June 29: Nelson Event

Nelson Launch Evening at Lakeside Park!
4:00-6:00 pm: Family-friendly bicycle decorating workshop. Bring your bikes!
6:00-7:00 pm: Picnic accompanied by samba band
7:00-7:20 pm: Speeches by Mary and Celia (Wheels for Change), Gord McAdams (City Councilor), Andy Shadrock (Regional District)
7:20-7:50 pm: Alan Kirk (folk rock artist)
7:50-8:10 pm: Matt Lowe (Ecosociety), Herb Hammond (Silva Forest Foundation), Caitlin (InspiringYouth4Change)
8:10-8:40 pm: Sound Serious (modern rock duo)
8:50-10:00 pm: Mazu (world dance group)

Everyone is welcome. Entry is free, but donations accepted.

...and don’t forget the bike parade the next day at 10:00 am (see next blog entry)!

Wheels for Change Tour Group
From 8:30 pm onwards, the tour group will be able to check into the Kootenay Aikido Dojo (213C Baker St) for the night. The Sacred Ride bike shop is a few doors away (213 Baker St, Tel: 354-3831), and hot showers can be had at the Nelson and District Community Complex (305 Hall St, Tel: 354-4386; open until 9:00 pm), a ten minute bike ride away.

Thanks to the Kootenay Akido Dojo for their offer of accommodation. Thanks also to Alix Flavelle for heading a great team in Nelson, including Tracey, Bradley, and many others.

June 30: Travel to Castlegar

Bike Parade in Nelson
At 10:00 am we will launch our journey with a bike parade through Nelson. Meet at the parking lot of the Nelson and District Community Complex (305 Hall St). Family friendly - bring those decorated bikes from yesterday's workshop!

Route: We will ride down Hall Street, then turn right on Baker Street. We will travel down the length of Baker Street, crossing Vernon St (Hwy 3A), and turning left on Railway Street to Cottonwood Falls Park. Distance: 1 km.

Nelson-Castlegar Ride
Cyclists wanting to continue on the day's ride will start from Cottonwood Falls Park at approximately 11:00 am, go along Government Road for 300 meters, then on to Hwy 3A and Castlegar. Distance: 50 km.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

Crescent Valley Event
Lunch Meeting Point: The Evergreen Health Food Store at Crescent Valley, approximately halfway to Castlegar, are offering us lunch (a veggie wrap with a homemade cashew pate with tea or coffee) at a discount of $4.00 a plate. You will need to take the 1 km detour at Highway 6 to get to the store. Cyclists can eat their lunches across the road on the beach on the river. There is also an excellent coffee/ice cream stand for those who wish to indulge. Thanks to Kit of Evergreen for her offer!

Castlegar Event
The park beside the Aquatic Centre (2101 - 6th Ave; Tel: 365-3386) in Castlegar is where the bike ride ends for the day riders. The check-in deadline is 5:00 pm - after that, we will come looking for you!

Day riders and Castlegar folk are welcome to stay and visit with us in the park after 5:00 pm. Wheels for Change will have our postcard-signing booth set up there, and we will be holding an informal bring-your-own picnic.

Wheels for Change Tour Group
For those staying the night, you can use the facilities at the Castlegar Aquatic Centre (2101 - 6th Ave; Tel: 365-3386) until closing time at 7:00 pm for showers, hot tub, steam room, etc ($2.00 entry fee).

Travel further up Columbia Ave to stay the night at the Kinnaird Community Church (1250 - 26th St; Tel: 365-3430). There are no showers available here.

Thanks to the Kinnaird Community Church for their generous offer of accommodation.

July 1: Travel to Nancy Greene Provincial Park

The Kinnaird Community Church congregation has not only given us a place to stay for the night, but they have offered to give us breakfast at 7:00 am to bless our journey. We thank them for their generosity.

We will leave the Kinnaird Community Church (1250 - 26th St; Tel: 365-3430) in Castlegar at 8:00 am to cycle, mostly uphill, to our campsite at the Nancy Greene Provincial Park.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We are spending the night at the Nancy Greene Provincial Park campsite. No community event planned for tonight.

July 2: Travel to Grand Forks

We will leave Nancy Greene Provincial Park at 8:00 am to cycle the rest of the way to Grand Forks.

Somewhere along the way, we will be met by a swarm of hornet-colored cyclists from the dynamic Grand Forks Cycling Club, who plan to meet us somewhere on the Paulson Pass, and come back with us to Cristina Lake for a mid-morning coffee break (at Smoochies' Coffee House on Sandner Frontline Rd)! We will be looking out for you guys!

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We are staying the night at the Grand Forks Municipal Campground (Tel: 442 2833).

Grand Forks Event
Between 6:00-7:00 pm, there will be an event called 'Wheels for Change Family Bike Ride'. Participants can ride the 0.5 km City Park trail loop as many times as they want between 6:00-7:00 pm. Everyone's kms will be logged and will contribute to the grand total. Meeet at the Wheels for Change booth in City Park just before 6:00 pm.

Our thanks to Anton Kew (Grand Forks Cycling Club) and Brian Fletcher (Chain Reaction Bicycle and Breakfast), Roy Sheisser (Grandby Wilderness Society), Chris Moslin (City Councillor), Bev Wisnicki (City Recreation Dept) and Cher Wyers (Chamber of Commerce) for helping us out in Grand Forks.

July 3: Travel to Johnstone Creek Provincial Park

We will leave Grand Forks Municipal Campground at 8:00 am.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We will stay the night at a campsite at the Johnstone Creek Provincial Park. No community event planned for tonight.

July 4: Travel to Osoyoos

We will leave Johnstone Creek Provincial Park at 8:00 am to cycle to Osoyoos.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We are staying the next two nights at the Nk'mip Campground (overflow area), 8000 - 45th St, Tel: 495-7279.

Osoyoos Event
We will be having a public showing of The Great Warming, an exciting new film narrated by Keanu Reeves and Alanis Morisette. It has been called 'the best film about global warming ever shot'.
Time: 7:00 pm (with open discussion afterwards)
Location: The Desert Centre, Osoyoos (3 km north of Osoyoos, off hwy 97, turn east onto 146th Ave, follow for 1 km).
Admssion: By donation.

Thanks to Joanne Muirhead of the Desert Centre and people at Destination Osoyoos, for making the arrangements. The Desert Centre, in support of Wheels for Change, is offering a free pass to anyone who comes to the centre by bicycle on July 4th and 5th, the days that we are in town.

July 5: Osoyoos Day Off

Today is our day off! No events planned.

July 6: Travel to Penticton

We will leave Osoyoos at 8:00 am (meeting point: the 'Destination Osoyoos' parking lot at the junction of Hwys 3 and 97) to cycle to Penticton.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We are staying at Wonderful Waterworld Campground, 225 Yorkton Ave , Penticton , V2A 3V3. Tel: 492-4255. Thanks to the Toriola-LaFuente family for paying for half of the camping fee.

Penticton Event
We are part of Creative Community Week in Penticton:
-The organizers will be holding bicycle-decorating workshops earlier in the week, leading up to our arrival.
-At 4:30 pm, cyclists will gather at the Okanagan Park in Penticton for a family-friendly bike ride down Creekside Trail. Total distance, out and back: 3 km. Come on your decorated bicycles!

Thanks to Samarpan Fasse, Craig Henderson, Jackie Lichens and Daniela Toriola-LaFuente for all your help.

July 7: Travel to Kelowna

We will leave Penticton (Wonderful Waterworld Campground, 225 Yorkton Ave) at 8:00 am to cycle to Kelowna.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We are spending the night at the French Cultural Centre (702 Bernard Avenue - (250) 860-4074), and The Kelowna Yoga House (1272 St. Paul Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y 2C9, (250) 862-4906). Thanks to both centres for their hospitality!

Kelowna Event
This event takes place at the EECO Centre at the Mission Creek Regional Park, 2363 A Springfield Road (intersection of Springfield and Durnin Roads).
4:00 pm: Bike decorating workshop
5:00 pm: Bike Ride along Mission Creek Greenway
6:00 pm: Bring your own BBQ picnic
7:00 pm: Speeches by the Mayor and others, followed by music by Jim Ripley and friends!

July 8: Travel to Vernon

The owners of Cafe Soleil, Dennis and Cheryl Perly, have kindly offered us breakfast at 7:00 am in support of our ride. Dennis emailed us to say 'Many thanks for your contributions to this very serious issue and good luck on your journey and we hope to see you in Kelowna.' Thank you, Dennis!

We will leave Kelowna at 8:00 am to go to Vernon.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

Cyclists will be billeted in the community.

Vernon Event
5:00-6:00 pm: Gather at the bandstand in Polson Park for a colorful bike ride through town. Family-friendly: decorate yourselves and your bikes!
6:00-7:00 pm: Potluck picnic near the bandstand in Polson Park. Everyone welcome; please bring a food contribution.
7:00-dusk:
Speeches by: Mayor Wayne Lippert, Dr. Paul Philips, economist, and Mr. Bruce Mol, Chairman of the Vernon Cycling Advisory Committee (VCAC), and Hugette Allen (carpool.ca)
Music by: Robin Genthon (opening with drum and chants), Rod Neufeld (Canadiana singer/songwriter), 'Ellie Young and the Porch Pickers,' Betty Johnson (jazz and blues), 'Lofi Cowboy' (postmodern singer songwriter) and our main feature 'Kath and the Tomkats' (rock and blues).

Our thanks also to Julia Lissau (info booths), Terry Dyck (bike parade), Susan Novecoski (food co-ordinator), Ayeala, Chris, Jack Elliman, Karl Podolski, Mike Overend, Carolyn Fletcher, Robin Genthom, and numerous other volunteers for your help in organizing this event.

July 9: Travel to Salmon Arm

8:00 am: Vernon-based cyclists will set out from the starting point at the Schubert Centre parking lot (3505-30th Ave), Vernon.
8:00 am: Salmon Arm-based cyclists will gather at the Arena parking lot to ride out to Hullcar Hall.
10:00 am: Vernon- and Salmon Arm-based cyclists meet at Hullcar Hall (at the corner of Hulcar Rd and Deep Creek Rd). They will join us cycling in to Salmon Arm.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We are staying at the Downtown Activity Centre on 451 - Shuswap Ave.

Salmon Arm Event
12:30 pm: The tour group will be fed a picnic lunch by the Canada World Youth group by the wharf at Peace Park.
5:00 pm: The tour group will set up camp at the Downtown Activity Centre (451 Shuswap Ave SW). We will be fed a delicious supper there, organized by Joan Jacobs.
6:00 pm: The tour group and Salmon Arm cyclists will gather at the Downtown Activity Centre for a short bike ride through town, ending at the gazebo at Peace Park.
7:00 pm: Gather at the Peace Park gazebo for a speech by Sarah Kipp on climate change in the Salmon Arm area, music by 'The Original Munchies' and 'Blue Planet Blues', postcard signing and more...

Thanks to the following individuals/groups who are helping out: Joyce Henderson, Judy Stockdale, Sarah Kipp, Jordan Thompson of Canada World Youth, BC-Uruguay 2007, Joan Jacobs, food organizer for Roots and Blues performers, Karen Andreason of the Shuswap Environmental Action Society (SEAS), people from the Community Association for Sustainable Salmon Arm (CASSSA),Wanda & Frank Bristol and Mary Bailey for goodies at Hullcar Hall, and students from the Senior High School Environmental Group.

July 10: Travel to Falkland

We will leave Salmon Arm Downtown Activity Centre at 8:00 am to cycle to Falkland.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We will be staying for the next two nights at the Stampede Grounds in Falkland, generously donated by the Community Business Association.

Falkland Event
5:00 pm: Bike decorating and bike ride around the Stampede Grounds. A family-friendly event!
Bar Nunn Cappucino and Grill will be on site with food and coffee, and all profits from coffee sales will be donated to Wheels for Change. Thank you to the caterer, Cara Nunn, who makes great organic, vegetarian food!

Thank you to Monique Richoux for organizing this event. To gear up, she is hosting a screening of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth in the school library on June 18 at 6:00 pm.

Thanks to Barry Stratford for providing access to the stampede grounds and storage.

July 11: Falkland Day Off

Today is our day off! No events planned.

July 12: Travel to Kamloops

We will leave Falkland early, in staggered starts (from the early birds to the camp packer-uppers), to cycle to Kamloops.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We are staying at the Silver Sage campground on River Sage Road, off Athabasca Rod (near the red bridge)

Kamloops Event
6:00 pm: Potluck in Riverside Park for the riders by the Council of Canadians
7:00 pm: 'Music in the Park' starts; enjoy!

July 13: Travel to Nicola Campsite

We will leave Kamloops at 8:00 am to cycle to our campsite at Nicola.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We are staying at a campsite that is part of the Upper Nicola Band's Gas Station and Store (Tel: James and Lois Blankenship 250-378-2587)

July 14: Travel to Coldwater Road Campsite

We will leave the Nicola campsite at 8:00 am to cycle to our campsite at the far end of Coldwater Road (where it joins the Coquihalla Highway).

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

(Merritt cyclists can join us from Merritt onwards. Meet us at our mid-morning break, between 10:30 and 11:00 at the Rotary Park on Voght St (by the Free Evangelical Church))

We will be camping on a field at a farm (3311 - Coldwater Road) located just before the road joins the Coquihalla Highway. Thank you to Beth and Al Warawa for your generous hospitality!

July 15: Travel to Hope

We will leave the camp site at 8:00 am to cycle to Hope.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We are staying two nights in Hope at the Coquihalla Campsite (800 - Kawkawa Lake Road, between 6th and 7th Ave, Box 308, Hope, V0X 1L0, Tel: 604-869-7119)

Hope Event
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm: 'Concert in the Park' in Memorial Park with Matt Williams (country/folk). Sponsored by the Hope and District Arts Council.
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: 'Drumming for the Earth' with Robin Genthon, a fun and interactive Native Drumming workshop for all ages.
5:00 pm: Family picnic - bring your own.

July 16: Day Off in Hope

Today is our day off! No events planned.

July 17: Travel to Chilliwack

We will leave Hope (Coquihalla Campsite: 800 - Kawkawa Lake Road, Box 308, Hope, V0X 1L0, Tel: 604-869-7119) at 9:00 am to cycle to Chilliwack.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We are staying at Bridal Falls RV and Camping (53560 Bridal Falls Road; Rosedale, BC, Tel: 604-794-3003)

No community event planned for Chilliwack.

July 18: Travel to Abbotsford

We will leave Chilliwack (Bridal Falls RV and Camping; 53560 Bridal Falls Road; Tel: 604-794-3003) at 8:00 am to cycle to Abbotsford.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We are staying at the Abbotsford Camp and RV Park, 36114 Lower Sumas Mtn Road (Tel: 604-855-3330).

Chilliwack Event
At 10:00 am, we will stop to pay a visit to Clint Hames, Mayor of Chilliwack, our endorser and supporter, at the City Hall (8550 Young Road (corner of Hocking and Young); Tel: 604-793-2900.

Yarrow Event
At 12:00 pm, we are stopping at the Eco-Village in Yarrow (42312 Yarrow Central Road) for a guided tour and a lunch stop. Thanks to the Eco-Village for hosting us!

Abbotsford Event
At 6:00 pm, we will join local cyclists for a 22 km 'Sumas Prairie Farm Tour'. A shorter 11 km route will be available for those with children or who are simply unaccustomed to spending so long on two wheels! (here are the links for the longer route and the shorter route).

Meet at the gravel parking area off the Whatcom Exit (across from the Castle Fun Park). The 26 km tour will be visiting farms located in the Sumas Prairie area, and some sampling of local berries and ice cream is definitely part of the plan. As the tour rolls along on the former lakebed of Sumas Lake, stops will be made at Birchwood Dairy, the Little Farmhouse in the Country and the Yellow Barn, culminating in a scenic ride along the Sumas River Trail.

July 19: Travel to Maple Ridge

We will leave Abbotsford (Abbotsford Camp and RV Park, 36114 Lower Sumas Mtn Road; Tel: 604-855-3330) at 7:00 am to cycle to Maple Ridge.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We are staying at St. George's Anglican Church, at 23500 Dewdney Trunk Road, Tel: 604-463-9622. They have showers and are near the town center. Thanks to St. George's for your generosity in hosting us!

Maple Ridge Event
At 12:00 pm, we will gather at St. George's Anglican Church (23500 Dewdney Trunk Road) with other people from the area for a bike tour featuring some great GHG emissions-reducing initiatives in prize-winning Maple Ridge! We will be 'opening' two new bike lanes, visiting E Moly Energy Company as they receive their Bike Parking award, taking a tour of a newly-retrofitted LEEDs Standards building (the Randy Herman Building), attending a ceremonial criterion circuit around the downtown core, and more!!! We will be finishing with a picnic supper in the downtown core generously donated by the local Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Thanks to Russ Carmicheal, District staff member, for spearheading this amazing event, as well as assistant Shayna Funk-Larmor. We are also grateful to the District of Maple Ridge Council, the District of Pitt Meadows Council, the Bicycle Advisory Committee, and the Business Improvement Association.

July 20: Travel to Vancouver

We will leave Maple Ridge (St. George's Anglican Church, at 23500 Dewdney Trunk Road, Tel: 604-463-9622) at 9:00 am.

Here is the map of the day's route (to print, use a screen grab, copy and paste).

Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We will be staying the night at St David's of Wales church (2475 Franklin Street, East Vancouver, V5K 1X3, Tel: 604-253-8524). No showers here, but they can be found at Templeton Pool, a 3 minute bike ride away, at 700 Templeton Drive (near Adnac). This aquatic centre is open until 7:00 pm.

Vancouver Event
The big event will be held the next day, on July 21 (see next blog for details)

July 21: Travel to Delta

In the morning we will be gathering at the starting point of the Central Valley Greenway ride, in John Hendry Park, at 10:00 am.

Here is the map of the Central Valley Greenway route, and here is a map of the trip on to Ladner where the bike tour group is spending the night.

Here are the cue notes for the Central Valley Greenway route, and here are the cue notes for the trip on to Ladner (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

We are spending the night at All Saints' Anglican Church (4755 Arthur Drive (nr Elliot), in Ladner; Tel: 604-946-8413). No showers.

However, the Ladner Outdoor Pool (604-946-8369) is open and free noon-to-five on Saturdays. This pool is right by the church. As well, the Ladner Leisure Centre, at 4600 Clarence Taylor Cresent, is open 8 am-9pm on Saturdays and that would be about a 10-15 minute bike ride from church. It is behind the hospital. Their number is 604-946-3310.

Vancouver Event: Cycle the Central Valley Greenway

The Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC) is collaborating with Wheels for Change for the Vancouver area portion of the route. The main event is a 20 km bike ride along the Central Valley Greenway, starting at John Hendry Park in Vancouver and finishing with a picnic and other fun activities in Moody Park, New Westminster. Cyclists wanting a shorter ride can join in from Burnaby Lake Park which is on Piper Road (south of Winston St. and just north of Burnaby Lake Park) for the final 9 km.

Everyone with a bike and a helmet is welcome to join us! This is a family-friendly event, and groups with younger children are encouraged to join in from Warner Loat Park onwards. For safety reasons, children under 6 years should not participate on solitary bikes (use bike trailers, Trail-a-bikes, and tandems instead).

Event details:

We will be meeting at 10:00 am in John Hendry Park, Vancouver (address: 2100 Block East 19^th Ave, Vancouver, BC), on grassy field beside bike path at SE corner to John Hendry Park. (aka Trout Lake Park).

Families with children, and anyone else who wants to cycle a shorter distance, can join us at 11:30 pm at Burnaby Lake Park, Burnaby for the last 9 km. To find the meeting point, take Winston Ave. to Piper Ave. Turn south on Piper Ave and proceed to the south end. The entrance to Burnaby Lake Park is 110m from the Winston St. There will be a $2.00 fee for non-VACC members to cover park booking fees and insurance.

Our end point will be Moody Park, New Westminster (address: on the South Field near 6^th Ave, between 8^th St and 10^th St), where we will have a bring-your-own picnic from 1:00 pm onwards. We will also have information booths, speeches, and other fun activities.

PS. To get back to Vancouver, simply take 7^th Ave west to the 22^nd St sky train station. You can take your bike on sky train or, if you still have lots of energy, you can take the sky train bike route back to Vancouver.

PPS. For those nervous about cycling, the VACC offers a free commuter cycling skills course.

PPPS. Use the Wheels for Change event as a training ground for BC Lung Association’s Fraser Valley Bicycle Trek in September and support two great causes!

July 22: Travel to Victoria

9:00 am: the main Wheels for Change group will be catching the ferry from Tsawassen (it is an 11 km trip from the church in Ladner to the ferry terminal: see map and cue notes here)

11:00 am plus: We arrive at the Schwartz Bay ferry terminal. Here is the map of the day's route in Victoria. Here are the cue notes for this route (text describing the route at different points, including starting, rest, and stopping points and times).

After the Victoria event, cyclists will be billeted in the community.

The Victoria Event: Wheels for Change Lochside Regional Trail Ride
11:00 am: the Victoria-based people will be gathering to greet the tour group at the foot passenger drop-off at the ferry terminal, aiming for an 11:30 am departure. A round trip from town will contribute 70 km.

1:00-2:00 pm: there will be a stop for a picnic lunch at Mattick’s Farm (5325 - Cordova Bay Road). People wanting a shorter day can meet the other riders there and cycle back into town with them. A round trip from town will contribute 30 km.

4:00 pm: we will be gathering on the lawns of the BC Legislative Buildings for our final gathering. There will be a symbolic bike ride around the Buildings, followed by music, speeches, and other fun activities on the Legislative grounds.

Cyclists of all ages are invited to attend. Children are welcome, although for safety reasons, those under the age of 6 yrs cannot be on solitary bikes - try Traila-bikes, trailers, tandems, etc instead. The route is mostly on bike paths that are off the roads, and careful attention will be paid to ensuring the safety of young riders on any road-based portions.