Cycling trip instilled confidence in teenager.
What did you do during your summer vacation?
“Oh,. I worked and went to the beach.”
“I hitch-hiked to Montreal.”
“I flew to Vancouver.”
And so on and so on. But, if you’d asked eighteen year old Paul Dugas what he did during his summer holidays, you wouldn’t believe it.
2,200 miles in 19 days
Paul, son of Mr. and Mrs. Romeo Dugas, cycled his “just a regular, nothing fancy, ten-speed bike” from St. Boniface to Dugas Office, New Brunswick, a distance of approximately 2,200 miles, in just 19 days worth of pedalling this summer.
Dugas Office is located near Grande Anse, along the Bay of Chaleur. The Dugas family had settled there many, many years ago, when they started up a post office.
What are the odds?…
“You see,” Paul explained, “I had been to New Brunswick before and had thought that the next time I went, I would like to do the trip by bike. I bounced the idea off of a lot of people who said there was no way I’d be able to make it. I said, “Yes, I could”, and finally decided to take the trip.”
Paul said, for him, the trip would prove who was right and who was wrong. .”I was never involved in sports in high school so this was quite a challenge for me . . . both physically and mentally. Now, (after finishing the trip) I’m more sure of myself and my thoughts . . . I feel more secure now in making decisions.”
Paul said that as far as conditioning for the 2,200 mile trip went, mental conditioning was more important than physical conditioning. “You see, you are all alone and you have to keep on going and whether it’s raining or very cold. You `ve got to keep on pushing. I regarded it as a challenge and took it in stride.”
A bear cub on the highway.
As far as the trip itself, Paul happily reported he met no hassles except a bear the first night out. The people I met were all very nice. I think they’re nicer to cyclists than regular tourists because they see the cyclist is facing more of a challenge and respect him for that.”
Future plans for Paul include a possible canoe trip and dreams of owning a scientifically based farm in the country. As a rule, Paul now believes no person should let anyone discourage you of any of your plans you think are right until you try them out.”
Good advice from someone who has followed it, don`t you think.
Back to top
HomePods.org 