Vancouver Island Part 4 – Canada complete (Oct 14 to 18)
October 14 Km’s Pedalled - 71.5 km’s Destination - Victoria Some Notes – Waking up the sun was coming out so I took extra time this morning to dry my tent out. The day turned into a beautiful sunny...
Vancouver Island Part 3 (Oct 4 to 14)
October 4 to October 10 Summary From arriving at the Allen’s in Qualicum Beach on the 4th until the 9th I barely left the kitchen table. I started working from the computer late morning but my...
Canada Complete Photo Shoot
October 17, 2019 - 12,340 km - 55 Canadian Hosts
Personal Reflections and Gratitude
I posted this on Facebook over Thanksgiving Reflecting on over 12,000 km’s pedalled over the last year (inc winter) and being invited and hosted a record 53 times (so far) across Canada I am forced...
My US Plans
It seems to be crazy to be laying out my plans for the Unite States at this time. For multiple reasons. First I should probably already be in San Diego California by now. Secondly I have to fly...
Bike Touring Challenges
Bike touring has it's challenges. But this is where the memories are made. This is my “what you don’t see” blog post. You get to see all the beautiful photos and videos I post. But there are...
Vancouver Island Part 2 (Sept 30 to Oct 4)
September 30 Km’s Pedalled – 42.5 km’s Destination – Wya Point Surf Shop at the junction of Hwy 4 and Ucluelet and Pacific Rim National Park Some Notes – Another beautiful sunny day. I hiked Cox...
Vancouver Island Part 1 (Sept 24 to 29)
September 24 Km’s Pedalled - 34 km’s Destination - Qualicum Beach Some Notes – The weather is overcast with just a little bit of rain. Today was only a short bike ride to my next hosts in Qualicum...
Vancouver Part 3 (Sept 19 to 23)
September 19 Some Notes – I biked to Bike Doctor bike shop looking for Post Turkey Swiss 108 (on Instagram). It turns out he is a bike mechanic and his name is Bailey. Bailey wasn’t in today. I...
Social Media
It failed so can we please stop posting crap? If the world does not already realize the following [examples] then I promise your memes haven’t changed a thing. Every Canadian already knows that...
Vancouver Part 2 (Sept 11 to 18)
September 11 Today was a very busy day. John Leung who I was a guest on his YouTube show The Healthy Way Vibes stopped by the hostel to take me out to lunch. We had a great time. It was really...
The Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Interpretive Centre
On my way out of Golden BC I notice a sign on the highway for the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Interpretive Centre. A search on Google Maps showed that it was only 5 km’s off the highway. Which...
Vancouver – Part 1 (Sept 5 to 10)
September 5 Km’s Pedalled - 90 km’s Destination - Vancouver Some Notes – Putting my riding clothes on this morning my clothes are saturated and heavy with sweat. This is the seventh day without a...
British Columbia – Getting closer to Vancouver (Aug 29 to Sept 4)
August 29 Km’s Pedalled - 120 km’s Destination - Kamloops Some Notes - I had a host waiting in Kamloops. So I basically pedalled non stop to Kamloops. I took almost no photos. Beautiful day but a...
British Columbia – My 10th province (Aug 21 to 28)
August 21 Km’s Pedalled – 80.5 km’s 7 km’s to BC border / 73.5 km’s more to Golden Destination – Golden BC Some Notes – An overcast and cloudy day. I set my alarm for 6:30am and we were on the road...
I visited the Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre
On July 22, 2020 I had the pleasure of visiting the Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan. Who doesn’t love owls and the chance to see one or two? I found out about the...
Alberta Completed – Aug 16 to 21 & Summary
August 16 Km’s Pedalled - 47 km’s Destination - Jasper Some Notes – Another beautiful sunny day. On the way to Jasper I visited, Sunwapta Falls, Athabasca Falls. Sunwapta Falls Athabaska Falls I am...
Calgary to Banff NP to Jasper NP (Aug 10 to 15)
August 10 Pedalled - 47 km’s Destination – North west corner of Calgary Some Notes – I bike along the Bow River trail system towards downtown Calgary. On my way I saw 4 (bucks) deer. All 4 deer...
A better bike route through Saskatchewan and Alberta
Consider a better bike route through western Saskatchewan and eastern Alberta. Get yourself off the TransCanada Highway and see a whole other side of Canada. A better bike route through western...
Alberta – The Hoodoos to Calgary – August 2 to 8
August 2 Km’s Pedalled - 99 km’s Some Notes – The day started with sort of tailwind and then it turned into a headwind. Before I got to the Hoodoos I stopped at this ghost town called Dorothy. ...
Better Questions and Reflections to Live By – Part 13
Over the years in truck I got into listening to podcasts. First a few a week and then depending on the day sometimes listening to podcasts 6-7 hours a day. I have probably listen to a few 1000...
Alberta Badlands – July 28 to Aug 1
July 28 Some Notes - Arriving in Empress Alberta yesterday. Today is my first full day in Alberta. Today I also get to celebrate 200 days on the road (not including time off for Christmas and...
200 days on the road
Almost nothing has gone as planned and I wouldn’t change a single thing On July 28th on my first full day in Alberta I was able to celebrate 200 days on the road. This does not include some...
My Plans For The Canadian Arctic
This "feature photo" for this blog piece is a photo of the actual Arctic Ocean that I took in 2004 during a road trip to Alaska. So as I write this it is August 8, 2020 and I am currently in Calgary...
Saskatchewan – July 17 to 28 and Summary
July 17 Km’s Travelled - 100 km’s Destination – 4 km’s east of Kipling Some Notes – As usual beautiful day but with killer headwinds. I actually left the TransCanada Hwy in Moosomin to cut across...
Manitoba – July 6 to July 16 & Summary
July 6 Km’s pedalled - 106 km’s Some Notes – I traded the hills for a headwind. Today has been very windy, hot and sunny. The headwind seems to have made the temperatures or at least the humid...
Better questions and reflections to live by – Part 12
Over the years in truck I got into listening to podcasts. First a few a week and then depending on the day sometimes listening to podcasts 6-7 hours a day. I have probably listen to a few 1000...
A cyclist guide – Hwy 11 from Thunder Bay to Kenora Ontario
The purpose of this blog post is as a cyclist guide for Ontario's Hwy 11 from Thunder Bay to Kenora. But not to give you every single detail about this route as there would be little point in...
Some of my favourite movie quotes
This just a blog post of some of my favourite movie quotes Now play the game. Your game. The one only you was meant to play. The one that was given to you when you came into this world. - The...
Ontario Completed – June 28 to July 5 and Summary
Dates – June 28 to July 2, 2020 So I actually got into Fort Frances on June 25. I was fortunate to be able to have a host Tara MacEachern who read about my bike ride in the Sudbury newspaper. Tara...
Cyclist finds kindness in Fort Frances on way to Argentina
Wednesday, Jul 8, 2020 Category: Sports Merna Emara Imagine yourself and your bike, alone, in the eerie depths of roads that stretch over nations. You have nothing but a travel-sized tent and a...
Thank You!
Admittedly it has been a while since I posted an appreciation post. Sometimes the day to day blogging and documenting work load gets overwhelming. Mostly the purpose of this post is for myself to...
Reptile Adventure Camp
I had the pleasure on May 26 and 27, 2020 to visit Reptile Camp in Bonfield Ontario. I had a few questions for Steve Featherstone the owner and camp director. How many animals are under your care?...
I sit in the quiet
I feel Your presence over me My eyes gaze towards the heavens I have so many questions It has been too long Since I sat in the quiet of Your presence My eyes gaze towards the ground beneath me What...
Thunder Bay to Fort Frances – June 18 to 26, 2020
June 18 Km’s Pedalled - 38 km’s Destination – Thunder Bay - Warm Showers host Some Notes – A beautiful sunny day. Shortly after getting on the road a cycle tourer came up behind me -Victor Beraud. ...
Further west into Northern Ontario – June 11 to 17, 2020
June 11 Pedalled - 65.5 km Destination – a rest area 10 east of White River Some Notes – I thought maybe it would be a good idea to grab one last shower before I left Catfish Lake Cottages. The...
Better questions and reflections to live by – Part 11
Over the years in truck I got into listening to podcasts. First a few a week and then depending on the day sometimes listening to podcasts 6-7 hours a day. I have probably listen to a few 1000...
Moving Forward – Comments
I recently wrote a blog post called Moving Forward. The post was in response to an unexpected situation in my life. Rather then give a summary I will simply put the link to that post HERE. The...
Northern Ontario – June 5 to 10, 2020
June 5 Km’s pedalled - 53 km’s Destination - Harmony Beach Some Notes - Yesterday evening Ray Chin a fellow cycle tourist showed up at the hotel. Notes on meeting him can be found at the last blog...
Moving Forward
So I woke up to an email this morning. A person who shall remain nameless who over the last few months had become somewhat of a mentor of mine and I thought was my very good friend basically total...
Your bike ride inspired me
I get that messaged or told to me a lot. But most people don’t really elaborate beyond that phrase? Inspired you in what way? How does it inspire you? What in your life is now different? What...
Getting into Northern Ontario – May 27 to June 4, 2020
May 27 Today was pretty much a down day. I got to work on blogging for about an hour or two. But I am so far behind I am not sure if I will ever get caught up. Today was actually a great day I was...
Just lying in my tent
Just lying in my tent No where to be Listening to all the birds Must have heard over a dozen types Just lying in my tent No where to be Listening to the breeze play through the trees Just lying in...
Back on the road – May 19 to 26, 2020
Challenges So I am back on the road as of May 19. Premier Doug Ford started lifting restrictions thanks to Covid-19 on May 19 and I took that as my cue to start moving again. As with many people I...
‘Interesting to see where all this leads’
Arie Hoogerbrugge certainly knows his way around a bicycle, and is more than adept at navigating Canada’s highways from the seat of his two-wheeler. The 47-year-old Grimsby native completed a...
Cyclist stops in Sudbury during epic journey
Arie Hoogerbrugge certainly knows his way around a bicycle, and is more than adept at navigating Canada’s highways from the seat of his two-wheeler. The 47-year-old Grimsby native completed a...
Safari Arie’s journey from the Arctic to Argentina goes through North Bay
'My plan is to keep peddling until I run into a problem and if I do then I need to pivot accordingly' May 31, 2020 9:00 AM By: Chris Dawson Not even a global pandemic is stopping Arie Hoogerbrugge...
Making a dream come true, one kilometre at a time
By Darren Lum Riding up County Road 121 a few kilometres from Kinmount, 47-year-old Arie Hoogerbrugge pedals his bicycle, smiling, free from the constraints of an ordinary life, pushing his...
Algonquin Provincial Park – May 2 to May 11, 2020
May 2 to May 11, 2020 Bike Ride Loop to and through Algonquin Park from Kingston – 680 km’s total/ 10 days on the road and 9 nights in the tent This side ride was not recorded on Strava and was an...
The Safari Arie Road Show Episode #1 & questions from my audience
As many of you are aware on April 10 I released my first episode of The Safari Arie Road Show with my YouTube producer Brandon McCaskill. The purpose of this show is to partially replace the...
Better questions and reflections to live by – Part 10
Over the years in truck I got into listening to podcasts. First a few a week and then depending on the day sometimes listening to podcasts 6-7 hours a day. I have probably listen to a few 1000...
Surviving Ontario – March 24 to April 9, 2020
I am not sure how exciting this post will be for most people as I am not pedalling anywhere. So I guess mostly this post is for my own documentation purposes. At the time of writing this I have...
Safari Arie Creative Writing Exercise #2
My plan during this self isolation is to work on and improve my writing skills. I am reading the book Wild Mind Living, The Writer’s Life by Natalie Goldberg. I hope to spend the first part of my...
Safari Arie Creative Writing Exercise #1
My plan during this self isolation is to work on and improve my writing skills. I am reading the book Wild Mind Living The Writer’s Life by Natalie Goldberg. I hope to spend the first part of my...
Surviving Covid-19
I hate talking about Covid-19. Everyone and their mother posts 14 things a day about the virus. The last thing the world needs is another article posted about this virus. I wanted to avoid the...
Epic bike ride on pause in Kingston until pandemic passes
The COVID-19 pandemic forced Arie Hoogerbrugge to stop his 55,000-kilometre ride from the Canadian Arctic to the southern tip of South America. (Elliot Ferguson/The Whig-Standard) This article was...
The MEC Experience
Bike touring is hard on equipment. Bike touring in the winter is even harder on gear. I needed the right bike and the right gear and I needed to be able to count on my provider. There was only...
One Tree Planted
On March 9, 2020 I had the privilege of visiting the Montreal office of One Tree Planted at the Montreal We Work Office. Now that spring and summer are upon us I hope to engage and learn from tree...
Ontario – March 18 to 23
March 18 Pedal: 141 km's Destination: Brockville Weather: A sunny morning that turned overcast much of the afternoon; but temperatures were good. I am so glad to be moving on from Ottawa. Ottawa...
Better questions and reflections to live by – Part 9
Over the years in truck I got into listening to podcasts. First a few a week and then depending on the day sometimes listening to podcasts 6-7 hours a day. I have probably listen to a few 1000...
Covid-19 and moving forward
What can I say about this virus considering I have been trying to avoid the whole topic since all this started. That being said a lot of people have reached out so I guess it is time to say...
What Runs Through Your Mind?
A question was posted on my personal Facebook Timeline. It was an interesting question and had some nice responses to my response that I was hoping to save in the form of a blog post and not get...
“Safari Arie” is the new Man in Motion
This an article that was written about me and published March 18, 2020 by one of my host's Andrew Caddell OTTAWA -- Arie Hoogerbrugge is a man on a mission. Two missions, in fact: first, ride his...
Ontario – March 12 to March 17, 2020
March 12 Pedal: 122 km's Destination: Ottawa Weather: Today was sunny coming into Ontario and bit on the cold side. Temperatures warmed up and while there was a bit of a crosswind more often than...
Quebec – March 5 to 12, 2020 plus the Summary
March 5 It was after 1am before I got to bed. I have potentially exciting news regarding getting my YouTube Channel running and am also working on some new content for my website. If people...
How do you decide to bike across Canada in the winter when you hate winter?
Perhaps Arguable, Perhaps Offensive or Perhaps Motivating The look of disbelieve that escape people's faces when I confess that I neither like the cold or winter. Would you believe I actually have...
Quebec – February 27 to March 4, 2020
February 27 Today I have officially been on the road 100 days and have pedaled 4,086 km's. Initially I was planning to take advantage of a walking tour of Old Quebec City this morning that is...
Quebec – February 21 to 26, 2020
February 21 Pedal: 63 km's (including the last 20 km's in NB) Destination: Temiscouata-sur-le-Lac, QU Weather: The morning was sunny and cold. I started the day with -20C and thankfully the sun...
I still feel empty
Why won’t this emptiness go away The roads I travel, the cold I feel Still so empty inside Every night the sun sets Every morning a sun rises Day in day out. Already experienced ten lifetimes The...
Better questions and reflections to live by – Part 8
Over the years in truck I got into listening to podcasts. First a few a week and then depending on the day sometimes listening to podcasts 6-7 hours a day. I have probably listen to a few 1000...
Charity Bike Ride
So I feel that I have been asked at least 100 times or more (at this point) whether or not I am riding for or raising money for a charity. Usually I keep the answer pretty simple to - "No." ...
New Brunswick February 14 to 20 & Summary
February 14 Pedal: 25.5 km's Destination: Fredericton Weather: I camped behind the Tim Hortons and the temperatures dropped to -18C. I slept like crap though in the night but I didn't feel too...
New Brunswick – I have arrived
Intro to New Brunswick My route through New Brunswick is pretty straight forward. I will travel from Saint John to Fredericton up to Edmundston and then into Quebec. Because of where I am in the...
Media Day – February 10, 2020
Today was a pretty crazy day for media. At about 6:50am I was interviewed on CBC Radio Saint John New Brunswick with Rachel Cave in their studios. And later in the afternoon I did a TV news...
Nova Scotia – Feb 2 to 9, 2020 and Summary
February 2 Spent the day inside at Mike & Monique's working on blogs and photos. February 3 Pedal: 93 km's Destination: Liverpool Weather: Today was sunny with cloudy periods, most of the day...
Appreciation Overload!
It has been barely 2 weeks since I posted some of my favorite Facebook comments and here I am already needing to post another post of some of my most favorite comments. I want to thank everyone who...
What to pack on your first bike tour
Have you ever wondered what to pack on your first bike tour? This is the "everything you ever need to know about what to pack and how much to pack on your bike tour" blog post. "Bad decisions make...
A day in the life of a truck driver – Part 3
Back on October 23, 2019 I posted Part 1 and then on November 10 I finally posted Part 2. I am finally finally posting Part 3. For those interested in this post I suggest you read Part 1 and 2...
Nova Scotia – January 21 to February 1, 2020
January 21 Pedal: 45 km's Destination: Newport Corners Weather: Last night 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...
What Happened To This Ride??
What is going on with this ride? This ride has evolved into something I could never have imagined. Slowly at first. Give me a break I am pedaling 185 lbs of bike and gear. (LOL). Anyways, like I...
Awareness
Awareness of my brokenness The feeling of emptiness that never goes away The heavy breathing of my emotions Awareness of my emptiness The feeling of loneliness that never goes away Where did all...
I Don’t Trust You
Something broke that day And I didn’t even know it Something broke so deep inside me I have been broken there for ever since So deep the human eye can’t see So deep in my soul. So deep in my heart...
Nova Scotia – Stage 2
January 11 to January 20, 2019 January 11 Camped at the Irving Big Stop Truck Stop. Worked on my laptop until 3 am last night. I am taking the day to catch up on blogging due to rain in the...
Those Moments
You were asleep in those moments You didn’t know I was watching You were oblivious in those moments I remember those moments Those were important to me You didn’t know I would watch you through the...
What I learned today
I have had so many amazing interaction during my bike ride already. In many ways my bike ride has just begun and the interactions are almost already too many to count. From old friends giving me a...
I Appreciate You Guys!
Hey guys, it's that time again! I love sharing some of favourite Facebook comments. It has been less than a month since I wrote my last appreciation post. I can barely keep up with them. This is...
Better questions and reflections to live by – Part 7
Over the years in truck I got into listening to podcasts. First a few a week and then depending on the day sometimes listening to podcasts 6-7 hours a day. I have probably listen to a few 1000...
Prince Edward Island – January 1 to January 10 and Summary
January 1 - New Year Day - 2020 Pedal: 72 km's Destination: O'Leary Weather: Overcast, below freezing and a bit wind. But a pretty good day for biking. I couldn't sleep last night if I tried so I...
Nova Scotia – My Plans
I had a plan for Nova Scotia but then it changed. I was hoping to get to Halifax with enough time to get to Prince Edward Island for Christmas. By the time my ferry arrived in Sydney Nova Scotia...
Why this man is lingering over his winter bike ride through Atlantic Canada
The following is a copy of an article that was written about me in CBC Charlottetown ‘I've only gone through three snowstorms’ Kevin Yarr · CBC News · Posted: Jan 03, 2020 8:42 AM AT | Last Updated:...
35 Days On The Road
I didn't know what to expect Honestly I thought the first 6 months of this ride would suck. I had no expectation of enjoying this part of the ride at all. I just told myself suck it up and get...
2019 in Review
I don't even know where to start with this year. I don't think I could make up half of it if I tried. 2017 and 2018 were the happiest two years of my life and then 2019 happened. In 2017 and 2018...
Prince Edward Island – December 15 to the 31st
December 15 Pedal: 29 km's in New Brunswick + 54 km's in PEI = 83 km's Confederation Bridge on the NB side Destination: originally Cornwall, ended up camping behind the Simmons Sports Arena in...
I still mourn the loss
I still mourn the loss of that little boy I know I killed a piece of your heart To this day I never forgot No one would listen, no one cared No one fought for you and your heart You have to believe...
Better questions and reflections to live by – Part 6
Over the years in truck I got into listening to podcasts. First a few a week and then depending on the day sometimes listening to podcasts 6-7 hours a day. I have probably listen to a few 1000...
I thought of you
My failures overwhelmed me The sick feeling in my stomach returns What happened that this became my story How did this ever become my story I would do anything to change this script How does one...
Prince Edward Island – Introduction to PEI and my plans
PEI is one of three Maritime Provinces. It is the smallest province of Canada in both land area and population, but is the most densely populated. It became a British colony in the 1700s and was...
I Appreciate You!
It's that time again. A huge shout out and thank you to everyone who has reached out since my bike ride officially started. Now that my ride has started. Along with my favorite and meaningful...
Nova Scotia – December 3 to the 15, 2019
December 3 Pedal: 42 km's. 8:30 am to 1 pm Destination: Englishtown, NS Weather: Started as light rain and then the rain got heavier. Above freezing. Arrive in Sydney by ferry around 7:30am. ...