My Hosts

I have a long history with Bob.  Bob was my landlord when I owned and ran The Reptile Store in Hamilton ON between 1999 and 2002.  And then years later they moved to Vancouver.  When I completed my...

Kane has been following my ride from way back and is a fellow cycle tourer.  He has biked to Japan, Korea and across Canada.  Me and Kane got along very well had many many conversations about life...

A super huge thank to Sander Dynes and the people at Patagonia Victoria for the very generous gift of a new Patagonia rain jacket and rain pants to help keep me dry as I pedal along the west coast...

Nicolas came biking up to me in Victoria after I had just finished photographing my first views of Victoria.  He right away asked me if I needed a host because I could stay with him.  I was actually...

Do you remember Pascal from March 5?  Pascal had been following my ride and when I arrived in Montreal he reached out and took me on a 4 hour walking tour of the downtown of Montreal.  Pascal is...

Mark & Natasha run the campground for Wya Point Surf Shop. When Mark heard that I had just biked across Canada he insisted that I stay for free as long as I wanted and fed me supper (twice)....

Would you believe this family was my only host on my first bike ride when I biked through Grande Prairie AB in 2011. (They have since moved to Vancouver Island). In Grand Prairie they were hosts...

You might recognize Chris's photo from earlier this summer.  Chris and his friend Anthony recognized me in Jasper when they notice my latest Strava app update told them I was in Jasper.   You can...

I enjoyed meeting Fatima Sumar and John Leung from The Healthy Way Vibes at Breka Bakery & Cafe Earlier in the week was a guest on their show and had a great time.  Fatima was eager to meet me...

Patty had the honor of being my 50th host crossing Canada by bicycle. The next morning Patty took me on a bit of a road tour around White Rock and to Canada‘s longest pier. We checked out the...

Graeme & Joel in the back.  Charis, Brooklin the dog, Karen and Hannah in the front Graeme was from back home in Ontario from the church I attended as a teenager. Graeme very unexpectedly...

I had been following this guy on Facebook thanks to a previous host Alasdair Veitch.  While I was in Vancouver I realized Andy only lived about 30 km's away from where I was staying.  So I messaged...

John had reached out way back before the ride when I was still in PEI.  So he has been following my ride from the very beginning.  Upon reaching Vancouver John invited me on his show - The Healthy...

I knew Shannon from way back in 2011 when I lived in Vancouver after my first bike ride.  We attended the same church.  Shannon was really sure where I was except he was sure that I was somewhere...

Orlando is a long time social media follower from Abbotsford British Columbia.  Orlando is actually friends with Ray Chin and was thanks to Orlando that me and Ray met. Orlando drove out to...

Wandering through Vancouver this afternoon Bruce Barton walks up to me and asks me if I am Arie. 2.5 million people live in Vancouver. He said he recognized my smile, my (Voortman Cookie) baseball...

I met some super interesting folks last night - Antoine Gagne & Isabelle Richard of Quebec Antoine & Isabelle designed and modified their van to allow them to live in their van all year...

I stayed with this really nice family for 2 nights.  Dawn is originally from Halifax Nova Scotia and spent much of her early years biking and bike touring.  It was awesome to talk bike touring. ...

Bruce and Hilary of Salmon Arm BC hosted me for 2 nights. (Hilary wouldn’t go for the picture deal) I stayed an extra day to enjoy a day on Shuswap Lake on their boat. And I ate like a king all day....

Hermann had posted a comment to a Facebook Group post a very long time ago about hosting me if I came his way.  So when I sent him a message that I would be coming through town (Salmon Arm BC) he...

I spent 3 nights at Kicking Horse Hostel in Golden British Columbia. I want to thank Tanya very much for being a lovely host. Camping in the backyard was only $10 a night plus access to everything...

Bruce is a long time follower from the beginning. Bruce contacted me when I arrived in Jasper. He offered to pick me up and drive me to McBride British Columbia (170 km’s) towards Prince George and...

After finally getting down to work on my computer in Jasper. Two guys knock on the front window of the hostel I am staying at. (The main waiting/working area of the downtown hostel on the main floor...

Ha Phan reached out to me on May 24 about her bike ride across Canada. On June 15 Ha left Toronto headed to Vancouver. Since then we have remained in contact with me feeding her intel on the road...

I met Nicole when their family was camping in Dinosaur Provincial Park the other week.  Nicole noticed me on my bike and wanted to know my story.  While looking for hosting in Calgary Nicole reached...

While visiting the Hoodoos in Drumheller I was wondering about hosting for Calgary as I need some rear wheel hub repairs.  I put a post out to my followers.  Through a Facebook share via another fan...

On August 2 when I arrived at the Hoodoos near Drumheller  Alberta I was basically out of water, 6 days without a shower, my battery packs almost drained, I had just pedallled 100 km's in the heat...

I barely pedalled to his business with more bike issues. Kevin helped me locate some bike help in Brooks that could possibly look at my bike.  I arrived at Kevin's shop about 20 minutes before...

I walked into That’s Empressive in the town of Empress to make arrangements for a camping site and a shower. Ted took one look at me and instantly recognized me as a cyclist biking across Canada. I...

So east of Swift Current my bike trailer wheel started to make a squealing noise and I knew instantly what the problem was.  A quick inspection of the wheel validated my suspicions.  The one dust...

Chris and Lindsay from Regina Saskatchewan are looking to cycle across Canada on trikes next year.  So it was great to be able to talk gear and bike routes. I stayed at their place for 2 nights...

Brad Brown owns and runs a local newspaper in Saskatchewan covering the small towns Vibank, Odessa, Sedley, Francis, Montmartre, Kronau, White City, Emerald Park, Pilot Butte and Balgonie. Brad had...

I had an amazing time at CFB Shilo.  This was my first time ever being on a military base.  I actually had such an amazing experience learning about Steve and Steve's career in the military as an...

Louis Masur for hosting me in Winnipeg (via Warm Showers) for 2 evenings. Louis convinced me to stay an extra day to check out some of the sites in Winnipeg. So glad I did. Winnipeg has more going...

Tara saw my news piece in the Sudbury Star Newspaper and reached out that if I was going through Ft Frances that there was a place for me to stay to rest up and get caught up on my work. Because of...

Russ at Taggs Source for Sports in Fort Frances Russ went totally out of the way to help me with a failed rear hub. I would end up being stuck in Fort Frances for practically a week because of my...

Making my way down Highway 11 my phone rang.  It was Harry Ludwig an old co-driver from Voortman Cookies.  Harry was currently driving through Nipigon with his wife on his way west to Winnipeg to...

Martin, Corinne, Matthew, Samuel & Kyla On my west from Thunder Bay I stopped at the beautiful Kakebeka Falls.  In less then a minute of arriving The Tempelman family approached me curious about...

Coming into Thunder Bay I knew I needed my bike tuned up and was desperate to charge batteries and get on top of my blogging and documenting.   So I reached through Warm Showers.org.  Annie...

Imagine my surprise pedalling towards Thunder Bay via Lakeshore Drive when another cycle tourist pulls up along side me.  Victor is from France and was in Quebec for school.  The day we met was his...

Ray is the first cycle tourist I have run into on my ride since starting out in November 12, 2019.  Ray reached out through a mutual follower.  I think when Ray was going through Thunder Bay when he...

Clarke is a news man from Yourtv North Bay.  Steve Featherstone invited Clarke out to the reptile camp  when I was visiting Steve to do  news clip for that evening.

Steve runs Reptile Adventure Camp in Bonfield.  Steve is one of the very people that I know who has consistently from the day I met him has impressed me. I wrote a blog post on Reptile Adventure...

I met Julian at the picnic area of Dorset.  Julian was with his dad and they saw my bike and stopped to talk.  Julian is 17 and just recently purchased a MEC National bike just like mine and plans...

Russ lives a little south east of Minden Ontario and reached out to me the day I announced that I was back on the road.  Thanks to Russ I was able to a shower, a hot meal and a laundry done....

John was a co-worker/driver at Voortman Cookies where I worked until I started on this bike ride.  John had called me a few days earlier on my birthday.  Quickly in the conversation we realized that...

Arriving in Kingston March 19 to visit my aunt Henny on my way through seemed like it should have been fairly uneventful visit.  Little did I know this visit would be on the eve of the escalation of...

Of Hamilton Ontario Paul started his own YouTube channel at the same time I started the Safari Arie YouTube channel.  Paul did a really cool Safari Arie Bike Ride video.  You can watch it here.  Be...

From Sarnia Ontario Brandon is my new YouTube producer and I am super excited to work with him.  Brandon is a real go-getter and it did not take him long to get a trailer and a hour long documentary...

Of Fredericton, New Brunswick David reached out interested in connecting via video.  David is a fellow touring cyclist who has been following me for sometime now.  It was interesting to speak to him...

Josh was biking eastbound as I was headed westbound leaving Brockville Ontario.  Josh instantly did a u-turn and pedaled with me for a few kilometers before saying our goodbyes.

On Monday March 15 I had the pleasure to be a guest on Chris Adam's podcast Bike Tour Adventures.  I had recently found out about his podcast while I was still driving a truck and enjoyed listening...

Andrew has been following me for a long time now.  Andrew let me stay at his family home in Kamouraska, Quebec on March 14th.  I also stayed 3 nights with Andrew and his family in Ottawa.  On March...

Only a few hours into Ontario leaving Bourget on my way to Ottawa a pick up truck pulled off the side of the road and a gentleman get out and asking me if I am Arie.  I could not believe it.  Thanks...

Richard reached out and offered to take me to lunch on my way out of Montreal.  Richard wanted me to experience Montreal's famous smoked meat so we meet at Smoke Meat Pete in Ile-Perrot. Richard's...

While in Montreal Andre reached out to me with an offer to host me.  I owe Andre and his wife Claire a huge thank you as I ended up staying a bit longer than planned.  Because of a Friday meeting in...

Pascal is originally from France who came to Canada about 5 years ago for school is living in Montreal.  Pascal has been following my ride and reached out to me Wednesday March 4, 2020.  Pascal...

Paul is the guy in charge of the HI Hostel in Trois-Rivieres.  I really like him.

Of Quebec City asked that his name not be used on the internet I reached out to John through Warm Showers.  I was thinking when I entered Quebec City I would see if anyone on Warm Showers was...

Living in Ottawa Andrew let me stay at his family vacation home in Kamouraska Quebec Photo is view from back window over the St Lawrence River.  I hope to meet Andrew when I reach Ottawa. Andrew is...

Sandy is the driver that originally brought me out to New Brunswick to be picked up by my parents after leaving my job to start my ride.  We left the bakery October 28. I had the opportunity to run...

Address: 698 Main St, Woodstock, NB E7M 2E3 Phone: (506) 324-0229 A great place to stay and bike friendly! Shaun is a long time follower and reached out about giving me a place to stay when going...

On my way to Woodstock, NB just before getting to the TransCanada I had a pretty amazing experience. It is experiences like these that remind me that I am on schedule and where I am suppose to be at...

Kai, Zavier, Anna, Tracy & Michel Poirer from Fredericton New Brunswick on Warm Showers Michel was the first person that I ever reached out on Warm Showers for.  I was in Fredericton and was...

I was pedaling along the Saint John River when a gentleman called out to me and I u-turned into his driveway. His name was Russ Newman. Russ was an American that spent 2 tours in Vietnam and had...

Millennium Cycle & Sport 28 Millennium Dr, Quispamsis, NB E2E 4B1 (506) 849-7433 Dean had a complimentary tune up done on my bike, gave me a usb chargeable bike light, gave me a free puncture...

During my bike tune up at Millennium Cycle & Sport shop my host Wayne Arrowsmith made a phone call and within 15 minutes Mike Cammeron from CTV News showed up.  I had a really cool interview...

On February 10 the alarm was set for 5:30am and by 6:30am we were sitting inside the studio of CBC Saint John NB. This would be my first in-studio radio interview. I was being interviewed by Rachel...

Of Saint John New Brunswick Wayne has been a long time follower from the very beginning and offered me a place to stay I believe even before my ride started.  Wayne went so far out of his way to be...

From Digby Nova Scotia I received a message from Tom in the middle of a snow storm on my way to Digby that there was a bed waiting for me.  Tom and Joyce live in a super cool home on the inside. ...

Of Bayside RV in Yarmouth Nova Scotia would not let me take his photo but let me sleep in one of his RV's for 2 nights Address: 203 Hardscratch Rd, Yarmouth, NS B5A 4A8 Phone: (902) 742-1916 Leonard...

I met Murray at the local Tim Horton's in Yarmouth.  When I left Yarmouth on February 8 Murray came in the Tim's to bring me a special gift.  It always touched me that Murray came in special with...

Booked me a hotel room in Shelburne Nova Scotia Kathy approached me in a Tim Horton's on the evening of February 4 in Shelburne. She says "my friend over there tells me that you are biking across...

My hosts - Mike and Monique decide to take me back to Mahone Bay for a longer visit. We went to visit Al and Rose MacEachen who own Sweet Ride Cycle. Lewis Hinks the other day had suggested that I...

From north of Bridgewater Nova Scotia Spending time with Monique and Mike was very special for me.  They both had tragedy in their lives and they both overcame that tragedy and found each other and...

Of Mahone Bay Nova Scotia Interestingly enough Lloyd was the only host that has reached out to me through Instagram. Our connection comes through the love of the outdoors.  In recent years Lloyd has...

On the morning of January 30 I needed to take care of some emails first thing. Between emails I received a message from Lewis Hinks (only living a mile down the road). Lewis didn’t realize I was in...

I decided to visit CBC and see if I could track down Laura Fraser the Social Media Editor. She was the only one who responded back to any of the messages/emails that I sent CBC Halifax. She was...

of Halifax from January 25 to January 28 gave me the use of an empty rental apartment A message Robinson Lea Myers posted “So this is Arie Hoogerbrugge and he is biking across Canada! His journey so...

A friend of one of my Halifax host - Hugo and Vera Ford stopped by for a visit.  Me and Deloris decided to go to Pier 21 together. At Pier 21 pointing to the boat my father came to Canada on.

From Halifax Nova Scotia I spent an enjoyable evening with Hugo and Vera Ford and the next morning I joined Vera and her daughter as they visited the farmers market in Halifax. Hugo was only the...

In the grocery store both me and Dale Spence spotted this woman with the coolest baseball hat that said “The Bicycle Thief.” I remember seeing the hat and before my mind could process “that is the...

Of Halifax Nova Scotia Dale has been following me from the very beginning and it was awesome to finally meet.  I was able to spend 2 evenings with Dale.  Dales parents also follow me thanks to Dales...

Brad is standing beside me with 2 thumbs up Brad Peverill of Mt Uniacke sent me a message that he wanted to meet me just as I was arriving in Mt Uniacke. We ended up meeting at the Mount Uniacke Pub...

Hari and Tammy Boggs pulled over to the side of the road for a quick chat and a photo. I loved that they took the time to stop. Tammy handed me a few dollars for a coffee down the road at Mt...

Of Newport Corners Nova Scotia I still remember the day as being quite cold.  The night before I camped in -14C.  It was actually really nice to be indoors that night.  I had a most enjoyable and...

The night of January 21 was cold. At least -14C but I had done -14C before and I did it again. Marilyn who owns the pub pulled up just as I was taking down camp. She came in specially to make me...

On my way to Walton Nova Scotia Steve Lapierre driving a school bus pulled up beside me and asked me if I was Arie and then handed me a Tim Horton gift card.

From Truro Nova Scotia Tabitha was one of the many people in Nova Scotia that reached out to me.  I ended up spending 2 nights at Tabitha's because of a bit of snow storm the second day.  We had...

Of Great Village Nova Scotia Kim was another person from Nova Scotia that reached out with an offer to spend the night.  I still remember running into a pretty wicked snow storm on my way to her...

of Parrsboro Nova Scotia (Tammy took the photo) When I woke up in Advocate there was a message waiting from Tammy that there was a bed waiting for me in Parrspboro.  I ended up staying 2 evening...

The Rite Stop restaurant in Advocate gave me a complimentary breakfast.

Of Advocate Nova Scotia Stephanie's story is kind of special because Stephanie was shopping at the Rite Stop grocery store in Advocate as I was packing my bike to get ready to set up my tent.  When...

James and Amanda Campbell are the two on the left from Amherst Nova Scotia.  Also in the photo is Rob and Tara Trembley from PEI and Caleb - James and Amanda's son in the center James and Rob...

I had an experience this afternoon that I won’t soon forget. I have a gentleman who lives in Halifax named Dale who has been following my ride very closely since the beginning. This afternoon while...

Of Wellington PEI Kelly had heard of me while on PEI and was following the ride.  She actually saw me pedaling near Wellington PEI and messaged me.  She asked me if  I was ok and if possible to stop...

Elizabeth Jorgensen & Kelly Richard Kelly runs the information center for PEI that can be found at the base of the Confederation Bridge on the PEI side.  Kelly had heard about me during my time...

Dexter, Heather David & Kayli Voortman of Glenwood PEI So I have a cousin that fairly recently moved to PEI and I had the pleasure to spend 2 nights with his family.  It was a real experience to...

Of St Lawrence PEI Meeting Craig is an awesome story.  It was the day after my CBC Charlottetown article was released and I had barely got 20km's down the road and Craig recognized me from his truck...