Biggest ever coast to coast bike tour ends in Halifax
SEA TO SEA

Halifax, NS – Excitement permeated the fresh air and clear skies of the Halifax Harbor on September 3 as the 135 cyclists in the Sea to Sea bike tour lined up about five metres away from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean ready to conclude the journey of a lifetime.

The first riders arrived at Halifax’s Point Pleasant Park and set the mark near the water. They waited until all the riders arrived before dipping their front tires in the Atlantic to end a summer of biking that, for 94 of them, began 10 Saturdays and more than 7,000 kilometres earlier at the Pacific Ocean’s shore in Vancouver on June 25.

A sense of awe and wonder was evident on the faces of many riders as they tried to put into words this amazing adventure.

The ‘Sea to Sea with the CRC’ bike tour was presented by the Christian Reformed Church (CRC).

Sisters Angela and Meghan Reitsma share hugs and congratulations after both completed the entire ride from Vancouver to Halifax. — photo by David Raakman

The three main goals of the tour were to Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the CRC in Canada, inspire unity among the churches from coast to coast and support the development of new churches across the country. "I know my life has been impacted in many ways," said John Van Sloten, pastor of the New Hope CRC in Calgary, AB, "but I’ll need to take some time to process this." The riders were greeted by dozens of supporters as they made their way from Truro, NS into Halifax for day 71 of their journey. They stopped for refreshments at Faith Community CRC in Milford and then gathered at Halifax’s All Nations CRC before riding the final few kilometres together to Pier 21 and then on to Point Pleasant Park. Smiles, tears, handshakes and hugs were shared as riders congratulated each other and realized this day marked the end of the journey and the imminent parting of ways among a very tight-knit, intense community. Van Sloten, who preached at the last of the nine celebration rallies, often called the tour a metaphor for life’s journey.

"I’ve had this discussion with some of my riding team, ‘is this a race or a tour?’" Van Sloten said. "Are we moving so quickly through this life that we miss it or can we slow down and see and notice God’s presence all around us in His creation?"

Prior to Sunday’s rally at All Nations CRC, the cyclists, support crew and their families enjoyed a Saturday evening banquet at Pier 21, the same place that many forefathers of the Christian Reformed Church first touched Canadian soil.

Al Karsten, the visionary behind the project, who also joined as a cyclist for the Atlantic section, was visibly moved that this dream-turned-reality tour had come to such a successful conclusion.