September 27, 2024

Well, the numbers are in and it's a wrap for GCC 2024. I'm pleased to say I reached my end goal of $140,000.00 for the 8 year legacy, thanks to a couple of generous donors who came through at the eleventh hour! You know who you are and you are appreciated! This has been an amazing year for me once again! I am grateful for all of your support, whether your donation was large or small, it really doesn't matter, because all of those donations got me to where I ended up, but more importantly, they are helping the kids fighting cancer, obtain better treatment options, resulting in better outcomes for their lives.

With all that being said, today is a somewhat bittersweet day, as it is six years ago today, that we learned the devastating news that our lives were about to change in unimaginable ways in the very near future. While we always knew this day would be coming, we had hoped and prayed for it to not be so soon, but that was not to be. And so, as another year of GCC closes out, my plan is to be back for GCC 2025 and once again ride in Arlene's memory. With that being said, we can make our plans and hope they come to fruition, but our God makes the ultimate plans that will always supersede any plans we might make!

Once again, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, to all the wonderful people who have supported me in this journey, with donations, words of encouragement, and your love to help kids fighting cancer!

Hope to see you all for GCC2025!

September 20, 2024 morning ride

Another day - another ride!

Random thoughts while cycling:

➡️ it’s a beautiful day to be on the bike

➡️ why we ride and fundraise

➡️ a reminder of some of the kids who are not able to ride because they have left much to soon

➡️ a reminder of the ones still here who we are trying to help

➡️ my own daughter Arlene, in whose memory I always cycle

➡️ what can I come up with for next year’s ride, to keep this journey interesting and keep people engaged (I have a few ideas so be watching GCC 2025)

For now, everyone stay safe, be kind, and enjoy the last few days of summer weather!

Oh, and one week from today rides and donations for GCC 2024 wrap up!

September 19, 2024 morning ride

Well, with this beautiful weather still holding on, there was no reason not to get out for another ride. A boring ride to the highway and back, but then tacked on a few extra kilometers, and boy, that was worth it......what a beautiful vehicle I encountered on my travels. Guy was asked whether he loved his new vehicle that he had brought in to town to show a friend. His response was "I like my car, I love my wife.....she bought this for me!" Then, after chatting with the owner and his friends, I headed home and encountered another cool car along the side of the road, but not nearly as cool as the first one.....lol

September 18, 2024 morning ride

Why? Because the weather is still great for biking and I am able to do it. There are many who cannot because of illness, treatments, or various other reasons, but I can, so I do. Great day to be out for a quick ride!

September 12, 2024 morning ride

The weather is still favourable for biking, so this morning it was a quick ride to "the highway and back" with Oakie. I really didn't make a video, because it's getting kind of old going up that way, but it's nice and level for the most part, and they have allowed a decent biking lane for us. Just adding a few more kilometers before GCC 2024 wraps up I guess.

September 10, 2024 with Corrie Pool on the Bruce Trail in Tillsonburg

Where it all began....with Corrie Pool asking me to cycle and so we both joined Great Cycle Challenge. I have biked many kilometers with Corrie....from Woodstock to Arthur and back in two days, and then the following year, to Exeter and back the next day. Those have been my longest rides ever, but we have cycled many kilometers together, and then decided to do the Bruce Trail in Tillsonburg today. What a lovely day for biking....no wind to speak of, no humidity and beautiful sunshine on a great trail. We biked 34 kilometers today, so I have now surpassed my 400 kilometer goal by 107 kilometers. The kilometers count until September 27, 2024, so I may just get in a few more shorter rides before then, but I have accomplished what I set out to do for this year. Donations also remain open until September 27, 2024, so if you still wish to add to my totals, feel free to donate to my ride by clicking on the link......just remember, it's always about raising money to help the kids.....that is always the goal!

September 7, 2024 - first post GCC ride

Today I went out for a ride to add on a few more kilometers to my ride. The headwind was not fun, but the ride back was sweet. My plan is to go out on Tuesday with a friend, and then I hope to break the 500 kilometer mark. Hopefully, this also translates into a few more donations, but we shall see. The weather is supposed to be great for the next little while, so outdoor biking is still an option, before I have to resort to the indoor trainer.

September 2, 2024

Great Cycle Challenge 2024 has officially ended for me. I am please that I met both my kilometer and fundraising goals again this year! Thank you to all who helped make this happen by sponsoring and encouraging over the last eight months or so. I will take a break for a few months before I start thinking about GCC 2025. The site will remain open for a few more weeks, so if you missed making a donation, and still wish to do so, it's still possible. With your help I got SO close to making the $33,000.00 this year....just short by $14.99 lol

Once GCC 2024 is totally wrapped up, I will start working on a presentation that I have been invited to give in the spring. I want to wait until all the final numbers are in, before I do that though, so I will be able to give an accurate representation of how the current year ended up.

August 24, 2024 Day 24 at Harvest Fest in Ingersoll

My kilometers should be all finished tomorrow, but just to be sure they would be, I did a quick trip (?) down to Harvest Fest in the park to check out all the vendors and goings on today. There were a lot of vendors there, with lots of cool stuff....crafts, food, woodworking, balloon art, a car show, and just about anything you could imagine. My speed sure wasn't accurate today as I forgot to pause my ride several times and was just strolling through the park...lol

It was fun to see it all and I picked up my new bracelet which was replacing one which broke.

August 23, 2024 Day 23

This morning it wasn't too windy, the temperature was good, so the perfect day to get out for a few more kilometers. I have 25 kilometers left to reach my goal, and seven days to do it, so I suspect I will easily go over my 400 kilometers. We biked to "the highway and back" which has been most of my rides, so getting new pictures becomes a problem.....lol At the highway, we ran into a group of "biker chicks" on their way to Wasaga Beach. They were waiting to hook up with a few more riders there, and who should show up but Alisa Rodenburg. Who said school teachers don't have fun? Sorry Alisa, in chatting, I forgot to get a picture of you on your wheels, so I had to cheat and grab a couple from your facebook page. We chatted for a bit and the girls were on their way, and we headed home.

August 22, 2024 Day 22

I'm sorry I have not posted in a few days, but rest assured, I have been biking. Today I took my grandson on an adventure by going to London on the train and then getting picked up and brought back home. It was an awesome time on the train, as Liam got to meet Zach once again (he met him twice before on our group rides). Zach entertained us with balloon art and card tricks, finished off with a picture of the three of us, Zach with his big red glasses.

After returning home, dinner and cleanup, I cranked out another 15.6 kilometers and ended up at the train station to meet up with Zach on his return trip. He messaged that they would not be stopping in Ingersoll as there were no pickups or drop offs. I was going to wait and wave him through but they were stopped and it was getting dusk, so I headed home before it got dark for real!

I am getting close to finishing my kilometers, and I am getting so close to being at the top of the leaderboard.

August 16, 2024 Day 16

This morning started out without rain, but the plan was to take care of the peaches that were ripening fast. So, rather than a bike ride, we worked on peach jam and canned a few jars as well. By time we were finished, the first customer showed up to purchase some peach jam......and brought a donation as well! That has officially put me over the $31,000.00 mark....yay!

Tomorrow also does not look promising for a bike ride and the forecast indicates a rain day. I am thankful that I already have 3/4 of my kilometers finished. Today and tomorrow will be the first days this month that I am not biking, but I will get my 400 kilometers finished before the end of the month.

So peach jam is for sale now, and the 50/50 board will stay active until the end of the month as well. Message me how you can participate in this and help raise even more money for kids fighting cancer. And as always, GCC will be accepting donations into the first week of September, so if you have not donated, and wish to do so, there is still lots of time to do so. It doesn't matter the amount, for as little as a cup of your favourite java, you can help to make a difference in the life of a child fighting cancer! They should be enjoying being outside and playing and enjoying life, but fate has dealt them a different blow, and they struggle to even have a life! LET'S COME TOGETHER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE

"we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give!" - Winston Churchill

August 15, 2024 Day 15 Ride 2

Tonight I wanted to get in another ride, so I went with a buddy! He's a bit slower so we only got 8.3 kilometers and it took us 40 minutes....but check him out after the ride.....he wasn't winded at all...lol

But after updating all the information, I have now reached 3/4 of my riding goal - getting it done one kilometer at a time. I have surpassed my fundraising goal, but I am always open for more donations, because research and treatments cost A LOT OF MONEY!

August 15, 2024 Day 15 Ride 1

It was a slow start to get ready to ride today because there were so many messages and pictures and donations from yesterday to respond to. It was after lunch before we got out for a ride, but ride we did. A slower pace a bit but a nice ride to the highway and back, where I also picked up another donation.

All day yesterday, after staying up the night before to enter all my donations for Match Day, I ended up in first place on the leaderboard. Upon waking up this morning though, I found Jarrod Russell had surpassed me and took the number one spot again this year. Good for you Jarrod....it's all good since we all ride for the same cause....kids cancer research and treatments!

August 14, 2024 - Group Ride (2 parts)

WHAT AN AMAZING DAY!!!! We gathered at the Alliance Church parking lot in Tillsonburg....18 strong! We were serenaded by piper Stephen Benedict (wife Grace was also present doing video) who piped us out of the church parking lot till we all got on to the Bruce Trail (amazing). From there we cycled as far as Highway 59, were we turned back toward Makkink Flower Farm/Bakery, were we had a fantastic lunch and great camaraderie amongst all the participants of the day. The beauty of this trail is that you can cycle as much or as little of it as you wish.....so bike half of what you can do, and turn back! Since the group ride actually happened on Match Day (this was unplanned), it was great watching all the riders receive great donations as we were cycling along. After enjoying our lunch at the bakery, people were free to disperse for the last few kilometers back to their vehicles or hang around to chat some more. WHAT A GREAT DAY WE ALL HAD TOGETHER! I am thankful for the great turnout and the great support from the riders, donors, the bakery and staff (they are fantastic as well), and the weather which was perfect for our ride! Heading home after a visit with my son, daughter in law and grandson, it was time to put my mind at ease that everything went well.....but man, it takes a long time to process how the whole day unfolded! It's the next day, and I am still trying to update information, look at pictures and just relive the whole day's events. This morning we found another donation under the barbecue tank, which unfortunately did not make it in for match day but has since gone in to the ride! I asked hubby to look around to see if there might be more money lurking about, as this is the second donation that came unexpectedly to the house...lol

Oh, and out of all of this, I also got another speaking gig, for which I am very grateful.

August 13, 2024 Day 13

Wow see what a day! A bottle/cans drop off with a visit from friends! Enjoyed coffee and fellowship out on the deck! While visiting my peaches arrived from Niagara so a short visit with Kristi as she dropped them off. Then a quick trip to drop off bottles and cans and then home to get my paperwork all ready for entering a few donations at the stroke of midnight….well perhaps 5 after just to be sure we are on the correct date! Grabbed a bite of lunch….and a peach or two🤷🏻‍♀️. There was a window of opportunity to get in a quick ride to the highway and back before making dinner, eating and cleanup! Then it was time to make sure everything was in place for the group ride tomorrow! How could I have known all these things would coincide with match day!? But it’s all good….my mind may have been busier than my body but by Thursday all the busyness will be behind me! It’s been a bit of a whirlwind today but tomorrow will be a fun day of riding with 15-20 other GCCers! That should be fun as the weather is cooperating and I’m looking forward to a great ride!

August 12, 2024 Day 12 Ride 2

It was a beautiful evening for a ride to get a few more kilometers! My bike and I and Spotify! We make a good team! The kilometers and the time just seem to fly by. I biked to the highway and back and then explored around town a bit. Found out there was a car show at the park and multiple baseball games happening! Before I knew it I needed to hurry home before the sun was setting!

August 12, 2024 Day 12 Ride 1

The usual ride to the highway and back! I probably should remember to resume the video after taking pictures though…lol

I plan to go for another ride later in the day to get to my kilometer goal!

August 11, 2024 Day 11

So far I have been able to cycle every day in August to get my kilometers done. Currently I have 217 of my 400 kilometers finished. At this rate I will certainly be able to complete my kilometers. Now to see whether I can achieve my goal of raising $15,000 this year.

The wind is not my friend, and there have been many windy days so far, but I soldier on, because that's what the kids have to do. I actually have a choice, they do not, so I ride and fundraise for them!

August 10, 2024 Day 10 - Stratford Ride

This is still a catch up post, but this one I remember. I got a ride to Stratford to join a small group ride there, for the purpose of having a "Stratford" connection and an interview with a journalist from the Stratford Times newspaper. We biked with the three of us, Bill, Wendy and I. After an interview with the reporter, and some pictures, we set off to cycle around the beautiful town of Stratford....through subdivisions and up and down both sides of the Avon River. What a beautiful town Stratford is. The ride and the company were great and after some sixteen kilometers we packed up the bikes and headed back home again.

August 9, 2024 - Day 9 Ride 2

Again, I am playing "catch up" so not sure which pictures were from the morning ride and which ones from the evening ride, but I suspect this one with the shadow ride was from the evening. I must do better to keep up to get the right pictures and videos posted....lol

So much to do and so little time to do it all...lol

August 9, 2024 - Day 9 Ride 1

It doesn't pay to not post these rides every day, because right now I cannot remember back to what Friday was like. I know I biked because I have biked every day in August so far. The weather has allowed for that although it has been somewhat windy most of the time.

August 8, 2024 - Day 8 Ride 2

An afternoon spent getting a much needed haircut. Then when I got home, there was time for another quick ride before the rain (which did not materialize) was to show up. So why not just do the same route again....the bike knows the way...lol

No GCC jersey this time, but still a cancer type shirt to talk about the ride and the journey of CANCER!

Two rides to the highway and back, and I gained another 17.6 kilometers. The helmet didn't do much for the recently set hair, but helmet head but don't care! Getting my kilometers in one ride at a time.

Oh, and I shaved one minute off my morning ride time, while taking a few minutes to stop and chat with a non GCC rider I met on the way.

So was it because I was biking alone, or because I had a lighter head due to haircut.....who knows, but it happened!

August 8, 2024 - Day 8 Ride 1

A quick ride to the highway and back this morning....had company on the ride so no music but conversation instead. My bike is starting to know this path, and can probably make it without a rider...lol

August 7, 2024 - Day 7

What a great day for a ride to get some kilometers in for my GCC ride today. My plan was to bike around the perimeter of my hometown, and with the exception of a detour, I accomplished that again. It's always challenging to come up with something different, but I think this was an interesting ride. One week into the challenge, I have completed 156.1 kilometers of my goal of 400 kilometers. I don't usually do rides this long, so I am going to relax for the rest of the day...lol

August 6, 2024 - Day 6

Today's rain did not give much hope of getting kilometers in today, so I worked on "making turtles". But after dinner the rain stopped, and although it was a bit on the cool side, I did manage to get out for a ride today. My goal is to ride some kilometers every day, so I need at least a half hour window to get out on the bike. Tonight I managed to add 15.5 kilometers to my goal so I am over 1/4 finished my kilometers. I have a ways to go on the donation end of things yet though. If you have helped me to get to where I am in the fundraising, I thank you very much. If you have not, and are able to do so, your help in getting me to the goal of $15000 would be greatly appreciated. Every little bit helps, so $5, 10 or 20, it really doesn't matter. They all help to get us to the total to help the kids fighting cancer

August 5, 2024 - Day 5 - Ride 1

I am pleased to say that I have finished just over 1/4 of my 400 kilometers in five days. Today's ride was to honour a warrior gone to soon....little Griff. We all ride for the same cause....in the hopes that a cure and better treatment options can be found for the kids so they can lead long and fulfilling lives! PLEASE DONATE IF YOU CAN.....EVEN A SMALL DONATION HELPS IN THE FIGHT!

August 4, 2024 - Day 4

Getting it done one kilometer at a time!

August 3, 2024 - Day 3

A quick ride to the highway and back (8.8 kilometers) turned into a 17.4 kilometer ride this morning. Along the way I picked up another donation, as well as sold 4 more blocks on the 50/50 board! I checked out what was happening at the market, but it seemed the be lacking in vendors today! So far I have completed 70.4 of my 400 kilometers in the first three days of the challenge.

If you are interested in getting in on the 50/50 draw, message me to find out how you can get on it....or you can make a donation directly to my page by clicking on the picture or link.

Whether your donation is 5, 10, 20 or even more, it all helps in research funding to give the kids fighting cancer a better future. Together we can make a difference.

August 2, 2024 Day 2

I was awake by 5 a.m. this morning and figured to stay awake so I could get out right at 6 a.m. to get a ride in before the heat and humidity. I was all set to go at 6 a.m. - biking shorts, GCC jersey on, went outside and opened the garage to get my bike. So I am sitting out on the deck getting my shoes on, helmet on, and hooking up my phone, and what do I hear.....pitter patter, oh no, it's raining. I do NOT start biking if it is raining, so I came back inside and went back to bed. Then it was 8 a.m. when I woke up and it was dry out, but then I had other things to attend to. Shortly after ten, and checking the radar, I figured I had a window of opportunity to get some kilometers in, so off I went for the next 95 minutes. My speed is usually not so fast, as I always meet people to chat with along the route, but I managed 17.5 kilometers for the day. I think tonight looks like rain so that might be it for today!

August 1, 2024 Day 1 Ride 2

I went out early this morning to get kilometers in and then it was a gramma/Liam day. We had an awesome day together....and we went for ice cream....yay! After dinner I got the chance to head out for another ride, much longer than this morning. I started out doing the Cami Loop but time allowed for a longer ride before the sunset, so I met up with Janelle R. and we rode together for a while before we parted company and each headed home again....before the sun went down!

August 1, 2024 - GCC Day 1

Me, my bike and Spotify were out for our inaugural ride this morning at about 6:15 am! What a beautiful morning for the start of GCC 2024! I got 12.7 kilometers of my 400 finished this morning! Now I’m off to do gramma things today with the hopes of getting another ride in tonight after dinner!

July 26, 2024

So Pizzafest in Ingersoll has come and gone! What an amazing event this turned out to be! I had a table set up to promote GCC and hopefully get a few more donations! While donations were a bit sparse (most people had their hands full with pizza and a drink so no free hand to dig out a few bucks to help kids fighting cancer I guess), I made some very interesting connections there! As I was setting up, a fellow comes up and asks about GCC and my involvement and after a short conversation he says, you must know if my friend Zach Wells! Well what an epic moment to meet Darren Bedford from Toronto and learn he is the man that sells Zach his unicycles! And it turns out he is the entertainment on the Main Street for the evening! Then after the event was over, we met up and had an interesting conversation about GCC and I was introduced to his friend from St. Thomas who owns a business down there! More networking and the possibility of some fun stuff for future GCC events next year!

July 25, 2024

Soon it will be time to start counting kilometers. I have been counting $$$ for quite some time now, but it seems that things are at a bit of a standstill right now. This afternoon from 4 - 8 p.m. you can find me at the Ingersoll Pizza Fest on the main street in downtown Ingersoll. Swing by and chat about Great Cycle Challenge and our efforts to raise a lot of money to help the kids fighting cancer. Donations will be accepted on site, so everyone will be able to help make a difference in these young kids lives. All money collected gets sent to Sick Kids Foundation to help in research for and treatments of childhood cancer. Hope to see you there this afternoon!

July 19, 2024

Today was a special day….the last of four fundraisers ended today! These four fundraisers have helped to raise a large sum of money to help the kids fighting cancer! It was exciting to be able to deliver the prize package to Lynn DeVries! To see the excitement on her face was so wonderful to see. She couldn’t believe that she actually had won the package! Her husband was still under the impression that she was to pick one of the prizes in the package! I told him “no, it’s ALL hers”!

So her husband often kids me when I approach him about fundraisers and says I collect money from him but he never wins a thing! Imagine their surprise when they actually win this time! It just goes to show that you never really know whether you might be the winner! The only thing you can be sure of is that if you have not purchased a spot on the wheel you will NOT win! But even then you can feel good that you have helped in the fight against childhood cancer!

Once again, congratulations Lynn DeVries, and thank you for your continued support for the cause!❤️

Canada Day - July 1, 2024 evening ride

After a day of cleaning and washing floors and doing laundry, a ride was not what I really wanted to do! I watched the Jays lose yet another game, and then had dinner. I decided it really was time to get out for a training ride.....it's only one month today before GCC become REAL, and I have to ride the 400 kilometers I have committed to. So off I went, and once out on the bike, it felt great to go for a ride. It wasn't a long ride.....only 11.1 kilometers, but it's a start. Maybe this will also spur people on to get their donations in. In my memories on Facebook today, it became apparent that the whole movement is somewhat behind on riders, teams, and more importantly, DONATIONS. I'm trusting that as I continue to do the kilometers, YOU will help me to reach my goal of $15,000 for the kids this year!

June 18, 2024

Today was a very hot day, so biking was not in the plans for me today, but I was able to touch base with a few people and get some more donations, as well as sell a couple of spots on the Southwest Oxford Plus Tour package wheel. Are you on the wheel already? You're not???? Message me to see how you can win an awesome package with a $1209.00 value.

June 15, 2024

https://greatcyclechallenge.ca/Riders/HenriettaOlthoffMulder

Are you ready? A new fundraiser is ready to launch! Check out the new package - and then get your spot on the wheel for your chance to win this! When doing so you are helping in the fight against childhood cancer!

EMT $25 to omulder@rogers.com to get your name on the wheel!

June 14, 2024

I have been keeping busy with GCC things - mostly fundraising things! I’ve been out for a few shorter rides, but my main focus is always on fundraising as that’s what helps in the research and treatments!

Yesterday was a fun day where we picked the winner of the Golf Dream package! I want to congratulate Dave Boersma, who stopped by to chat and purchased a spot on the wheel while I was set up at Your Independent Grocer! So as one fundraiser ends, the next one is almost ready to roll out!!!! It’s a fantastic package with quite a variety of fun stuff in it! Like to fly, got it; like to eat, got it; like adventure, yep got that too! Be watching for it next week and then get your name on this wheel for your chance to win a prize package worth over $1,200.00

June 3, 2024

What a beautiful day to get out for a ride on this, National Bicycle Day. I went out for a ride, taking Oakie along to the highway and back. Then I stopped in at the house and picked up some flyers and continued on to bike around my town of Ingersoll. I chatted with a couple of people at Smith's Pond, who were fishing, got a donation, chatted some more before leaving and heading in another direction. Before heading home, I managed to sell another spot on the golf wheel, (you are NOT on the wheel yet???? there is still time to fix that) and then got home to see my brother had stopped in for a visit. We had a lovely visit - these are so important as there are just the two of us left now! Tonight I headed out for a bit in the car, and made a stop at another one of my peeps, who also came through with a donation for the cause. I am so impressed with all the people who support what I do. They get it.....no child should suffer from this disease.....they should be out playing and living their best lives.

May 20, 2024

It's early in the day yet, so not much has happened, but I just want to share with you all that the GOLFER'S DREAM PACKAGE 2024 edition is ready now. The weather is great, the courses are ready, and I have a wonderful package to allow you a lot of golfing this season. While the hope is that YOU will be the winner of the package, it will always be the kids fighting cancer that are the BIG winners in all of these fundraisers! Check out the details on the flyer and then hurry on to get your name on the wheel. This fundraiser will only run until June 12, 2024, just in time for the winner to receive the passes before FATHER'S DAY. Why not get your name on the wheel, for a chance to win an awesome gift for your father, mother, brother, sister, significant other, or just enjoy it for yourself!!!!

May 19, 2024

What a beautiful day to be out for a ride. The sun was out and not too much wind....perfect for getting in a training ride. I managed 18.5 kilometers today, riding to the highway and back, and then continuing on to add more kilometers. You never know where you end up, and today I biked through part of the local cemetery, "visiting" people who I was acquainted with but are no longer with us! And as always, I ride in Arlene's memory!

May 16, 2024

The SHOP LOCAL PLUS fundraiser has ended and a winner has been picked. Mary Rooke won the prize package valued at $1,285.00 and it was delivered to her this afternoon!

Next fundraiser ⛳️🏌️‍♂️🏌️🏌️‍♀️will launch by next weekend I hope! Be watching for it!

May 11, 2024

Did you see the light show last night?…I didn’t either🥲! But getting a spot on the wheel for the SHOP LOCAL PLUS fundraiser could add some colour to your life! This is the last weekend to purchase a spot. Wheel spin happens May 16, 2024! And then…..

April 30, 2024 morning walk

A quick walk to Albert Heijn this morning.....they restocked their chocolate bars, so cashed in the scratch ticket, and purchased a few other things. Then walked back to the condo. Everything is very close by here, so the walks are rather short, but today was dry (so far) so good to go out for a short walk!

April 29, 2024 afternoon walk

Another of the few nice sunny days we have had while on vacation. The weather has not been the best, but we are making the most of the sunny days we have had. We went for a walk again this afternoon, and then sat outside and relaxed in the sunshine!

April 29, 2024 - morning walk

This morning we went for a walk to the Albert Heijn in Oostende, Belgium, to pick up a few things for dinner tonight and to cash in scratch tickets, that, until Saturday, I had been throwing away because I didn't understand quite how they worked. Now I find out that the answer is actually right on the front of the ticket....you just have to pick the right answer!

April 26, 2024

This morning we left the B and B in Earnewaud and headed back to the Oostende home in Belgium. It was a lengthy uneventful drive until we got to Ghent, were we encountered, guess what? ...more rain...ugh! This has been the coldest, wettest vacation in Europe we have ever encountered. We left shortly after 9 a.m. and arrived back in our Air B and B around 2:30 pm. After that lengthy drive, we went for some groceries and then just crashed for the rest of the day. LIFE IS GOOD!

April 25, 2024

Thursday was an exciting day of travel, and meeting up with our friends daughter, Jenny deKorte and her family in Rhoon. We had a lovely lunch with her and two of her children, Dewi and Dante. Later her husband, Bas, made a quick appearance between meetings. Still later, her other son, Jorn, arrived to meet us, and take us to the newly purchased home he is renovating. After lunch we drove to Arlene's friend Greta and her family in Heteren. We met with her daughter Danee and her boyfriend Gys, and had a lovely spaghetti dinner with them. Missing from the crew was Greta's husband Erwin, and their daughter Milou and her boyfriend. It was a lot of driving today, but a lot of fun catching up from the last number of years.

April 22, 2024

After a hearty breakfast in the B and B, we headed over to the Princenhof Hotel Restaurant to await the arrival of family from Wieringerwerff, North Holland. Upon arrival of Jannie Reitsma and her daughter Elly Laan, we enjoy coffee, and lots of chit chat catching up on the last number of years. Then they walked back to the B and B with us, where we chatted some more and took a few snapshots. We walked them back to their car at the Hotel, and they were on their way and we headed back to the B and B to do some computer stuff.

April 20, 2024

I brought my favorite jersey along to the Netherlands, in the event I would get the chance to bike there. The weather here, unfortunately, is not conducive to biking, as it is sunshine, cold, then rain for 20 minutes, then back to sunshine....very unpredictable, so renting bikes isn't a great option, but I wasn't carrying that jersey to the Netherlands for nothing, so donned the jersey and got a picture from the hotel in Earnewaud with waterway in the background!

March 12, 2024

A day late in posting, but yesterday I got out for a short bike ride again. The weather is great for now, but the coming week looks like more winter like weather again, so need to get out whenever I can! For the better part of the day yesterday, I was in Tillsonburg area, building the SOUTHWEST OXFORD PLUS TOUR package, and it's almost all put together now. Just a few more businessess to touch base with, but with it being March break, it was not possible to connect with everyone. But I must say, it has some awesome stuff in it again this year, so be watching for it sometime in May 2024!

March 8, 2024

So the SHOP LOCAL fundraiser was all ready to launch ahead of schedule! Today it was launched on Facebook and so it’s open for you to purchase spots NOW! It will still run until May 15 though! Currently I am building a couple of other fundraiser packages and they are also looking like amazing packages. Stay tuned for them after the current one finishes!

March 7, 2024

The weather is beginning to look more and more like spring every day. That means more and more opportunities to get out on my bike to train for the 400 kilometers I plan to ride in August! What it also means is, fundraising is well underway......with the first fundraiser completed, the second one is ready to roll out soon! It's been tweaked a bit from the past fundraiser, so be watching for opportunities to get free spots on the spinner wheel! Grab your aunts, uncles, cousins, or anyone you might think would be interested in winning an awesome prize package! Details will be revealed in just 8 short days!!!!! March 15, 2024 is the launch date for the SHOP LOCAL fundraiser, and the package has something for everyone in it.....gifts, gift certificates, vouchers, just such a variety of things that you don't want to miss this one!

March 4, 2024 - Inaugural ride for the year

Today was the first day out on the bike for a ride, and while I thought my timing hadn't lost a lot over the winter, the headwinds on the return trip begged to differ. But the weather was great...a balmy 20 degrees....so there really was no good reason to be outside. It felt great to be out there again! And so, as the biking begins, the fundraising continues. Coming soon will be the SHOP LOCAL fundraiser, that looks like a great package. You won't want to miss it!!!

February 22, 2024

Have you sponsored a hat for newborns at the hospital yet? If not, there are more hats available so reach out to me through Messenger if you are interested in doing so! $6 let’s you sponsor a hat for newborn babes while you help me to raise money for kids fighting cancer!

February 22, 2024

All to help the kids fighting cancer!!!

In case you missed it, there is still time to get in on the HI STEP fundraiser! An awesome package could become yours by getting your name on the wheel! Details on the flyer! Don’t see anything you like on the flyer, possibility exists to donate the package to disadvantaged people living in a shelter of your choice! Still not convinced? Another awesome package will be ready to roll out on March 15, 2024. Be watching for it. It’s got lots of cool stuff in it….something of interest for lots of people!

February 2, 2024

So while you are all busy deciding on whether to join in the fun of being able to win an awesome prize package in the HI STEP fundraiser, I am out building a SHOP LOCAL package. It's coming together nicely, and promises to have some very cool things available for you. But first things first, don't forget to get your name on the wheel for the current fundraiser. It ends at the end of February, when the wheel spin will take place.......and you get an extra day, just because it's a leap year this year. But hurry to get on the wheel, you don't want to miss this one! And your ability to help me help the kids fighting cancer, means that together we can help to make a difference in the lives of the little ones fighting for their lives!!!

January 23, 2024

While you all have been watching the weather, I have been busy putting together the first fundraiser for my Great Cycle Challenge 2024 ride to help kids fighting cancer! It’s ready to launch a few days early, so there is no time like the present to let you all have a peak and get in on the action!

January 17, 2024

The first fundraiser package is coming together nicely and it has some interesting stuff in it that I think you will enjoy! Just a few more people to touch base with and then it’s time to print up flyers and start promoting it. The other issue is that I’m trying to come up with a catchy name for this fundraiser….still working on that. It should be ready to roll out by the end of the month!

January 11, 2024

There’s not too much happening in my GCC world right now, but I just want to alert you to some behind the scenes goings on! Currently, I am working on putting together another fundraiser package. Be watching my Facebook page to see when it’s ready to launch. I’m hoping to have some cool stuff in the packages this year, but that’s the hard work before you all get to see the package once it rolls out! Right now it’s just me, reaching out to some vendors who might be willing to donate something to the prize package. Stay tuned!

January 3, 2024

And so it begins for another year! I have registered for GCC 2024 and am excited to see how this year goes! I’m hoping I can count on many people to help me achieve my goal of raising at least $15,000 this year. I have committed to riding 400 kilometers again!

While the first fundraising initiative has already happened with the sale of 2024 calendars, anyone still wanting one….message me as I have the ability to have more printed if necessary!

And now it will be time to start thinking of more fundraising ideas so please stay tuned to my page as the new fundraisers are rolled out!