On July 1st Four Seasons YEW Seafood Restaurant and Bar's chef Ned Bell set off to cycle across Canada. He'll be keeping us posted with his journey from the road for the full eleven weeks. Here now, the second of his diary entries.
June 30 2014:
What an incredible week, and especially the last few days, have been. Epic really.
Our CFO support vehicle was 'lost' in Montreal after it should have been waiting for us in St. John's, days ahead of our Friday arrival. Considering the exorbitant cost of having the vehicle shipped to Newfoundland, the process was wrought with anxiety. On arrival in Toronto during our 90 minute layover, we had to track down the truck and re-route my younger brother William, from boarding the plane to St. John's with us, to flying to Quebec on a last-minute recovery mission.
It was crazy.
Without his heroic effort, the journey would have been lost and unable to begin for a few weeks. It had everything in it - bikes, gear, my tins of albacore tuna, lots of chocolate and most of all, the maps leading us back home. The van arrived on today, exactly 24 hours before the journey was set to begin. So, after an epic 18-hour drive, followed by a 14-hour overnight ferry with no sleep for our young "Prince" William Bell we could only then begin re-packing the van for the journey. I feel like our team could pull off any event anywhere after the heroic efforts of the last hours. Shout out to the entire CFO team. Thank you.
So, crisis averted! Have I said how awesome St John's is? It's incredible, if you haven't been here, get here. The people, the food, the history, the landscapes and of course the ocean. Beyond words. I can't wait to come back. Monday was our first launch event in Petty Harbour at the brand new Mini Aquarium, an unbelievable place that conjures up memories of what Newfoundland looks like in classic postcards. I loved the people, the accents, the mystical energy. I am forever changed by this place.
Oh yeah, and icebergs everywhere; huge ones, small ones, hollow ones, crackling ones, as well as whales, puffins, capelin, lobster, crab, and of course, the cod. The historic cod. I only wish I could go back and see what it was like 200 years ago, or even 75 years ago. This entire place is all about its fishermen and women, the communities and the history. I love it. I feel blessed to be here, to start our trip here and to highlight its stories. We need to listen carefully.
Tomorrow, July 1st, Canada Day, we begin....
Note from Ned's team:
The trip began on Canada Day. During a sold-out brunch at Raymonds and immediately following a city-wide Canada-Day Memorial Day parade with all kinds of well-wishers that included St. John's Mayor, Dennis O'Keefe family, and local media. Ned thanked the Raymonds crowd for their support and, more nervous that I've ever seen him, dipped his back wheel into the Atlantic, hugged his people goodbye - and rode away.
Follow Ned's Journey at #chefsforoceans and via @Nedbell on Twitter. See you on the road.
· Chefs for Oceans. [Official Site]
· All Ned Bell Coverage [EVAN]
· All Chefs for Oceans Coverage [EVAN]