My name is Bill Baggs, and in May 2021 I am going to bike across Canada, hence the “Bikes and Baggs”
I live with my wonderful wife Sue, a high school teacher, in Ottawa Canada. I have two boys, Matthew and Jonathan who are now fine young men, and Sue has a son Sam and a daughter Tess. We are very proud of all of our kids even though they are no longer kids. Up to January of this year, and we also had a dog named Fred, a 14 1/2 year old shepherd/husky mix. We miss Fred very much.
In November 2019, I retired from Agriculture Canada after 32 rewarding and fulfilling years with the Government of Canada. Apparently after you retire you have to take a trip: so this is my trip. I’ll be flying solo since Sue won’t be retiring at the same time. I’m not new to cycle touring, however it’s been a while since my last tour. When I was in high school in Kingston ON, my friend Mike Jensen and I would go to Sandbanks Provincial Park. Our last cycle tour was to Kitchener ON, with a detour to Ottawa to attend my brother’s wedding.
My noble steed
Although I have been cycling a bit since those days, I really got the bug back in 2016 when I purchased a new touring bike, a 2016 Kona Sutra. That was also the year I suffered a burn out at work. Along with the help of my wife, family, friends and a therapist, my bike was instrumental in my recovery. I have logged a lot of kms on my Kona, that first year I put over 3000 kms and again last year my friend Paul and I put on a some distance, with multiple Grand Fondos (100 km day rides) throughout the year.
The Plan
I figure it will take me about 100 days to cycle across Canada, to do it right and see the sights that our great county has to offer. Follow along as I document what I believe will be the adventure of a lifetime, and knock another item off my bucket list!
Wow! Exciting Bill!!! Wishing you fair winds and safe roads!! My partner and our two friends will do the same May 2022 when WE retire!! Gonna be on a Sutra too – so will definitely follow you to learn from your experiences!! Have a BLAST!!
Hello Dave,I have the same idea but will start small. I want to ride across Alberta to raise $$ for children’s Mental wellness.
Good luck. I am a newbie, but have a grand scheme of putting together a team of 3 or 4 persons to ride across Canada, possibly in 2021 or 2022. I am a Rotarian and this will be a fund raiser for something, possibly women’s shelters, that is needed across the country. Just an idea at 40,000 feet right now, but something that I would like to do. I will be following you. I hope the COVID-19 situation does not interfere with your plans. All the best, David
Sounds great. I bought the same bike last year with a similar goal in mind. Our adult kids live in Calgary and Chillawack BC. while i am in Parry Sound ,On.. I likely will head out next summer though, when I’m semi retired. Ill look forward to updates ( with special interest in how the bike holds up) Good Luck!!!
Cheers, Jeff