The unique design of the Ma family’s “ride” attracted many foreigners to give it a try.
From left are Mr. Ma, his daughter Sherry, and Mrs. Ma, posing for a photo during their journey. (Photo: Provided by interviewee).
According to Canada’s Chinese newspaper World Journal, with just a few simple belongings and a modified four-seat, five-wheeled bicycle, the Canadian-Chinese Ma family of three began their journey three months ago from London, Ontario, where they live. They traveled westward through Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, eventually reaching British Columbia. On August 14, they concluded their trip at the endpoint, Stanley Park, covering a total distance of 4,500 kilometers.
Mr. Ma and his wife are nearly 50 years old. They have been in Canada for five years since immigrating in 2008, and their daughter is now a student at the University of Western Ontario. Since immigrating, they have visited many scenic spots in Canada, but they always felt their experiences were too superficial. Over a year ago, Mr. Ma came up with the idea of a “bicycle trip.” “I want to explore deeply, to see more,” he said. “I want to learn more about this country.” This marked the beginning of their first-ever cycling journey.
Mr. Ma admitted that they didn’t do much preparation before setting off because sometimes the longer you prepare, the more likely you are to back out. The biggest investment before the trip was spending $5,000 to connect two tricycles together, transforming them into a four-seat, five-wheeled bicycle. With their belongings loaded, the three of them set off officially on May 17 from London, Ontario, with Vancouver as their destination — a city where they have friends.
“The beginning of the journey was extremely tough,” Mr. Ma recalled. The first 20 days were essentially physical training. “We lacked stamina, and our progress was slow. We trained ourselves as we went along.” Because the bike was too heavy to climb hills smoothly, the family often had to push it on foot. Over the long journey, they walked and pushed the bike for more than 400 kilometers alone.
Besides the physical challenge, Mr. Ma believes the greatest test came from within. “You always want to tell yourself, ‘Just give up!’” he said. “It was exhausting all the way. Even after completing 3,000 kilometers, you still have those thoughts, and the wilderness is often desolate. At first, it was quite frightening.”
But the family of three ultimately persevered. When asked about their motivation, their daughter Sherry replied, “We are a team. Many times we thought about giving up, but we knew that losing any one of us would make it impossible to finish the rest of the journey. It’s about teamwork — we can’t give up easily.”
After three months of effort, they finally arrived at Stanley Park around 10:30 p.m. on the 14th. The vehicle that accompanied them for 4,500 kilometers will be disassembled and transported back to London here. Its unique design once attracted many passersby to stop and take photos.
Along the way, they rode through grasslands, over the Rocky Mountains, into numerous towns, and even experienced a blessing ceremony by Indigenous peoples, immersing themselves in local customs and experiencing a different side of Canada. Reflecting on the journey, Mrs. Ma said she couldn’t put the feelings into words, but she truly began to feel gradually integrated into the country.
Mr. Ma also expressed gratitude for overcoming all obstacles with his family — from initial fear of the wilderness to joyfully appreciating nature’s beauty. “It’s a change in mindset,” he said. “You become part of nature, and that serene feeling of returning to dust naturally arises. Isn’t that an experience you can’t buy with a plane ticket?”
In addition to being awestruck by Canada’s beautiful scenery, the many kind-hearted people who offered help along the way became some of their most touching memories. Whether it was staying in local homes when hostels were full, being given cold water under the scorching sun, or receiving tools for bike repairs from good Samaritans who traveled far to help, Mrs. Ma exclaimed, “You never know how many strangers will come to your aid when you need it. It was deeply moving.”
In fact, the cross-province journey across five provinces didn’t result in significant financial savings despite using an eco-friendly mode of transport. In truth, they spent quite a bit on bike repairs, tire changes, food, drink, and accommodation. Mr. Ma revealed that after entering British Columbia alone, they had to replace or repair over 10 tires, plus another 10 due to wear and tear, joking that his bike repair skills had improved. Despite the expenses, the Ma family unanimously agreed that the trip was “absolutely worth it!”
Sherry said, “Every time I thought about how much farther we had to go to reach Vancouver, I felt discouraged and worried. But as long as I focused on the day’s goal of 30 or 40 kilometers, I felt more confident. And by achieving a little each day, even the farthest goals no longer seem out of reach.”
Mrs. Ma, who initially opposed the plan, also said she had changed a lot. “From resisting difficulties to facing them and eventually overcoming them, my mindset has shifted, and I’ve become more open-minded.” Mr. Ma also said that if time and conditions allowed, he would be willing to take on the challenge again. “Because we can do it!” he said confidently. But for now, they just want to spend the remaining week reuniting with local friends and leisurely enjoying Vancouver’s natural scenery.