The Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society September 2025, Volume 43, Issue #9
TOUR DIRECTOR’S CORNER – September 2025
By Robin Howe, Director of International Tours
Slovenia 2025 Group
2025 Tour Season is More Than Half Completed
We have been enjoying another great year of CCCTS tours, and it is in full swing right now. As I write this article, three international tours will be heading out any day – Central Europe with Maureen Angen and Dianne Schneidmiller, Albania with Janet Whitehead, and Hokkaido with yours truly. We wish the best for all of them and that the weather Gods will be smiling. After this, the only international tour left for 2025 is Northern and Central Thailand. We also have two Canada tours departing in September – The Tour of Discovery Islands and Sunshine Coast in BC camping tour and the Veloroute des Bleuets in Quebec.
Riverside cycle path on the Central Europe tour route
Don’t miss the 2026 tours that are registering this month – the first section of the Cross Canada ride – Victoria to Winnipeg, and the Frozen Triangle Ski Tour. Don’t worry, more tour postings will be coming along. It takes a while to get all the tour details ironed out, ready for posting to the website, and approved by the Board.
Hokkaido Tour route
My husband Dan and I just returned from the Vancouver Hub & Spoke, the third one we’ve attended over the years. It was such a nice time, and we cannot thank Allan Buium enough for organizing it once again! The best thing about this club for us is making lifelong friends, some that stretch all the way back for the full 22 years of our membership. It’s just as fun for us to cycle in Vancouver, a 3-hour drive from home, as it is to cycle overseas. The club’s Hub & Spokes are the best. In Vancouver we cycled with a gentleman in his 90’s, David Clark, who had made a point to sit with us at the very first CCCTS lunch meeting we ever attended. Little did we know that he was the club President at the time and people were probably wondering why the newbies were at the table with the “top brass”. To be still cycling in your 90’s is pretty darn amazing! Better than playing Bingo at the retirement home.
It’s all of you who make this club GO. Everyone who leads tours and H&S’s, who helps out with their Chapter, leads or sweeps the weekly rides, handles club finances/newsbriefs/website/RWGPS/safety/bike maintenance classes/community projects and a million other things. This club exists because of YOU. Long may it thrive and grow. We feel so lucky to be a part of it for all these years.
Dinner in Albania – yummy and healthy!
Update on Cross Canada, Section 1 – 2026 Victoria to Winnipeg – July 17 thru August 29
Summer wildflowers in the Canadian Rockies
As you may have noticed, the Cross Canada, Part 1 – Victoria to Winnipeg tour is now open for registration. We described the tour format and itinerary as thoroughly as we could. Please read through it if you’re interested at https://cccts.org/ride/2026-cross-canada-part-1-victoria-to-winnipeg/. Just to give you a very brief overview, the plan is to camp about 5 nights a week and stay in a hotel for 2 nights, with a day off every week. Daily cycling distances are generally moderate, averaging between 70 to 85k, though there will be some long days (over 100k) due to a lack of campgrounds and hotels. There is also quite a lot of elevation gain, notably in the first two weeks of the tour. The hope is that this tour will be a “kinder and gentler” sort of Cross Canada tour than the club’s past tours, which is why we are breaking it up into three parts. But it will still be plenty difficult with all the camping and the variety of conditions. Our goal is to integrate some cultural/sightseeing activities and buy local produce and food whenever they are available.
For this tour to happen, we need to fill two volunteer positions that will be “compensated” with a 50% discount of their tour fee:
Tour Driver – Drive the support truck and grocery shop for half of the days of the tour. Receive a 50% discount on your tour fee plus your expenses to drive the truck back to Vancouver. (The Co-Leader will drive and shop for the other half of the days.)
Tour Treasurer – Handle the tour funds, keep track of tour expenses, and make sure we stick to our budget. Receive a 50% discount on your tour fee. This person must be Canadian and have a Canadian bank account.
Please let the leaders know when you register if you are interested in either of these volunteer jobs.
Winnipeg skyline
Tour Postings
Details for each tour will be posted when tour proposals and budgets are finalized and have been approved by the Board. This list in the Newsbrief is meant to give you a heads-up for your travel planning purposes until the final tour details are ready for publication. So, please watch your CCCTS emails and the website since tours will be posted one at a time as they are ready; all members will be notified via email when a new tour posts. Tour plans are always changing; as of today, this is the best information we have on the remaining tours for the 2025 season, a draft list for 2026, and some ideas for 2027 tours that are just a glimmer of excitement at this point.
Remaining for 2025 (registration closed for all)
- Veloroute de Bleuet and Quebec City – September 8-15
- Discovery Islands and the Sunshine Coast camping tour– September 21-28
- Northern and Central Thailand – November 18-December 11
Slovenia 2025 – Alen Augustin, one of our favorite European tour contractors
2026 – Tours Draft List
- Frozen Triangle ski Tour – Lake Louise, Radium Hot Springs, and Golden – January 6-15 Registration opens September 15.
- Japan – Setouchi Islands – March 31-April 15 – Tour is full with waitlist.
- Portugal –April 15-May 1 – Tour is full with waitlist.
- Morocco – Marrakech to Marrakech – May
- Partial Cross Canada Tour – Victoria to Winnipeg (first section of Cross Canada) camping tour– July 17 through August 29 – Registration opens September 1.
- England and Spain – August 18 – September 4
- Tuscany – September 7-22
- Taiwan – October/November
- Ultimate Vietnam – November
Some Very Early Tour Ideas for 2027
- Italian Tyrol X-C ski tour, New Zealand – South Island, Philippines, Puglia gravel tour, Cross Canada, Section 2 – Ottawa to St. John’s – camping tour, Peru – From the Andes to the Amazon, Tuscany, Bulgaria or Balkans, Japan – Setouchi Islands
Please give us a call or send an email if there is a tour you would like to lead. We are open to considering any tour idea you have if it is a safe place for cycling. (International Tours = Robin Howe, robincooksandsews@gmail.com, 206.899.7255; North American Tours = Janet Whitehead, jmwhitehead55@gmail.com, 604-516-9455)
Enjoy the fall cycling!
Buddha in Thailand
Ask Richard: Bike Tech Talk
Question:
Hi Richard. I use RWGPS on my phone for navigation. I am having trouble locating the route I want for club rides when I arrive at the starting point and am ready to go. I know I have it downloaded, but there are so many routes in that list that I can’t quickly find the right one. Is there a quicker way? Also, what about the change to the app where it shows “Collections”? What happened to the “Pinned” and “Offline” (Saved) columns?
Answer:
You’re right—there was an update to the app in early August 2025. The Library tab (at the bottom of the home page) now contains three sections: Activities, Routes, and Collections. When you open Collections, you’ll find the familiar Pinned and Offline columns. A new feature is the ability to filter these columns to quickly locate a route. (You can also search by name within Activities and Routes.)
For example, if you’ve already downloaded the route, go to Offline and tap the Nearby tab. Since you’re already at the start point, the ride you want will likely appear at or near the top of the list.
To avoid the clutter you mentioned, I recommend regularly cleaning out your Offline column. I go through mine weekly and delete any routes I’ve already ridden. My reasoning is simple: I probably won’t repeat those routes right away, and I can always re-download them when needed.
If you find your Offline list has become overwhelming, there’s a quick reset: delete the app from your phone, reinstall it, and sign back in. This clears all downloaded routes but leaves your Activities, Routes, and Pinned intact since they sync automatically with your account. You may need to re-adjust a few settings to your preferences, but it’s often less work than deleting dozens of routes one by one.
Thanks for reading! Keep those questions coming—I’ll respond as quickly as possible, and your question may appear in a future column.
Richard Tobin
CCCTS RideWithGPS Administrator
rstobin20@gmail.com
Tours
- 2026 Cross Canada part 1 – Victoria to Winnipeg
Status: Registration opens Mon, 1 Sep 2025 8:00 AM
Dates: Fri, 17 Jul 2026 ‐‐ Sat, 29 Aug 2026This is the ultimate way to see your country – or at least the western third of it. Begin at the beaches of western British Columbia, move into mountain territory, then the Okanagan, the stunning Rocky Mountains, and drop down into a rural landscape of the farmlands and small towns of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, as well as the big cities of Calgary, Regina and Winnipeg. This tour is a six-week camping tour with 12 hotel nights. (This is the first section of the Cross Canada ride in what we hope will be a three-series ride.)
- 2026 Portugal – The Alentejo, Atlantic, and Algarve
Status: Ride is full, wait list only.
Dates: Wed, 15 Apr 2026 ‐‐ Fri, 1 May 2026Enjoy early season cycling on quiet, country roads bordered by cork, olive, lemon, and orange groves in the sunniest part of Europe, the Alentejo and neighboring Algarve regions of southern Portugal.
- 2025 Veloroute des Bleuets
Status: Registration closed
Dates: Mon, 8 Sep 2025 ‐‐ Mon, 15 Sep 2025The Veloroute des Bleuets (Blueberry Cycling Route) pannier tour is 256 km of pure cycling fun that loops around Lac Saint-Jean in Quebec’s Saguenay region (about 230 km north of Quebec City). We will cycle around Lac Saint-Jean over 4 days then drive to Quebec City for 2 more full days of riding.
- 2026 The Frozen Triangle Ski Tour
Status: Registration opens Mon, 15 Sep 2025 8:00 AM
Dates: Tue, 6 Jan 2026 ‐‐ Thu, 15 Jan 2026Enjoy wintertime in Canada! Join us for cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, and/or snowshoeing. We will stay in three locations for three nights at each, with two days for winter activities at each spot: Lake Louise, Radium, and Golden.
- 2026 Japan’s Setouchi Islands – A Cyclist’s Paradise
Status: Ride is full, wait list only.
Dates: Tue, 31 Mar 2026 ‐‐ Wed, 15 Apr 2026The coastal area of the Setouchi is one of Japan’s major tourist destinations and there’s no better way to enjoy it than by bike. It is a virtual utopia for cyclists. One of cyclists’ many touring options is the 70-kilometer Shimanami Kaido highway linking the city of Onomichi and Imabari. We will also cycle the Kamijima Islands, Kakishima Kaido and Tobishima Kaido, three other popular chains of islands for cyclists.
- 2025 Maritimes Camping Tour
Status: CompletedCharlottetown, PEI to Sidney, NS.
Riding the backroads of Prince Edward Island, Northumberland Strait of Nova Scotia and the Cabot Trail of Cape Breton Island. - TOUR POSTPONED UNTIL 2026 – Updated Ultimate Vietnam Tour
Status: Registration closed
Dates: Mon, 3 Nov 2025 ‐‐ Thu, 27 Nov 2025The Ultimate Vietnam tour will be a smorgasbord of cultural and historical delights, and at the end you’ll feel that perhaps you might better understand this sliver of a country just south of mighty China. Cycle in both the north and the south of Vietnam with a flight in between.
- 2025 Albania UNESCO Tour
Status: Registration closed
Dates: Fri, 29 Aug 2025 ‐‐ Thu, 11 Sep 2025Albania…one of the least developed countries in Europe with much to offer!
- 2025 Walking the Camino Primitivo, the Original Camino de Santiago
Status: CompletedCome and walk the Camino Primitivo in Spain with CCCTS! While not the easiest Camino, it is a beautiful route of 235 km with time and space for contemplation and great views. At Santiago de Compostela, you will present your credencial to receive your official certificate of completion, the Compostela .
- 2025-Oregon Scenic Bikeways – CANCELLED
Status: Registration closed
Dates: Thu, 4 Sep 2025 ‐‐ Thu, 18 Sep 2025This 15-day tour will take us along the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway from Portland south to Eugene then carry on to Cottage Grove and the Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway. Next, we will cycle the Historic Columbia River Highway 30 and Historic Highway State Trail along the Columbia River Gorge. The Waterfall Corridor in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is home to dozens of magical waterfalls. Don’t miss this one!
- 2025 Northern and Central Thailand
Status: Registration closed
Dates: Tue, 18 Nov 2025 ‐‐ Thu, 11 Dec 2025This is a Thailand bike tour for the ages from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. We trace the routes shaped by Siamese kingdom builders over millennia and delve deep into the diverse cultural fabric of modern Thailand, from small hill tribe villages in the northern highlands to the skyscrapers of Bangkok. Over 24 exhilarating days, we leave no stone unturned as we discover the rich heritage and natural beauty of the “Land of Smiles”.
NO Upcoming Hub and Spokes Posted as Yet. Stay Tuned
Trip Reports
- 2025 Croatian Adriatic as it Used To Be.
Final Report 2025 Croatian Adriatic As it Used To Be -Trip Summary
- 2025 Maritimes Camping And Cycling Tour
The Maritimes Cycling And Camping Tour ran from July 7 – July 23, 2025. 17 members started in Charlottetown, PEI, made their way across the island and then took a ferry to Nova Scotia where they spent time riding the Cabot Trail.
- Notes From the Camino Primitivo
Notes From The Camino: The Challenges, Lessons and Rewards! Spring 2025 So here we are, seven of the finest and fittest members of the CCCTS assembled together at the Hotel Carreño, designated as the official start of the Camino Primitivo in Oviedo Spain. At our first introductory meet and mingle in our delightful (read comfortable) … Continue reading Notes From the Camino Primitivo
- 2025 Sand Dunes Of PEI And The Cabot Trail
This Canadian east coast tour ran from July 19 – August 2, 2025. Members Danielle Amerongen and Audrey Sonnenberg organized this event with tour operators Pedal and Sea.
- 2025 Slovenia – On the Sunny Side of the Alps
Nine members participated in this tour, run by one of our club’s favourite organizers, Sitnica Tours. It ran from May 11 – 25, 2025.
- 2025 Puget Sound H&S’s
Read all about the two H&S’s held in Puget Sound WA in 2025.
- 2025 Comox Valley H&S
The 2025 Comox Valley H&S took place on Vancouver Island from June 16 -20, 2025.
- 2025 Palm Springs H&S
The first H&S of 2025 was actually a “Double Hub” with “Hubs” in Indio and Palm Springs. Read all about it here.
New Members
| first_name | last_name | city | province |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ron | O’Black | Coombs | BC |
| Mike | Houle | Ottawa | ON |
| Maggy | McGee | View Royal | BC |
| Alejandra | Mora | Victoria | BC |
| Patrick | Rourke | TITUSVILLE | FL |
| Anne | Bradley | St Albert | AB |
| Gary | Scriven | Campbell River | BC |
| Anita | Williams | Ladysmith | BC |
Published at least ten times a year by The Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society, a non – profit organization for retired people and others who enjoy recreational cycling.
Items for the NEWSBRIEF must be received by the 28th of the month. The Editor reserves the right to edit for clarity, brevity and suitability of publication. The views expressed in the “NEWSBRIEF” are not necessarily those of the CCCTS or the Editor.
Submissions for NEWSBRIEF should be emailed to alaird212@gmail.com