It’s July 8, one week after arriving at the Valour Road Commemorative Plaza. The Road To Valour is now in the past.

Or is it?

How can something like this ever really be in the past? For more than two years, it became part of who I was. There was the planning… the training… the endless “what if?” questions, followed by my reassuring “what if not?” replies. Every day seemed to revolve around preparing for May 21, 2026 and the 42 days that followed.

So, is it really over?

Read more: Is The Road To Valour Really Over?

Well, this chapter certainly is.

When I began planning this journey, I established very specific goals and objectives. I believed that if I could achieve them, I would arrive at the Valour Road Commemorative Plaza in Winnipeg exactly as planned.

I’m proud to say that every one of those goals was met—or exceeded.

Goal	Target	Actual
Distance	2,700 km	2,734 km
Elevation Climbed	14,000 m	15,302 m
Start Time	0900 hrs, 21 May 2026	Achieved exactly
Finish Time	1200 hrs, 1 July 2026	Achieved exactly

Those are accomplishments of which I am very proud. They demonstrate that careful planning, disciplined preparation, and perseverance can produce remarkable results.

But those numbers aren’t what matter most.

The true measure of The Road To Valour has never been kilometres ridden or metres climbed. It has always been about supporting veterans and first responders who are living with operational stress injuries and the families who walk beside them every day.

My fundraising goals were ambitious, and together with my team, we set an even higher goal. I was tempted to announce the totals today, but the fundraising campaign is still open, and I don’t want to jinx what is still possible. So, for now, I’ll simply say this:

We exceeded these goals.

That is something worth celebrating—not for me, but for every veteran, first responder and every family member who may benefit from the work of Wounded Warriors Canada.

The ride may be over, but the need continues. Every donation still makes a difference, and every conversation about mental health helps reduce the stigma that too many still face.

Now comes the recovery.

Physically, I honestly feel remarkably good. I don’t feel as though I need much recovery at all. Karen already has me scheduled for rides in Manitoba through Ontario and Quebec. And then there is Le Tour des Collèges. Yup, I signed up for another fundraising ride. This one is to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Royal Military College of Canada. This ride, in the middle of September, will go from le Collège Militaire Royal in St.-Jean, QC to Ottawa and on to the Royal Military College in Kingston, ON.

Psychologically and emotionally, however, that’s another story.

When you devote two years of your life to one purpose—planning every detail, training through every season, worrying about every possible obstacle, and then living that purpose for 42 unforgettable days—it leaves a void when it’s finished.

I suspect that will take a little longer to process. But perhaps that’s because The Road To Valour was never just about riding a bicycle from Vancouver to Winnipeg. It was about supporting our veterans and first responders and honouring Canada’s Victoria Cross recipients along the way.

It was about promoting healthy aging. It was about proving—to myself and, hopefully, to others—that age should never stop us from pursuing a meaningful challenge.

So, is The Road To Valour really over?

The cycling portion is. The mission is not. There are still stories to tell, people to thank, lessons to share, and funds to raise.

The road ahead simply looks a little different than the one behind me. And I’m looking forward to travelling it.

Over the coming weeks, while Karen and I travel through Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, I will compete the Sitreps that I missed during the ride. I will also follow up with separate posts on what I learned and how this ride has changed me. There will be posts about the people who made the journey possible, and how the experience of meeting them has changed me.

The Road To Valour continues!