Plastic Knife

Thursday - Aug 30 - Biking 42 km

Rode to work on a gray and dreary morning. It got nice by the time I left so I decided to take a slightly longer route home. I had no time to do a really long route because I was meeting my parents for supper. Anyway, rode out Teron road to the pedestrian/bike bridge over the Queensway, then rode to Bells Corners via Timm. I was flying quite fast along Timm and spotted what appeared to be a nice looking hunting knife on the side of the road. After it had registered in my brain, I stopped turned around and biked back to it. It turned out to be a plastic toy knife that had been slightly chewed by a dog or kid. Left it there and continued home.

Storm Cancelled Ride

Wednesday - Aug 29 - Biking 35 km

Rode the Mikado to work, once again planning a Gatineau hill climb ride on the way home. As I left work a very large storm was aproaching, so I rode straight home instead. Got caught in it during the last few km of riding. Got completely drenched, but fortunately there was no hail.

T-7

Tuesday - Aug 28 - Biking 74 km

Rode the Mikado to work again. Rode up to Gatineau again, this time making it to the base of King Mountain. Unfortunately it was getting late so I turned around without doing the climb. Stopped at a picnic area on the way back for a granola bar.

T-8

Monday - Aug 27 - Biking 69 km

Rode the Mikado to work. Rode up the Gatineau parkway after work to get in some hill climbing. Turned around at the Champlain turnoff and then stopped for a short break at Pink Lake lookout.

Western Loop

Saturday - Aug 25 - Biking 135 km

Got up early and rode westward through Carp, and off via Donald B. Munro all the way to Dwyer Hill road. Looped back through Galetta where I stopped at the bottom of the hydro dam for a snack. Continued past Fitzroy Harbour then back east towards Constance Bay. Road partially into Constance Bay, then consulted the map and realized that there was no way out other than the way I came in so turned around. Rode back to a small park along the river and had lunch on the beach which was deserted except for a single sailboat that decided to drive right up to where I was sitting and then spent the entire time driving around in circles right in front of me. A little annoying. Rode home and arrived just before it started raining. Later I rode down to the Parkdale market to stock up on fresh vegetables.

Sunday - Aug 26 - Biking 30 km, Hiking 10 km

Rode out to Jack Pine trail and met Dipna. We hiked around the Jack Pine trail, through the Lime Kiln area to Stony Swamp, and then back around the north loop of the Jack Pine area.

Weeks Total: Biking 400 km, Hiking 10 km
Year to Date: Biking 6824 km, Hiking 58 km, Paddling 88 km, Skating 129 km, Skiing 187 km

Towel Swap

Thursday - Aug 23 - Biking 51 km

Rode to work. Rode down to re-Cycles in a downpour to swap out the hand towels for fresh ones. Rode home.

Racing with the dark

Wednesday - Aug 22 - Biking 65 km

Rode the Mikado to work. Got out a bit later than I wanted too, and rode up the Gatineau Parkway. Got just a little bit past Pink Lake and had to turn around because it was starting to get dark. Stopped for a brief snack at the lookout and rode home.

re-Cycles

Tuesday - Aug 21 - Biking 51 km

Rode to work. Rode to re-Cycles after work. Rode home late at night. My headlight started dimming slightly on the way home. Hopefully it is just the battery.

Water Fountain Hop

Monday - Aug 20 - Biking 68 km

Rode the Mikado to work. Rode home via Pink Lake. I had forgotten my water bottles at home on the counter so I stopped at the various NCC water fountains along the bike paths to quench my thirst. Stopped briefly at Westboro beach for a granola bar as I was feeling somewhat depleted. Later in the evening I rode down to Loeb for a grocery run.

Fireplace Swap

Friday - Aug 17 - Biking 36 km

Rode to work. It was very cold and rainy on the way home. Was wishing that I had brought a sweater.

Saturday - Aug 18 - Biking 105 km

Rode out to Burrits Rapids, then looped up Dwyer Hill Road to Munster and finished in Richmond at Peter and Katie's. Was a beautiful morning, a little cool when starting but gradually warming up as I went. Stopped for lunch in Marlborough forest. Arrived at Peter's at about 13:00, had a brief rest and then we loaded up his fireplace and my bike into his truck. Drove it over to my house and then unloaded into my garage. Then loaded my fireplace into the truck. We both now have fireplaces we like.

Sunday - Aug 19 - Biking 75 km, Hiking 2 km

Rode the Gatineau Parkway loop clockwise to take advantage of the Sunday road closure and the nice weather. I arrived up on the lookout to a deserted area. I guess 9:00 is too early for most people. Road down to Bank street to meet Sharon, and then went for a short hike up around King Mountain with a group of people.

Weeks Total: Biking 410 km, Hiking 2 km
Year to Date: Biking 6324 km, Hiking 48 km, Paddling 88 km, Skating 129 km, Skiing 187 km

New Route

Thursday - Aug 16 - Biking 35 km

Rode to work. Tried a new route which bypasses a couple annoying intersections. It is also slightly shorter.

Normal day

Wednesday - Aug 16 - Biking 36 km

Rode to work. Left hip seems to be fine today.

Evening ride through the Gatineau hills.

Tuesday - Aug 14 - Biking 76 km

Took the Mikado to work, this time fully intending on going for a long ride after. Got out of work at about 17:30, and head up the Gatineau parkway. Got all the way to Meech lake road before deciding to turn around so I could make it home before dark. Made it, barely. The last 5 km had my left hip in some sort of strange pulsating shooting pain scenario. This was pretty minor and bearable, but continued right to the point at which I went to bed.

Wire

Monday - Aug 13 - Biking 47 km

Rode to work. Took the Mikado, expecting to go for a ride afterward but decided to put more miles in tomorrow instead. After supper rode down to Canadian Tire and Home Depot to purchase some wiring components for the shop machinery. Yikes is copper wire ever expensive these days! Over four bucks a meter for 12/3! Rode home with a big coil of wire strapped to my back. With the copper thieves/scavengers that are so prevalent these days I kept having the feeling that I was going to get mugged for my wire. Fortunately I did not and made it home safely.

Weekend of resting.

Friday - Aug 10 - Biking 63 km

Rode to work. Rode up to Pink Lake on the way home for some extra miles. Island park was barricaded on the way home for a bridge repair, so rode through Hampton Park over to Kirkwood. Legs seem to have fully recovered now. Even so, it is going to be a light riding weekend due to the number of miles I rode earlier in the week.

Saturday - Aug 11 - Biking 21 km

Rode down to Lee Valley with the trailler in extended mode and picked up a bunch of components for a wood rack. Rode down to Westboro for some groceries at the Parkdale market, Herb and Spice, and the bagel shop.

Sunday - Aug 12 - Biking 9 km

Rode down to Cozy's for breakfast with Rob and Amber. Rode by the bridge construction site on the way home for a gander.

Weeks Total: Biking 365 km
Year to Date: Biking 5914 km, Hiking 46 km, Paddling 88 km, Skating 129 km, Skiing 187 km

Rest Day

Thurday - Aug 9 - Biking 36 km

I call this a rest day because I only rode 36 km! Legs feeling much better. I guess rest can be had while riding. Less than one month to go! I also noticed last night that I have not been noticing my thumb... I guess that has finally healed after 8 months or so since I injured it.

Dunrobin in the dark

Wednesday - Aug 8 - Biking 70 km

Rode to work. Legs feeling much better today, but still slightly sore. After work I rode out to Karen's farm in Dunrobin for a BBQ and shop tour with the OWA. I am very envious of her shop which is built out of a 19th century log house. Very nice ride out that way up second line road. Rode home after dark which was fun. It has been a long while since I have done a night ride through the country.

Sore Legs

Tuesday - Aug 8 - Biking 53 km

Rode to work with very stiff and sore legs. Rode slowly to prevent injury. Rode to visit my doctor (for something else). Rode home, got changed then biked down to re-Cycles. Again slowly due to my legs. Rode home a few hours later feeling a little better.

Second century of the long weekend.

Monday - Aug 6 - Biking 113 km

Rode north up the Gatineau parkway and then up to Wakefield. Stopped for lunch in the park, then rode home, this time stopping up at the Champlain lookout. The ride down from Champlain, which is normally easy as it is all down hill was very difficult. My legs were very sore from the climb. This is a change from last week where I felt very strong. Mind you, I rode farther, but I will be riding much more than this when I set out towards Halifax next month. Got home, rested for a couple hours, then rode a few km's around doing errands. My legs are very sore now. I do not have time for a rest day until Thursday, so I hope I can actively recover the next couple of days.

Eastern Loop

Friday - Aug 3 - Biking 36 km

Rode to work. Rode home, accompanied by Mike for most of the route.

Saturday - Aug 4 - Biking 127 km

Rode an eastern loop. Started down the Rockcliffe parkway, continuing on the closed section, which is freshly paved. At one point I hit a bump while crossing a bridge that did not feel right. Rode on down the road for another km and then stopped for a quick break. I noticed that one of my water bottles was missing. I rode back to the bumpy bridge and there was my bottle sitting in the middle of the road. Continued through Orleans and pursued a couple of touring cyclists for several km before catching up with them. Wanted to chat, but just as I passed another dude showed up and had already engaged in conversation, so I just said Hi as I rode past. Turned south on a promising road, but it soon turned to gravel. Continued anyway and found another paved road that also turned to gravel. Continued anyway again until I got onto some more major roads. Stopped in Vars for lunch in the Lions club park. The final 30 km were very tiring. I had not intended to ride as far as I did, but did it anyway.

Weeks Total: Biking 361 km
Year to Date: Biking 5549 km, Hiking 46 km, Paddling 88 km, Skating 129 km, Skiing 187 km

Dentist and Beer

Thursday - Aug 2 - Biking 49 km

Rode down to visit my dentist in the morning. Then rode out to Kanata to go to work. Rode home in blistering heat, then to Defalco's to pick up supplies for beer making this weekend.

Ladder Today

Wednesday - Aug 1 - Biking 36 km

Rode to work. Rode home in high heat. Ended up getting a ladder, but did it using Derek's car instead of the trailler.

No Ladder Today

Tuesday - Jul 31 - Biking 36 km

Rode to work. Rode home. Had some supper and then converted my trailler into extended mode with the idea that I would ride down to Canadian tire and buy a ladder. It was starting to get dark so decided to wait for another day.