about Tom and Lorna?

PR - Sorry, Tom is a master mechanic and retired Safeway store exec., Lorna is a real estate agent and real sweetheart. She's still working.

While I was working on this Tom lubed and made adjustments on my bike. He's amazing!

He has a neat project underway I've not seen, building a solar, electric car using a fifties vintage Chevy chassis. It's not at the house where I'm staying. As he said, "there's not a bolt on it I've not removed in the rebuilding process."

I am deeply grateful our paths crossed. My days ahead will be better and stronger for it. Kindness is their power.

Wild blessings, PEACE, LOVE and JOY to all of you as we close in on Christmas and I on Bellingham, WA about that time.

Peace Rider Don

Valemount Live: Interview with Peace Rider

On the Road from Clearwater, BC Yellowhead Highway 5, 12/8/09

Friend (Joe): Hey, where you at now Peace Rider?

Peace Rider: Well, rolled into Clearwater after dark on Friday evening. Keith McNeill put me up at the Wells Gray Inn. West of here is Wells Gray Park. Pretty cool, eh?

F: How cool? And who's Keith?

PR: COLD, getting down to 20 below C at night, about zero F. Winter is here, but I'm under a hard rood until I hit the road for Kamloops later today.

Keith is the editor for the local paper, The Times. He interviewed me yesterday about Ride for the Planet. I had a wonderful opportunity to speak about the inspiration, in spirit motivation, that set me off on this journey.

F: Okay, inspiration and perspiration go together.

PR: Something like that, how did you know?

F: Been there, done that.

PR: How about a Christmas story from on the road?

F: Go!

PR You will recall me saying the Way of Peace is the Way of Love, right?

F: Yes, of course, but refresh my memory a bit..

PR Okay! Love is too often misunderstood. We have ignored for too long this simple but profound Way of Peace message: overcome evil with good, hatred with love and falsehood with truth. It was Jesus' message after all, passed down through the ages by other gifted teachers..

The Love of which He spoke is that which seeks the highest good of the other whether human or of other living things with no thought for itself. Love works. Nothing else will because we are all One. Separation is an illusion. This kind of Love was and is the inspiration, in spirit, motivation for this ride.

We are like waves on the ocean awaking to the realization that we are connected to an awesome vastness we cannot fully understand from a view point that is limited by our minds alone.

He understood all things are connected at a level beyond the physical. It is why he said "turn the other cheek," He knew what is given returns to the self because of our connectedness, violence for violence, love for Love's sake.

"Forgive them, they know not what they do." They did not understand and we do not understand completely yet, The Way to Peace, is through The Way of Love. This He demonstrated through an act of selfless sacrifice. It has rung loudly and repeatedly through the ages, a clarion call, pointing the way to peace on Earth and peace with the earth.

F: You had a Christmas story from the road?

PR: I checked into the Sandman Motel a few days ago in Blue River and posted a blog from the local library as you will recall?

F: Yes, I do.

PR: I had a tourist brochure with a map on it that showed the location of the library which said open from 6 until 8 PM. Fine! It wasn't far from the Motel. I had inquired. They had computers the public could use.. I had time to fix dinner and dry my wet things beforehand. There was no rush to leave, I thought. By the time I did, it was a few minutes before 6 and plenty dark. I put on my reflective vest for the first time, turned my rear flasher light on, set my front light to pulsate and away I went. My bicycle was lit up like a Christmas tree freed from its usual load.

When I arrived the posted sign on the library door said open from 4 to 7 PM. I had only an hour to write. Hmm, maybe not a bad thing I thought It would force me to be brief. Only the volunteer librarian was there when I arrived. Ev wanted to know what I was doing. We had a wonderful conversation. I told her where to look on the web for my blog. She did just that reading about my ride from the December posting in Valemount. In the meantime, Karsten came in to use one of the two computers and sat down. He overheard me telling Ev about my air mattress woes. He said he had an old foam mattress I could have and would go get it. I thanked him and said I could sure use it. I wasn't quite sure how but it couldn't hurt I thought. It did help as an underlayment.

Karsten returned with the foam mattress after using the computer I was on and left. Another woman that came in to use a second computer had also left but not before we had a lively conversation about forests and bark beetle infestations. How she knew so much I wasn't certain. It takes three weeks of 40 below to kill them and that wasn't happening now with the climate warming she said. The BC government was also not doing any controlled burns as they had done before to save money.

Ev was clearly moved by what she read and our conversation.. She took $25.00 from the library till as I got ready to leave, wrote an IOU for the money and handed it to me. Use it to pay for your expenses she said. She insisted, take it, please it makes me feel good to help, don't say any more I'll start crying.

I accepted. It would help me. I understood to accept was to honor a gift given selflessly.

What's your name I asked. "Ev," she said, "that's enough. I work at a local truck stop. It opens at 6 AM. Come over and I'll have a big breakfast for you."

That got me up early, I didn't have to fix anything. I could get an early start.

A conversation with the motel manager the night before while he was changing oil had persuaded me to leave my studded tires on. "They never get the forecast right, around here," he said. Sure enough, a 60 percent chance of snow flurries in the forecast turned into the real thing when I walked over to the truck stop for breakfast. It tapered off later but not before leaving the roads and shoulders slick and snow covered. Help from unexpected places in a time of need.

"What will you have," she asked after I sat down. A mound of pancakes, two eggs, bacon, hot chocolate and orange juice arrived in no time. Grease, energy for the road was what I needed. I was stuffed. A far cry and welcome change from the usual oatmeal and granola fare. She said "no, you don't owe me anything," when I got up to leave. "I'll pray for you," she said.

On my way out of town I stopped again at the truck stop where she worked. She saw me but didn't come out. I understood. I left a small candy cane from the motel on the window sill. Adieu!

The Way to Peace, the Way of Love, PR

On the road from Blue River, BC

Peace Rider: Hey Joe, only 25 minutes and counting on the Blue River screen

Friend (Joe): Don't be so darn verbose this time.

PR Want to hear a funny tale.

F Go!

PR 34 miles from Valemount and camp at Chappell turn out for "sleds."

Full moon over mountain after digging two feet of snow for tent. Coyote yapping at the moon. Beautiful! Very tired, normal, right?

F And?

PR Eat, no problem, a little heat from stove even though wood wet. Kindling from Bill Russell saved my bacon.

F Yes, yes let's hear what happened.

PR Finally get to blow up mattress, Then bang! What the??? Bang! Baffles between four tubes now fail. Spend night like a frog on a log perched on fat half. Sleep fitfully but sleep.

Universe has a sense of humor. Failure on coldest night of year but warm in bag.

F Where are you now?

PR Blue River Sandman Motel. Leave AM. Time up in cyberspace.

On the Road from Valemount, British Columbia 12/1/09

Peace Rider: Hey Joe you out there somewhere? Joe's my imaginary friend.

Friend (Joe): Yeah, I'm never far away. So you made it to Valemount in spite of the snow?

PR I did, but it was challenging. How about those young people and their teachers I spoke to in Jasper, aren't they amazing! Some of them have been to Kenya's Masai, Mara to help build a school.. One of those young students, Teresa, got on here bike along with my host Art Jackson and we rode a short way together as I headed out of town. I was especially moved to stand with them in front of a monument honoring Canadian war dead from WWI, WWII and the Korean War.

F Aren't you a veteran

PR I was an Air Force pilot during the Viet Nam war. You know being with them gave me hope that one day maybe there will be no reason to fight evil with more evil, killing each other over our differences.

F You're a dreamer!

PR Perhaps, but when I see young people doing good things I'm greatly encouraged. Overcoming our differences and working together we can create a different future and world. This is true power, power with that comes from unity and understanding not power over. That's what this ride is all about bringing people together to end the insanity.

F Weren't you standing on a street corner protesting against starting the Iraq war? Where did that get you?

PR Well, nowhere. Me and a lot of like minded souls stood in the cold, peacefully protesting and were ignored. The war began as you well know.

F What makes you think it will be different this time?

PR Because it is urgent we do so. Climate change affects all of us. We dare not continue down the same path of misunderstanding, doing our own thing, ignoring what's happening under our very noses. It's time to throw off our dysfunctional past and embrace Oneness. It's the only way we can heal and restore the planet while there's still time.

More people than ever before embrace this concept. If more come to realize we are One, violence becomes less likely. It comes with the understanding we are only harming ourselves individually and collectively. We see that in young soldiers coming home from the battle field, torn apart inside by killing others. At the soul level there is understanding that it's harm done to the self creating internal conflict.

F I don't get it.

PR At the spiritual level, the level of energetics we are all connected one to another. It's a part of our internal programming, to use computer lingo. Buddhists might call it our Buddha nature, Others the kingdom of God within, or inner light.

It's like we are waves on the ocean who have seen ourselves as separate from the ocean but are now awakening to a new understanding. looking deeper. We are a part of the ocean in all its vastness, our minds limited, not able to completely understand fully. Nothing created exists apart from it. That is Oneness. Separation is an illusion.

Native Americans have a good grasp of this seeing themselves as part of the natural world, not separate from it. It is why we need still wild places to reconnect people in cities with their roots in creation, for its value to the human spirit.

F Aren't we way off the subject of your bike ride?

PR Not really, a peace rider's message, mine at least, is the same as that of many spiritual teachers like Jesus of old or Peace Pilgrim in the modern era. The Way of Peace is the Way of love. My ride is modeled after what she did, walk for peace with a simple message, overcome evil with good, hatred with love and falsehood with truth.

Love is misunderstood. We have ignored it believing power over is greater than power with. That is changing, many now are waking up to a new perspective. We are one humanity, not separated from creation and least of all from the "ocean," that which is greater than self known by many names

F Okay, but how does that have anything to do with climate change.

PR Ever heard of tough Love?

F Isn't that what parents use all the time for the greater good of their children even though they may not appreciate it at the time?

PR Yeah, you know none of the great social changes have come without a struggle and resistance from those in positions of power. Mahatma Ghandi used peaceful civil disobedience to end British rule in India. Martin Luther KIng, in my country, used the same approach to end the era of segregation and discrimination in the South. It was a struggle and there was violence by those opposed to change. But it works.

F But why does it work?

PR Love understands we are all connected to one another and the "ocean" at the soul level. Violence only leads to more of the same. What you give to another comes back to the self. It is why only good and love can, in the end, overcome evil and hatred.

F I still don't get the connection with climate change.

PR To create a new earth it may take "tough love." Non-violent civil disobedience in word and action may be necessary when peaceful protests are ignored. This is always a last resort keeping in mind potential consequences.

It's already beginning to happen. If we are to peacefully end the fossil fuel burning era it is like-minded souls coming together that will make it happen. All thought is creative and a collective consciousness of many people wanting to create a new earth is very powerful.

It won't be political leaders that save us. It will be ordinary citizens coming together that will save some of our leaders from themselves. That's why I ride, to bring people together, to ride for a new earth, to end the insanity.

F You are a dreamer?

PR So be it but what is a dreamer but one who hopes for a better future. We can end the mess we've made but it's urgent we come together and act decisively very soon if we are to reverse current trends.

There are not decades remaining to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. We'll 'have to see if government words are matched by appropriate measures to reduce global emission of contaminates or if it's just business as usual.

F You haven't given up hope then.

PR No, there is a purpose behind what's happening now even if out of sight of mainstream media. There is always more going on than meets the eye when you look deeper.

F Can't you lighten up a bit. This is heavy stuff.

PR Let's do.

F The forecast called for snow while you were en route between Jasper and Valemount. How did that turn out?

PR I got hammered. I paid for two nights in the Park and just made it outside the entrance the day I left after a late start. The shoulders were clear and icy. Luckily, I had changed to studded tires after a light early morning snow in Jasper made the roads slick. Art had said It was mostly downhill from town and it was, which really helped.

By the time I got my tent set up it was dark. I was looking for dry wood under a three quarter moon. I had a heck of time finding any. I went out twice more looking for drier stuff before I had fire in my stove and heat.

The next day it began to snow lightly and was pretty good going on cleared shoulders. I filled my water jug from the headwaters of the Fraser River.

Over night six inches or snow of new snow fell on top of a foot and a half base and continued coming down. This was my first cold camp. I couldn't find any dry wood.

In the morning I boogied or tried with snow still falling. The shoulders weren't plowed clear yet. It was slow going on new snow. I couldn't go fast without risking a fall even if it was mostly down hill.

I called Beth and Bill Russell from the Terry Fox rest area, friends of people I met in Jasper. They graciously invited me to stay at their place where I'm at at this writing. Bill, "as it happened," saw me pull into the Shell station in Valemount. He led me to their cozy and welcoming home not far down the road.

On top of that they had thoughtfully built a warm fire in their garage so I could dry all my stuff.

Their Chatahoola Leopard dog, Trooper, greeted me. I loved his friendly and good natured disposition.

New friends, loads in common and many kindnesses were extended. I will miss them.

I arrived just ahead of a big dump of new snow in Valemount. I leave later today after several events this morning. The roads should be clear or clearing. All is now snow covered but the sun is out. A great day to be alive! PR