Day 19

Monday, July 12
Drumheller to Youngstown
140km

Sorrow came in waves at the campsite yesterday, as group after group returned to camp and heard the news.  The last group, who had been to the Calgary Stampede, got in around 10pm.  By this point, I had finished being sad, and became a shoulder to cry on.  There were lots of hugs for girls and back-slaps for guys.

I think that Roger and Roselyn were particularly bothered by Colin's dealth.  Roger was only a kilometer behind Colin, and arrived at the scene of the accident before the helicopter.  He tried to comfort Colin as he lay lifeless on the trunk of the car.  That's a tough thing to see.  Roselyn spent yesterday with he brother, who lives in Calgary.  They went to the hospital to visit Colin, and couldn't find him anywhere.  Even though she didn't see him, the act of searching a hospital in vain made the whole thing real for her.

It doesn't seem real for Paul or I.  Colin might just as well have broken his foot and dropped out of the tour.

We had a short group meeting last night to air some of the questions, concerns, and comments or the group.  A bunch of the girls cried.  A bunch of the men gave “we're all in this together” speeches with frogs in their throats.  Then we went to bed.

It rained last night.  Poured with rain.  Waves of rain.  Pounding sheets.  I didn't sleep well.

Things always seem less intense in the morning.  The rain had stopped.  The sun was out.  The morning routine took place as if nothing was different.  32 cyclists left camp, and Tour du Canada 2004 continued.

It was a great day for cycling.  Warm, but not hot.  Sunny.  Strong tailwind most of the way.  We averaged 30km/h, and completed the 140km in about 5 hours and 15 minutes.

The road was very flat, and we could see fields stretched our for miles and miles.  Most seemed like luggeed, unfarmed land with a mixture of tall grasses and other plants.

Youngstown is a special stop on the tour.  This little town of 170 residents puts on a free potluck dinner for the TDC each year.  It was fantastic.  A real demonstration of human kindness.  There was food everywhere.

They had also set-up a TV with taped highlights of the Tour du France, and a local bike shop mechanic set up shop for repairs.  Ten dollars got your bike anything it needed.  We showered in the local elementary school...where the shower nozzels were about waist high.  The area prient even said a few words about dealong with grief.  It was all very charming, and will certainly be remembered as a highlight of the tour.
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Daniel Longo
CIBC Corporate Development
(416) 956-3831