11 year trip coming to an end
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
Some people have called him crazy, others wish they could take off like he has, and Jean Beliveau admits it all may have stemmed from a midlife crisis. Beliveau’s name is well known all over the world, as the man who literally walked the world.
“I needed to change something in my life and then, I walk about,” said Beliveau with a laugh.
It began on August 18, 2000, the day the Quebec native turned 45-years-old. He packed up a three-wheel stroller, a tent, supplies and left. Beliveau had kept the secret of what he was planning to do for eight months, only telling his wife and family a few weeks before he left.
“After eight month secret, I didn’t tell her because I was afraid that…people they love you, they have time to break your dream,” said Beliveau.
“It was too fragile, I told them just three and a half weeks to go and then finally she said we try. She said do this for peace.”
Which is exactly what he did. He followed the theme of the United Nations delegate for peace for children.
“Now it’s nearly finished, I say always I’m on the driveway home,” said Beliveau.
“These Canadians, they are so warm. From Vancouver, I had chain all the way through the mountains to stay inside.”
On April 12, one Strathmore family helped continue the chain, allowing the enthusiastic Frenchman into their home.
“We met Jean through a mutual friend in the Cayman Islands, Debi Bodden originally from Beisiker,” said Darlene Piche.
“She had moved down to the island, and we became very good friends. She has since moved to Australia. She contacted me through Facebook back in January and told us about Jean walking around the world.”
Bodden had met up with Beliveau in Ecuador roughly in 2002, while he was walking, and she was biking, through South America. Bodden spent the day with him and has kept in touch with him ever since.
“Debi asked if we would be interested in lodging him for an evening, on this, the last leg of his journey back to his home in Montreal,” said Piche. “We checked out his web page, wwwalk.org, contacted his wife Luce and made sure our name was on the list to host Jean in our home for an evening.
“We were very fortunate to have bad weather hit us, and I don’t say that too often as, like everyone else, I am tired of winter…but it did give us two extra days hosting Jean, which was tremendous.”
“Another four thousand something kilometres to go. Nearly now I’m (done) about 20 per cent of Canada,” said Beliveau.
Beliveau has been gone from home for more than a decade, which did cost him some things. His father passed away while he was in Belgium, and he has two grandkids-one is 10 years old and the other is five. He said he is looking forward to seeing them. His wife, Luce, would travel to see him for three weeks every year, and Beliveau said the Internet was a great way for them to keep in touch.
“It was very important for us, without Internet I don’t think we would pass through,” said Beliveau.
He said there could be all sort of situations, and sometimes life is not easy, especially if you’re in a negative way, but he said this was a positive trip, and he thinks that is part of what made a big difference. His dream was to cross the five continents, which he did. Though he wanted to travel around the whole world, there were a few places he could not go, due to safety or other concerns.
“Africa was another nice challenge. Most of the people were very nice with me. I arrived to tribe to ask for hospitality to sleep. They bring you to the chief, they take time for you,” said Beliveau.
He left with only $4,000, which he knew was not enough, but said he had to go. He said in America people were supportive and he was given money, he had some help from his family. In Chili he was also given financial help. He was given many free boat trips, and flights, to aid with his travels to the destinations he couldn’t walk to.
“At first I didn’t speak English, so I learn on the way. Then Spanish, and Portuguese, and some Arabic,” said Beliveau, his French accent still thick.
“In countries, I had to put people comfortable on me. I’m like sort of stranger to them, so it’s very important to learn hello, how are you in their language, and then slowly talk away.
“Sometimes I feel what I do for peace really is sort of action (that) will create reaction, and I go to share about what I learn to schools or groups or social groups.”
Beliveau said he would sometimes go six days with no resources in between. He could carry 30 litres of water in his stroller. His consummation was approximately 10 litres per day.
“It’s a desire. When I started they said, yeah I would be pushed out by many reasonable people. People they are in the box and they achieved their life. They have their values, their good bank account. They are so apart so they will maybe push but I had to go,” said Beliveau.
He said he met many people who have the desire to do something, or to escape but have families or they have work holding them back.
“I feel it’s sort of pilgrimage. I’m not religious, but we always want to find who we are, and try to see about bearings, emotional bearings, and the more people we know the more healthy we may be about mind.”
Beliveau left with an agenda, and a schedule of how many kilometres he planned to follow per day. No two days were ever the same. He is pushing his third stroller since beginning the trip, and is now on his 51st pair of shoes.
While most of the trip was exciting, there were times that were scary, and people would tell him about zones that may be high risk. He said in Philadelphia a guy told him to hurry and go 10 kilometres further, and not to look at anyone.
In South Africa Beliveau said he had a little attack. Two guys were drunk and trying to get his things, he had police patrolling him but they weren’t there at the time of the attack. He said they kept struggling and he told the men police were coming, and they finally gave up.
He said he met people involved with Pablo Escobar, the KGB, the CIA and Fidel Castro.
“They were nice for me. I don’t judge, I stay with hope sort of people, we are humanity, sort of see the other side,” said Beliveau.
“Sometimes we say, oh these people they are corrupt, they are this, and that. I stay with them and they serve another sort of people. There is no perfection in the world, we have to care our world for the children.”
Beliveau admits to being satisfied now, and ready to get home. When he first arrived in Vancouver his wife was there to greet him, and he said it was such a warm welcome.
“Yeah sure, I look there further at home, but I have to live every single moment of my walk through Canada,” said Beliveau.
“I’m proud to bring that walk through Canada.”
October 16 is the day he plans to be home, and said it will be a Sunday for the party. After he arrives home, he plans to be with the family until Christmas, after which he plans to work on his book about his travels and possibly do conferences. Beliveau said his travels were like his university, with all of the learning he did.
Beliveau left Strathmore on the morning of April 16 and stayed with friends of Piche’s in Bassano, and was in Brooks the next night staying with more friends of theirs. Piche said they were all excited to have the opportunity to meet Beliveau.
To read previous blogs about Beliveau’s travels or to find out how things are currently going, go to wwwalk.org.