Originally Posted by
wrldtraveller
well. I had to ask because like I mentioned, I've been bitten by the bug. You are right, I think it is more interesting in Europe because there are more countries to visit, and pretty much each country have their own food, architecture, and culture. while Canada can be dull as if Im in B.C. It is wow, amazing to be in, but the architecture, culture, and food, pretty much stays the same from one end of the coast to the other end of the coast. and Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world. Of course, there are some small differences in culture for example, if you happen to visit Newfoundland, and Victoria, B.C.
Touring the country by bicycle has been on my mind for a while, I first got the idea when I met a friend in USA, and he mentioned that he would love to ride across USA and it was a novel idea. Then I spent the summer in Minnesota, and did 3 day bike trip, and it was a different experience, you get to see more. Besides, I've grown a bit bored of the city pathways seeing how I could just ride 50 km in 3 hours. sometimes less.
Eventually I will plan a short bike tour in Banff National Park and see how that feels like, then take the next step.
If you would like, can you mention what impacted you the most while you were on a bike touring trip?
Wrldtraveller
Haha, I'm glad I'm not the only one unimpressed by BC's architecture "oh look, another green glass building". Calgary has a few cool buildings though, like that one with the blue glass and the giant wire head sculpture out front. Winnipeg has some older stone buildings from the era when banks were made to look like they had integrity, I think they look pretty cool. Quebec City has the Chateau Frontenac and the Citadel right by the Plains of Abraham so that's pretty wicked. The Maritimes look pretty charming. I think if I ever tour here again I'll just fly straight to Montreal or Quebec City and head up the Gaspe peninsula. I heard it's breathtaking and a fairly curvy road.
What impacted me most on a bike tour was going in to France. First full day there I woke up stealth camped beside a WW2 Artillery position and watched the sun come up over beautiful blue water and impossibly green fields. The air was like drugs it smelled so good and was the perfect temperature. Riding in a t-shirt I stood up on my pedals and leaned forward. My bike was out of my peripheral view as I coasted down a slight hill and my nose and eyes were overwhelmed with beauty, felt like a bird soaring. Shortly after that I did some nice tight corners and went down a steep hill into a charming little town filled with old stone buildings, everything conveying a sense of well-manicured permanence and integrity. It was the exact opposite of Western Canada, haha.