Day Fifteen: April 24, 2004
The Final PushFrom: Mile 570: Hamilton, Ontario, CA
To: Mile 605: Toronto, Ontario, CA
Total Distance: 35 miles (or 60 km)
Topography: Flat. Winding around Lake Ontario on Lakeshore Drive into Downtown Toronto.
Weather: Cold, windy, and sunny. Strong, consistent driving wind from the lake effect slowed to a crawl for the final push.
Major Landmarks: Lake Ontario on the right at all times along Lake Shore Drive; Budapest Park; Queens Street West through Parkside (Tibetan community) onto Spadina (China Town) and ending at a rowdy crowd collected on St George St demonstrating in front of the Chinese Embassy; Protest of convention between Chinese Ambassador and Canadian Government on Economic and Human Rights Issues at The Munk Centre for International Studies at Trinity College: University of Toronto; Royal York Hotel for His Holiness¹ Arrival for the Kalachakra.
The Ride:
Start: 830am Woodward Park, Hamilton, Ont, CAEnd: 1230pm Chinese Embassy; St George St. Toronto, Ont, CA
Total: 4hrs Riders: 20, including the 5 Riders from Toronto Tibetan Youth Congress, Parzival and Sharon on their Tandem, Ananda Reed, and Mariann Mondik.
Casualties: Just Jigme¹s Bike! First a flat tire, a loose chain, then a derailer. Sonam: (President of Toronto Tibetan Youth Congress) Pulled a muscle 6kms from finish line.
Standouts: Yangchup: Led the team through the hectic streets of Downtown TO as if we were all professional bike messengers like him. EVERYBODY: I MEAN COME ON 605 MILES!!!
Rating: A really hard day with the wind, but energy was real high! WE DID IT! 605 shredded in 15!
Host Family: Thich Nhat Hanh: Vietnamese Buddhist Practicing Center
Meal: MOMO¹S CELEBRATION AT RANGZEN CAFÉ: QUEENS ST WEST
Wake Up Time: Yeah Right
Quote of the Day: "The Chinese Government is afraid! They¹re afraid of His Holiness because they know that one day he will not only be in control of Tibet but also Beijing! The Chinese are historically Buddhist, not Athiest CommunistsŠits in their genetics and one day they too will get the chance to openly revere their Spiritual Leader and live outside of this oppressive regime." -Larry Gerstein Commencement of the PeaceRide in front of the Chinese Embassy.
