A Windsor cyclist is aiming to be the first to ride a bicycle more than 7,000 km from the Arctic circle to Point Pelee National Park.
Don Martel is expecting to dip his toes in the sand at the tip of Point Pelee on Saturday at around 3pm. The 60-year-old cyclist is currently in Owen Sound.
Two years ago, he rode across Canada from West to East and wrote a book about it and says this journey has been even tougher given the unforgiving weather and challenging terrain. Both rides have raised significant funds for the Alzheimer’s Society of Windsor and Essex County and this time he’s also supporting Bike Windsor Essex.
Lori Newton, executive director of Bike Windsor Essex, says Don is not your typical spandexed road warrior and notes he wore flip-flops on his ride two years ago. “This 7000km+ journey would be a challenge to the hardiest most highly trained cyclist,” says Newton, “it’s utterly remarkable that a man of Don’s age, on a super heavy steel bike loaded with all his gear and no support vehicle - has achieved this.“
A welcome home party will be held at Chapter II Brewery Friday at 6pm to welcome Don back to Walkerville. The community is invited to ride with Don for all or parts of his final push to Point Pelee rolling from the Alzheimer’s Society of Windsor in Walkerville at 10am Saturday to the Riverfront Trail.