Photo by Photo Submitted
GOAL ACCOMPLISHED 鈥 Stella Martin set out to cycle every road in Whitehorse. On Sunday, Martin accomplished her goal.
Photo by Photo Submitted
GOAL ACCOMPLISHED 鈥 Stella Martin set out to cycle every road in Whitehorse. On Sunday, Martin accomplished her goal.
On Sunday, Stella Martin hopped on her bike and travelled down the road toward the dump.
On Sunday, Stella Martin hopped on her bike and travelled down the road toward the dump. When she reached the end it was mission accomplished 鈥 Martin had peddled every street in the city of Whitehorse.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting and sad,鈥 said Martin about her journey. 鈥淟ike holy smokes. It鈥檚 been a wonderful way to see the city.鈥
Martin, who turns 65 this year, plans an adventure with a friend every five years, however, the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt on their 2020 odyssey.
鈥淓very five years since we turned 50 we do a big trip together,鈥 said Martin. 鈥淔irst we did the Chilkoot. At 55 we went to the 14th highest waterfall and at 60 we biked through Ireland.
鈥淭his year we were going to hike the Grand Canyon from rim to rim.鈥
Her bike around Whitehorse began on June 25.
鈥淚t was such a beautiful day and that鈥檚 when I decided to bike all the streets in Whitehorse,鈥 she said.
Martin was also inspired by a childhood friend, who undertook the same charge in Saskatoon.
As her trip took her to the city limits and in-between, Martin said she rediscovered the city鈥檚 beauty and even discovered some new areas the long-time Yukoner had yet to see.
鈥淚 discovered a new street while biking downtown, Keish Street,鈥 said Martin. 鈥淰alley Creek, it鈥檚 just gorgeous and Squatters Row there were some really cool artifacts and other sweet stuff; Sima Road, the mountains were beautiful.鈥
To keep track of her journey, Martin obtained a city map where she could trace in her day鈥檚 route. She said she travelled about 20-30 kilometres per day.
As she reflected on her accomplishment this morning, Martin said it felt like a lifetime ago when she began.
鈥淭hinking back, it feels like a couple of years ago that I started,鈥 said Martin. 鈥淓very day feels like a new adventure.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all been really special and I feel really good.鈥
Although she has now accomplished the city鈥檚 network of streets, Martin will still be on her bike with another aim ahead.
In 2017, Martin walked the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain.
鈥淚鈥檓 a member of the Canadian Company of Pilgrims,鈥 said Martin. 鈥淏ecause of COVID, they are doing a virtual mission where you could choose how you cross the distance.
鈥淚 decided to register for this and add my kilometres to see where I鈥檓 going.鈥
When Martin first spoke to the Star last Friday, she would have been past Leon, France. Her goal was to complete the Camino in 35 days and she is still on track. Martin expects to finish sometime this week.
Martin and her travel companion will still get in a trip for their 65th birthdays, they are going to go horseback riding in B.C.
What鈥檚 the plan for 70? Martin doesn鈥檛 know, but there have been some ideas floated.
鈥淲e could do a boat trip around Newfoundland or who knows?鈥 said Martin. 鈥淒oing the Grand Canyon at 70 would be something.鈥
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Comments (2)
Up 1 Down 0
Dianne Sutherland on Aug 7, 2020 at 8:31 am
Good on you. I think exercise is what keeps you young.
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Carol MacEachern on Jul 28, 2020 at 2:26 pm
I took the virtual journey in the Yukon with Stella. She has been a long-time friend from St. F. X. days. I will never be able to go physically to the Yukon as I am disabled and have mobility issues. Sharing her experience was absolutely wonderful to get to see the great sites and landscapes. Thank you so much for including me and others on this wonderful journey.