Trans Canada Expedition - Day 25

Aug 07, 2013 – Day 25

Locations: Riverside Motel – Hadashville, MB

Riverside Motel is the same motel we stayed at on day 5. It is also the motel we had PT in. And so, this morning we also had PT. Billy had administrative work, so he did not lead PT at the beginning. PT consisted of many teamworking activities.

We stayed at Riverside Motel on day 5. It is also the motel we had our first PT in. And so this morning, we had PT. Billy did not lead PT at the beginning, because he had administrative work to do. What everyone learned through the exercises was teamworking. Later when Billy came back, he gave us all a new challenge; this challenge tested our ability to lead and to follow. It was hard work. The leadership lecture took longer than expected.

After it was over, we went back to our rooms to pack and load while the cooking team made breakfast. We had our breakfast and pretty soon we were ready to leave. Right before leaving, there was a sudden realization that Billy’s Toughbook was missing! Everyone stopped what they were doing and started to search for it. Searching took a long time. We still couldn’t find it, so in the end we decided to stay at the motel for one more night.

While Billy and the HQ team went out to buy supplies, we finally found the laptop when a nice gentleman brought it to us. We spent the day relaxing, playing cards, playing piano, singing, playing tag, and sleeping. The leaderships and admin team started working on student reports and 1500 word essays. We had a really nice lunch and dinner. By nightfall, we even shot out fireworks. There were a lot of ‘ohhs’ and ‘ahhs’.

Everyone had a crazy time in today’s day of relaxation. From tomorrow on we will be driving like crazy to get back to Toronto on time…

Mich. F

First of all, thank you! Mom of Tiffany. I am definitely enjoying every moment of staying in Canada with the Monticle family. Canadians, regardless of their ethnicity, are generally so nice that they almost tell the truths and help almost without hesitation. This morning, when we were fully packed up and almost got ready to leave, Peggy asked Billy where his personal computer was. We ended up unloading all the personal belongings from all three vehicles except the trailer… Without a trace. Billy tried his best to do a revive of what he had done since he woke up. Yet, he still could not figure out where he put and how possible he could lose it. Later, he called the owner of the motel to contact with anyone who visited or passed by the motel office, in which he used the toughbook before our morning PT. Luckily, the owner found out that the garbage transporter got it and drove it back home. We did not know why he took it because it was clearly not a piece of garbage! But still, when we were preparing for cutting the ham and turkey for lunch, we saw the cleaner driving the toughbook back to the motel. How could you believe that? Even though that misplacement of toughbook made us stay one more night in the Riverside, we still enjoyed our fruitful and eventful day/night – we had another great (but also extremely filling and a bit greasy to clean) BBQ dinner, playing cards, tug-of-war, student assessments and domestic fireworks! We literally had Billy, Calvin and Edwin Chan lighting up the $130 fireworks for us! Billy even said that this was his first time lighting them for entertainment. Fireworks without government’s approval is not permitted in Hong Kong, so it is quite astounding to watch those fireworks being shot right in front of us and smell the smoke… More entertainment, closer to civilization…

Other than that, even though it was a rather relaxing day, we still learnt and experienced a lot of things that are so inspiring, insightful and interesting. The morning PT apparently is a simple task – having 28 people, 15 of them carrying 13 people, form a circle, and then spin for ten seconds or so, or even move 5 meters. One of the message from this PT is that no matter you are the carrier or the one being carried, everyone has his or her importance within the circle. The carrier needs strength, while the one being carried needs to balance himself or herself to avoid giving troubles to the carrier. Secondly, everyone should keep calm, silent (stick with the S.T.O.P. acronym) and listen to one person’s command. Putting this to the walkathon, if I am part of those who cannot join the walking because of school or because of being a junior, I will not get disappointed simply because of not doing the ‘big’ and ‘recognizable’ job (i.e. walking). It is like that I will not feel disappointed simply because of being the one being carried (in fact I was one of those being carried this morning) because you have your own job to do. Everyone’s hardwork in terms of administration, physical execution or financial support. Do not feel disappointed no matter what reason for the walkathon. You guys are always, 24-7 helpful to this unprecedented project.

P.S. To Tiffany’s mom – Tiffany is perhaps one of the brightest ladies (I call her a lady because of her maturity) that I have come across in my life (including my mom, sister, grandma and aunts). She will definitely make the project so functioning because of her intelligence, motivation and unbending willingness to serve and help. So as Matt, who always provides energy and physical motivation. I really want everyone to be part of it, especially when I know that this project will ‘jeopardize’ the original summer Trans-Canada East Expedition. A lot of students might not be able to go to visit St. John on the car from Ontario – this means that they might lose the chance to experience what I had experienced 3 years ago, which had changed me a lot lot lot more than expected! I really hope that everyone involves will learn a lot from this walkathon so that they will understand they will appreciate their sacrifice of the expedition. Sorry guys!

Kendra

Today was a very memorable day even though we didn’t do much. We had PT in the morning and a leadership lecture. I learned that you have to know your teammates well to be a leader, because in today’s exercises we had involved lifting each other up and if you don’t know each others strength, you cannot make it work. Since PT took a little longer than expected, we tried to speed things up. After everything was alone, an incident happened, because of the incident, we decided we would stay at the motel one more day.

It was a relaxing day for everyone, and we played many games. While we were in the middle of playing tug-a-war, it started to rain (this was after lunch). I felt sad… Rain,, rain, go away! So everyone moved in to the “office/chill zone.” The first thing, everyone took out cards, there were multiple games that were happening. I was trying to watch all, but could not. I also joined in some games. I also got to practice the piano…

After the rain stopped, we had dinner and just hang around ,actually everyone was hurrying to get the dishes cleaned by nine.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough water, so we couldn’t finish on time. Then, we had fire work!!! “Baby you’re a firework, common let your colours burst!”… It was so much fun to see! That was it for today, hope we can catch up on schedule.

Grace

This morning we got outside at 7:15 and had a P.T. We first did the walking like last time we did have and then we practiced something new. We separated into two groups, one were the carriers, and another one were the people who being carried. It was hard because this team work need us to communicat and support each other, use failed for some times, but we succeeded at last. At first I was the one being carried, then Kathy suggested we two to try being the carrier. It was easier than I thought.

We were going to leave at about 9, but Billy was accidentally missing his computer. After about half an hour, we finnally know the garbage man took it since it was beside the garbage bin. We then decided to stay here for one more night. We had free time for the whole afternoon, then we had a wonderful dinner. The car grabbed my pork chop away. I felt sorry because Billy said she couldn’t digest that, and she would be sick. But it turned out that she is still fine. When we were cleaning the dishes, we ran out of water. People are now used to getting water from the tap easily, and it was hard to use the only water to clean the oily dishes. We enjoyed the fireworks after we done the cleaning. Since we rested for a whole day, tomorrow we will drive all day long.

Mike

This morning was very eventful. Apart from having tiring PT, we lost a computer. The computer we lost was a Dell computer with a lot of documents. We spent a lot of time finding it until someone told us the garbage man who did have the computer with him and would give it back after his garbage run. When we did get it back, it was already decided for us to stay more night for an early morning start.

During our rest time, I went to play cards, finish my student assessments and also to prepare dinner. After our extremely filling dinner, we watched fireworks that cost a lot (130 dollars) and was pretty cool as it was close to us. Since I have to wake at 5 tomorrow, so good night.

Matt

Today was a very weird day as we stayed in the motel for one more night. It is because Billy misplaced his laptop and the garbage apparently took it away. Apparently Billy’s gut feeling said that we would stay here for one more night. Now I think Billy is kind of psyche. Again today is another rest day and most of us just played cards. I have to admit playing cards for hours is very boring. Some of us, including me played tag. I was surprised at how tired I am. So that means I need more PT. Billy bought some fireworks for us, worth $130. Some made it up high and some just died out. An update on the 300 day hike (call sign 7k300). The expendition might begin in June. I hope you are still considering the idea of me going. Billy sad that Canadian schools will give 3/4 credits for these crazy trips!

Tiffany

Waking up as LOD today, I managed to get everyone done and loaded up by 10:45, after a tiring/meaningful work of PT. We did several drills that require a lifting, being carried and racing, a leadership tasking. Well, like I said previously, the simplest looking task can be a lot harder than you think. After we got on the vehicle, we encountered a minor loss and decided to stay on site one more night. So, thus leaving us with a “rest day.” Some of us were discussing 7k300, trying to make it possible, some of us were playing poker, or tag. Everyone was relatively enjoying their day off as we came to dinner – pork chop with rice, hashbrown, sauce. We encountered a challengeL you have a large amount of dirty dishes, you have one hour, no running water, wash all stuff, go.

I don’t know how I did it, I just did, and in the end of the day I feel proud. (But I could’ve done better.)

We ended the day with beautiful fireworks, as Roman and Justin takeover their LOD roles tomorrow as suggested by ME and Jenn! Good night!

P.S. Mommy, so can I go?

Justin

Everyone wants to be the leader. Or, to be more precise, everyone wants the pride, the glory, the power that a leader has, wants to be the figure that people look upon to. Unfortunately being a leader is more about that, leadership is responsibility, leadership is hardwork, leadership is about serving others. Therefore, many wishes to become a leader but few succeed many failed to recognize the other properties of leadership.

The most important thing to a leader is the support from the followers. Followers are the greatest capital of a leader. After all, who a leader should lend without his supporters? But followers are never property of a leader, they must be treated with respect. It does not matter what a leader think of his followers, as long as he makes sure his followers feel being treated with care and respect. Treat your followers with respect and they will repay you with loyalty and trust.

Sadly, if one does master all the skills of leadership and has extraordinary personality, it does not mean he will be a good leader.

Different situation requires different leaders. In some situation, even those who have all the potential cannot be a leader.

JJ

Today we stayed another day at the Riverside Motel. We stayed here today as Billy misplaced the main laptop of this trip. Due to that ending we had to stay until we managed to find and retrieve it and by that time, it was already too late to move out. Besides that, today was very relaxing day with games and rest breaks. We even had a massive dinner of rice, sausages, porkchops, torlay and potatoes followed by an explosive fireworks display. Hopefully we can move out tomorrow and make it back to HQ on time the following day.

Quince

Today is the best day ever. We are about to leave today to Ontario. Then we found out that our Dell toughbook was misplaced. We reached for it all day long. Then Billy dicieded to stay in here for another. So it is a rest day. We played card and tag. After that we ate dinner and watch fireworks. We lighted our own fireworks and we watched it. It was a sight to see. Now I have a 1 bad news and1 good news. Which do you want to hear first? The bad news, eh? Alright. The bad news is that I did not take my camrea with me to take pictures of it. The good news is all the pictures that monticle took will send it to us. We had a very fun day comparing from yesterday. So this is awesome!!!

Howard

Today has been a long but memorable day. One of the few days in this year’s expedition in which we did not ride inside a car, today was a rest day and was spent in the Riverside motel, a short drive from Ontario. The drivers relaxed short drive from Ontario. The drivers relaxed after much frenzied driving with more to come, assessments were done and many hands of cards were played. We even played tug-of-war.

But the biggest surprise was at night as we pulled out a pack of fireworks and set them off. Truly a beautiful sight.

Jason Wong

We got up at 7:00 a.m. and had to get by 7:15 PT. Calvin was leading the stretch and PT while Billy was busy doing other things. We had beans and mashed potatoes with leftover sauce from yesterday dinner. The food was always good, we had to stay in the same motel for another night due to a unfortunate event that eventually we had good news. We talked about what we were going to do for the day. We had noodles, and ham for lunch. After lunch/ cleaning up dishes/pots we spent most of the afternoon playing cards or sleeping. We had hash brown with some sauce, pork chops, rice and sausage. It was enough to get me filled. We cleaned the dishes but ran out of water and had to use the buckets full of water to continue cleaning the dishes. After we had fireworks but almost all of were only allowed to watch.

Kathy

Today was the twenty-fifth day in Monticle. We did PT in this morning, in last training, we made a circle with people. some people carried others. some people were carried by others, we found that more people join in the circle, the training became much more harder and need more communication, we also need a good learder all the time. Then when we finished the training, and wanted to start our trip. Billy found that he lost his computer, and we couldn’t find it anywhere. At last, we found that Billy put it on bin, and was threw away. There were some photos about us in it, so we had to stayed at riverside one more night and waited for someone to send the computer back… It was so lucky that the computer was sent back finally. We saw fire work at night. they cost Billy a lot of money.

Alan

Today is a rest day we didn’t go anywhere we just stay at our motel We did some P.T. and played tag. At dinner we had a blog we had porkchop, mash potato and sausages. after that we cleaned our plates and we watch fireworks it was nice I took a few videos of the fire works.

Lemuel

Today, we were supposed to make it all the way to Lake Superior. However, some mishaps occurred while we were preparing to move out. During the packing Billy “misplaced” his personal laptop and we were unable to locate it. Turns out that Billy left his laptop on a picnic table which so happens to be next the garbage and the garbage man “mistook” it as garbage. Since the garbage man left, we had to call and wait for him to come back. Thus, we ended up staying in the motel for another night. However, not all was bad, for instance, we had the afternoon relaxing and had an excellent dinner followed by some fireworks. We should still be able to reach Toronto in a couple of clays.

P.S. In my previous blog, I meant to say “We are almost at Ontario” not Canada.

Edwin Cheung

Today, we are suppose to go to Lake Supearieor. We ate noodle for breakfast. Also, we did P.T training for teamwork moring. Before, we go. Billy have a incident of mis-place his personal-computer. We strip each everwhere to find personal-computer. We end up stay River-side motel, the HQ team and us when to the store buy food and stock. We also have firework to and enjoy with friend. We also have a good break for today. We have a good time.

Owen

The day of delay. This morning when we were ready to go, Billy found that he lost his computer. Since there were many pictures and blogs, we asked the motel owner for room keys and even unloaded all our stuff on the far. After a few hours, Billy figured out that the computer has been thrown by the room cleaner. Because it took some time to wait for that room cleaner, Billy decided to stay one more night here.

We relaxed ourselves all the long here. Some of us slept, some of us played cards. Some of them even played piano to kill time.

This night we really had a good time. Billy BBQ again and we all refilled our stomach. The feeling that full of pork chop and potato fries was great!

After washing dishes, Billy played fireworks for us. Althoughome of the fireworks failed to fly into the sky, it was the firs time that the fireworks have been fired in front of my eyes within 10 meters. Wow!

Tomorrow will be start travelling in a very early time. I better sleep now. 88

Mickey

Today our monticle team lose the computer. The computer is very important for us. So that we must stay here one more night. At last we find the computer. Is somehow take it ons. So we have nothing to do. We have free time all afternoon, but I sleep all afternoon. Until the dinner. More funny is after the dinner, billy buy some fireworks for us. It very beautiful at night. We every fireworks in the sky we all will said “Wa~~” Oh, because we delay more the time, so we need to get up at 5:00. leaving at 6:00. I am co-driver tomorrow. must go to sleep early. Good night. About two days later, we will go back to the HQ. So exciting! See you later Miss you. And last Thank you gxxxx.

Crystal

Expecting to arrive in Ontario today, we woke up early and had some PT before leaving. However, just before departure, an unexpected delay “appeared”. Billy’s black toughbook had dissappeared just as we finished loading everyone onto the sprinters. Everyone quickly jumped off the vehicle and started to search for the missing device.

After a long time, we finally found out that someone mistakenly took it and we quickly contacted him. Since the man had driven away with it, we needed to wait for him to return. So, Billy decided that we were going to stay in Manitoba for one more night. It was also decided that since no driving was going to be done today, today was our relax day. As the HQ team went out to buy food for today, the man had returned with the touhghbook. Just before lunch, we had a quick lecture and a few quick games of tug-of-war. Then,  we had a few hours of free time.

Some people were playing cards, while some were just taking advantage of today’s rest time and slept. Soon later, an awesome dinner made by amazing cooks was made and served. Pork chops, turkey, hash browns and rice created the perfect dinner plate. Then, the best way to end our relaxing day, FIREWORKS.

Along with the crackle and boom, bright and vibrant colours filled the night sky. I was amazed since it’s been a long time since I’ve seen fireworks so close in person. Well, we’ll be returning to Ontario tomorrow (can’t wait to lose one more hour of daylight) and soon be back to HQ.

Edwin Chan

Today we were suppose to leave the Riverside Motel, but then some incident so we had to stay for another night. We got up around 7 am and had PT at 7:15. Our PT was about teamwork building skills which was fun but then in end we couldn’t do a group carry back. Also today was our rest day again so it’s was fun. The incident was that billy misplace his laptop so we all ran around searching for it but in the end some guy took it and we got it back while the HQ team and billy went out to buy food. Later on the day we end up setting off fireworks. That’s all now hopefully we get back to toronto by Aug. 9. Have fun!

Calvin

Today was definately not the greatest of days for us all. I actually was really excited about driving back home today. Unfortunately we had some hiccups with Billy’s computer disappearing. It turned out someone had taken it. Luckily, as a driver I got the whole day to rest and enjoyed some fireworks we bought. We are one day down so Me, Easy1, and Michael will have to work harder to get home and prepare for Bravo group.

Mireille

Today was a good day. We stay in the same motel that yesterday. Indeed at morning we should go but there is an incident. Indeed we lost 1 computer. Actually it’s the garbage man who took it. Before realise that we lost the computer, we had PT. It was funny. Then we had a good breakfast and good lunch Then we had free time. I took my shower and played card. Then I took picture. After dinner we watch fireworks. It’s 10:30 pm I’m going to sleep.

Marco

Today was a relax day in the same motel because Billy put his own computer with lots of important info to the picnic table and the garbage man thought it is rubbish so he put it to the garbage truck so we had to wait and decided to  stay for one more night. It was really fun today, we played so much cards and I cooked with Crystal, Mich. F., and Mike. We had the best breakfast, lunch and dinner I would probabley ever have. But the best thing is not all the things I wrote on top, it is the first time seeing someone light up fireworks. It is so cool but it almost got the grass on fire. Can’t write anymore got to give this to someone else.

Jenn Wang

I’m extremely tired right now so I’ll cut to the chase. This morning’s PT made me realize how much I want to just stand back sometimes and watch. I didn’t feel physically strong enough to carry the others, and I also couldn’t relax enough to be carried and so I kept falling. I felt as if it meant that I was not strong enough to lead and that I was a weak follower. I know that this isn’t true, so I kept telling myself that, but I couldn’t help but feel like a burden at that moment.

Billy’s toughbook went missing and so we had to stay another night at the Riverside Motel. So we had much free time today. I got to play piano to my heart’s content as a result. Today was a great day—music, playing cards, eating good food, I even squeezed in a small nap in the afternoon. We had fireworks at night which were very entertaining—the bursts of colours like paint splatters across the sky—also the sight of Calvin and Edwin Chan running away after lighting the fireworks.

We talked more about the TransCanada Walk today and it’s making me really excited. I want to tag along the entire way and perhaps defer my university program for a year. I will get my G-license too so that I could drive the RV or at least be a backup! I’ve been assigned the job of writing out an autobiographical record of our journey. Ooh just thinking about this makes me so excited. I’ve started taking notes of our planning and prep stages so that I will have material for later!

Roman

We stayed one more day a Riverside Motel! After our Leadership training/P.T. Billy realized that he had miss placed his DELL Tough Book. After we went on a “Search and Retrire” mission, Billy remembered that he had left it on the picnic table and the garbage man might have took it. And that is when we decided to stay for one more day. Eventually we called the guy and he returned the computer. We did different kinds of activities before lunch. After lunch I slept until dinner. And to finish the day off we lit fireworks., I was told the be leader of the day with my friend Justin tomorrow. At first I thought: Why? Justin and I have almost complet different personalities! The everything came together, Michael intervied me last night and he had asked me about how I felt about Justin. And he is trying to challeng us to work together. I think I will have a interesting day tomorow.

Ryan

Being as a follower it was nice to just relax and play cards with everyone. However I do miss the many perks that come with being a leadership however. In these 3 years of me being here and this as my first year of being told to be a follower I really miss that extra time I get with Billy teaching us extra things. Since I am now a follower (in rank at least) I do not get this time to hear Billy’s lectures anymore.

Today’s P.T really taught me a lot about being a leader and being a follower. Even though most of this philosophy I learned mentally it is nice to also do it physically as well. I mainly learned today that I really need to watch my mouth. Just because I like to joke around I am still techicaly leadership (well lin rank at least) so I need to be more mature.