CROSSING CANADA: Incidents Of Travel On A Bike

by Ben Buckton

Ben Buckton climbs aboard his bicycle, ukulele safely stowed, and sets off on an epic journey across the country to discover what small-town Canada is up to during the long, hot summer of its 150th birthday year. In CROSSING Incidents Of Travel On A Bike, Buckton encounters an extraordinary range of Canadians and fellow travellers as he attempts to travel from the Pacific coast of Vancouver Island, over the Rocky Mountains, through the endless Prairies, into Ontario and the Great Lakes, and then up the St Lawrence River and on through the Maritimes, until the 4,500 miles of tarmac finally run out at the Atlantic, on Newfoundland. He tells the stories of the events and of the people he meets along the way; of 73-year-old Karl in the Prairies, crossing the continent on a cheap supermarket bike and sleeping in fields; of Bill, living quietly in Saskatchewan after years of being shot, stabbed, divorced and arrested; the strange case of the Calgary Two and their many appearances as if from nowhere; a vicious dog attack in Manitoba; of Greg and Willem in Montreal, proud founders of the Men Of Beer Cycling Club; Bob from Australia, spending his retirement riding around the world on a little 116cc ex-postman’s motorcycle; joining in with the largest alcohol-free 150th anniversary party in Canada; and the disastrous night out on Black Sturgeon Lake, with Trevor, his Uncle Wayne, and a ukulele.

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 16, 2020

Reviews

[Mamareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful journey

Great writing and journaling, The bike trip felt real, the people and places were so well documented I felt like I was along for the ride. Really enjoyed it

[Sidney E. Carlstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent & well written read on his travel across Canada.