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Cycling to Break the Stigma

By Kiernan Devitt

Hi, my name is Kiernan Devitt. For those of you who are friends and family, hello, and for those of you that don't know me, welcome. I appreciate you taking the time to look at my CAMH fundraising page.

On May 10th I will begin cycling, with my father, from Toronto to Halifax, covering a total distance of approximately 2000 kilometers. This journey will take around one month and span four provinces as we make our way from Canada's biggest city to the country's eastern shore.

I have chosen to dedicate this ride to a cause that I strongly believe in, the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

Mental health and addiction likely touches every Canadian family either directly or indirectly. Despite efforts in recent years towards education there continues to be a stigma surrounding mental health. Many Canadians struggling with issues related to mental health suffer in silence out of fear of this stigma.

My goal is to raise $15,000 for CAMH, with your help. I hope that through raising funds for CAMH we can support the organization in their continuing effort to combat the stigma surrounding mental health, increase access to timely mental health services, and conduct leading research in mental health.

Thank you for your support, you can follow my father and I on this journey as we will be posting regular updates.

I am so grateful that you took the time to read this, and hopefully you will be a part of this journey with me.

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$12,019

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$15,000

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My updates

Day 31 Windsor to Halifax

Tuesday 9th Jun
Well we did it! We made it to Halifax! It was a ton of work and one hell of a challenge but we are here. No motor, no electronic assist, just some very tired legs. Over 2,000 kilometres travelled! For reference that is equivalent to the length of Italy plus an additional 800 km, or the length of Britain and France combined! And it has all been in support of a very important cause that is near and dear to me.

I am so thankful to have been able to share this experience with my father, and to support CAMH and the important work they do! Along the way we have gained a new appreciation for the history and the beauty of our great country. 

Thank you to everyone who has donated thus far, and cheered us on helping along the way. There is still ample opportunity for people to donate. Donations are important, as they enable CAMH to continue the vital work they do helping Canadians who suffer from addiction and mental health related issues. 

Day 30 Wolfville to Windsor

Monday 8th Jun
Today was a fairly light day for us as the distance from Wolfville to Windsor was not too far. While we did have some substantial hills to climb, it was a beautiful sunny day and the roads were thankfully fairly quiet. Atop those hills we were treated to stunning vistas of the Annapolis Valley and tidal flood plains of the Minas Basin.

Tomorrow will be our final day of biking. It does not feel like that long ago that we set out on this journey from the driveway of our house in Toronto. I will be both glad to reach Halifax to finally give my legs a break from cycling, but I will also feel a bit saddened as this has proven to be such a great experience to share with my Father. 

Day 29 Kingston to Wolfville

Sunday 7th Jun
Kiernan here with the daily report: today we set off from Kingston under threatening skies. The forecast called for rain, and the clouds were hanging very low. In the humidity mist and fog shrouded the hills. 

It was quite hot out, and only minutes after we started peddling the rain started to fall. We made the wise decision to change course from our planned route, one that would have continued on the dirt rail trail from yesterday, a path that surely would have turned to thick red Nova Scotia mud in the precipitation. Instead opted for some paved backroads where traffic was mostly minimal. 

On the back roads we peddled through the rain, breaking a sweat under our rain gear as a result of the heat and humidity. After many miles we moved onto a dirt trail that fortunately had not turned fully to mud. On it we travelled beside a tidal stream as we pressed on toward Wolfville.

Despite the challenging weather we made remarkable time, and arrived in Wolfville with time to kill. We proceeded to explore the town as well as Acadia University and it’s stately architecture. 


Rob here: as the senior member of the team I thought it was time that I contribute a post. Cycling as a father son team over a month long journey is a tremendous opportunity. We are creating memories from our adventure, from the challenges we have encountered along the way, but also from the lighter moments.  Together we have gained a better understanding of the history, culture and geography of the areas we have cycled through and a greater appreciation of the people, many of whom have offered us incredible hospitality. These experiences provide food for thought for the discussions and conversations during breaks in our day and are a refreshing change from the typical discussions prior to the ride we would have about what is leading the news cycle. That said, I still wish I could attack hill climbing like a person half my age but am so fortunate to have this father son time together.

Day 28 Annapolis Royal to Kingston

Saturday 6th Jun
After a restful night in Annapolis Royal, we set off this morning for Kingston. 

The first part of our day began on a narrow dirt path that ran across the Nova Scotian countryside like a thin brown ribbon. The path was shaded by overhanging hedges and trees giving us some relief from the hot maritime sun. It was a hot sunny day, and as we peddled goldfinches and blue jays flew cross the path.

Eventually the narrow path led us to a decommissioned railway bed that would form the terrain of the next leg of the day’s journey. The rail trail was composed of a rusty brown sand that in parts was quite loose and proved difficult to cycle on. At times our wheels would slide on the loose sand, and the added resistance made travel more taxing. Despite the difficulty, the trail was a rewarding cycle as it lead us up the Annapolis river. We passed through picturesque pastoral farmland populated by cows, goats and wildflowers.

After following the trail for much of the day it led us onto a dirt road that was covered by a canopy of deciduous trees. This road also proved a challenging cycle as it was made up of the same sand as the trail. As we approached Kingston it became busier, with ATVs and dirt bikes that kicked up long clouds of dust behind them. After a tiring day we reached Kingston.

Day 27 Digby to Annapolis Royal

Friday 5th Jun
Last night after dinner, I ran into 3 older First Nations gentlemen who were chatting in a lounge at our accommodation. They struck up a conversation with me and took quite an interest in the journey I was on. I informed them that this was a father son trip, and that my father and I had travelled by bicycle from Toronto, to Nova Scotia. They told me how fortunate I was to be able to have this experience with my father, as all of their fathers had passed on. It was their advice that I should the savour this special time that I am having with my father and make the most of the bonding time we have together on our voyage. Their wisdom from their own experiences was powerful and I shall try to follow their advice!

Today’s ride began on a dirt trail that followed along the shore of the Annapolis basin. It’s was a a beautiful sunny day, the tide was out, and the briny smell of the exposed tidal beds filled the air. After travelling on the seaside dirt path for many kilometres we turned onto paved road and headed inland to the hamlet of Bear River. 

As we peddled through the Nova Scotian country side, we enjoyed the sight of purple and pink foxglove, bright yellow buttercups and white daisies bursting out the side of the road and the fields. The town of Bear River was quaint and charming, with much of its clapboard buildings built on wooden stilts overhanging the river. We stopped for lunch before continuing on our way. 

The rest of the ride saw us climbing hills through pastures and woodlands before turning back toward the coast to the town of Annapolis Royal. 

Day 26 Saint John to Digby

Thursday 4th Jun
This morning we took a short bike ride through Saint John to the ferry terminal. Once there we waited with the cars and transport trucks to board the large multi-decked ship and cross Bay of Fundy.

After a brief wait, we entered through the vehicle ramp into the bowels of the ship and waved goodbye to New Brunswick. This province has proven to be the hidden gem of our trip! It’s forested rolling hills and scenic river valleys give it a mystery and beautiful that was wonderful to experience via bicycle, despite the odd rainy day!

The crossing of the bay itself was comfortable with only the occasional buffeting and rocking due to the windy weather. After a few hours we approached the green shores of Nova Scotia and proceeded to pass through the mouth of the Annapolis Basin. The ferry landed just outside of Digby. The smell of sea salt was in the air as we took a short bike ride into town to explore a bit before continuing on to our destination for the night.

3 provinces down, 1 to go!

Day 25 Evandale to Saint John

Wednesday 3rd Jun
Today was our last full day of cycling in New Brunswick. The day started by travelling along yet more rural country roads through the forested hillside. In this quiet landscape we repeatedly saw deer foraging at the side of the road in the early morning hours as we peddled towards our destination.

Approaching Saint John the road gradually became busier, until we turned a corner to see the harbour of the city. In the distance were great commercial freighters being loaded with freight to be shipped, and beyond them the old town of Saint John. On our way into the city we passed the Moosehead brewery and many large industrial shipping yards. 

Saint John is very pretty with a delightful old town populated by interesting historical buildings. It reminds me in many ways of a miniaturized Boston, with red brick storefronts and row houses, stone churches topped by copper spires, and tree shaded streets that descend sharply toward the sea.

Day 24 Fredricton to Evandale

Tuesday 2nd Jun
The forecast today called for a thunderstorm by mid day. With that in mind and hoping to stay dry, we rose early and pushed ourselves to take a quick pace in hopes of making our destination before the storm.

Once out of Fredricton the route took us through a remote portion of New Brunswick along the Saint John river. It delivered what we have come to expect and enjoy about the province: beautiful scenery, sprawling dense forests, and many challenging hills. Along the way we passed small farms, and lonely rural churches that stuck out like islands in the sea of green eastern Canadian woodland. Along the way we passed cows and horses and saw a low flying bald eagle and an osprey.

While we did beat the storm to Evandale, we were caught by the occasional brief spring shower while on the road. Nothing to severe though. Tomorrow we travel to Saint John

Day 23 Fredricton

Monday 1st Jun
Took the day off in Fredricton for a much needed day of rest. The bikes needed servicing after the many miles put on them, and the break allowed for the chance to re-stock supplies for the ride ahead.

We spent the day exploring the town and visited the University of New Brunswick, where I made a point of locating the Faculty of Law building. 

Tomorrow it’s off to Evandale, and after that Saint John.

Day 22 Nackawic to Fredricton

Sunday 31st May
Finally a bright and sunny day! A real treat after all the rain and clouds.

The ride from Nackawic to Fredericton was filled with beautiful views of the St John River and pastoral countryside. The route involved crossing the river multiple times on long two lane suspension bridges. It was a yet another very hilly ride, and the majority of the day was spent either climbing or descending the ever undulating terrain of New Brunswick.  

Approaching Fredericton the path today led off of the roads onto a two lane bike path and into the city. Fredericton itself is quaint, charming and picturesque, with architecture that reminds me of my time spent living in Boston. I look forward to exploring it further!

Day 21 Florenceville to Nackawic

Saturday 30th May
The ride from Florenceville to Nackawic started by travelling along the New Brunswick trail. The trail consists of unpaved single track and was pretty rough in parts. There were portions with loose rock and lots of mud and puddles, however the trail treated us to scenic views along the shore of the Saint John river.

Half way through our day we stopped at a gas station in Woodstock to ask for directions as our GPS was giving us some questionable advice. We struck up a conversation with a very friendly local man who informed us that our best route to get to Nackawic was to follow highway 105 along the river. He told us that he had worked on the Nackawic axe when it was being built.  We chatted with him for a while as he was very curious about our adventure and the cause that we were riding for.  We talked about father/son trips and experiences.  He then pulled out his wallet to give us a donation which we had to refuse, and we pointed him to the CAMH web page if he was interested in contributing.  He was such a great example of Maritime Canada’s hospitality and sense of community.

We thanked him for his directions and waved him goodbye.

The second half of our ride also followed the river, but was on a paved 2 lane road that travelled through the rural New Brunswick forests and at times along the river’s edge.  It was a very hilly ride, with the day filled by gruelling accents and rapid descents. As soon as we would reach the top of one hill we would blast down it in attempt to gain some speed for the start of the next climb.

During this second half of our ride we were passed by a brownish red pickup that stopped a little ways ahead of us. It was our friend who we had met at the gas station in Woodstock! This time with his wife! He wanted to take our picture and wish us good luck on our journey. After chatting with them for a while, we waved them goodbye and continued on to Nackawic motivated by the spirit of community that our encounter had created.

Day 20 Grand Falls to Florenceville

Friday 29th May
I don’t believe the weather today knew just what it wanted to be. One moment it would be cold and rainy, prompting us to put on our full rain gear. Then 10 minutes later, the clouds would clear, the sun would come out and it would be warm. It would get so hot we would be forced to strip off our rain gear or risk overheating! Then, after we had packed the rain coats away, 10 or so minutes later the sky would darken and in would rain again. This cycle of ever changing weather continued for most of the day.

Much of the day was spent on a mix between the scenic New Brunswick trail and quiet secondary roads. On the ride today we saw some impressive Canadian wildlife, including: a river otter, a bald eagle, spring hares, kingfishers and a massive golden eagle who was flying low beside the road over the St John River.

Despite the cold and the rain, New Brunswick and its miles of forests and misty hills inspires a kind of mystery and awe. We truly have a beautiful country!

Day 19 Edmundston to Grand Falls

Thursday 28th May
We are back with a vengeance! It is amazing how quick you can move on a bicycle when you are not fighting the wind or in the pouring rain.

Today saw us travel from Edmundston to Grand Falls in just over 3 hours, including stops. At this rapid pace we arrived in Grand Falls with time to kill, so we found a delightful local restaurant called Linda’s Kitchen. Where we enjoyed a delicious lunch of cabbage rolls and spaghetti bolognese. The staff were incredibly friendly and interested in our journey.

Given the blistering pace today, I must say that I am very impressed with my father’s ability to keep up with someone more than half his age! We continue to make a strong team, with him only occasionally overthinking and misreading our GPS.

Day 18 Edmundston

Wednesday 27th May
Today saw yet more rain. We were wise to take it as a rest day, and not bike.

However it looks like we are in for a full week of wet weather if forecasts are to be believed. Tomorrow we will set off for grand falls rain or shine.

Day 17 Rivière du Loup to Edmundston

Tuesday 26th May
We learned a few weeks ago that there was a closure on the bike trail we were to take south of Rivière du Loup due to a large construction project.  To make the closure more of an issue, there is no on road alternative as the only road near the closure area is the 4 lane autoroute on which bicycles are prohibited.  We understand that in the summer months the Construction company operates a shuttle to get people around the closure area but we are cycling before this service starts.  Thankfully, we were able to find a person who could drive us and our bikes from Rivière du Loup to either an area past the closure where we could set off on our bikes and head towards Edmundston New Brunswick or to Edmundston itself.  As the forecast today showed a possibility of afternoon thunderstorms, we decided to go straight to Edmundston in the interest of safety.  We haven’t seen thunderstorms yet but there have been significant showers this afternoon and evening which give me comfort that we made the correct call.  We will spend tomorrow in Edmundston to let the weather forecast settle and then on Thursday head towards Grand Falls as the weather is supposed to clear hopefully for a number of days. 

Day 16 La Pocatiere to Rivière du Loup

Monday 25th May
No photo today, as I proved to be a horrendously wet and windy day. We did not stop to take pictures as we did not want to risk water logging our phones. Despite the disagreeable weather, we could smell the salt of the sea air as we peddled up the mouth of the St Lawrence.

Day 15 Montmagny to La Pocatiere

Sunday 24th May
Another great day of cycling.  Although the forecast called for an overcast day we were blessed with sunshine our whole day.  We cycled along a fairly quiet road, with a good sized bike shoulder, looking at the St Lawrence River on one side and farmland and forest on the other.  Beautiful scenery almost the whole route.  We met a few interesting people along the way including an elderly gentleman who was going to church, but stopped to talk to us for a while and then thanked us for our efforts in French and for giving him the opportunity to practice his English, as he doesn’t get the opportunity to use the language very often.  We are looking to tomorrow with some dread as the forecast is calling for rain all day.

Day 14 Quebec City to Montmagny

Saturday 23rd May
Our ride today seemed particularly gruelling.  While it was a sunny day, looks can be deceiving. We seem to be the unfortunate beneficiaries of a regular headwind and today’s was non-stop and felt quite strong.  Hence, the wind made us both quite tired but we persevered thanks in part to the day of rest we had yesterday.  Along the way there were little villages that we cycled through, each with typically French Canadian architecture and of course each community had a lovely church, some still in use and others repurposed for other uses.  Despite our tiredness it was a great day.

Day 13 Quebec City

Friday 22nd May
What a difference a day makes. After almost two weeks of cycling we took the day off to enjoy Quebec City and all of its history on a lovely sunny day. The rest and time with family has been terrific, and we will be ready to jump back on the bikes tomorrow.

Day 12 Deschambault to Quebec City

Thursday 21st May
We made it to the psychological half way point of our bike adventure, Quebec City. We woke to a very chilly morning and stopped early on at a picnic area to put on another layer of clothing.  While there a man in a camper appeared and struck up a conversation with us, even offering to make us a cup of coffee to warm up.  The French Canadian hospitality is so refreshing.  We proceeded to take a rather hilly bike ride to Quebec City passing through lovely farmland and little villages.  
On arriving in Quebec City we were joined by my mother and visited with some relatives who live in the area.  My father, mother and I will spend the next two nights together enjoying this lovely city and recuperating from the many days of bicycling.  Saturday my father and I will continue our journey.

Day 11 Trois-Rivières to Deschambault

Wednesday 20th May
Quebec continues to impress with picturesque scenery, beautiful architecture and very friendly people. Though it was a more leisurely ride through the country side today we are beginning to feel quite tired after the accumulation of so many days of biking, and are looking forward to getting to Quebec City tomorrow where we will take a few days off, as it is the half way point of our journey.

My father and I have been making a very good cycling team. He has kept up with me (or rather I have kept up with him) pedal stroke for pedal stroke. I have left much of the navigation to him, but wisely he has left much of the communication in French to me.

Day 10 Sorel-Tracy to Trois Rivières

Tuesday 19th May
We had a terrific day cycling through picturesque country side on quiet roads.  Although the weather forecast initially called for rain we were fortunate to have clear skies for the full 80+ km ride.  We cycled along the Chemin du Roy, the oldest drivable road in Canada built in the first half of the 1700’s.  We visited small towns and had a fascinating stop at a museum/store/music venue called Le Magasin general Le Brun, where the owner personally took us on a tour of this incredible treasure trove of history.  His enthusiasm for the area’s history and his commitment of time was very much appreciated.  We cycled on to Trois Rivières and after getting settled and cleaned up we walked around the historic centre of this lovely riverside city.  

Day 9 Boucherville to Sorel-Tracy

Monday 18th May
You can’t always trust the weather forecast. When we left this morning it was supposed to only rain for a hour and then be cloudy, however it proved to be exceedingly rainy for most of our ride and we were also treated to a strong headwind for the majority of the day. 

Along the way we passed through a number of lovely small Quebec towns, complete with beautiful Catholic Churches. While we did not take any bike pictures on account of the brutal weather, here is a picture of one of those splendid churches.

Day 8 Vaudreuil-Dorion to Boucherville

Sunday 17th May
Cycling across Montreal was terrific. We had beautiful sunny weather, bike paths for almost our entire trip, and of course when our energy became depleted, a croissant! It was a shorter day of cycling, but after the previous week in the saddle an easier ride was a welcome break.

Day 7 Cornwall to Vaudreuil-Dorion

Saturday 16th May
We woke up this morning to a lovely sunny day. 

Today’s ride saw us cross from Ontario into Quebec. It is very impressive how well developed Quebec’s cycling infrastructure is in comparison to Ontario’s. It was difference we notice immediately, and were very thankful for. 

The ride itself had us peddling into a headwind for much of our trip, and both me my father are feeling the accumulation of kilometres we have cycled thus far.

Day 6 Brockville to Cornwall

Friday 15th May
Today was a long and challenging ride, with a headwind and rain for much of the 110km trip.

However at about the halfway point the weather improved. We stopped to grab lunch at Morrisburg at a diner, where we chatted with some of the friendly locals at neighbouring tables who were very supportive about our journey.

After we passed Upper Canada Village, we were treated to a lovely bike path separated from the highway. While travelling on it we saw baby geese, herons, turkeys, a beaver and ever a fox. Spending time among nature such as this was very restorative, following a long bike in the rain along highway 2.

Day 5 Kingston to Brockville

Thursday 14th May
Today we biked from Kingston to Brockville. While the temperature was a bit chilly, the ride treated us to lovely views of the St Lawrence river and 1000 islands. We saw flocks of migrating birds, and the beginning of leaves on the trees, a reminder that spring has arrived.

Day 4 Kingston

Wednesday 13th May
Today we had heavy rain, high winds and even a thunderstorm, so we decided to stay put in Kingston and wait out the bad weather. We will resume cycling tomorrow. Truth be told we were very appreciative of having a rest day.

Day 3 Picton to Kingston

Tuesday 12th May
Woke up to a beautiful sunny calm day. Took a short ferry ride to cross the bay of Quinte. As we continued the weather deteriorated, with strong headwinds for much of the ride.

Day 2 Port Hope to Picton

Monday 11th May
Beautiful day for a bike ride!

Day 1 Toronto to Port Hope

Sunday 10th May
We were blessed with good weather on the first day of our cycle, sunny and not too hot.  While it was windy, the wind was generally at our back more often than not.  Looking forward to the rest of the journey.

Thank you to my donors

$1.02k

Adele Hall

Cheering you all the way

$1,000

Hari Sambasivam And Carole Matthews

$520

Deirdre Hall

Cheering you on! Don't let the weather get you down!

$520

Philip And Carole

Enjoy the journey..... and the quality time with "the old man"!

$500

Danielle Melchior

Good luck with the ride!

$500

Deb And Les

What a worthwhile charity! Have a wonderful time and sunny days! We wish you all the best, Deb and Les

$500

Dillon Sambasivam

$318

Anonymous

$318

Robert William

$300

Anonymous

$300

Olivia

Bravo!

$300

Anonymous

Great effort for a great cause!

$300

Anonymous

$300

Anonymous

$265

Carmine Stumpo

Safe travels! Enjoy the ride!

$265

James Chapman

Have a fantastic ride, may the wind be always at your back

$250

Charles Hall

$212

Robert Devitt

$212

Kiernan Devitt

$212

Bob And Nicole Breeze

You're making amazing progress! Looking forward to hearing about your ride when you get back. Congratulations.

$212

Sarah Downey

$212

Wolf Klassen

All the best on your adventure!!

$212

Allison Philpot

Amazing! Impressive! I’ll be watching the blog!

$200

Holly Rutherford

Good luck Kiernan!

$200

Brian

$200

Michelle Hibler

Safe trails!

$200

Barbara D.

Wishing you & your Dad a smooth ride and hope you make your goal and more!

$200

Dan Pearlman Jane Ellens

what a great endeavour. Ride Safe!! we want to hear the stories when you return xx D and J

$125

Richard Devitt

Good luck!

$106

Trina Norman

So happy so support this ride Kiernan. It has strong meaning for me too ❤️

$106

Lori Marshall

$106

Anonymous

$106

Hugh Devitt

$106

Andrew & Paulette

Headwinds today so, get a good sleep

$106

Michael Leger

This is so cool! Im donating for my wife's uncle Jocko who recently passed away. He suffered with mental health for many years. Good luck and safe trip!

$106

Roslyn Eskind

Good luck!

$106

Karen Corbin

Good luck!

$106

Fannie Vavoulis

Amazing) And for a very worthy cause! And what a special memory being made between father and son!

$106

Tim Rutledge

Wishing you and your Dad a safe and enjoyable ride.

$106

Scott

Enjoy the ride

$106

Renee Cain

Amazing job!

$100

David Drake

$79.50

Michelle Picard-aitken

What a great project & cause. I'm following along for the 2nd half!

$53

Anonymous

What a great cause to support! Can't wait to hear the stories when you are back in Calgary. Bike safely! -Emilia

$53

Graham Devitt

That's a hell of a distance! Good luck, and way to go!

$53

Maxim Volin

$53

Shelley Darling

Best of luck on your journey, Kieran and Rob.

$53

Brianna And Mike

$53

Alex And Jessey

$53

Carrie O'conaill

$53

Adam Topp

$53

Ev Osteopathy & Holistic Health

$53

Kim Greenslade

Wow! What a great cause!

$31.80

Anonymous

Allo Kiernan, Merci de te dévouer à cette cause qui est si importante!

$31.80

Michelle Therrien

$26.50

Jasmine Dobbin

Good on ya!

$26.50

Treyton Zary

$26.50

Andrew Hamilton

Hell yeah dude

$21.20

Tyler Zimmerman-jones