I am a retired English and Creative Writing teacher and have been writing poetry--good and bad--since high school.  I  started bikepacking in the 80s, and I renewed my love for cycling in 2020 when I bought a Santa Cruz Stigmata gravel bike. On August 30, 2021 I set out from Vancouver, BC and rode my bike to Aberdeen, Cape Breton, completing the epic Canadian adventure in 41 days (with 40 days on the bike and one rest day).  I cycled 6, 777 kms, averaging 170 km/day.  While I was on the road, my partner Phyll took care of our two dogs, two cats, and our lovely old schoolhouse.