Click here for full story >>Tony Mangan Irish Times December 13, 2010

Friday 10th was my 19th straight day running, so I plan on a rest day Saturday and will update the blog then.

Amherst is just a few kms from New Brunswick, so I should be in Maine and the USA by the end of next week .

Tues 7 Dec. 51.7km Salt Springs.

Wed 8th 50.2km Debert

Thurs 9th. 55.6km Thomsons Station.

Fri. 10th 44.00km Amherst, Exit 3.

Sat. 11th Rest Day in Amherst, NOVA SCOTIA.

Sun. 12th Memramcook, NEW BRUNSWICK 39km

Monday 13th. 48.3km Salisbury.

Tues 14th. 55km  Sussex.

Wed. 15th.  37km.  Hampton.

Total for 43  Road Days = 1,907.2 km.

Rain, wind and cold was what I entered into my log book for Monday as I ran out of Antigonish on Monday morning.
It was a headwind, so much of my day was spent pushing Nirvana with my head down and on and on up those small hills out onto the busy Trans Canada Highway.
I am still running on the left side of the road, towards the traffic and in the hard shoulder. As I ran on I had to be alert as there were many wide vehicles carrying mobile home and such over-sized cargo. They often ventured into my hard shoulder. The wind was so strong my head was down for most of the morning.
I felt I was cycling again as I held and pushed the handlebars and looked down at the ground while watching my feet move in continuous unison. I can see the white stripe of the hard shoulder boundary under my right arm as I pushed on. I was not tired. I was in my own mental zone.. I was actually enjoying the discomfort, the challenge.

After 29km of this Mark, a merchant marine engineer pulled up in his pick-up. With a concerned parent look and tone said.
” I passed you on the road earlier and came back to see how you are”
” Thanks very much, I am fine. ”
” Are you hungry? When was the last time you ate? Would you like something to eat?”
” Breakfast time, I could do with a sandwich… You got one in the pick up? ”
Mark asked me back to his house for lunch. I found it hard to resist.
I told him I wanted to run the 2km to the junction where he turned off at Barney’s River. I would continue on from there later.
Mark’s wife, Rose had a delicious pasta dish for lunch followed by apple pie for desert.
They offered me a place for the night. I had only 31.5km covered today. My first instinct was: I could do with another 10! How about I go out on the road and run it and could you please pick me up later and bring me back in the morning! That’s stupid, I then thought..Call today a half day… I am not bound to a schedule…. Only 29th October 2013 at 7 Merrion Square North in Dublin…. At 2pm! That’s the nearest I got to a schedule..
I had a very nice afternoon chilling out.
Mark and Rose’s son, Keane came in from high-school classes.

Later for dinner we were joined by Jim an 80 year old Korean war veteran.
We heard some of his tales and jokes, a true character.

Jim. The Korean war vetern.

Then Mark talked about his time on the ships around interesting places like Greenland and remote islands in the arctic.
He also told me about the wildlife that he has seen in his back garden.
black bears, coyotes and a friendly moose that used to wander in from time to time.
” Did you not think of shooting it Mark? You wouldn’t have far to go to gut it out! ”

The wonderful family that the Tobin’s are packed me a lunch for the road.
A couple of hours up the road Ray a newspaper reporter from The News pulls up in his news van for an interview.

Ray from The News.

 I get my thermos and food and climb into his van just as it starts lashing rain.
It’s a good interview. He has done some impressive research in just a couple of hours since Keane phoned him.
Then Ray shoots some video and takes some snaps. The main photo shows a big white Cisco truck which appears to drown me as it sped through massive puddles. In fact it didn’t. It was just a very clever dramatic shot.

I made a couple of stops and found it hard to get any rythm for the rest of the day. Ended up running 2 hours in the dark. I light up well with a headlight and a flashing red led light in addition to my high-viz vest.
I came to a small town called Salt Springs and knocked at the first house for water. I asked him could I sleep in his garage. He said there was no room. Across the road I made the same request this time producing the Magic Letter. The woman that answered said she would… ” Have to ask the Boss. ”
Husband or boss, I wondered.
She returned to say the Boss says no.
About 5 minutes down the road I see a big dome shaped garage. There is a grinding noise coming from within.
Skidoos are parked outside. I bang on the door. Inside Rob and Billy are putting up new lighting. They are surprised to see me, in the least. They invite me in to warm up by the wood-burning stove before we discuss me spending the night on their floor. The are a couple of friendly lads and soon make me feel welcome. I tell them all I need is the floor as I have my own food. I sit down by the stove, eat some bananas, drink tea.
We discuss my trip. They finish wiring the lights.

Billy and Rob finiish putting up the new lights in my bedroom before they move me inside!

 
I say..
” No prizes for guessing which area of the garage I am going to sleep tonight?”
Billy sweeps an arc-shaped area around the furnace.
Then his 2 young children Maddison and Masson come in and say there is someone over in the house that wants to meet me.

Billy, Leanne, Madison and Masson Mc Cormack. My Salt Springs family.

 
I go over and meet Billy’s wife, Leanne. Uncle Tom and his wife Kerry have come over as they became curious of the world jog. I mention about the newspaper interview and Tom says he will bring the paper over in the morning before I leave.
We have a good laugh and Leanne says they have a fold down bed in their spare room.. More wonderful people in Nova Scotia, just like Newfoundland; the salt of the earth. How much I am enjoying this wonderful country and discovering it’s kind-natured people first hand.

In the morning Billy and Leanne went to work and left me to help myself to breakfast. I noticed my Magic Letter was gone! Every single item has its place and I noticed it missing when I went to pack my thermos away.

I remembered handing it to the woman in the second house who brought it in to show the Boss… Could I be so dumb enough to leave without it?

I think I can find the house but what if there is nobody home? I prepared a note with a forwarding address.

Tom and Kerry came over with the paper and never mind the report I couldn’t believe they brought over a giant sized bar of luxury Belgian chocolate and to prove they had been reading the blog overnight 4 bars of of my favourite Big Turk and treated me to a coffee also.

The report was accurate except for the bit where he seemed to get the impression I got a windfall when in fact I had received a small redundancy payment from my job when I lost it!

We went over to the lady’s house to see if she had my precious Magic Letter.

She said she gave it back to me. I had a desperate look around the yard.

Just then Kerry noticed a white object sticking down from behind the storage bag at the rear of Nirvana. I rushed over and yes it was the Magic Letter dangling close to dropping off and onto the road… How lucky was I?

I ran on towards the city of Truro.

Arriving in Truro. I ended up running through it after a mess up with arrangements.

 I had had a contact there but poor communications in so far as every time I called I just got an answering machine. So I just ran on a bit more.

On the way a local ultra runner called Glen came out to run with me for an hour. He said he was one of about 3 or 4 ultra runners in Nova Scotia. No invite so I kept running. He had to rush back to his job so I stopped at a service station for coffee and overpriced bananas. On the way in a fellow who was loitering so much that I thought he worked there said.

” I saw you running with my buddy… Did he say anything about  me? ”

I took an unusual first sight dislike and said.

” No who are you? ”

” I’m JJ, I cut down trees and I am the only one from around here that cycled across Canada! ”

” Were  people good to you JJ? ”

” Yes I stayed in many homes and when I had no place to stay I usually slept in the cars in junkyards. ”

” What about the dogs? ”

” Out front I mean ”

” Hey JJ there is no payphone here and I need to call a contact about a place tonight can you let me ring from your cellphone please? ”

” I don’t have one. ”

He comes back a couple of minutes later and says..

” I can let you have 2 minutes on my phone. ”

I call and get the answering machine again. I tell JJ the story. No offer and its getting dark.

I give him back his phone and say..

” Thanks I only used 30 seconds.. You sure people were good to you on your Canada cycle trip JJ  ”

” See ya buddy  I gotta cut down a tree..”

I ran on into the darkness and exited in Delbert. Headed for Tim Hortons. Got talking to a lot of the locals. It seemed to be senior citizens night. Nice the way they go to a coffee place to socialise and not to a bar as in other cultures. In fact I have not seen many bars on my trek west.

One of them went up to the counter and bought me a $20 gift card for the store. He had been giving me advice not to take the Trans Canada Highway tomorrow as there is a mountain pass which could be a bit stormy. The local advice was to take to old highway which was relatively flat and less travelled. It would also have more services.

It had started snowing outside so I decided to stay in tim Hortons for the night as it was a 24 hour. Around midnight I asked the attendant if i could crash out discreetly in my sleeping bag behind my table!

” No problem.. You work away..We probably wont have many here tonight. ”

I had a solid 6 hours sleep. I was awoken by the manager who presented me with a $10 gift card signed from the staff!

I had a huge breakfast, filled the thermos and hit the road.

The old highway was very picturesque. Old wooden houses with the delightful scent of wood burning stoves, snow filled-fields looking like one big Christmas card.

Within minutes problem number 1 was solved: I spotted a post office, the first I had come across in over 2 weeks on the serviced starved Trans Canada. So I bought a couple of cards and posted them.

Everywhere I go I seemed to be causing a stir! The two ladies in the post office wanted the website address to follow my progress!

So I continued on loving these roads. I promise I will travel more on the secondary roads.

An hour later a big white truck pulls up and out hops the driver. He says.

” I saw you on the road the other day and honked at you do you remember me?! ”

” Hundreds of vehicles honk at me everyday! ”

He gives me 5 satsumas.

” No I drove by as the  newspaper photographer snapped his picture! ”

” Shit! Was that you! You are the Cisco driver! Wait till my mom sees that photo of you splashing her little boy! ”

” And I only posted off that article an hour ago, pity we can’t have another look…” I added.

The Cisco Kid.

Around 4pm a local stopped me to ask me what I was up to. When I told him he offered me his mountain cabin, trouble was it was 15km out of my way.

” Thanks but no thanks! ”

Gotta travel more on these secondary roads.

It was 24km to Oxford. A bit further than I wanted but the terrain was now in my favour and I felt strong so I ran on as I didn’t know what else to do. I knew there was a Tim Hortons in Oxford. After 12km I came across a brand new only 2 weeks old Ultramar service station. This will do for today. The last 3 days were each over 50km run. I stopped and phoned my enthusiastic World Jog follower Alfred.

His enthusiasm is only rivalled by Katheryn Cochrane  and family from Pascedna, NF!

Alfred from Amherst – which is just over 40km away –  had offered to pick me up when I got about 40km of his house and he would commute me back the next day to run into Amherst.

So I had dinner and made arrangements with the kind lady in the service station to leave Nirvana there overnight.

Every time I go into a restaurant or cafe my instincts are seeking out two immediate facilities. 1 the heater and 2. The electric socket to power up  my electrics.

Within minutes my 4 place table is usually full of cables, maps and bags…Like a bomb has hit the place.. Of course good-natured banter is always had with the waitress who is kept interested by a drip feed of trip tidbits as she carefully places a glass of water between cables and gadgets.

I am staying in Amherst for my rest day with my friend Alfred, his wife Denise and Joanna.

TO BE CONTINUED.

Press  >  HERE

Video footage is compliments of the New Glasgow News.

Press >  HERE

Dec 1 at 23.45 Took ferry from Port aux Basques (Newfoundland island) to North Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Dec 2. at 07.00 Arrive North Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Dec 2. North Sydney to Big Hill (km marker 99.2) 40.5km

Dec. 3 Big Hill to Aberdeen (km marker 52) 47.2km

Dec 4. Aberdeen to Port Hastings (km 0 ) 52km.

Dec 5. Port Hastings to 7km east of Antigonish 45.6km

Dec  6. 7km East of Antiggonish.    31.5km

Total for 35 road days = 1,526.4km

Nova Scotia… New Scotland as they say.

I ran off the ferry from Newfoundland Island onto Nova Scotia soil ready for more Canadian adventures.

I had heard so much about how beautiful Cape Breton Island is. It’s about 1km to the east of the Nova Scotia mainland, connected by the Canso Causeway.

But first there was a minor scare as a bridge about a km long had a ‘ No Pedestrians ‘ sign. I want to run every land kilometer, so as there were no cops around I just ran over it as quickly as possible

There were spectacular views of the lakes as I climbed over Kelly’s mountain.

A 240 meter climb over 7km. And then the descent Climbs like this really break up the day for me. I actually enjoy them. A couple of people sent me emails getting the impression I don’t like hills. I guess perhaps this is because I mention them in the blog.. Well, I am just reporting what I am doing, and remember… I lived in Colorado!

This area is also steeped in Scottish Gaelic.

There were many beautiful hiking trails but as I am on a mission I won’t be taking any trails or making any excursions off my chosen route.

The first day I clocked in with a 40.5km which was a bit shorter than I wanted. I cut it short as I spotted a good place to camp.

I got a good 12 hours sleep, on and off and hit the road just after 8am.

I pushed on through a couple of Indian reservations, or First Native as they are called here.

Someone told me that the person responsible for sorting out the social problems of this area is on a million and a half dollars a year.

I ran through Wagmatcook and Whycocomagh. In one of these villages there were so many unfriendly dogs that I had my dog deterrent at the ready. Even the birds sounded angry.

I spent my second night in the Aberdeen Motel, in Aberdeen thanks once again to my Magic Letter I managed to negotiate a $20 room with a queen sized bed!

The owner is Beatrice from Switzerland.

Just after having my shower a First Native man came through my unlocked door supposedly mistaking my room for his own.

Next morning upon leaving I couldn’t get Nirvana out of the room as his GMC SUV was parked up on my path and outside my door blocking my exit!

I hammered on his window and after about 10 minutes the same man looking the worst for wear reappeared to verbally abuse Beatrice and me telling us to ‘ Just Shut Up! ‘ Nice..

It rained all day Saturday. Irish rain… We would be proud of it!  My first real rain since leaving the Emerald Isle. Still I ran 52km to Port Hastings getting there after dark. By now the rain was torrential. The Magic letter failed in 2 motels. Best I could get was 70 dollars a night plus taxes, only a miserable 10 dollar discount.

I didn’t know what to do. I decided to stay in the second one for dinner and just to change clothes and log onto their wi-fi and figure something out when the rain stops..Gotta be optimistic!

I was sitting up at the bar eating my steak and chips and keying away at my keyboard. A man called Phil was also sitting eating his dinner  at the bar and talking about road conditions to another customer. I had been altering my route through New Brunswick. In Ireland I had been considering a southern route through Saint George and Saint John’s but instead had opted for a northern route as it looked ‘ safer ‘ weather-wise. I had decided to wait till I got here and ask the locals. I have been assured by many that the southern route would be a better bet and would also save me a couple of days.

Phil confirmed this. He then got interested in my trip. He said he saw me a couple of times on the road and wondered what kind of a father would bring his child out in the rain for a run along the highway today!

He told me he works as a service engineer for a refrigeration company doing much of his work on hockey rinks. He has racked up many ‘ loyalty frequent stayer ‘ free nights in a series of hotels. He gave me one of those vouchers for tonight in this hotel….  It’s people like Phil that come to my rescue at my time of need that make the World Jog possible. It would not be possible withou these wonderful people… I owe you all so much.

Sometimes  I wonder if there is someone up there looking down on me.

Happy days… Thanks Phil!

Phil the engineer gave me a voucher for a nights stay in this nice motel.

Next day out on the road from Port Hastings to Antigonish the running was easy and very enjoyable. For much of it I had a tailwind. The road was very busy for a Sunday. I can’t believe I haven’t seen a cop in 4 days in Nova. Scotia!

I stopped for the day at 45.6km at a motel Phil recommended for Magic Letter treatment and sure enough I secured a $20 room. Back in business!The owner of The Coastal Inn, a Chinese woman called Jane was very friendly saying all Chinese motel owners are decent people.. I believe that as this is my second such dealing with them in two weeks. I have found them to be very susceptible to a haggle.

I went across the road to Mother Webb’s Steakhouse and got ripped off!

A $19 steak ended up costing $30 as they charged for gravy and onions which were not marked as extras. Then she didn’t give me the small change out of the 30, just handed me back 10 out of my 40!

I left a 2 dollar tip and also a comment in the comment box without getting as much as a thank you for the tip!

30 November St. Fintans to 10.7km north of Doyle Junction. 41km

1 December. 10.7km North of Doyle Junction to Port aux Basques 48.5km.

Total km for Newfoundland:Cape Spear to Port aux Basques = 932.0 km.

Rough update below..Am short of time, sorry!

Mike and Linda dropped me off at St. Fintans where I picked up Nirvana from the service station before setting off. I felt nice and fresh as Linda had done my laundry last night, thanks Linda
I made many stops this meant I was out on the road till just after dark.
I had hoped to reach Doyles Junction but fell a little over 10km short when Clem a local teacher came out to meet me. He will bring me back in the morning.

Clem from Doyles

He cooked a lovely pasta dish while giving me the lowdown on some of the local politics. I asked him about the (Newfoundland) Premier, Danny Wilson who is retiring this Friday after serving 7 years as Provincial leader. Wilson has a 90% popularity rating. Anyone that says anything against him is an outcast, so popular is the man.
” Did you ever hear anything like that before Tony? ”
” Only in a dictatorship! ” I said.
I then asked Clem.
” So where did he make his money? ”
” From cable tv, the media.
” So who is going to say anything against him?
” He has always made it clear he was going back to his old business when he served his term ”

Next morning I ran on towards Port aux Basques for my ferry to Nova Scotia. This will be my last day here. I felt a bit sad.
On the way I was almost blown off the road in an infamous area called the Wreckhouse. Strong winds blow through the mountainous valley and in the 18th century have been known to blow over freight trains!

Wreckhouse Canyon... To be blown out onto the road?

Thats where the name Wreckhouse came from as someone rang a particular house to check on the wind. DETAILS If it was blowing the trains were halted and if it was calm the trains proceeded.
In recent years the wind has taken out several trucks. Today the wind seemed to be downgraded to taking out bicycles, horses and world runners!
I was so concerned that I actually crossed the road and ran with the traffic to my back instead of running towards it. Reason being, I was afraid of being blown out onto the road. I reckoned I stood a better chance being blown into the Atlantic, well there was a bit of beach in between!

Or into the Atlantic?

This went on for almost 20km.
About 18km before Port aux Basques a woman called Jane drove up and got out of her car to give me a Tim Horton’s coffee and some sandwiches.
I need to get sponsored by Tim Horton’s for all this publicity!

Jane stopped me on the way to Port aux Basques with Tim Horton's coffee and sandwiches.She later joined me for the run in and arranged a steak dinner compliments of Hotel Port aux Basques Thank you!

Jane said she would join me on the road for my run into the city. I can’t believe I will arrive this afternoon. I remember seeing the sign for this place, just over 3 weeks ago back near St. Johns and it read something like 920km!

November 10th My second day and A long way to go in Newfoundland.

Port aux Basques...At last! December 1st.

On the Road

Arriving in Port aux Basques.

Jane told me she rang the local paper and a reporter was on the way out.
What transpired next is not for this blog! Suffice to say the reporter reached me on the road, then she had an incredibly embarrassing moment which made her report of my world run unimportant.. A second reporter was dispatched to rescue the embarrassed reporter.
Don’t worry, I told her you will be telling this incident at dinner parties for years to come once you get over your embarrassment!
Many incidents like this will be reserved for the World Jog book!
Jane had also arranged a steak dinner for me at Hotel Port aux Basques Many thanks Also a complimentary passage with cabin and a buffet breakfast compliments of the Marine Atlantic ferry company.

On November 9th I set out from the Atlantic Ocean in Cape Spear. Dec 1st I run into the Atlantic to complete the 932km run across Newfoundland.

Many thanks to Marine Atlantic for a complimentary passage from Newfoundland Island to Nova Scotia.They also gave me a cabin and a buffet breakfast.

Dec 1 at 23.45 Took ferry from Port aux Basques (Newfoundland island) to North Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Dec 2. at 07.00 Arrive North Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Dec 2. North Sydney to Big Hill (km marker 99.2) 40.5km

Dec. 3 Big Hill to Aberdeen (km marker 52) 47.2km

Dec 4. Aberdeen to Port Hastings (km 0 ) 52km.

Dec 5.   7km east of  Antigonish  45.6km

Total for 34 road days = 1,494.9km

November 28th. Finish location: St. Georges Junction. 45.1km today.

November 29th. Finish Location: St. Fintan’s. 41km today.

Total for 28 road days = 1,212.4km

Many thanks to Katheryn, Stewart and Bernie Cochrane for their unbelievable hospitality. I can honestly say they could not have done more. I spent 2 lovely nights in their Pascedena home and they drove a lot to and from my finish/start locations picking me up and dropping me off. Thank you so much

I got a very late start out on the highway. 11.30 start which put pressure on me for the day as I didn’t get finished till after dark.
Also made an error in only carrying 1.7 lt of water into this service devoid area. There was one long steep hill which took about an hour to get over.. It was cold and windy. Was a bit stressed about the water situation as one dehydrates more in cold weather. Some light snow flurries.
There was no real camping locations till near the end of the day as off the road it was fairly forestry and at a slope. Also had to be careful not to camp near the road as I don’t fancy a dumping from an early morning snow plough!
To be honest I really didn’t fancy camping at all because I had already gone through the .7 lt water bottle and just had the 1 lt thermos. That would go in no time with a cup of tea in the evening also in the morning and night sips. Then if I decided to mix oatmeal I would need a bit more.
What do they say in survival situations?
Rule 1. If you got little water…Don’t eat.
What I was really thinking about was the next day. People are giving me unreliable information as to where the next service station/ water area is.

So I pushed on running in the dark for one hour till I got to St. Georges Junction. Here the communities are off the highway. St. Georges is 4km off. I had a feeling there was a service station had I continued but I was not sure. I decided to run into St. George’s knowing that these km will not count.
It was a steep hill down. So steep I figure it would be a waste of the first hour in the morning, but it had to be done.
I stopped at the first house to ask to sleep in the garage.. No deal just got water and then asked for the mayors name and address. My head was buzzing a couple of different directions about what to do by now, still thinking about camping.

I continued to the foot of the hill and turned left. Went into a convenience store to ask for further directions to mayor Anderson’s house as suggested.
I mooched around trying to get an invite from a couple of people by asking where was a good sheltered place to camp. Sometimes I almost feel I am prostituting myself.. But hey, how do you run around the world on a low budget without hustling!

The lady inside was giving me vague directions then as one would imagine luck prevailed when the mail delivery woman came in for a purchase. She didn’t seem too friendly after I explained my mission.
So I went in the general direction of the mayor’s house until I noticed the fire hall with a couple of fire engines outside. I wheeled Nirvana inside to the surprise of a few of the fire fighters.
It looked to me like they were volunteers.
I flashed the Magic Letter and asked could I sleep there! One of the lads, a man called Jerome Bennett came out of the office saying that due to government regulations that wasn’t possible, however I was welcome to stay in his seaside fishing cabin for the night!

We lifted Nirvana into the shortly to be decommissioned former ambulance, now a fireman transportation vehicle and headed for his cabin about 2km away.

Once inside the small cabin Jerome lit two oil lamps. There was a sofa for me to sleep on. He offered to light the wood burning stove. I told him not to bother as I was going straight asleep. I looked around. There were pictures of fishing vessels, fishing nets on the walls of the dimly lit homemade cabin. It was now 8.30pm. I rolled my sleeping bag out on the sofa and settled down to sleep.
I was thirsty all night. I woke up about six times to sip on the two liter bottle of lemon drink I purchased from the convenience store. It was sweet and felt salty. I hate buying water and that’s why I chose the soda. Felt that was value. But in future may have to reconsider this rule for the more practical one.

Inside Jerome's fishing cabin.

Got up at 8am, later than I planned. I was wrapping up my gear when Jerome came over to ask me to his house for some breakfast.
It transpired that Jerome worked with Mike Keating from Gander ( mentioned so much last week as he took great care of me in his home and on the road ) for the very same power company.
He told me his family name Bennett is a derivative of a French name. His ancestors came here in the 18th century. They were of French descent. French people were forced out of the area by the British but his folks managed to escape and hide out as many other French did to eventually settle in and create their own French communities. Port aux Basques being one obvious example.

Not wanting to have the experiences of yesterday I was well stocked up with water and also filled the 2 liter empty soda bottle with water.
Jerome hitched up his trailer and we returned to the cabin to pick up Nirvana to transport me back to last nights finishing location of the junction out on Trans Canada Highway 1.

I only got 3 km before coming to the Ultramar service station I was unsure about last night. Even though I was soon after breakfast it’s still hard to pass these beacons of refuge being so rare on the highway.
Went in and had a French Vanilla coffee and some chocolate. Two very friendly ladies were scrubbing the floor of the restaurant.. I turned on a bit of charm.. Mentioned about the World Jog.. They thought I was a cyclist! Then were impressed I was running. Then I hit them with the smack..

” Do you give complimentary cappuccino refills to around the world runners?? ”
” Ha Ha! Help yourself! ”

About an hour later on down the road Mike Greene and his wife Linda pull up in their car. They get out and walk across the road. Mike is holding out a Tim Horton’s coffee!

Here you are Tony. I read on the forum and checked out your blog.. I know you like coffee!

So we chat on for a while and Mike and Linda ask me to stay in their place tonight.

I stayed at Mike and Linda Greene's house at Stephensville Crossing.They took great care of me.

Its in Stephensville Crossing about a 45 minute drive back past the way I came. They offer to pick me up at 4.30 on the road. What about the buggy?
Mike has given me an update on the road. He knows the area very well. There is a service station about 28km away at Saint Fintan’s junction. I suggest I leave it there for the night and return for it in the morning.
He drives ahead to get permission.
When they returns I offload much of my baggage and pour out the 2 liters of water = 2 kilos to me.

The sun is out now. The wind is minimal. I am wearing two pairs of gloves these last two days instead of my usual three.
Sometimes I even take off my hat…Getting bold!

There were some glorious down hills lasting a couple of kilometers. Then the uphill but they were not so bad. Every time I drink some water I seem to pee it out within a couple of minutes.
The pressure is off for tonight. I enjoy the run in the afternoon and am ahead of my 4.30 schedule to meet Mike. So I ease down a lot as I have to think of recovery and tomorrow. I run nice and easy for the last hour. There is much construction on the road. They seem to be widening it in places and working on a bridge.
There is not much traffic. I am running on the left side of the road towards the traffic. I can see far down the road so can run on the road moving back towards the hard shoulder for approaching vehicles. Sometimes it’s not necessary as the vehicle moves out to the overtaking lane. I usually wave when they show this courtesy.

Then Mike passes me on the road 20 minutes early. I pull into the service station five minutes early.
We bring Nirvana into through the door. The attendant says we can put her behind her counter.
” But you don’t have much room! ” I said after realizing this would take up half the space.
” Don’t matter! I can work around it! ”
Instead I push my faithful into the passageway of the adjoining restaurant and lodged it in beside a freezer.
Mike went to get me a coffee as I unpacked a few items for the night. The lovely attendant said the coffee was on the house.. Thanks!

Just as we were going Jerome’s cousin, Alphonsis comes in and offers to put me up for the night. Alphonsis lives just 10km away so I guess Jerome phoned. I have already committed to Mike and am so sorry for Alphonsis making such an effort… It’s great there are so many wonderful people in the world.. I am amazed by the hospitalitity afforded me here in Newfoundland.

On the way back to Stephensville Crossing Mike is telling me all about his running passions and how he trained hard running everyday for 90 minutes no matter what the weather was, even -20! He has a 2.31 personal best for the marathon.
Now unfortunately his running career has been curtailed by injury.
” I been in sport all my life Tony. I was a gym teacher when I retired.”

He has a great understanding of running injuries and the bodies metabolic workings.
We arrive at Mike and Linda’s house. Linda has a lovely roast beef dinner. Mike talks about art his other passion.. He is self-taught. Later I see his works. He has painted copies of several of Vermeer’s works to a very high standard.

Mike Green the Vemeer painter

Over a lovely roast beef dinner Mike and Linda tell me about how the British defeated the French in the 1713 battle in Europe. How that spilt over from Europe to Newfoundland. He says the Brits more or less just tolerated the French allowing them just to fish and that’s how they set up in Port aux Basques.

Mike has a contact in a town called Doyle’s about 50km away.. Doyle is ideally placed for me as it’s halfway to the Port. It turns out his contact from his school teaching days would be delighted to host me but will be out of town tomorrow. She makes a call to her friend, another teacher called Crem Reid. Crem says he has a place for me for tomorrow night.
So we call Crem and I arrange to call him when I reach Doyle.

These short daylight days don’t help me as I always need an early start. I don’t always get them. People understandably ask me for time of arrival, as one can imagine I can’t always be sure.

Newfoundland is just one of the most incredible places I have ever been to.

Nov 26th Deer Lake To Humber Village 36km

Nov 27th Humber Village  To 10km South Of George’s Lake  50.4km

Total For 26 Road Days = 1,126.3km

Both Nights Commuted Back To Pasadena As I Am The Guest Of  The Cochrane Family. I Commute Back To Finish Location To Continue.

Had a comfortable night in the truckers lounge last night. No truckers showed up. I guess they slept in their cabs. Was messing around on the computer till about 3am and then decided to take a chance on the ‘ do not sleep sign ‘ So I just rolled up on the coach and had  about 4 hours sleep.

I made my own breakfast this morning. I love the instant oatmeal they have here. Maple syrup, cinnamon etc, just add boiling water. We don’t have the instant type in Ireland, just microwaveable oatmeal. I would never order it in a restaurant as you just get one sparrow  portion size. This morning I put 4 sachets in my bowl along with banana. Hey its cheaper when you are in a truck stop convenience store.

Out on the road it was pretty windy. A little cold but nice.

My destination tonight is Pasadena only 23 km away. Too short really and I don’t really want to start running half days. I like to get in around a marathon for a day. I have run a few days in the 30′s when that’s were the services were. Have never been presented with a low 20′s till today.

I am staying with the Cochrane family. Stewart, his wife Bernie and their daughter Katheryn. When I met Stewart on the road yesterday I mentioned this  and asked that if I ran on for a few more km after Pascedena would he pick me up on the road and return me the next day. 

” No problem Tony, anything you need just tell us! ”

At the bottom of  a long steep hill 4 tree surgeons were having their morning break in their pickup on the hard shoulder. A boisterous one asked me where I was going. Mischievously I said, ” Dublin ”

Then he asked.. ” Where have you come from ? ”

So I said… ” Dublin…. But the long way… Around the world ”

” Have you nothing better to do? ” He asked.

I pushed on up the hill. Halfway up I saw another pickup from the same company with what looked like the lads foreman. For a joke I was tempted to say to the foreman..

” Have your lads nothing better to do than drink coffee and eat sandwiches! ”

But I didn’t.

Just over the top of that hill a Mountie cop came along. I was running in the hard shoulder on the left facing the oncoming traffic. The Mountie pulled up about 20 meters ahead of me on the right.

I thought to myself, here we go again someone is after phoning them to say I was running on the highway with a baby!

I  straightened up, untangled the Irish tricolour flag from the handlebars and got my best running style going. I didn’t look over at the Mountie but out of the corner of my eye I noticed that as soon as I got dead level with him on the opposite side of the road that he just made a 180 uturn and drove off.

A few km later I saw a sign for Subway restaurant on exit 12 to Pascedena. Subway is my favourite fast food restaurant. Thinking it was just off the highway I exited and ran about another 3 km there and back to the highway. I was a bit annoyed with myself as this extra distance doesn’t count and because of this I didn’t reach my planned stop of Steady Brook before Stewart came to pick me up in his car. I marked and photographed the finishing spot for a convenient and easy to find location for tomorrow.

On the way back to Pasadena, Stewart told me he was born in Scotland and his family moved to Newfoundland when he was 8 years old. He works as a geologist here. 

His young daughter Katheryn had answered my appeal on the Running Room forum looking for contacts here in Newfoundland.  She has been incredibly enthusiastic and helpful and has even arranged for her running club Corner Brook  AC to run with me for a while tomorrow

I am delighted about this as it will be a first for the World Jog. I was supposed to have groups run with me on other occasions but for one reason or another it never materialised.
Corner Brook is only a few kilometers away and is Newfoundland’s second city ( after St. John’s ) with a population of 35,000.

Back in the Cochrane house Stewart is giving me a hard time about the stench from my clothes… It’s a week since they were washed! I am not sure if he is teasing me or being honest!

We have a delicious dinner of a lovely big juicy steak  mash, veg and some of Katheryn’s delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies.  Stewart tells me about a problem Newfoundland and Labrador are having with Quebec over a major power plant called Churchill Falls.

A few people have said this to me that it seems like Newfoundland and Labrador have been screwed by Quebec which supplied the cash and built the eco-friendly wind-powered electricity generating plant which is so huge that it provides power to the whole east coast of  North America and is New York’s main source of power. Quebec takes 95% of the profits for doing nothing now. Ok they did initially put up the money but the feeling here is that re-negotiation is long overdue.

It has just been announced that Newfoundland and Labrador are fighting back by building their own 6 billion dollar plant in Muscat. They will not take any business from Churchill Falls as apparently there is enough business for both of them.

I  ran the 6 km from my previous nights finishing point to meet the runners of  Corner Brook AC. I had a half loaded Nirvana, it was a joy to run so lightly.

I met about 8 members of Katheryn’s club in the parking lot of Tim Horton’s.

A lovely bunch of runners who  donated 65 dollars to the World Jog charity, AWARE.

We ran together for about 12k. The lads  were eager to push the buggy and I had no objections! The pace was a bit nifty but I just hung in there.

It started to drizzle rain. Later on I heard it was snowing in Ireland. I have just been managing to stay ahead of it here.

When it was time for the runners to depart one of them called Andrew had a strange request. He got me to autograph his Ipod with an indelible black marker he had brought!

Then I realized I forgot my water bottle but was saved by having my 1 lt thermos. So I made some tea  and tucked into the huge lunchpack that Bernie had prepared.

There was some beautiful scenery but absolutely no services in the further 32km I ran bringing my total for today to 50.4km.

Katheryn finished work in her running shoe job for Arthur James Clothing at 4pm and came out to pick me up. She reckoned I could get a discount on some running shoes. Problem was that by the time we would get there they would be closed.

So Katheryn phoned them and fair play to the two young lads there they stayed open an extra half hour to accommodate me. I bought two pairs at about 30% off. I don’t want to name shoe manafacturer as I have had no success in finding a shoe sponsor yet.

Back in the house I did a one hour telephone interview with a journalist for the Irish Times. He said it will be a big piece for the Saturday or Monday sports supplement around Christmas time.

Speaking of Christmas I expect to be somewhere in Maine, USA for the day. Unless I get an invite it will be a normal running day for me.

The World Jog is going to plan, I don’tlike the word schedule as it sounds too restrictive. My plan was always for about 1,100- 1,150km per month. Because my target finish date is 29th October I am counting each month to finish on the 29th and start on the 30th. I started on 25th but as I did not count the Dublin marathon and then I lost 5 days transit from my finishing point in Ireland to my starting point in North America. So, I am taking the liberty of adding the 4 extra  days to this first month of the run.

I always reckoned I would hit Nova Scotia in the beginning of December. I had the 2nd in my mind. It looks like I will be taking the ferry there on Wednesday night.

I met members of Corner Brook AC outside Tim Horton's

A nice change to run free without pushing!

24th and 25th November 2010.  Baie Verte Junction to Deer Lake.

Yesterday: 51.9km.   Today: 43.4km. 

Total for 24 road days = 1,039.9km.

Got a little fright when leaving the Junction Inn this morning. I was locked in as the building didn’t seem to open till 10am. So I filled up my 2 litre Pepsi bottle from the bathroom sink… I don’t know about drinking this water but don’t they say drink dodgy water first and worry about illness later!

I carry iodine tablets anyway so it would have been only a minor inconvenience for my 50 odd kilometer run today.  I managed to get out a back door after pushing a thank you note and the room key under the lounge door.

Didn’t get far, 400 meters to be exact before I found a place that was open for brekkie. Didn’t fancy a long run on an empty stomach.

This restaurant seemed to have a fascination with icebergs. All kinds of trivia on the menu card.

 An iceberg found in Newfoundland was 6km wide, 13km long and 20 meters high and weighing several billion tons. It would have been able to provide a liter of fresh water for everyone in the world for every day for 4 years! Another one that drifted in from Greenland travels at an amazing rate of 7km per year and that’s considered fast! This one could provided 250 tons of water for everyone in the world and weighed in at 1.7 trillion tonnes!

I  eventually got going. It was very cold, drizzly rain. I got to the top of Mt. Sykes and made a mistake of stopping for a cup of pot noodles with the water out of my thermos  that  I got from the iceberg place. They wern’t worth the bother and as I was at the top of the pass I got colder again!

It was a major battle trying to get my hands warm again, slapping them against my body. Slapping  one hand at a time as I held the handlebars with the other hand. It was like this for almost two hours. Then I spotted two moose hunters parked on my hard shoulder on the way down the mountain. They waved me to a halt. I was making warming up gestures and was just about to ask to get into their pickup for a warm up when one of them said they needed to get moving after the moose and yet they both wanted to be ‘ entertained ‘ by my travels… Sorry lads… The show is over.. I told them I better keep moving before I get colder. Down the  mountain it warmed up a lot.

Hunting season is always in the wintertime as the animals come down from the snow covered and cold mountains for grazing and warmth. Newfoundland has a huge problem with the moose running onto the roads. There were 660 moose and vehicle collisions last year. Many of the small motels I have stayed in are not very busy this time of year but get some business from people that don’t want to risk driving at night for fear of collission.

I ran into Hampden Junction, 51.9 for the day.

The local restaurant hadn’t even got an electricity supply, let alone an internet connection or an ATM which I badly needed as everything was run on a generator.

This time my ‘ high profile ‘ arrival barely raised an eyebrow, not even a question – I wondered had they been reading recent postings!

I camped in the local park under some steps for a local tourist attraction. I just pulled out my tarp and sleeping bag. It was so cosy that I had to take off my shoes, gloves and hat during the night.

The tarp was great.. No messing with pegs, poles, catches, fly sheet and all the usual mess that is created by unpacking bags when a tent is put up. I was on the road in 10 minutes.

The big news today was 1,000km were clocked up after 3.5km. I took a couple of photos of myself!

The First 1,000km Run

It was nice and mild today or comfortably chilly as I like to call it. The running was easy for the first 30km – nice and flat, easy climbs and nice downhills.

This part of Newfoundland, the westcoast, as they call it doesn’t seem to be as populated as the eastern part I just came through. I miss all my chats with the locals as I am not meeting many now as towns are further apart with little in between.

I keep forgetting to tell you that because Newfoundland has no southern road it has added about a week and a half to my time here as I had to go north and am now heading south to get to Port aux Basques ferry port to Nova Scotia.

On the Road at about 24km I met Katheryn’s father Stewart who has obviously been reading this blog as he brought me 2 Big Turk ( extra large bars) and shared his coffee with me   We had a chat for about 20 minutes. He had to go to central Newfoundland on business and knew he would meet me on the road.

Thanks very much Stewart!

Stewart Cochrane delivers 2 Big Turk Extra Large Chocolate Bars And Coffee To Me On The Road!

Katheryn sent me an invite to stay with her family before I left Ireland. She has been one of the World Jog’s most enthusiastic followers since she read about it on the Canadian Running Room forum.

Katheryn I ca’nt seem to get through to your number. No worries I told your dad my plan for tomorrow. See you all sometime late afternoon/early evening.

The Big Turk and sweetened coffee gave me renewed energy as I was zipping along at 11-12kmph. Through some beautiful countryside. Most of the snow had gone from the fields but some of the small roadside streams were frozen over.

Beautiful Countryside

Then I had a big energy dip about 5km before reaching Deer Lake. I think I should start carrying some bananas on the road.

I went into the truck stop and stuffed myself silly with muffins and ice cream before having a couple of pots of tea. Told the waitress I wasn’t hungry enough for dinner and spent about 3 hours on their wi fi. Then out of embarrassment I ordered the local Newfoundland dish,  cabbage, corned beef, carrots and a nutty potato type dish of sorts.

Mangan never leaves anything on his plate but after an hour of swishing around salty corned beef in my mouth I gave up and surrendered.

Went across the road to a swanky hotel, think it’s called The Deer Lake Hotel.

Went in the door after placing Nirvana in full view of the window. Inside I was told they were closed!

” Closed but it’s not even 8pm! ”

” No sir this is the restaurant, the hotel is the other side of the foyer. ”

Had a glance over across the foyer. A hot chick was on the hotel reception. Went outside. Re-positioned Nirvana outside her window. Came back in. Flashed Magic Letter to hot chick. Big smile, lots of confusion. Manager is called out and tells me senior management would have to approve a complimentary night even though I have offered a story to their local paper interviewed in their hotel. Nothing can be done as senior management went home while I was swishing my mouth on blueberry muffins and corned beef across the road at the truck stop.

Hot Chick tells me a likely hotel is about a couple of minutes away. I question hot chick carefully and it turns out thats driving into center of town, about 5km away.

Yes, I am wondering if my Magic Letter or my own skills are having a dip in form.

I retire back across the road to truckstop to type this blog in the truckers lounge which I have gatecrashed. A sign says no sleeping. I turn up the heating. I intend to go in a have a shower . There is nobody in the truckers tv lounge but one keeps looking in the door every few minutes. Think he has a problem figuring out my logos, running tights  outside compression shorts and charging gps watch. I expect to get kicked out any minute now.

November/23/2010. South Brook to Baie Verte Junction.

Total today 34.3 km Total for 22 road days = 944.6km

On the way into Eddy’s for breakfast this morning a sweet elderly lady donated 5 dollars to the charity.. She was at pains to get her name right. She told me a couple of times but unfortunately I can’t remember as I didn’t have my book handy to write it down. Sorry lady but thanks for the donation to Aware.

The waitress greeted me with a big pot of steaming coffee.

” Coffee sir? ”

” Of course, I can’t operate without it in the morning. ”

” I can save you a journey too because if you got any of those hungry man or hungry trucker breakfasts or anything that resembles hungry or big well that’s what I want! ”

I always believe in having a big breakfast as one never knows what will happen on the road, so it’s nice to get off to a good powerful start!

On the way out a man behind the gift store counter is shaking his head and asking me am I mad.

I say. ” Morning, You must be Wallace? Thanks very much for your very kind offer of the room for the night.I slept really well and had a lovely hot bath ”

It has snowed overnight and he tells me they don’t even want to go outside to tend to the gas pumps.

I say. ” Well, I guess there are people with bigger problems than me, I’m only cold. ”

Then I add.. ” They say it has to warm up to snow? So I am sure it will be a better day than yesterday… ”

Gotta keep working on the ceann.

I push on. It’s not too bad as the snow is not sticking. The roads are fairly busy and clear. The snow plow has been out. The hard shoulder is slushy. I put on my Ipod. I listen to Jerry Fish and then to Whitesnake. I’m in Heaven as it’s only cold for the first half hour.

Today is a short day, just 34km. A little shorter than I wanted but tomorrow looks like a 55er, just like yesterdays 50 odd nothing likely to be in between, just a scattering of empty holiday homes.

Sometimes the shorter days are the more tiring for me. I don’t understand why.

By now I am well conditioned to running a marathon or more every day. I don’t even feel tired or think about stiffness at the start of each day. I bounce out to the road.

As I mentioned before, pushing a buggy is about a 20-25% extra effort  workload. Usually after 30km I am working hard mentally. The head goes down. It can be a mental grind.

Today I played games trying to estimate the amount of land covered by snow as opposed uncovered in the fields. I reckon 65% snow.

Earlier, after 13km I stopped for an English toffee cappuccino and a bar of chocolate in an Esso Station.  I discovered the candy was a Turkish Delight, my favourite. I had just picked it by the colour of the wrapper, now I will seek out Big Turk every day.

12km on I  am sitting on a guardrail is it called a crash barrier? This is by now my most frequent roadside location for a hot drink from my thermos.

Then there is a massive hill. At it’s steepest I clock my slowest speed so far of the journey,  3.9kmph going up the long drag.

The day is nearly done, just a little more than an hour.  I got to pee about 3 more times before the finish. Gotta give up the coffee. I don’t really care now, just pee on the spot when there is a break in traffic. Biggest problem is taking off my 3 pairs of gloves.

Don’t know why I am so mentally jaded early today.

It feels like I am in competition again. Feel like I am in the second night of a 48 hour race. Eyes closed, just running, open eyes again a few seconds later.

I start using my mantras. Then I add the song to the mantras that was so successful in competition… I sing it aloud, I feel better. I see a sign for The Junction Inn 5km away. I check the distance on my gps wristwatch. That should be 33.7km

I count down the kilometers. It’s easier now. I push Nirvana on ahead and get about 15 meters a time. I have a hand strap wrapped around my left wrist so I don’t lose control. So I keep pushing and prodding her forward on and on.

I arrive at The Junction Inn. The bastards built it 600 meters further than they said.

Many Thanks To The Junction Inn.

The sign on the door says they got wi-fi so I pull out my netbook computer, logbook bag and instinct tells me the Magic Letter

I go inside and talk to Brent the owner. I tell him it’s too early for me to eat so I just want a cup of tea and a Big Turk. So we chat about my route and the usual questions as I power up the netbook. He asks where I am going to sleep. I truthfully have already spotted a couple of nice places. I never lost that instinct from my world cycle 30 years ago. Just down the road was a park with some open day shelters. Also as I sat in the restaurant I pointed out of the window to a white building that seemed to have nice cover.

I tell him I got a good sleeping bag, a tent and sometimes I don’t even bother with the tent as I got a lightweight tarp.

So I send off a couple of emails. A lad called Matt from Truro, Nova Scotia gives me an invite, I will be there in a couple of weeks.

Brent goes off. A woman called Val and an older lady come in.

The same questions… The same answers.

I am just about to post last nights update on this site.

Val can’t believe I want to camp either. I think she is one of the owners when she says she will give me a good rate. I ask how good. She says it’s normally 100 dollars but she will give it to me for 40. 

I say with tax that will be 50. She says, no 40 including tax.

I say it’s still too expensive for my budget that I will camp tonight.

Val says: ” You will come back to me later tonight when it rains! ”

Then I say… ” You think it’s going to rain? Funny Wallace said that to me this morning. ”

” Who is Wallace? ”

” The owner of Eddy’s restaurant and motel… They gave me a complimentary room last night…. I am just about to put a nice piece up on the blog at the moment…Am having trouble downloading pictures as it’s a bit slow….”

I point at my netbook.

 I had the Magic Letter face down on the table. It’s laminate, the blank back side made it look like a place mat. I think I could have easily gone off without it.

Quick as a flash I followed up my comment by flashing the letter. Both ladies read it with keen interest.

Then Val said… ” We will provide you with a free room for tonight but the satellite system does not  work! You will get what you see on this television.”

” Thanks very much Val! Don’t worry about the television as I only watch the news and weather on Newfoundlands NTV. ”

” We would be delighted to have you Tony.

”  We will put you in room number 10.

”Let me go up and turn on the heating for you! ”

Amazing people!

So I went to my room and the television was already tuned to NTV. The weather was on. It showed snow storms all over Canada, saying some journeys were impossible. I saw Gander which I passed through just last week was having a bad time. Many flights to the international airport were cancelled.

It also said today in Calgary was the coldest place on the planet after the South Pole!

 Thanks Val and Brent And The Junction Inn  :)
A run around the world would not be possible without the good decent people like I have met in Newfoundland.

 Their website: www.junctioninn.ca

REASON WHY TONY IS RUNNING THE WORLD JOG PRESS HERE