Mud, Sweat, and Gears

Joe "Metal Cowboy" Kurmaskie rides across Canada with his wife and three children. Love, sweat, pain, and comedy.

Prologue 9Mom 15Part One: Obed Summit Chapter 1 Second Wind 18Part Two: Portland, Oregon, to Port Hardy, Vancouver Island Mom 27 Chapter 2 How to Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee 31 Chapter 3 Road-Testing a Perfectly Good Marriage 36 Chapter 4 False Starts 40 Chapter 5 Canadian Hospitality 52 Chapter 6 A Brand-New Day 56 Chapter 7 Little Russia 60 Chapter 8 Ruckle Park: Fellowship of the Fire Ring 69 Chapter 9 The Battery King of British Columbia 78 Chapter 10 James and His Giant Peach Bicycle 83 Chapter 11 Freefalling 94 Chapter 12 Cross-Training 97 Chapter 13 Haircut of the Gods 109 Chapter 14 Grumpy Old Man, Part 1 115 Chapter 15 Trying Not to Miss the Boat 121Part Three: Joe and Beth: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told (This Week) Mom 128 Chapter 16 A Beautiful Wreck 129 Chapter 17 Crash and Burn 154 Chapter 18 As You Wish 161Part 4: Prince Rupert to Saskatoon Mom 176 Chapter 19 Selwin Berries 180 Chapter 20 Wilderness Gourmet 184 Chapter 21 Wendy and Her Lost Boys 211 Chapter 22 It's Best You Don't Know About These Things 233 Chapter 23 Yellowhead Highway Trivia for a Hundred, Alex 240 Chapter 24 Climate-Controlled Living 244 Chapter 25 The Gatekeepers of Jasper Park 247 Chapter 26 Jasper Welcoming Committee 251 Chapter 27 Grumpy Old Man, Part 2 254 Chapter 28 Gone to the Dogs 263 Chapter 29 Trucker's Dream 271 Chapter 30 Hailstorms Are All We Know of Heaven 277 Chapter 31 I Will Miss This Body So Much When It's Gone 282Part Five: Nova Scotia Mom 287 Chapter 32 Performance Art 291 Chapter 33 It's for You 297 Chapter 34 The Victory Tuck 300