In THE CYCLE OF LIFE, Greg Scott chronicles his remarkable 15-year cycling odyssey across Canada with his son Buddy. Part memoir, part travelogue, the book shines a light on the importance of nurturing deep connections with one’s children and embracing a spirit of adventure.
Starting on Buddy’s 11th birthday, father and son embark on a quest to bike from the Pacific to the Atlantic, one annual leg at a time. From steep mountain passes to grueling Prairie headwinds to startling wildlife encounters, Greg and Buddy experience the full spectrum of Canada’s geographical and cultural diversity. Along the way, they sample classic Canadian cuisine, marvel at quirky roadside attractions, and create unforgettable memories.
Scott intersperses the travelogue with heartfelt tales from his own adventurous past, which he shares with Buddy each night. In Year One, he recounts a misadventure from first grade involving a snow fort: “Gordon the Giant and I carefully devised our plan to beat every other kid to be the first inside [the snow fort]. Gordon blocked the school exit with his massive wingspan, while I utilized my small stature to squirm through the doors before anyone else. I darted across the field and did a headfirst dive into the small opening of the snow fortress, but my feet stuck out.” Later, in Year Three, he shares a vivid memory of racing Ski-Doos with his mother:
That glorious morning, my mom pointed out it was my brother’s and sister’s turn to do the dishes and we seized that favourable circumstance. Mom and I silently slipped on our snowsuits, boots, mittens, and toques and scattered everyone else’s gear. We even tied the legs of my siblings’ snowsuits into giant knots. Then, in a flurry, my mom and I burst out the door yelling, ‘Race is on!’ with screams of objections ringing from the kitchen.
These stories-within-a-story, ranging from youthful misadventures to audacious capers in adulthood, add a layer of depth and resonance to the journey. As Scott reflects, “Revealing more meaningful stories had to be worthwhile, didn’t it? I decided to take the initiative to do that with Buddy during our adventure.” The annual storytelling ritual becomes a cherished tradition, a way for Scott to pass down life-lessons and forge an unbreakable bond.
The author’s engaging, self-effacing style balances humor and poignancy with aplomb. After a misadventure with a snapping turtle, Scott quips, “I bent down to move the turtle myself. ‘Holy $@#&%, I’m not sure I want to touch him either.’ ‘Who is the big chicken now?’ Buddy said.” Yet Scott is equally adept at capturing moments of quiet beauty, as when they camp on Prince Edward Island: “The view from the opening of our tent was down to the deep blue waters of St. Peters Bay and the Jerome Point Lighthouse […] We noted that we were a good deal closer to Cuba than we were to Thunder Bay in Northern Ontario.”
While the book occasionally meanders, much like the winding route Scott and his son traverse, its emotional core never wavers. With each passing year, as Buddy grows from a boy to a young man, their relationship deepens and evolves. By the final leg, Scott marvels at how much he has learned from his son: “I was inspirited to be discovering how I was learning from (and about) myself, too […] The process of telling my stories had been cathartic.”
THE CYCLE OF LIFE is a testament to the transformative power of shared adventures and the unbreakable bonds of family. In an era when screens too often divide generations, Scott’s tale is a potent reminder of the importance of unplugged, one-on-one time with one’s children. Readers will be inspired to embark on their own journeys and create their own unforgettable stories. As Scott so eloquently puts it, “One-on-one time with a child is a remarkable, wonderful, worthwhile endeavour. I convey that story to anyone who will listen.”
Greg Scott’s THE CYCLE OF LIFE is a poignant, often humorous memoir of an epic father-son cycling odyssey across Canada and an engaging tale of adventure and bonding that will inspire readers to embark on their own journeys of discovery and connection with their loved ones.
~Edward Sung for IndieReader
