Toronto’s John Murtaugh to cross into Mexico this weekend as his Toronto to San Miguel de Allende trip hits the home stretch

A few thousand kilometres later, he’s almost there.

Back in September, Toronto’s John Murtaugh set out from his home city on a long, ambitious ride across North America, bound for Mexico. The day he left — Sept. 15, 2015 — was chosen specifically because it coincides with Mexican Independence Day; when he rolls to the finish, his ride’s end will fall on the Day of the Dead betwen Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, assuming all goes well.

This weekend, just over a month since he rolled out, Murtaugh is scheduled to cross the border separating the United States and Mexico. So, suffice it to say, the ride has gone pretty well so far, having taken him thousands of kilometres across the continent in a matter of weeks.

Now begins that all-important drive to the line — in so many words.

Crossing the border into Mexico, phenomenal though the achievement is, doesn’t end the journey for the 70-year-old Canadian rider. It begins the home stretch, a final phase that will take him to the end point of his dedicated haul: the city of San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico. The ride — something Murtaugh was inspired to do by the documentary Ciclo, telling the story of two Mexican brothers who journeyed by bike from Mexico City to Toronto in 1956 — carries more than just Murtaugh himself, too.

What propels the Canadian rider is a mission to support Amistad Canada, dedicated to social and educational projects in San Miguel de Allende through its partner organization, CASA. En route, Murtaugh’s journey is about raising funds, raising awareness, and turning heads while doing so, something spectacularly furthered by the sight of a rider on such an ambitious, international cycling journey. Of his goal of $25,000 for the organization, Murtaugh’s ride has already raised $16,000.

Supporters of Murtaugh’s journey can follow his progress via his Facebook page, or by visiting Amistad Canada’s official website.