A 8 - The Oakville Beaver, W ednesday O cto b e r 17, 2001 C ro s s -C a n a d a c y c lis t s a w th e b e s t in h u m a n a n d m o t h e r n a tu r e By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Darragh Egan's cross-Canada cycling trip was certainly an eye-opening adventure but to hear him tell it, the four-month odyssey rewarded him with impressions that far exceeded sight. "On a bike you experience your sur roundings with all your senses," says the single, 28-year old travel agent. "You hear the birds, smell the flowers and feel the air cool against your skin when the sun goes behind a cloud." Egan was also rained upon, pestered by maniacal mosquitoes and suffered mechan ical problems, but the astounding scenery and benevolent people he encountered on his 11,000-kilometer voyage more than made up for these drawbacks. After all, Egan witnessed wolves in the wild, saw breathtaking landscapes and ben efited from the more munificent side of human nature in small towns across the country. "Everyone comes up to me and asks questions, especially seniors, when I was in the Yukon," he said. "One women even gave me $5 to buy lunch." What Egan did not miss along his cho sen northern route, however, were cities. "There's a whole lot more of Canada north of all that," he said. "It was important for me to see that." Egan, who enjoys mountain climbing, rafting and traveling to such exotic climes as Ecuador, Hawaii and Morocco, had already cycled Ireland and visited 49 American states, but he still harboured the desire to see Canada in its entirety - plus his fiftieth state, Alaska. "For most people, someday never hap pens," he said. "I always considered it a pipe dream for a couple of years then decid ed someday was now." Egan took a leave of absence from Halton Trafalgar Travel, packed up his 21speed road touring bike (and trailer) then flew to Vancouver. After seeing parts of Alaska in a rented truck, he left Whitehorse on his bicycle on June 10 and set out east across Canada. "It's really remote up there," said Egan, who explained that the small trailer he towed afforded him the relative luxury of additional food and equipment. "I went two and three days without a town." Fortunately, Egan is not spooked by iso lation nor was he intimidated by the wildlife he came across. Bears, for exam ple, were no problem since in the boonies they remain afraid of humans and don't associate their presence with food. "I saw pretty much one of everything, from porcupine to elk," said Egan, who also day, he crossed into Ontario. Other stereotypes crumbled in Quebec, where Egan maintains he was treated very well by everyone, French and English alike. While staying in a Quebec hostel on Sept. 11, however, hatred came in loud and clear when he heard about the New York and Washington terrorist attacks. "It was difficult to absorb," he said. "No matter how bad you have it, someone else has it a whole lot worse." By Labour Day, Egan was in the Maritimes where he took the long, scenic route by following the circuitous coastline, "It was not about pedaling as fast as I can," he said. "It was not about setting a record, but seeing the country." This attitude made Egan's trip longer than expected and on Oct. 1 he hit Newfoundland. On Oct. 12 he was in St. John's then flew home in time for Thanksgiving. He'd emailed friends and family from libraries along the way and posted updates on his website, but Egan's folks were happy to see their son again in the flesh. Now back at work, Egan is considering writing a book about his adventures. Discover "El Dorado" U n d e r s t a n d in g T h e L a t in A m e r ic a n M a r k e t s M onday, O c to b e r 29, 2001 ( g ) O n ta rio 7:30 a.m . - 11:00 a.m . H alto n R egional C e n tre , A u d ito riu m 1151 B ronte R oad, O akville Never before has it been so important to look at markets beyond the U.S. Latin America represents a market opportunity of 500 million people. Ontario exporters need to consider this opportunity. This seminar, part of the Ontario Trade Days series, will demystify the economic and cultural differences of doing business with Latin America. It will provide insight to business in Mexico, Columbia and Chile. Guest Speakers: Maureen Angus, Ontario Exports, Area Director, South America Photo by Fred Loek Darragh Egan rests on his 21-speed road touring bicycled he road 11,000 kilo metres across Canada. got to marvel at the sight of whales at the on the road. On other occasions he had to Saguney and St. Lawrence Rivers. sleep on the patio of a closed restaurant, Some of the terrain he endured was less under the stairs of a church, on a picnic hospitable, like the "nasty" steep mountain table and on the roof of an information passes in the northern Rockies, while the booth. In Quebec, the staff of a closed hos cold and rain also tested his metde. tel let him stay anyway. "Sometimes headwinds felt like I was "I slept in some very strange places," he driving with the brakes on," he laughs. says. Even with a tent, Egan realized early on One of the big misconceptions about the in his trip that sleeping arrangements were Prairie Provinces, says Egan, is that they're going run from the sublime to the ridicu boring. By taking a northerly route, his lous. In Fort Nelson, B.C., for example, view was blessed with an abundance of Egan stayed at Mel's Bike Repair and Bed forests and lakes. and Breakfast, a place where only cyclists In order to continue east, though, he are welcome. dipped south to Winnipeg on Aug. 9 and While waiting for his clothes in a hooked up with the Trans Canada Highway. Winnipeg laundromat, Egan was invited This road marked the worst part of Egan's home by a Good Samaritan - an unexpect trip in terms of cycling, since it has no ed reward that was repeated several times paved shoulders. On Aug. 11, Egan's birthCesar Mendoza, Deputy Trade Commissioner of Mexico/Bancomext Milenko Skoknic, Trade Commissioner of Chile Guillermo Penalosa, Trade Commissioner of Colombia Pat Langan-Torell, Trade Commissioner, International Trade Centre Mary Palmer, Business Development Manager, Export Development Corporation -- EDC R e g is tra tio n $ 2 0 To R e g is te r C o n ta c t: M t H a lto n R e g io n B u s in e s s D e v e lo p m e n t C e n tre Econom ic D evelopm ent and Trade 1 1 5 1 B ron te R o a d - 0 a k v il,e . 0 N L6M 3 L 1 Phone; 9 0 5 -8 2 5 -6 3 0 0 Fax: 9 0 5 -8 2 5 -8 8 3 9 Toll Free: 1-866-4H A LT O N (1 -8 6 6 -4 4 2 -5 8 6 6 ) Email: bu sde v@ reg io n.halto n.on .ca O ntario Exports Inc. 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