Final Ride for GCC Year 10 2025 in Jolene's Memory - do you believe in butterflies?

So we wrapped up our last ride today just under 72 k with the Sunday crew of Mark, Faye, Stuart, John and I. It was the perfect day for a bike ride cool enough to not overheat, and limited amount of wind until the last 20 minutes or so. The Sun came out and the roads were not too busy for a Sunday on a long weekend.

At one part in the ride Marc and I were riding side by side and as a motorhome backed into its driveway again on Cordukes Road a Golden ran out and circled the driver door with a ball in its mouth, which made me laugh and think of Jolene and our previous two retrievers who loved to run with things in their mouth.

I added in my extra kilometres to and from our start location (34 K) and had a stop at the usual Sunday Tim Hortons Break at Collins Bay and Bath Road. I thought a lot about Jolene on the last stretch back which is about 7 k and decided to at Kilometres 69 to do the 1 k climb up CR6 a small 4 degree hill, which normally I avoid on Sundays. I said out loud : "this one is for you Jolene and applied sufficient power to stay in the big ring and climb it in 60 seconds way better than all my 665 times before Jolene crossed the Rainbow Bridge and about 2 seconds slower than my record set last week at 58 seconds. As my heart hit 168 bpm a new Garmin record for my outside cycling and my fitness in increased by 3 to 117 on Strava another new record! But that's not the best part.

As soon as I hit 168 at top of the hill, it was 70K and then a Monarch Butterfly, this is the 5th time this month when I have been thinking of Jolene in a real solemn moment that it happened. This time it flew right in front of my sunglasses as if Jolene was saying thanks Dad I miss you too, but I am here and doing well!.

Butterflies are associated with the soul and resurrection and seen as messengers from the spiritual world, bringing comfort, guidance or messages from your deceased loved one. This belief stems from the butterflies life cycle, symbolizing transformation and rebirth. Seeing a butterfly after a loved one's death is often interpreted as a sign that the departed soul has found peace and is communicating this to the living.

That choked me up pretty good as I peddled down for for 1.87 kilometres to wrap up ride 29 and 1448k for the August GCC Canada ride for kids cancer in her memory.

I have included a few pictures today to trap my quiet moments wearing my All Star Jersey because Jolene was my All Star like each and every child fighting cancer.

So do you believe in butterflies?

KVC Group B Saturday Coffee via Sharp, Bath and the Coffee Lodge Bonus Ride 1

Well it was a bright Sunny Saturday 70+k ride to Bath for Coffee with a group of 5 - B riders and we had some good pacing today. Saturday coffee rides are fun times and a great part of cycling and socializing. But where are we in the month of August? Well let me tell you:

Since August 11th 1080K meeting my goal to surpass 1000k since Jolene passed over the Rainbow Bridge. I had not signed up yet for the Challenge until she was no longer with us August 8th, hoping to spend most of August enjoying her usually daily antics, sharing my bananas in the morning after she moaned and groaned at the kitchen counter when the banana was coming, after she had breakfast and a chew treat, after she had her face and eye lids washed and 3 mini cookies followed by a mini bad breath cookie as I call it. If I missed the banana before her walk it would be waiting in her dish and she would race in to grab it, but she often could not get the last piece or two in her circular bowl designed to slow her down from about 1 second to 10 seconds at meal time.

I added back in the rides from Strava manually to the Great Cycle Challenge App to reflect the full riding period which ends tomorrow, thanks to everyone supporting after a late sign up, what great friends and family. At this point I am at 1376 Kilometres and 28 rides which is a record for August and any month I have ridden the past 10 years.

I have had my fastest Strava segments in a number of locations this month including my fastest 100k ride ever. Jolenes memories have definitely helped me push my self to a new level of fitness on Strava currently sitting at 114 when I usually peak in July at August at 80 on their scales and drop over the winter months. Training and recovery has really been something this month.

We are now at $4805 dollars truly amazing of a late campaign. You have no idea how happy you have made me supporting the Kids fighting Cancer in Jolene's memory.

We have 1 day left tomorrow. I will meet my Sunday crew if as I call them and ride about 17K x2 to meet at the starting point and come back and log around another 70 k to wrap this up, if I get up early and the weather is good otherwise Plan B will go into play.

I am working on my final close out message for Monday afternoon or evening after I post something after the last ride tomorrow afternoon or evening for 2025.

It will feel odd wrapping this one up after 10 years as we transition to normal riding and life without Jolene and her comical antics, sound effects, and excitement over Leaf goals. But life moves forward and so do we.

The Stretch Goal Met today for 1000K and a funny story after the 44K Ride with my Hotel Dory Kingston Team Peeps

Well we did it you and me so many friends and family that made this happen. We increased funds again and now exceeded my stretch goals for distance and fund raising after Ride 21. Since we hit my stretch goal I will go back and do an equalization exercise to compare past 9 years by adding in Manual my Strava rides from August 1st to 8th before Jolene went over the rainbow bridge. Since I started late I wanted a pure result for the effort once I signed up again and we have done that.

Now I told you yesterday we watched The Art of Racing in the Rain, that sure left an impact on both our sleeps last night and the whole mixed emotions day today. I knew I had to take a picture much like past years technically with Jolene, in her urn and the jersey on her look alike that I call Casper. But let's talk about butterflies first. As I rode the last block home after the group ride I thought about this whole set of rides and Jolene and yes the same colour Butterfly passes in front of my face as I rode up Kildare back home.

Peaceful as that was I went in to get Maryke for the photo shoot. She was napping which is understandable after last nights movie and sleep impact. So I got resourceful and set up my iPhone camera on a Quadlock Tripod on the coffee table and set a 10 second selfie timer. Worked like a charm on photo below. But wait I knocked over the urn cracked the lid in to two pieces because it was not really sealed as requested and technically 3 pieces if you count the little chip that come off. I quickly found the Gorilla glue before I took the photo and it looks good now. Thank god the ashes are inside a blue silk bag and likely plastic liner. However Maryke got up and I had this very weird expression on my face. We have been married 37 years so no point lying now I spilled the beans and felt Jolene was talking to me again. After all I do pet her urn and night and say good night see you in morning little buddies. And I really believe she has been sending me signs like the 4/5 butterflies same colour in multiple locations when I miss her.

The lid can be touched up or replaced but that was my day. That movie lingered all day so tonight I am picking the movie a comedy at the theatre no dogs dying allowed. I will write the urn folks and educate them on epoxy glues of their lids.

I thank you for your tremendous support and following my Journey after 10 years I know I have the best Friends and Family. I should get 2 more rides in for the bonus rides and some selected photo for each day. On September 1st I will send out a special email and facebook post after I reflect on this whole experience one last time.

Thursday August 28th Ride 20 Me and the Wind Spiderman Hero Jersey Day

Well today Day 18 we completed Ride number 20 with only one day rest since August 11th, distance has been adding up. I have 34k to hit 1000 so likely tomorrow we can hit this stretch milestone on Day 19. Being in my best shape in 10 years and lots of group rides for support it is really helping keep up consecutive riding days and fighting about a 25kph wind today which took concentration along Bath Rd and the lake as my wheel was being gusted to the right a fair bit. Glad I haven't lost more weight than I have, lol.

Yesterday we grew funds again, unbelievable support as I ride in Jolene's memory. So very much appreciated.

A hint from tonight, if you have a dog that has recently crossed the rainbow bridge don't watch The Art of Racing in The Rain, we both were in tears especially with Enzo being a Golden Retriever, Kevin Costner being the Goldens voice and Milo Ventimiglia, being the main character other than the dog.

I really like the Spider man theme the kids came up with in 2020. So that was my inspiration for todays ride because the legs wanted to stay home but my brain took over thinking about Jolene and this picture. I know same picture in less than 5 days. Couldn't help myself.

So 3 more rides to end of the month including tomorrow. Thanks again for reading my blog and your support this year. It means so much!

Sincerely,

Richard and the Spirit of Jolene.

Wednesday August 27th Ride 19 with KVC Wednesday Morning Peeps

Perfect cool fall weather day with my Wednesday Peeps of KVC (Kingston Velo Club), group of 9 today for a healthy good pace and of course I ended up at Giddy Goat after there ride for my coffee libations.

Todays picture is Jolene as a puppy before we took her home. We were blessed with the opportunity to see her from 3 days old through the first 8 weeks regularly before she came home. She had pretty much a zero adjustment period not crying at night being very familiar with us and also had her favourite toy the monkey I bought for her to get our scent and familiarity with. She kept that right until the end as a favourite toy to suckle on and play with although its face was gone by the end, lol.

In terms of riding funds have still been coming in thanks Bonnie and Louis, and I am 71k from finishing the 1000k commitment and hoping to get one or two bonus rides in to finish this on Sunday. It may rain tomorrow. If so I may ride some of it on a simulated Holland Or Italy route virtually.

Thanks again for your support and following, donating, and verbally supporting me. If you are riding with me last few rides thanks for making the final push that much more enjoyable.

Take care, have a great night or day, more to come until Sunday.

Tuesday August 26th of the final week Windy City Ride With New Stretch goals

Okay so getting back to Sunday's record day I go stung nicely in the chest by a wasp, and thought maybe more than once. That was confirmed last night waking up at 3 am with 2 other swollen marks on my body so the little bugger hit me 3 times in about 5 minutes must of got stuck in my jersey and could not get out easily. So more Benalyn being ingested and After bite being applied. Getting out the door today took lots of coffee.

While I was doing another 50k workout today which was 6 laps around Amherstview due to questionable weather forecasts I fought a lot of wind along Bath/33 each lap but was energized by work behind the scenes by my buddy John Sandeman working with our high school alumnae facebook group. And step up they did to help me cross the the stretch goal of $4000. Jim Griffin and Tom Rataj thanks for the boost it is very much appreciated in Jolene's memory for the Kids fighting Cancer. I saw this on my phone at about the 20k mark. That helped me do the next 30K fighting persistent wind along Lake Ontario.

I am about 129 K from the 1000 mark I set as the New goal. The difference is I am doing the 1000k in about 20 days as opposed to 31 having not recorded anything officially up until August 10th. Perhaps once I hit the 1000 mark I will look at August 1-8 rides I rode before this to see what the full months worth of riding would be. Last week we rode over 380K. Now we are at 871 completed. I expect to hit 1000 on Friday if the weather keeps good or Saturday if we are rained out. Todays picture was the 2020 Close out photo of Jolene and me. The yellow blob toy was her reward for that year beside her favourite Monkey from puppy years right beside it. The ride officially ends on Sunday August 31st so I will ride to the last day, then taper back in September to a normal riding schedule.

Thanks for reading and supporting my 2025 Great Cycle Ride your support has meant a lot this year and seen me ride a number of my fastest rides every even for 100K durations. It's been an epic month for cycling in Jolene's memory and utilizing my bike as an outlet to remember my little buddy.

Monday August 25th of the final week Recovery Ride and a Sign

So I am in need of a recovery ride today and targeted 30 K and the Collins Bay Tim Hortons for a caffeine libation, donut and breakfast sandwich and just a day to enjoy the view on Bath looking at Lake Ontario.

I was sitting with my coffee, looking at the phone and my locked screen picture one of my favorites and asking Jolene should I stretch a little on fundraising to hit $4000 this final week we over $3700 so its reachable. And bam, a lady named Margaret taps me on the back of my 2022 Hero Jersey and says here is $20 for your ride.

Well you have to believe Jolene is sending me a message and a sign is a sign. So enjoy this windy sunny day while I visit the barber and yes another Monday Dental appointment late in the day because it's been one of those months. Go with the flow and Ride On!

Miss my little buddy!

Sunday August 24 Ride 16 funny Day Rode with KVC B group Sunday Crew 104.3 K

So based on weather report Saturday thought I would need to ride 40k indoors today. Then woke up to see normal Sunday group that I ride to and get 65-70 k determine no rain but funny thing I woke up later than usual not able to make that so checked my KVC calendar for the Odessa Sunday ride for Group B thought i would 72 k, but hey they were doing the A group distance at a B pace, I chose to join them in Odessa at 09:30 a.m and found out it would be 104k. And next funny thing I get stung at 20K thank God for Benadryl which I carry in my first aid bag. Nipped the pain in a few minutes. And then we finish and its my fastest 100K every averaging 29.2k per hour. Holy Jolene!

Todays' photo goes back to 2017 won't Jolene rocking her shades and a GCC Jersey because she was very cool!

So officially reset my goals. Since we are at $3687 I raised it to $3500, was tempted to hit $4000 for a round number but held back. I did however raise my K goal to 1000 Kilometres to keep it a challenge for the last week.

And as of this weekend looking at the 10 year picture Officially I have ridden over 10,000 K over the 10 years!

Saturday August 23 Ride 15 with KVC Saturday Peeps

so deleted the 1.7 k ride yesterday and clocked a couple more k today for a decent 75k ride. Thinking of the little buddies today at end of ride and then 2 beautiful butterflies hoover over my front cedar planter. If you believe in those things this is the 3rd time in 2 weeks!

Met a fellow GCC rider Kimberly in Bath st the coffee lodge on our Saturday stop. who saw my jersey. We have been missing each other in our stops at The Giddy Goat in Amherstview for a couple of years and finally met. That was nice!

Great day. Hoping to ride every day until 31st and hit my normal 1000k for this event in 20 days instead of the usual 31. Wish me luck!

August 22 2025 Ride 14

Well started out with some sensor missing info on Garmin so restarted after a couple of Kilometres so this may show up as Ride 15. Pulled todays picture from 2017 another retro photo. Jolene often looked like she was laughing, definitely a happy doggy. Often in the early years in the GCC Friends groups Jolene got highlighted a few times in photos with me. And in some cases we took photos to share with the kids who were little ambassadors battling cancer and connected to us through the ride history. Each Hero Jersey is designed by the kids each year. They pick some fun colours and some years themes like Spider man came up. So this week I will wear a few of the 9/10 I have which come from hitting the $2500 mark each year. I think they are cool Jerseys and lots of fun to wear. Once again thanks for your support as I use bike therapy and my cycling friends this month to salute Jolene and all the great memories she provided. I miss her ever day.

To honour Jolene I had bananas at lunch at Lenny's in Sydenham. I may have added pancakes, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and strawberries, just saying. Jolene would snort and groan when I pulled out a banana each morning and cut up sharing with her alternate pieces. It was pretty funny. If she was on her walk already I would put them in her bowl, if she couldn't get the last piece or two she would pop over and insist on some assistance to empty it then relax.