Friends For Life Bike Rally - A Benefit for the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation

•  2008 Complete Rider Route Maps (Days 1 thru 6) 4.09 Mb (new!)
• Route and Descriptions and Day Themes
• Departure Ceremonies
• Year 10 – The Partial Ride
• Kingston

Route and Descriptions

Day 1

Toronto to Port Hope - 112km

1st Break: 28km - Adams Park in Scarborough on Lawson Rd

Lunch: 61km - Lakeview Park in Oshawa

2nd Break: 88km - Bond Head Park in Bond Head

Campsite: Haskills lot on the lake, just before Port Hope. Swimming is available, but the shore is rocky, so use footwear.

Highlights: Our emotional departure, the Oshawa Valleylands bike path, the first campsite, the bus to the YMCA.

Theme:  Pajama Night
After a long tiring day of saying good bye in Toronto, then Pickering, Ajax and Oshawa.
It's time to relax and unwind - it's Pajama Night! Wear your flannels, boxers or silk nighties...pretty much anything goes.
 
Evening Activities: Starting at 4:00 PM, buses will depart every 20 minutes to take Participants to the local YMCA for showers and swimming. The YMCA closes at 8:00 PM, so plan accordingly
 

Day 2

Port Hope to Adolphustown - 125km

1st Break: 36km - Wicklow Beach Park in Wicklow

2nd Break: 65km - At Murray Canal in Lovett

Lunch: 80km - Henderson B&B in Consecon

3rd Break: 100k - Schroedter's Market at Huff's Corners

Campsite: U.F.L. Heritage Centre/Park in Adolphustown. Swimming is available.

Highlights: The ride along the lake after lunch, the Glenora Ferry, having the longest day of the ride behind you.

Theme: VIVAAAA Las Vegas
Think Celine, Cher and Elton...think glamour and beauty! And don't forget Elvis – it would be remiss of us to not give him special mention. Think VIVA LAS VEGAS (baby)!

Evening Activities: Tonight, it’s the annual Bingo Night. Bring money, win prizes – and be ready to have a fun-filled evening. All proceeds go to PWA.  

Day 3

Adolphustown to Kingston - 51km

Break: 22km - Finkle Shore Park in Bath

Lunch: In the lobby of Gordon-Bockington hall at Queens University

Highlights: Cycling along the Bay of Quinte, having the rest of the day off, clean laundry, hot baths... and a bed.

Theme: Whooah, we're half way there, Whooah... Livin' on a prayer!
Take your bike and you'll make it - I swear... Okay before we go too far with Bon Jovi and destroy the lyrics, today marks the halfway point and our arrival in Kingston. Today is Red Dress Day - so whoop it up! Make your mark in red for our shortest day.

Activities: All participants have the afternoon and evening off.

On the day we head into Kingston, we'll all have a renewed sense of energy - just a
short day on the road you'll have the rest of the day off with access to hot showers,
laundry facilities, and private rooms - with beds!

Day 4

Kingston to Johnstown - 110km

1st Break: 31km - Gananoque Town Park

Lunch: 67km - Brown's Bay Park in Thousand Islands region - beautiful for swimming

2nd Break: 84km - Hardy Park in Brockville

Campsite: Grenville Campgroun. Note: You need quarters to operate showers at this campsite.

Highlights: Hot breakfast at Queens University cafeteria, the view of the Thousand Islands, the best swimming spot of the week at lunch.

Theme:  Join the Village People in the Navy, become GI Jane or find a Few Good Men.
Today's theme is COMBAT ZONE - think Generals and Soldiers and Sea Men...Oh My!  Although we are lovers not fighters.
 
Evening Activities:  Tonight is all about entertainment, think Canadian Idol meets So You Think You Can Dance and get ready for TEAM TALENT NIGHT!  

Day 5

Johnstown to Lancaster - 108km

1st Break: 29km - Morrisburg Beach Park in Morrisburg

Lunch: 59km - Milles Roches Island

2nd Break: 77km - Lamoureux Park in Cornwall

Campsite: Glengarry Campground

Highlights: The stunning Long Sault Parkway, the Dairy Queen in Lancaster, tenting amongst the tall trees, the Beach Candle Ceremony.

Theme: Glengarry is goin' country!
Think cowboy hats, chaps and flannel.

Evening Activities: Candle light ceremony after dinner provides an opportunity to reflect on your week.
Remembering loved ones and keeping the flame of hope alive to one day see a world that is free of HIV and AIDS.

After the ceremony, get your cowboy hat/boots and mosey on over to the barn dance as it is Country Western night at the good ol' Campsite.

Day 6

Lancaster to Montreal - 102km

1st Break: 30km - at park by canal in Coteau-du-Lac

Lunch: Shamrock Park on L'Ile Perrot

2nd Break: 87km - at our final gathering point in Parc Canal De Lachine

Highlights: The final morning announcements, crossing the border into Quebec, the long line of Friends For Life jerseys as we ride into Montreal, and, of course, our arriva.

Theme: Red Ribbon Day
Today we all wear our 2008 Bike Rally jerseys and crew shirts as we arrive in Montreal. Each participant will also be given a red ribbon to attach to his or her helmet, hat or vehicle. You will be invited to write on it what the Bike Rally means to you – a name of a friend or organization, a date or someone who has inspired you.

Evening Activities: Montreal Reception at SKY Bar! More details to follow...

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Departure Ceremonies

Sunday July 27, 2008

Queen’s Park (University and Wellesley)

7:30am: Rider and Crew Sign in
8:00am: Ceremonies and speeches from Co-chairs and special guests
8:30am: Group photos
8:45am: Rider and Crew stretching session
9:00am: Depart

Riders must wear their 2008 Friends For Life Jerseys and Crew their Crew T-shirts. Riders should bring all the things they need for the first day on the road, including the route maps that they received on packing day.

When you arrive at the park, please check in at the registration desk. During the ceremonies, bikes can be parked in the designated fenced-in area.

Coffee, beverages and snacks will be available. Washrooms are located in the community centre.

Certain Crew may have duties that necessitate meeting before the ceremonies at a different location and time - please check with your crew leader.

After the ceremonies, we'll pose for photos, have a quick stretch, and then get on our bikes and in our vehicles and begin our journey east.

As we enjoy a police escort down to the waterfront, we'll pass the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation in a final gesture of support as we head to Montreal.

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New for Year 10 – The Partial Ride

We are pleased to announce one of our 10th anniversary initiatives – the partial ride from Kingston to Montreal. This year up to 40 Riders may register to start the Bike Rally in Kingston. These individuals will receive the same supports and obligations that we offer to those doing the full ride (e.g. assignment to a team, training requirements, seminars, etc.).

If you can’t commit to a full week, this is definitely a way for you to participate and be part of this amazing experience!

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Welcome to Kingston

On the day we head into Kingston, we'll all have a renewed sense of energy – just a short bike ride or drive and there will be patios, pubs and shopping, and at Queen's University, showers, laundry facilities, and private rooms – with beds!

Checking in

Like last year, in 2008 we'll be staying at Leggett Hall. Sign-in and pickup your room keys and breakfast vouchers outside as you arrive. If you intend to use the laundry facilities, you must purchase a $5 laundry card at the reception desk – you may wish to split the cost with other participants.

The Food Crew will set up a free pizza lunch in the reception lobby. Lunch will be available from 12:30-1:30pm, or as long as the pizza lasts!

Pick up your bins

Since it's a short day and due to space limitations at this location, the Rubbermaid Rustlers have to unload them one truck at a time. They may be still unloading bins when riders arrive. Riders must wait until ALL bins have been unloaded and accounted for before they can access their bins. Feel free to help the Rustlers unload to speed the process!

You may take both your bins up to your room or leave one bin downstairs if you do not need it for the Kingston stay. Bicycles can also be left in the Common Room, but although there is no traffic here, please be aware that the room is not locked. Therefore, some Riders take their bikes up to their rooms too. Neither PWA nor the Bike Rally Crew are responsible for any loss of property.

Tent Bins are not taken off the trucks in Kingston. Trucks are parked off-site (a shuttle ride away), and are not accessible. If you want to air out your tent, please pack it in one of your personal bins that day or make prior arrangements with your truck's driver.

Wellness therapy

Massage therapy and chiropractic treatment will be available on a first come, first served basis. You must bring your name tag to the therapist for validation and note that we have a limited number of therapists and we cannot guarantee you will get a massage or treatment.

Fun in Kingston

Leggett Hall at Queen's University is about a 20 minute walk to Kingston's downtown core along Princess St where you'll have access to restaurants, pubs and shopping! Everyone spends their time a little differently, whether it be socializing, shopping, enjoying the sites or just taking a hot bath.

Breakfast time

A complete buffet breakfast will be available in the campus cafeteria - check the message board for directions, and bring the breakfast voucher you received when you checked in. We ask that everyone bring their bins down to the Common Room before breakfast and stack them in the truck-designated rows.

Morning announcements will take place at 8am behind the residence in Leonard Field. After eating, and during the Riders' morning stretches and announcements, the Rustlers will be shuttled over to the parking lot where they will retrieve the trucks.

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