A Maple Ridge man riding this bike across Canada in support of children's athletics, is now in the Ottawa area.
Kevin Binnie left Victoria on Canada Day, Tuesday, July 1, and is on schedule to reach his final destination, Cape Spear, Newfoundland, by mid-September.
"It's just absolutely amazing," he said. "Completely reinforcing that Canadians are so amazing," added Binnie of his trip so far.
Binnie, whose only travel companion is a bear carved out of a branch by a friend called "Binnie the Poo", or BTP for short, is now in Kanata, Ontario, just west of Ottawa's downtown core.
He said he has been encouraged by the wonderful people he has met along the way, who have supported him and his cause.
In Manitoba, Binnie said he met a woman named June in a cafe who sat with him for breakfast as the restaurant was full. After a conversation about retirement, June bought Binnie's breakfast and made a donation to Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Community Services, where Binnie will be donating all money raised from his ride.
Specifically his fundraising efforts will be going towards providing local children with opportunities and equipment to engage in physical activities. Community Services is a non-profit charity serving over 28,000 local people per year.
Another time he was sitting outside an ice cream shop, having a muffin and coffee, and an American family pulled up and started talking to him about his Their two sons who, Binnie estimates, were in their early 20's and going to university, both donated to the cause.
They also gave him coaching on how to market himself better on social media, laughed Binnie.
Two other men pulled over on the highway and gave Binnie fresh vegetables and some money for a coffee on his next break.
Binnie's cross-Canada adventure was inspired by his wife, Teri-Lee, who, instead of buying him a material gift for his 65th birthday, donated two balance bicycles instead to Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Community Services in his name.
He had competed in the odd Ironman, run ultra-marathons, gone on month-long canoe trips in various parts of the country, and taken part in multi-day dog sled runs and snow shoe treks. So, the athletic senior decided he would raise money for underprivileged families, to help their children become active and build strong, healthy habits.
After some challenging conditions, like having to cycle five days through Manitoba wearing a N95 mask because of the smoke from forest fires, and, his 18 day trek through Ontario to Ottawa, where the roads were "aweful", with no shoulder or thought for cyclist safety, Binnie is on track for a mid-September finish.
He is also close to his fundraising goal of $8,000, raising more than $6,785 so far.
Anyone wanting to follow Binnie's progress can look up .
To donate and receive a tax-deductible receipt, go to: , then click the DONATE button and choose 鈥淜evin for Kiddos鈥� from the drop-down menu.
