july 31. 2011

today was the first gathering of the africycle 5.0 riders. i got to the start early in the hopes i could score a double americano to jazz up the legs and heartrate and lucky for me there were some late arrivals so i popped back a lovely cup of coffee that delivered enthusiasm in abundance!!

we did a lovely ride that pcc riders will know and love that took us north and west of peterborough through bridgenorth and then east towards lakefield and back down river road into peterborough ending with more refreshments and tasty items at the silver bean.

some river road moments

lately i've been putting in some time on river road north of peterborough. partly to work on speed and also to work on endurance. i also really like the ride for its little details. right now the river has slowed to a crawl as the drought continues and so some of the lake levels north of here are getting quite low. with the river being slow, the surface tends to be a lot calmer and the flowers punch out so much more vividly against the deep blue of the water.


two days ago i was traveling at a good clip when i saw a garter snake about thirty feet in front of me start to cross the road. in the same instant a crow launched itself from a nearby tree and snagged the snake, biting through it as it flew!


yesterday i saw a squirrel hanging upside down from a small branch. at first i thought the worst - that someone had hung it there - until i saw that it was hanging from its back feet, tail pointing straight to the sky and it was eating a berry with its front paws!

tomorrow i plan on heading south to cobourg. i'll post any decent pictures and stories from that journey in a little while.

x-c

i'm laughing so hard after watching this i have nothing to say other than watch this. it's brilliant!!

a hot july morning ride

riding on the hottest days ... common sense goes out the window and it's a case of survival while not giving up the good aspects of a ride through the hills which include the beautiful views, the bird songs, and the strangely satisfying yet warm drink that comes out of the water bottles.

that was today's ride. a repeat of the millbrook loop with one big difference and that is that my plan was to refuel and get fresh water at the pastry peddler. i drank my last drop on the ride into millbrook and

wouldn't you know it - "sorry, we're closed".

no, really!!!

yes really!!

so i didn't bother stopping and rode straight past all the fields filled with giant hay rolls and on through to the silver bean for a small americano and a giant ginger cookie.

i got home pretty much cooked.

poke me with a fork.

i'm done!

i'm currently experiencing a radlermass lager courtesy of the waterloo brewing company.

millbrook loop

my summer holidays have started and so yesterday i enjoyed a very easy ride up to lakefield with my wife and friends. essentially an ice cream run, i found a couple of spots to stretch out and travel at a bit of speed but you know, it wasn't that bad moving along at 2/3 the usual speed. i got to talk with my wife, really appreciate my surroundings and travel the 47 km round trip in comfort.

but, i wasn't satisfied. i've been harbouring a wish to pass through millbrook and sample the wares at the pastry peddler. so last night i went over to ptbo rides and scouted out

a route i remembered reading about some time ago.

i wake relatively early every day no matter whether i am working or not. so after a leisurely start to the day reading with the windows open and listening to the birds and chipmunks establishing their territories, i helped my daughter deliver her newspapers, made breakfast for my son, sorted out a slow leak on the rear tire of my road bike and then struggled to find helmet, camera, water bottle, etc. etc.

it's funny, i've noticed other times that some days when i am entirely psyched for a ride, things seem to disrupt the flow of preparation. in fact i was ready to give up the idea of a ride today. i'm not usually that easy to defeat but i was getting the sense that something was preventing me from going on this ride.

not to be put off i finally got everything together and left, knowing that the rear tire might cause some grief.

i raced down brealey/airport road and turned at sharpe line which has a few small but challenging to me hills.

the views from the top are always beautiful.

after i had taken this picture i shouted out "thankyou for this day" and laughed.

turning at tapley quarter line i passed this little shed which is one of many old buildings

in the area i really love to see.

eventually i arrived in millbrook which was right in the middle of the annual classic car show. the car show shuts the main street down so i walked carefully between some beautifully restored fities, sixties and seventies metal on my way to the bakery where i picked up a tasty pastry and some water.

i was smitten with these wheels.

a 1962 pontiac tempest le mans. one of four in canada.

a fast ride out of millbrook travelling east at 40 km/h plus with a tailwind.

it was beautiful, expansive, and very quiet.

long stretches of road were entirely mine.

except for the odd turkey vulture.

and quiet little places i couldn't just ride by.

this is a beautiful ride that links up little pieces that i've done at one time or another but not put into a loop.

i'd happily do this ride again.

and i will!!

p.s. no trouble from the rear tire - go figure!!!