Mud, Sweat, and Gears

Prologue 9
Mom 15
Part One: Obed Summit
Chapter 1 Second Wind 18
Part Two: Portland, Oregon, to Port Hardy, Vancouver Island
Mom 27
Chapter 2 How to Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee 31
Chapter 3 Road-Testing a Perfectly Good Marriage 36
Chapter 4 False Starts 40
Chapter 5 Canadian Hospitality 52
Chapter 6 A Brand-New Day 56
Chapter 7 Little Russia 60
Chapter 8 Ruckle Park: Fellowship of the Fire Ring 69
Chapter 9 The Battery King of British Columbia 78
Chapter 10 James and His Giant Peach Bicycle 83
Chapter 11 Freefalling 94
Chapter 12 Cross-Training 97
Chapter 13 Haircut of the Gods 109
Chapter 14 Grumpy Old Man, Part 1 115
Chapter 15 Trying Not to Miss the Boat 121
Part Three:
Joe and Beth: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told (This Week)
Mom 128
Chapter 16 A Beautiful Wreck 129
Chapter 17 Crash and Burn 154
Chapter 18 As You Wish 161

Part 4: Prince Rupert to Saskatoon
Mom 176
Chapter 19 Selwin Berries 180
Chapter 20 Wilderness Gourmet 184
Chapter 21 Wendy and Her Lost Boys 211
Chapter 22 It’s Best You Don’t Know About These Things 233
Chapter 23 Yellowhead Highway Trivia for a Hundred, Alex 240
Chapter 24 Climate-Controlled Living 244
Chapter 25 The Gatekeepers of Jasper Park 247
Chapter 26 Jasper Welcoming Committee 251
Chapter 27 Grumpy Old Man, Part 2 254
Chapter 28 Gone to the Dogs 263
Chapter 29 Trucker’s Dream 271
Chapter 30 Hailstorms Are All We Know of Heaven 277
Chapter 31 I Will Miss This Body So Much When It’s Gone
282
Part Five: Nova Scotia
Mom 287
Chapter 32 Performance Art 291
Chapter 33 It’s for You 297
Chapter 34 The Victory Tuck 300