My father and I are bicycling across Canada this summer. We hope to raise some money and awareness for Amnesty International (AI).
AI is a worldwide movement dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights. AI takes action to stop grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination. We campaign to free prisoners of conscience, protect refugees, abolish the death penalty, and end political killings, "disappearances" and torture. AI seeks to expose human rights abuses accurately and quickly. We systematically and independently research the facts of individual cases and pattens of human rights abuses. These findings are publicized, and members, supporters and staff then mobilize persistent public pressure on governments, armed political groups, companies and others to prevent and stop these violations.
An ancient Japanese legend states that anyone who folds 1,000 origami cranes will be granted a wish. This legend was popularized by Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who contracted leukemia as a direct result from the atomic bombing at Hiroshima. She died after folding 600 cranes. Today, tens of millions of cranes are folded in that country and others every year. These symbols have come to represent hope for a better world. I have folded 1,000 cranes and we will give these out in exchange for donations.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Saskatchewan. Hard to spell, Easy to draw


Ahhh.. the sweet smell of Saskatchewan. Four days of biking out of Winnipeg brought us to the Manitoba/Sask border. In that small amount of time we got lots to write about, first we stayed with Rob & Doris in Arden who we had met in Whitemouth, who made sure we were well pampered. Goose sausages for breakfast..... mmmmm. We also had two newspaper interviews, one in Neepawa and one in Shoal Lake, thanks to Ken Wadell and Darrell Nesbitt for those. Our most significant moment was walking up our first hill in the prairies. No way. Yes way! A hill. Another eventful four days of biking brought us to Saskatoon. Not so many good events though. A broken spoke and a flat tire on our way to Yorkton, about 5kms from the city, luckily it was repaired quickly the next morning. And now this morning when we woke up and got ready to head to a bike shop for a new chain for Bob's bike, we found out that the disc brake on my bike had a large bend in it. After scratching our heads for a moment we realized that the culprit was in our tent after we had picked it up last evening, a softball had come over the fence of the ballfield we were camped by and had hit the disc dead on. A true accident, which made us decide that we should lock the bikes somewhere different tonight. So now after an eventful morning we soon get to check out Saskatoon, and perhaps relax with a bison burger this evening.
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5 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 4, 2009 at 10:36 PM

    So glad to hear from you guys..I thought maybe you had been scooped up by one of the fair ladies of the west and decided to become cowboys or better yet settle in and run Corner Gas... .. Westward ho The best is yet to come...cheryl

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  2. AnonymousAugust 5, 2009 at 10:39 PM

    Got your message boys.... enjoy your buffalo burger,, it1s plain old hotdogs when you get home ... planning a party will be fun....cg

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  3. AnonymousAugust 6, 2009 at 4:53 PM

    This is the first time I have had a opportunity to check on you guys.............and it sounds so amazing! Wishing you well and enjoy the protein! Hope buffalo is not to tough. Bob we will cross paths although I will be flying over you, leaving for Vancouver on Aug 22. we will be there until Sept 6th. When will you be getting there? Wouldn't it be neat to touch base there? All the best to you and Tucker. Till next time, Pam kydd

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  4. AnonymousAugust 7, 2009 at 10:17 PM

    Hey guys, we keep checking in on your progress and comedic descriptions of you good and bad times. Sorry you are having some break downs but glad you are doing great.
    Still missed,
    Maxine, Sullee, Blake, Tigger, Pooh Bear and TobyXOXO

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  5. TayfoAugust 14, 2009 at 2:09 PM

    well that sounds like just about the best luck with the bikes thus far, eh?
    i suppose this means.. you ought to just walk. come on, just two more provinces, you can walk that, can't you?? :P haha

    i'm excited for you for when you finally see that other ocean. good luck, guys. : )

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