A local cyclist recently completed an 8,662 kilometre cross-country ride in support of area hospitals.
Jurjen Weerman departed from Jordan River, B.C. on May 28, and arrived in St. John's Newfoundland last week.
He says the summer-long journey was a remarkable experience.
"It was like, you accomplished something that not a lot of people did or can do and you experienced the country," he said. "There were some tough moments there, but not too many, so emotion-wise, I didn't have too many bad days."
Weerman encountered some anticipated mechanical issues as he biked across Canada to support the Wingham and District Hospital and the Children's Health Foundation.
But one thing he never had to deal with was a flat tire... that is until the final leg of his 98-day ride.
"While I'm cycling back from Cape Spear, I'm thinking what are the odds that I have been jinxing this with no flats? I'm riding along Water Street in St. John's, wobbling around a little and thinking, 'that's no good!' Look at the front tire, nothing. Look at the rear tire, no wobble in it, but flat. No way! Just before the end, I got a flat tire."
He eventually fixed it and made his way to the Atlantic Ocean. Then he stopped into a pub for a traditional Newfoundland screech-in ceremony: kissing a cod and eating bologna before doing a shot of rum.
It was a one of many highlights on the journey, one that featured 15 pounds lost, four ferry trips, 54 campgrounds, and 40 stays with friends he met along the way.
But perhaps the most important number was $10,000: the amount of donations he wanted to clear.
Though he expects more donations to trickle in now that his ride is complete, Weerman says he's already exceeded his objective.
"So far, Wingham together with the Children's Hospital and the GoFundMe that me daughter set up, I think I'm over $11,000, so I think the goal is reached."
If you still want to contribute to Weerman's campaign, you can support the Wingham Hospital here and the Children's Hospital here.
