tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74339665984292953012024-03-07T21:59:26.754-05:00No Kill Canada Marathon 2007April 15 to October 29 - St. John's to Vancouver - STOP KILLING HEALTHY CATS AND DOGSMichelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-27279579597545242892015-06-23T08:47:00.001-05:002015-06-28T21:21:46.344-05:00Book Release: To Companion Friends, With Love by Michelle JameusI'm very excited to announce the publishing of my book, 'To Companion Friends, With Love'. It tells the story of my Cross Canada Marathon for unwanted pets and the remarkable people who helped me. This book is a must read for anyone with a pet or compassion for animals.<br />
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To get your copy, the book is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.ca, and barnesandnoble.com. Just search on the title.<br />
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$1 for every book sold will be donated to spay & neutering.<br />
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To read the press release go to:<br />
http://www.xulonpress.com/about-xulon-press/news/press-release/?PR_ID=28249<br />
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To participate in the Pet Control Poll, click on the link on the left side bar.<br />
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Thank you for your support!<br />
Contact me on Facebook or by email. I would love to hear from you!<br />
<br />Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-49952241681451667442007-11-15T12:56:00.000-05:002007-11-15T13:11:43.654-05:00What its like being back at home againAt first I was feeling a little lost. Kinda like coming home to an empty room. Being home didn't feel normal to me. I put everything into this run, being alone and pushing myself everyday. I couldn't just turn it off. It took some time to undo all that. Slowly I'm getting back into a routine again. My crazy friend and I even had a sleep out in the back yard one night to help with the 'withdrawals' of not being on the road anymore. We put a tent up and survived a cool night outside. I think I got it out of my system and am settled into home again. My feet are on the road to recovery and I'm spending my time in a pool these days. I'm working on two books and looking forward to publishing them in the near future. There's so much to say.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-44348950731638603192007-10-25T18:30:00.000-05:002007-10-31T07:42:58.636-05:00Ottawa - Oct 30A heart warming home coming.<br /><br />Dorit had an early flight so we were up and at the airport before daylight. We said our good-bye's and would get in touch again later in the week. I had some time to kill before my flight left so I went for a coffee and just watched the people come and go.<br /><br />On the plane it felt a little like being in shock. Nothing was really registering in my head. My body feels like its just waiting to kick into running mode again. My brain thinks it should still be focusing on one mile at a time. My mind is relieved that we're on our way home but my heart is full of mixed emotions. I'm a bit sad that its over but excited to have finished.<br /><br />I thank God for taking me on this amazing journey and for putting so many wonderful and kind people in my path because without them I wouldn't have made it. I'm grateful for the media that took an interest and helped inform people about whats happening to our cats and dogs. I thank all the animal shelters I had the opportunity to visit and for sharing with me what life is like at their shelter and for their support. I thank all my family and friends and everyone who followed my blog for their words of encouragement and support. It should be a testimony to everyone that our animals need our help and we all need to speak out for them.<br /><br />The time on the plane seemed to go by fast. We landed and I headed for baggage pickup. To my surprise there was about 30 familiar faces waiting at the bottom of the stairs. I couldn't believe it! The excitement hit me like a ton of bricks. It was such a great feeling to see everyone. It made my day and it was good to be home again. Thank you everyone for taking this amazing journey with me. The fight for our pets is still on and will be ongoing. I think there is a book in the future full of drama, adventure, truths, frightening moments, comedy, laughter and tears. Check back soon!Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-77836633687647864842007-10-25T18:28:00.000-05:002007-10-31T06:48:37.052-05:00North Vancouver - Finish Ambleside Park - Oct 29A press release went out to all the media and animal shelters in Vancouver. I told Dorit before she dropped me off that no matter what happens I was really glad she was here.<br /><br />It was a rainy day and while I was running across the Lions Gate Bridge the visibility wasn't that great. Although it was still a great feeling crossing the bridge I couldn't see much of the view because of the weather. I told myself again that no matter what happens when I get to the park it has been an amazing journey and I did the best I could and I can go home feeling good about that.<br /><br />Once I got to the otherside of the bridge I took the trail leading to the park. I passed a number of people walking their dogs. I took a few deep breaths and then my destination point was in sight. Dorit was the only one standing there. In the few short minutes it took me to reach Dorit so many thoughts went through my head. I felt bad that Dorit had flown in to be here and there was no one from the Vancouver media. I find it hard to believe that animals aren't viewed as important enough. I'll be dissappointed later but right now I just wanted to enjoy touching the ocean water and finishing a very long run. However small, I can build on the little successes from this journey. It really is an incredible feeling to live out a dream.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-8465485809848336452007-10-25T18:26:00.002-05:002007-10-31T06:50:49.198-05:00Vancouver - Oct 27Today was a very exciting day. I was looking forward to reaching Vancouver city limits. Dorit was flying in later and would be picking me up.<br /><br />I got onto the Fraser hwy and took it all the way to the King George hwy. There was so much traffic and lights. A couple of areas were a bit sketchy and I passed a few shady characters, a few that I thought might follow me. The Skytrain was impressive and I thought it might be fun to go for a ride. Maybe tomorrow. Crossing over the Fraser River was exciting and scenic. The Kingsway got me to Boundary Rd. and thats when I knew I had made it. One side was Burnaby and the other side was Vancouver. I felt like I should jump up and down or something but I really didn't know what to feel. I was more numb than anything. Maybe because there was no one to share it with or maybe I've just been out here too long. Maybe I'll feel differently when I see Dorit. I called her from the Starbucks and she had just landed and would pick me up in about 45 minutes. I waited in Starbucks for awhile and my brain wasn't really processing much. It was kinda like shock I think. When I saw Dorit I got a little more excited. I got in the car and it didn't really seem real. Even when we got to the motel it still didn't register. I guess it will just take some time.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-54341788797806262832007-10-25T18:23:00.003-05:002007-10-31T06:52:43.153-05:00Abbotsford - Oct 26It was a roundabout way of getting from Chilliwack to Abbotsford. On the positive side it was quieter and less traffic. But I had to be on the lookout for dogs. Just about every yard had two or more big dogs. Thankfully they were fensed in except for one pitbull. He surprised me. I had to pull into a driveway while some trucks passed because there was no shoulder. There were hedges and trees on both sides of the driveway and no way to see anything. A pitpull came out of nowhere and looked like he was making a dash for me. I was about to pull out my bear spray and he just stopped in his tracks and stopped barking too. I thought to myself 'cool' and just kept on going. Not sure what stopped him, maybe another angel.<br /><br />There were more fields and horses to look at and one horse was really close to the fense so I stopped to pat him but I got zapped instead. It was an electric fense. I'm pretty sure the horse laughed at me. He looked like he had rolled in the mud and his head was covered with thistles.<br /><br />Once I got to the city centre for Abbotsford getting through the intersections was interesting. Traffic was heavy and a bit crazy. If I didn't know any better I would have thought it was downtown Vancouver.<br /><br />I thought a lot today about going home, probably cause I'm so close to finishing. I'm looking forward now to being off the roads and out of traffic. I know my family will be relieved when I'm safe at home and they won't have to worry about me anymore. This has been pretty stressfull on them. I worry more about them than I do myself.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-37784192505322981442007-10-25T18:23:00.001-05:002007-10-31T03:31:54.534-05:00Chilliwack - Oct 25Once I got to Chilliwack I would no longer be allowed on the Trans Canada hwy and will need to find an alternate route.<br /><br />There were some hills and windy road until I got to the district of Chilliwack. I came over a small hill and the highway was straight and flat through the town. I passed a bunch of school kids jogging. There was lots of traffic and it was noisier. The noise from the traffic was bothering me today.<br /><br />I got to the 116 junction and stopped at the Info Centre. A very nice guy by the name of Robert helped map out an alternate route for me. It felt like I was going to be taking the back door through some communities into Vancouver. It was going to be an adventure.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-27103691510380586092007-10-25T18:22:00.002-05:002007-10-31T03:21:33.982-05:00Bridal FallsThe fog finally lifted just after 9:30am and visibility was better. Today would be a 36 km run. There was lots of shoulder room and I was glad about that yet drivers will still wonder over onto the shoulder from time to time and even if there's noone in the other lane they hug their lane and won't budge or move over. It just makes me shake my head.<br /><br />An older man on a custom motorized bicycle pulling a small trailor passed me a few times. He was picking up empty cans on the side of the road. When he smiled at me he didn't have any front teeth. I waved at him. I also passed a large tree/bush trimmer machine that took up one lane of the road. He swung around to let me go by. I wonder sometimes what these guys are thinking cause he just kind of looked at me like I was from outer space or something. But he did wave back at me and grinned as I went by. He had the one lane blocked off for quite a ways so I had lots of road to myself.<br /><br />I was enjoying the scenery but was glad to get to Bridal Falls. I was counting the days now and anxious to get to Vancouver.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-2301152164278355732007-10-25T18:22:00.001-05:002007-10-31T08:49:14.376-05:00HopeSeeing snow on the way to Hope brought home the realization of winter coming. It was raining in Hope but was suppose to clear up by tomorrow. I went over to the Info Centre but it was closed. I was looking at the map outside and I heard a voice tell there is gold in those hills. At first I couldn't figure out where the voice was coming from. Then he said again there's lots of gold in these areas. I looked around and a man dressed like a gold digger was standing at the museum looking down at me. I thought to myself he must work here and playing some kind of part. He called me sweetheart and wanted to take me gold digging. I politely declined and went on my way. I'm still not sure if he worked there or if he was a wanderer. I didn't stick around to find out.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-82341537327994434122007-10-20T15:07:00.001-05:002007-10-31T08:41:30.496-05:00Day 188 - KamloopsThank you everyone for your words of encouragement. It means a lot to me.<br /><br />There was more rain today. The highways have nicknames out here and with good reason. They are 'the highway of tears' and 'the killer highway'. I think of that everytime I pass one of those crosses where there's been an accident. My Uncle Bert (my Dad's brother) and Aunt Darlene picked me up and I had a really nice visit with them and stayed with them while I was in Kamloops. It had been alot of years since I had last seen them. I also got to see a couple of my cousins and their great grandson. They were getting snow between Kamloops and Hope and there was a major accident. I decided to take the bus to Hope and bypass that area and would make the run from Hope to Vancouver. My Uncle made me a lunch and they dropped me off at the bus station. The travel to Hope confirmed that once again I had made the right decision.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-37389619206648565702007-10-18T14:52:00.000-05:002007-10-18T15:06:42.062-05:00Day 187 - ChaseThe roads were much better but the drivers are insane. I passed some construction and drivers weren't slowing down even when someone was waving a slow sign at them. A few times I've felt like drivers have tried to squeeze me off the road when there was no other traffic. Getting to Chase was a struggle for me. There's an uphill climb when you get there and once you're over the hill you see the town down in a valley. Its quite pretty. It was a downhill run to the town. I stopped at the rest area for a pit stop. I didn't see any Mountain Bighorn Sheep but there was a foul smell of a dead animal.<br /><br />I never thought I would say it but I think I've reached my physical limit. Today I used Gidget alot as a crutch. Every step feels like ten miles and my legs don't want to work anymore. It feels like I'm inching my way. There's not much left in the tank. Good thing I'm almost there.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-34211922078373979872007-10-18T14:47:00.001-05:002007-10-18T15:03:19.289-05:00Day 186 - SorrentoIt was a rainy gloomy day. I went about two km and stopped at the Esso Restaurant for breakfast. The waitress there was really nice. She was very supportive of what I was doing and bought me breakfast and made a donation. It was still raining when I left and she wished me luck and safe travels. The water flowing down the shoulder of the road was a few inches deep and my feet were soaking wet. The scenery along the Shuswap Lake was really nice. When I got to Sorrento I stopped at the Home Restaurant for a warm cup of coffee. The rain wasn't letting up so I decided to stay there for the night. I went over to the Sorrento Inn where I met the Inn cat that they named Canada. She was left on their doorstep as a kitten. She's a year old now. When she jumps out the window they call her Air Canada. I laughed pretty hard about that one.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-92086628119416084592007-10-18T14:37:00.000-05:002007-10-18T14:46:53.107-05:00Day 185 - TappenThe road leaving Sicamous was still narrow and little to no shoulders. I started with an uphill curvy climb. The drivers around here are crazy! I held my breath every time I went around a curve or a strtech with no shoulder. This went on for about five miles and then the road opened up like a door and at that moment I knew I was where I should be. That I was right for following my instincts. After a few miles I didn't have that claustraphobic feeling anymore. There were pockets of houses and homes along the lake shoreline. I came up to a community called Canoe. It was more like a logging port. From there it was about six miles to Salmon Arm. It was a gradual climb and then a steep hill down to the city centre. I made a pit stop at Tim Horton's. On my way out of Salmon Arm there was a bit of construction. Stopped was a truck driver I've seen many times on the highway and he always honked and waved. A couple of local people showed me a short detour around the construction. They wished me luck. I passed a few campgrounds that were closed for the season. Just before Tappen the PineView was still open and I stayed in one of their cabins.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-41238017014805077962007-10-18T14:26:00.001-05:002007-10-18T14:37:35.125-05:00Day 184 - SicamousThere was a heavy fog this morning. I could barely see ten feet in front of me. I went to the Husky Restaurant for breakfast. They said the fog should lift by noon. I thought alot about yesterday and my near death experiences. I had that feeling that something was telling me not to leave Golden. Sitting at the table across from me was a truck driver and he was telling me how poorly engineered the highway is in this area and that the highest rate of accidents are along Rogers Pass and Golden. After yesterday I could sure testify to that. It made me wonder if these were signs trying to tell me something. I left the restaurant and right beside is the greyhound bus depot. I stood there for awhile, listening to my heart, which I've been doing ever since I left St. John's. If I had a support vehicle I would chance Roger's Pass but my gut instinct is telling me to take the bus over the pass. And thats what I did. As the bus pulled out I was hoping I did the right thing. The highway was narrow and there was little to no shoulders especially across the narrow bridges and several tunnels and around the sharp curves. There was barely enough room for two vehicles. We passed an accident sight where the cement divider had been taken out. I knew then that I had made the right decision.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-56756445580390856222007-10-14T16:54:00.000-05:002007-10-14T17:35:06.083-05:00Day 183 - GoldenThe day my run and life almost ended.<br /><br />I got up and did all the things I normally do. As soon as it was daylight I started for Golden. It was a cold morning. I had a few layers of clothes on and my mits and tuque. I started out with a bit of an uphill climb. That warmed me up. The scenery just keeps getting better and better. I saw a few bear and elk tracks along the side of the road. There's so much wilderness out here. I tried to make a lot of noise by singing and talking out loud. I passed a warning sign on a post of a bear in the area. I started running a bit faster. I figured once I got past Yoho Park I would be OK.<br /><br />The shoulders on the highway are not very good. Sometimes there's none or very little. I had a few good hills to climb but it was mostly downhill. Then I came up to the 10 Mile Hill. i wasn't sure what that meant. There's an area for truckers to check their breaks and signs that read ' sharp curves, obey all signs'. There were alot of sudden curves and narrow turns and barely enough room for two vehicles. I was getting closer to Golden and couldn't wait to get off the road. The road followed the curves of the mountain and they put cement railings. I came up to a sharp 90 degree curve and I hugged the cement railing. The transport coming around the corner barely missed the railing and I thought I was going to be squished. I thought this was it. You could barely fit a hair between me and the rear end of the transport. I came up to another sharp curve and a car came whipping around and swirved at the last minute to avoid me. One more time two transports going in the opposite direction and tons of traffic behind them just about blew me over the edge. I thought to myself this is insane and someone might be trying to tell me something. I was never so happy to get off the road as much as I was today. The winding curvy mountain downhill road was pretty wicked and I thanked God I got through it. I don't understand why they wouldn't put a tunnel through the mountain instead of building up these high trecherous roads. Needless to say I was a little shaken.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-84659648355569696432007-10-12T08:29:00.000-05:002007-10-14T17:11:31.339-05:00Day 182 - FieldI don't worry about tomorrow and I can't think about yesterday anymore. I can only focus on today and todays target is a small town called Field. Its only 27 km away. A couple of marathon runners here in Lake Louise have told me when I get to Field I should rest for a few days cause the run to Golden will be a tough 53 km hilly one. I can't afford to rest. As long as the weather is good I'll keep going. I'll rest when I get home. For today I just want to get to Field and cross into B.C.<br /><br />It was a pretty chilly morning. I'm pretty excited about getting to B.C. and through Kicking Horse Pass. I came up to a lodge that was closed called West Louise. Its across from a lake. I could see the reflection of the mountains in the water. The reflection was so real like it was hard to tell what was right side up. At the peaks I could see thick ice under the snow. It made me think about mountain climbing and how much fun that would be.<br /><br />I passed the sign that said Welcome to Alberta. And then the sign Welcome to British Columbia. Finally, only one more province to go. I made a pit stop and took in the view. There was a creek down below and the scenery was incredible.<br /><br />It was a downhill run to Field. Its quite the drop in elevation. Rock cuts and the water follows the highway. I was captivated by what I was seeing. Once I got to the bottom it was pretty flat. My knees and thigh muscles were sore from the steepness of the downhill running. I came up to a sign that said End of Avalanche Area. I can only imagine what that would be like.<br /><br />When I reached Field I stopped at the Info Centre and got directions to the hostel. Its just a little town at the foot of a mountain and takes about five minutes to tour the whole town so the hostel wasn't hard to find. It's fairly new and very nice. You feel like you're in a chalet. I went to bed early in preperation for a long run to Golden tomorrow.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-79451957893605401592007-10-11T18:31:00.000-05:002007-10-11T19:15:28.523-05:00Day 181 - Lake LouiseI was lucky and got the dorm to myself, no one else showed up. I was in bed early and wanted to be well rested cause its 56 km to Lake Louise. I had a good breakfast at the hostel restaurant and then headed out. I was lucky and got a ride to the highway.<br /><br />There were a bunch of elk grazing just as I left Banff. There were more hills and some steady uphill climbs for most of the way. When the divided highway ended I could see a couple of teepee's about 75 feet off the highway. I almost went to check it out but decided to keep going. I was glad to see the wildlife fences along the highway for most of the way. There was highway construction for the last 10 km to Lake Louise. I was glad about that cause I didn't feel so alone out here.<br /><br />When I got to Lake Louise I went to the Info centre and got directions to the hostel. I checked in and then went to the restaurant for a hot cup of coffee and some pancakes. I was so hungry. I sat down by the window and watched buses and tourists come and go. There was an elderly man filling up with gas and he had a white beard and long white hair with a red cap on and a red jacket. He sure looked like Santa Claus.<br /><br />Time for a warm shower and more sleep.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-62067611390080645882007-10-10T18:55:00.001-05:002007-10-11T19:05:03.923-05:00Day 180 - BanffIt was just starting to be daylight and Magi was on her way for her morning run. I was packed up and headed for the SPCA. When I got there Jennifer and Sonya greeted me as I came up to their front entrance. A friend of theirs, Jacques, was taking pictures. After some introductions we went inside and they gave me a tour of their shelter. Its a no-kill, no-cage shelter and well designed. Cats on one side and dogs on the other. I met all their animals and got to play with a couple of puppies. I was so glad I was able to meet them. It was a brief visit and then it was time to go.<br /><br />The beautiful scenery and weather continued all the way to Banff. The air was so fresh and felt so good to breath. When I got to Banff I took the Tunnel mountain exit and took the scenic route to the hostel. What a good choice. The view was unbelievable. The road overlooked the river and valley. i came up to three deer right on the side of the road and they didn't even move as i passed them. They just stared at me. I was within touching distance. It was so cool. I reached the hostel and that is where I stayed for the night.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-45598035100276201692007-10-10T18:54:00.000-05:002007-10-11T18:54:43.283-05:00Day 179 - CanmoreLast night was the last night I stayed at Jen's place. Before we left I said good-bye to their cats; Tigre, Lucas (who slept with me), and the two kittens, Lexi & Leam. I had so much fun playing with them I was starting to get attached to them. I was tempted to take the kittens with me.<br /><br />They were calling for a chinook today which is good news for me. We drove back to Morley and before Jen left she ran with me for a bit. She's such a trooper. After Jen left I thought about how great she had been helping me out. I would give her a call in a few days and let her know how I was doing.<br /><br />The scenery out here is so spectacular. I was surrounded by beauty every where I looked and so much wilderness. As I was crossing into Bow Valley the signs read 'Attention Elk Crossing next 2 km' and then a little further there were more signs that read 'Caution Wildlife on Highway'. I hadn't seen anything yet though.<br /><br />A car pulled up ahead and it was Jim from the Roadrunner group. He stopped to see how I was doing and brought me some bear spray. I thought that was so thoughtful and kind of him and at the same time I hoped I wouldn't have to use it. He left but would catch up with me later in Canmore.<br /><br />I was trying to take in as much as I could of my surroundings and not really paying attention to what I was doing. I ran Gidget off the road a couple of times. But the water is so clear and the mountains are so breath taking. I wished it was hot out so I could take a swim but it is way too cold now. <br /><br />I got to Canmore and stopped at the Fast Gas. I called Magi and she wasn't too far and would swing by to pick me up. Unfortunately Gidget wouldn't fit in her car so she gave me directions and I would meet her there. Just as she pulled away Jim pulled up. We looked at some maps together and he gave me an idea of what was ahead. He gave me a ride to Magi's place. He also gave me a contact of someone in Lake Louise.<br /><br />After I dropped my stuff off Magi took me to The Grizzly Paw restaurant. I had a great salad she recommended and we also ordered a plate of nacho's. There was probably enough food for six people. That was kinda funny. On our way back to her place we stopped at a meeting she had and I met some of her friends. It was an early night and I was glad about that.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-36420528125935249252007-10-08T17:42:00.000-05:002007-10-08T18:08:14.318-05:00Day 178 - MorleyTime to empty the tank!<br /><br />Jim & Barb from the Roadrunner running group met us just before 9am at the Valley Ridge turnoff just west of Stoney Trail. Barb ran with me for a couple of miles and then Jim picked her up. They met up with me again a few miles down the road and gave me some contact information for some other runners they knew that I could get in touch with. They were so nice and I thought that was pretty great that they came out on this holiday Monday. I was glad I had the opportunity to meet them.<br /><br />Right away as you leave Calgary you see the mountains. What a change from the east part of Alberta. I passed the Callaway Amusement Park and an antique store called Wild Wild West. I think I scared their horse when I went by cause he jumped and then ran when he saw me.<br /><br />The closer I got to the mountains the more spectacular the scenery was and the bigger the mountains got and they are already snow covered. I was a little concerned about that. I was happy to see some trees again. Nice change from all the fields going through the prairies. There was so much traffic today. People going home from the long weekend.<br /><br />Lots of hills and I was glad I had the front wheel on Gidget. I've been running on flat land for some time now and my legs weren't use to so much up and down. My calves were a bit sore. Just before I got to Morley I watched someone horseback riding. Lucky guy.<br /><br />I got to the Morley turnoff and went inside the restaurant to change my clothes. It wasn't long and Jen and Allen picked me up.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-88125089921997637552007-10-07T21:31:00.000-05:002007-10-08T17:42:44.133-05:00Day 177 - CalgaryThe Cat House<br /><br />Kelly and the Meow Foundation & Cheryl from the Calgary Humane Society organized an event today at the Cat House. The Cat House is a store and has everything and anything you need for your cat. Kelly and Jen joined me at the Tim Horton's and ran up to the Cat House with me. They had a tent setup and some volunteers from the Meow Foundation to greet us. There was a reporter from Shaw TV and Global News. We did a brief interview and then it was time for some cake. They also had some drinks, crackers and cheese and some really thoughtful gifts. It was so nice to meet them all. We went inside the Cat House and took a look around. The owner, Joanne was really nice. She had just recently lost three cats in a short time and I could tell how painful it was for her when she told us their stories. We went from the Cat House to the Calgary Humane Society where Cheryl gave us a tour. Its a beautiful new building and they are all very proud of it. Its huge and has made an improvement in the way they can care for so many animals. We left the humane society and went over to the Meow Foundation shelter. Deb met us there and gave us a tour. She loves her cats and you can feel her passion when she speaks. What a success story they are.<br /><br />This was such a wonderful day. Its encouraging to be with people who share your compassion for animals.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-51517108345707891822007-10-05T22:45:00.000-05:002007-10-07T21:32:55.677-05:00Day 175/6 - Calgary6256 km completed - 939 km to go<br /><br />Jen dropped me off back in Strathmore. It was a very cool morning. I got off to a bit of a slow start. Maybe because of the temperature. I walked a bit, ran a bit, walked a bit and then I was OK. On my way out of Strathmore I saw a garage that read 'CAR/TRUCK/PET Wash'. I thought that was pretty cool. I took in some deep breaths of fresh air. I loved this temperature. It was great for breathing. I ran with the biggest smile on my face. Soon I would be in Calgary city limits.<br /><br />I took in as much of the surroundings as I could. I wanted to enjoy the experience as much as possible. The thought of reaching Calgary was so exciting. I got to the other side of Chestermere and could see in the distance some of the taller buildings of downtown Calgary. It was an awesome sight. I went a few more miles and now I was getting really excited. I ran to the A&W where Jen would pick me up. I just stood there for a few minutes and let out a big sigh. I stared but not really looking at anything. I closed my eyes and thanked God. I went inside the A&W to change my clothes and had a root beer. It wasn't long and Jen pulled up.<br /><br />She took me over to the Chariot head office so I could get Gidget looked at. Its a great product and I just wanted to make sure she was in good shape for the rest of the way. Well they gave Gidget a warranty overhaul. New tires, bearings, and threw in a front wheel. They were so nice and so supportive. We were good to go.<br /><br />From there we went back to Jen's place. Saturday was a rest day and I needed to pickup a new pair of shoes and do a couple of other things. Then Sunday we are meeting with the Meow Foundation and the Humane Society at the Cat House. I was so looking forward to that. Then Monday I would start heading for Vancouver.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-36173702503394452892007-10-04T23:02:00.001-05:002007-10-06T14:30:13.399-05:00Day 174 - StrathmoreIn the morning Kelly from the Meow Foundation called. I was glad I got to talk to her before we headed out and I was looking forward to meeting everyone on Sunday.<br /><br />Jen dropped me off in Gleichen and would pick me up in Strathmore after work. It was such a beautiful day. No wind, rolling hills, valleys, some horses and fresh air. It doesn't get much better than that. Some of the horses came up to the fence so I stopped for a minute to pat them. After a couple of hours some dark clouds were rolling in. They stayed to the north and south of me and it was as if the whole in the sky was meant just for me and I didn't get rained on.<br /><br />I got to Strathmore and stopped at Tim Horton's. I changed out of my sweaty clothes and sat down for a warm cup of coffee. I met a super nice couple from Outlook on there way to Calgary to celebrate their 60th anniversary with their family. They were so sweet. It wasn't long and Jen picked me up.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-21721941981317434302007-10-04T23:01:00.002-05:002007-10-06T14:38:29.062-05:00Day 173 - GleichenToday was a very calm day and this stretch of the road had more to look at. There were some nice valleys and rolling hills, more traffic. There was even a gas station halfway to Gleichen. I was looking forward to meeting Jen today. She's picking me up when she finishes work.<br /><br />When I got to Gleichen I had some time to kill before Jen arrived. Gleichen is a small town and not to many services. I went to the gas station and asked them if there was anywhere to get a coffee. There were no restaurants but the local food store had a take out food bar so I headed over there. The Gleichen Hotel was right beside it and there was a man sitting on the steps throwing up. Not a pleasant sight. I left Gidget outside the store and a lady in an SUV offered to watch her while I went in. I bought a coffee and some snacks and when I left the store she was still there. I thanked her and she drove off. I walked across the street to a very small park with a very large stone monument and sat down. An elderly man followed me and started to tell me how he was trying to walk off a hangover. I couldn't make out what else he was saying and then he asked me for some money. I gave him some change and then he left. Another elderly man came out of the post office and started picking up papers along the fence as he passed by. I said hello and he came over to talk for a minute. He told me they use to have benches in the park but they took them away because the natives would sit and drink their whisky and made a mess of the park. Once they removed the benches they stopped hanging out there. He told me the monument means alot to the town and its history. At one time there use to be a lot of military people. The plates with all the historical names had been removed to be refinished. Before he left he said the town had really changed. Another native man came over and sat down beside me. He was also suffering from a bad hangover and wanted some money. I gave him the little bit of change I had left. Once he left I went back to the gas station and waited for Jen. I called my sister but she wasn't home so I talked to her husband for a bit. Then Jen pulled up and it was great to see her. Her and her husband have two cats and two kittens and I was looking forward to meeting them all.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433966598429295301.post-89252086584711909852007-10-04T23:01:00.001-05:002007-10-06T14:40:13.297-05:00Day 172 - BassanoI wanted to get an early start so I was on the road by daylight. It was so windy today. Mentally I broke my run up into little parts so it didn't seem so far. I was getting closer to Calgary so that was helping to motivate me.<br /><br />There were so many dead animals on the road. Another beautiful coyote and more birds. I hated to see that. I met a cyclist going to Moncton. We chatted a bit. There wasn't much traffic and not alot to see. I struggled a bit with the last five or six miles but I got to Bassano. I called Jen and let her know where I was. She very kindly offered to host me while I'm in Calgary.Michelle Jameushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155238638815335867noreply@blogger.com0