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Burma cyclists battle Saskatchewan rain and floods |
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Written by Trish Elliott
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Wednesday, 22 June 2011 |
 Burma activists Soe Naing and Rod Germain reached Regina yesterday, June 22, on Day 21 of their cross-country tour to raise awareness about the situation in Burma and funds for the Mae Tao clinic on the Thai-Burma border. They dined with local Amnesty International and Friends of Burma activists, bringing them up to date on initiatives like the clinic's Back Pack Health Worker Team.
Soe Naing said he had only ridden a bicycle around his neighbourhood before taking on the daunting 7,125 km challenge. The first few days brought trouble to his knees, which he attributes to not enough advance training.
The biggest challenge in Saskatchewan has been long stretches between towns on Highway 1, which makes planning stops difficult. They've also been challenged by the rain, and were drenched on the road to Moose Jaw. Today they plan to go as far as Indian Head, hoping they will be able to make it through the flood waters the following day. A detour of one hour by car amounts to a full day for cyclists, Rod Germain noted.
Germaine, a mediation/arbitration lawyer by profession, said he expects to reach Halifax in August in time for his Dalhousie graduating class reunion. Soe Naing, a university information technology specialist, will likely need to return to his job a few weeks before that. They anticipate they will be able to travel a distance of 120 kilometers per day provided that weather and route conditions cooperate.
The best way to cheer them on is to make donations and pledges online at:
http://www.justride2011.com/
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 23 June 2011 )
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