On the home stretch!
After 34 days on the road, it was time to head home!
After enjoying the breakfast buffet at our hotel in Jasper, we gassed up, and made our way out of beautiful Jasper National Park towards Edson. As with the last few weeks of the ride, the weather was great, and we cruised along nicely through Hinton and into Edson.
Once in Edson we met up with members of the Blue Knights Edmonton Metro Chapter, and our 6 man wolf pack had now exploded into a 19 man pack! We had a quick lunch and coordinated the game plan, and we began the BK escorted 200km home stretch into Edmonton.
Just outside of Edmonton we met up with our police escort, which was provided by Edmonton Police Service West Division members. Erin was lucky enough to be able to ride in one of the cars, so she snapped a few photos of us as we we’re escorted through the city:
Garry Crawford of the Blue Knights leading the escort
Proud dad rolling into town
Adrian rolling into town
Blue Knights Edmonton Metro President, The BEEEEEEEEEG
Being escorted into the city by the Blue Knights and EPS
The escort from a different angle – good photography Erin!
Pretty impressive!
Crossing 111av on Groat Rd
Almost to the finish line!
I drive a police car for a living, but was still blown away by the police escort that we had into the city. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for Adrian or some of the other riders who aren’t police officers or who have been retired for many years.
Once we got close to the Legislature grounds, we made a brief stop off at the bottom of the hill by the Royal Glenora so that Erin could be taken up to the gounds prior to our arrival. Once she was there, we we’re given the green light to head up the hill…
Being saluted in by EPS members
We also got piped in!
I’m glad that I was wearing dark glasses as I rode up that hill because as soon as I heard the bagpipes and saw the salute I got pretty emotional. The successful ride coming to an end, combined with the salute, pipes, and seeing my family and friends again made this something that that I’ll never forget.
The final few feet of the ride!
Being welcomed back by C-Bear!
My little nephew C-Bear was first to come and give me a hug. Sorry buddy if I squished you a little bit as I picked you up! haha
Shortly after getting off the bikes the media frenzy started…
Pretty popular guy hey?
Erin joined in on the media festivities
I think every TV station and newspaper was there to greet us and hear the story of the ride. I’m glad that I’ve received so much coverage:
CTV Edmonton: Edmonton father, son complete cross-country ride to raise MS awareness
It was a ride that took them across the country raising money and awareness for multiple sclerosis and on Sunday, an Edmonton police constable and his dad rode back into Edmonton: mission accomplished.
Edmonton Journal: Edmonton father, son complete summer road trip for MS
A family road trip for a good cause came to an end Sunday, when an Edmonton police officer and his dad were welcomed home at the legislature.
Global Edmonton: Edmonton police officer rides across country for M.S.
An Edmonton police constable is back home after riding across Canada, fundraising for multiple sclerosis.
Global TV Edmonton: MS Rider Back Home (Video)
Edmonton Metro: Edmonton police officer cruises cross-country for a cause
Upon arriving home from a 34-day motorcycle trip across the country, Edmonton Police Service Const. Christ Anderson was greeted by a police escort, officer salute and much appreciation Sunday.
Our HomeTown: Edmonton’s Finest Cruising for a Cause
On Sunday, Aug. 19, an EPS constable will roll into Edmonton after riding for 34 days and nearly 12,000 kilometres across Canada on a fundraising tour for Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
St. Albert Gazette: Motorcyclist on final leg of cross-country ride for MS
Every year the MS Society of Alberta hosts several popular fundraising bike tours, all somewhere between 150 and 200 kilometres. Chris Anderson must have thought that they didn’t go far enough to help fight the debilitating disease of the central nervous system. So he got on his motorcycle and embarked on a ride from sea to sea, and back home again.
Hahahahaha
Once we finished the interviews, we had a chance to say hi and see our friends and family that we had missed while on the road. We also had another 50/50 draw, and the winner “ONAWING” was nice enough to donate his winnings back to the MS Society!
Now for some stats:
MS Ride Stats – That top speed CAN’T be right! (Thanks for the GPS unit, GPS Central!)
Total distance travelled: 12,695km / 7888 miles!
Total money raised for the MS Society of Canada: $20,870
Total out of pocket cost to me and dad: ~$9,253
I’m very happy with this because we raised more than we spent to do this. We had some people question along the way if we were spending the money raised on this to fund our trip, and the answer is no. That $9,253 came out of our own pockets, and the $21,070 raised went directly to the MS Society of Canada. $9,253 is a lot to spend, but the return on investment, both monetary and in awareness, is invaluable.
I’d like to thank everyone that made this event what it was. I can’t name everyone as I’d need another 50 pages for this post alone, but most importantly I’d like to thank my dad Dave for joining me from coast to coast, Adrian for tackling the final third of the ride, Erin for being the inspiration for the ride and for all the funny texts along the way, and my mom Sharon for all the work she put in to coordinate the finish line event! Couldn’t have done it without you!
This is the final blog entry for the MS Ride. I’ve met some wonderful people, seen our beautiful country from coast to coast, and have hopefully made a difference in the fight against MS.
Thank you for following along, and stay strong.
Chris
