9 October - I guess this is it!!

Truro to Halifax 95km (7575km total).

I had mixed feelings on my last day, I was excited to be headed to Halifax but still not ready for this trip to end. Bob produced an endless supply of waffles for breakfast and then said they had decided to ride with me for the first part of the day. I was really happy I would have a bit more time with these two, as usual I always find my time with Warmshowers folks is never long enough!!

Bob and Glenda, my final warmshowers hosts for this trip.

They decided to ride with me for the first 35km of my last day which was awesome.

It was going to be another windy day and they insisted I ride between them so I had it pretty easy spinning along behind Glenda. Again we were off the main highway which is always a massive bonus. I was smiling the whole way and when we got to Stewiacke Bob and Glenda were obviously enjoying themselves too as they decided to keep going to Shubenacadie with me. Now tucked in behind Bob we made good time into the wind, I guess they realised it would take them no time to get home when they finally turned around!! In Shubenacadie Bob suggested we stop at a restaurant for a drink before saying our goodbyes and we ended up ordering apple crisp which was incredibly good and probably had enough sugar to easily get me to Halifax! I was sad to be leaving them, although I had only met them for a short time I felt like I had known them for much longer and loved riding with them. 

Of course it was windy when I set off on my own but today I didn't really care, it was sunny and I knew I would make it to Halifax. Although it was the last day of my trip I didn't feel tired. It was a beautiful road and passes through a region with lots of lakes, the fall colours were still stunning and the water shimmered in the sun. I came into Dartmouth along the Waverley Road and passed the campground I had stayed in with my parents on the last night of our RV trip this time last year and then the Canadream office that we had picked up the RV. I have been to Halifax a few times and felt familiar with the roads but I decided to take the ferry across from Dartmouth as I wanted to get to the boardwalk in Halifax and that would save crossing the busy MacDonald bridge. I followed the signs for the ferry terminal and ended up in a parking lot but it wasn't obvious where you got the ferry so I asked a lady pushing a bike with a small child. She said she would show me and we walked around the side of a building to find the entrance. She went to hold the door for me and asked me where I had come from, "I just cycled from Vancouver Island" I said in a somewhat stunned voice, "I guess this is it, this is the end!!". She grabbed my arm and said "Really, oh my God, that is amazing, all on your own!!" she was so stunned and excited for me, she gave me an awkward high-five and if we hadn't both been holding bikes I am pretty sure she would have hugged me. I pushed my bike into the ferry terminal and while waiting fired off a few quick text messages. I paced around with a stupid smile on my face not really knowing what to do before boarding the ferry. I stood on the deck and took in the downtown Halifax skyline. All the passengers were sitting quietly going about their normal daily routines and I wanted to tell them "I did it, I cycled across Canada" !! I got my phone out to take some photos and a message popped up saying I didn't have enough room, so I had to hurriedly delete some older ones to make room. 

When I got off the ferry I wasn't sure what to do or where to go. As I had never planned to cross Canada I had not dipped my tires in the Pacific which is the tradition, therefore I wasn't sure where I was going to 'officially' end. I pedalled slowly along the familiar boardwalk in Halifax, weaving in and out of the tourists, from the ferry I could see 2 big cruise ships were in port. I couldn't believe how lucky I was to have finished on such a beautiful day. I got to the end of the boardwalk and saw Pier 21, it had opened in 1928 and was the primary port of entry for a million immigrants. Last year I visited the Canadian Museum of Immigration now housed in the building and as an immigrant to Canada was touched by the history and stories I heard and read. As a new Canadian citizen it seemed an appropriate final destination so I leant my bike and Bob against a post and stood back to take a photo. It took me 3 attempts as my bike toppled over twice and I had to go back and stand it up, I couldn't help but laugh.

Angus MacDonald bridge from Dartmouth ferry.

Downtown Halifax skyline from Dartmouth ferry.

George's Island and cruise ship from waterfront boardwalk.

As a new Canadian citizen I decided Pier 21 would make a good final destination.

I peddled back along the boardwalk and stopped at a picnic table to have a snack and post something to the blog. I was wondering what the heck I was supposed to do next when a guy approached me and asked me if I had been travelling. I noticed he was pushing a bike and had a helmet on. Jason was from Taiwan and had arrived in Halifax yesterday having cycled across Canada as part of a larger world trip. We sat and shared stories and then he played me a song on his Chinese violin (he is busking along the way). The sun was going down and it was getting chilly so after exchanging email addresses I wished him well and headed off to find Grace's place. I had forgotten how steep some of the streets in Halifax are and had to push my bike up one of them, but I decided it didn't matter as I was technically finished!! It was awesome to see Grace, I know her through search and rescue in Ottawa and although it had been a while since we were in touch she was so excited to see me and hear about my adventures. She ordered in pizza and we chatted until late. 

Meeting Jason who had arrived the day before after cycling across the country.

Jason playing me a song on his Chinese violin.