Micheal Sutherland has always dreamed of seeing Canada’s east coast. And now, after nearly two months on the road, he’s finally getting close.
“I'm on a walk,” Sutherland told CTV Atlantic, describing his epic cross-country journey. “It’s a bucket list type of walk.”
Sutherland, who started his trek in Peterborough, Ont., is currently near Perth-Andover, N.B., just less than 600 kilometres shy of his goal: the shores of Halifax, N.S.
With the exception of a ride across Quebec, Sutherland has been walking ever since his motorhome broke down in Ontario.
"This is something I've always wanted to do,” he said.
Strangers quickly started following his progress and many have stopped to buy him a cup of coffee, give him a homemade meal and even gift mementos, like a teddy bear. It’s all led to more than 7,000 people following him on a Facebook page he didn’t even create.
“It’s not really about me anymore,” Sutherland said. “It's all these stories and the people that talk to me. If it wasn't for that, I don't think I’d even be here. I think would have quit a long time ago."
In another life, the father of two was a trucker, but says he was injured on the job. He also has diabetes, and that affects his feet. But he says he makes do pushing his a cart across this part of the country that he’s always dreamed of seeing.
"If it’s helping other people, well, then what's wrong with that?” Sutherland said. “That gives me the strength to move on -- and I'm going to keep moving on until I hit Halifax."
Once he finally gets there, his only plan is to take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean.
“At least a foot in,” Sutherland said. “Or a couple of hands in.”
Sutherland doesn’t expect everyone to understand what he’s doing. He just calls himself an everyday guy with a goal he’s going the long way to achieve.
With a report from CTV Atlantic’s Laura Brown
