Cyclist, 83, starts on cross-Canada journey in White Rock<\/p>\n
Published 3:00 pm Friday, June 12, 2026<\/p>\n
An 83-year-old cyclist kicked off a summer journey across Canada in White Rock<\/a> Friday morning, right by the city\u2019s iconic waterfront pier.<\/p>\n Robert Fletcher, who turns 84 this August, is cycling 8,600 kilometres across Canada\u2019s 10 provinces throughout the summer, in a journey dubbed the Octogenarian Odyssey.<\/p>\n With help, he\u2019ll be documenting his cross-country trek with photos, video \u2014 including drone footage \u2014 and social media.<\/p>\n With the sun shining bright and blue skies overhead, Fletcher was ready to get going Friday (June 12), and was pleased with the weather.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited. I\u2019m glad it\u2019s here \u2026 I can feel the stress leaving off my body already,\u201d Fletcher said, as he prepared his bike and his route for the first leg of his journey, from White Rock to Chilliwack.<\/p>\n Fletcher has cycled all over the world, including North and South America, Australia and Europe.<\/p>\n He uses pedal-assisted electric bicycles, like the sponsored Bulls Bike he\u2019ll use for his cross-Canada tour.<\/p>\n \u201cI use the pedals. I don\u2019t have a throttle. I\u2019ve never had a throttle,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n Fletcher, a Canadian, who now lives in Costa Rica for much of the year, will be joined by his wife Gloria, who arranges all of their accommodations and takes care of all the travel logistics, while his step-daughter is driving his support vehicle.<\/p>\n Flanked by fellow cyclists Fran Wolfe, Donna McLean and Joan Donohue for at least the first leg of his journey, Fletcher has a sign attached to the back of his back about his age and his journey, encouraging people to ask him what it\u2019s all about. \u201cThe only message that I want to put out is that life doesn\u2019t quit at retirement,\u201d Fletcher said. \u201cThere\u2019s lots of things we can do. We need to live life to the fullest. Exercise \u2014 physically and mentally \u2014 and step outside your comfort zone and explore the world.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s looking forward to meeting and making new friends along the way, like he always does on his cycling journeys.<\/p>\n \u201cThe world is is friendly and it will welcome you when you get there,\u201d he said with a grin.<\/p>\n Find out more about Fletcher on his website octoodyssey.com<\/a> and on Instagram at instagram.com\/octoodyssey_<\/p>\n