From: Darren Noble
Bill 93 Relay – Shubenacadie to Fall River – May 29, 2011
Here’s a math problem for you: If 3 cyclists are travelling south with a 40 km headwind, and 3 cyclists are travelling north with a 40 km tail wind, will they meet at the time and place planned?
Bruce and Daisy Roberts, along with Chris Adams, set out from Truro today at noon with the Bill 93 relay baton to meet with Brent Noble, Robin Lattie and Darren Noble who would carry the baton on to Fall River. Needless to say, the meeting time was off and the latter group had some waiting to do in Milford. After 30 minutes passed and still no sign, we ventured further north along Highway 2 in search of the Truro riders. In Shubenacadie, we found them, still in good spirits after almost 2 hours of relentless wind. We rode back to the original meeting place in Milford to update the game plan.
We would all ride as a group to Enfield, where Bruce, Daisy and Chris would turn back for Truro and Brent, Rob and I would carry on to Fall River. Brent noticed my interest in this endeavour on such a windy day starting to wane, and with his youthful energy of 15 years and his “git ‘er dun” attitude, he decreed the baton would be in Fall River before sundown. During this side of the road chat, Bob Williams, out for a ride on this fine afternoon, stopped in. Having only met Bob in passing, but knowing Daisy and Bruce hold in him in highest respect, his parting words as he left us were (as he headed for Truro) “RIDE NORTH!”
We left Milford, tacking west in the wind along Highway 14 to Nine Mile River to give Bruce, Daisy and Chris a break. Once there, they had had enough and looked forward to wind on their backs as they headed for home. We signed off the baton, took pictures, and then there were only 3.
“Ride North” became my silent mantra as we hit the Old Enfield Road to get back on Highway 2 again. I knew when we reached Fall River; we’d turn 180 degrees, and do just that. With Brent off in the lead and Rob and I trading pulls every few minutes, we progressed to Laurie park where Rob (regretfully) called for a ride and turned back due to a family commitment in the evening. And then there were 2.
I received a call from John Newgard to say he would be at Tim’s in Fall River in 40 minutes. John, having just raced the Halifax crit, (and crashed) would “run” out to meet us and receive the baton. “Just look for the guy with the bandages” he said. His tailwind, our headwind, I figured we’d land there at the same time.
After a brief chat with John and a photo, the baton safely tucked in his jersey pocket, and farewells, he was off to Halifax. Brent and I took on a little sustenance at the aforementioned Tim’s.
Finally, Ride North! What a great ride back to Elmsdale. Looking back on the day, it didn’t really seem like we were carrying history in our jersey pockets, but I now realize we were, and very happy to have had the opportunity. Many thanks to the organizers of the Bill 93 baton relay.
Good riding, safe roads.
From: John Newgard
After the conclusion of several exciting bike races that comprised the Bicycle Plus Halifax Criterium, Cory Stockwell and I got back on our bikes and headed out to Fall River to receive the Bill 93 baton. The baton had headed south earlier in the day, into ferocious headwinds, shepherded first by the Hub Cycle crew, then by Darren noble and his son Brent. Cory and I had both sustained minor injuries from crashing in our respective races. Cory’s crash came mid-way through his race and he was able to jump back in and even capture a second place finish. I, on the other hand, crashed 250 m before the finish, and so I all captured was a case of scraped skin and a wounded ego. Nevertheless, the Bill must go on!
Halfway from Halifax to Fall River, the pain from Cory’s knee injury forced him to turn back. I carried on and met Darren and Brent in Fall River at a well-known Canadian landmark: Tim Horton’s. We chatted briefly about how great my tailwind was and how they had had to battle the headwind, then we posed for a photo op and went our separate ways.
The baton will be heading from Bicycles Plus, through Dartmouth, across the MacDonald Bridge, and through the streets of Halifax tomorrow, to arrive at the Legislature at 12:45.
