August 2019

This post is a little late, o.k it is very late. As I was reflecting on last years cycling and planning this years cycling I came across this post and realized I hadn’t actually posted it.

This is about a wonderful week-end away we had in August 2019. I planned a mini-adventure a short week-end getaway with Ralf. I needed a cycling holiday, just Ralf and I . I had missed us going on a vacation together (I went with Shelley to the U.K. in June) and I knew if I didn’t plan a mini-cycle trip I would be planning a much longer trip maybe a six month tour, because that is what I do. A mini-break would satisfy my desire for a cycling trip.

Ralf had been working almost every Saturday throughout the summer for Brockville City Transit. He hadn’t taken a vacation from work after his cycling holiday was cancelled.

The Plan came to me while we were cycling together on one of our weekday rides. I asked him if he would like to go away for a mini-break. The choices were Ottawa, using points at a Best Western, Quebec cycling the Petit Nord Train using B&Bs or somewhere in New York State.

Ralf opted for Ottawa as we could also do some sight seeing and shopping. After our ride I booked the hotel and planned the week-end.

Ralf was working the afternoon shift so we headed up to Ottawa after Ralf’s shift at about 6:30 pm, it is only an hour north (90kms). We checked into the Best Western and grabbed a late dinner from the supermarket.

The City of Ottawa abounds with cycle paths, trails – on-road, off road, dedicated paths etc. They appear to be everywhere, they are everywhere. There are approximate 800 kms of trails in Ottawa, Gatineau and Outtaouis area – (Quebec across the river from Ottawa).

I had planned two rides, a 60 km ride, a tourist ride and a shopping day. After breakfast on the Sunday we headed out to Stittsville, supposedly a pretty little town worth the ride. Not so, much it was an average small town, sorry Stittsville. We took the direct route out on on-road cycle lanes and then took the Ottawa-Carlton trailway and the Ottawa River route back to downtown Ottawa.

On the way back along the Trail we picked up an Ottawa cycle map at one of the many information signs along the trail. Of course we had to stop for an ice-cream. We chatted to a couple of German cyclists. They love Canada and visit a different area every year for their summer vacation. They rent bikes and stay in one location where they can investigate the area. They really enjoyed visiting Ottawa and all the cycle paths they could follow.

We sat in the sun eating our ice-creams and chatting. It was a lovely way to end our day, but we still had a few kilometres to go before we finished our ride.

In 1986 John Felice Ceprano began creating balanced, natural rock sculptures at this site. The sculptures are made entirely by hand, using rocks found exclusively at this location. Every day, the sculptor returns to work, creating sculptures until the fall, when the project is dismantled for the winter. The National Capital Commission has provided support for the project since 2000.  I love this kind of art.

The Ottawa River route took us along the river and into the downtown area, where there was a buskers festival. We stopped lots of time along the way to take photos.

The voyageurs were the original \”truckers\” of Canada. They would travel along rivers with these large canoes loaded with pelts and provisions and sell them to the Hudson Bay Company.

The buskers festival along Banks Street was very busy and it was difficult to negotiate through the crowds with the bikes.

It was a lovely relaxing ride, there were a lot of people out on the cycle routes it was really good to see so many people on bikes and enjoying the sunshine.

We got back to the hotel at about 4:30 had a quick shower and changed and went for dinner at an East Side Marios.

Day Two

The ride planned for Monday was going to be a slower touristy ride. We followed the Environmental Farm pathway towards Hogs Back Falls, then along the Rideau Canal to Parliament Hill.

In the winter the Rideau Canal is transformed into one long skating rink (10 kms), with vendors selling hot drinks and food. We might come back in February.

We got a little misplaced as we made our way up the Rideau Canal locks and almost headed across the river into Quebec. We found the right road past the National Art Gallery and headed towards the Aviation Museum and the RCMP Musical Ride stables.

We passed the parliament building and stopped at the sculptures of the Famous Five. These women who had repeatedly requested that a woman be appointed to the Senate. Amazing to think that less than 100 years ago, women were not regarded as Persons in their own right.

Amazing sculptures, I was amazed that I was able to get this picture as they were very popular with lots of people around taking photos.

We cycled past the National Art Museum. Not quite as keen on this piece of art. I would not go anywhere near it.

Where have we seen this before? This monstrous piece of art was also installed outside the Guggenhim Museum in Bilbao. Called Maman, it is the last of six spiders cast by renowned Franco-American artist Louise Bourgeois as a tribute to her mother. It was created in 1999 and cast in 2003. Bourgeois was born in France in 1911 and has been working as an artist for nearly 70 years. She immigrated to the United States in 1938.

Once again it was a lovely path, there were not as many people heading east along this path. We stopped at the Museum for a while watching a Bi-Plane take off and land. The cost for taking a ride in the Bi-plane was only $60.00. I am not sure I am brave enough to do that, but Ralf was definitely interested. Once again we got chatting to a couple. They were an older couple who liked to ride out to the museum with a picnic – he rode a hybrid and she rode a three-wheeler. She said she could keep her balance on it and they could still get out together for a nice ride and a picnic.

We cycled back towards the Byward Market and had a great sandwich from a European Deli.

There are lots of little alleyways, boutique store, cafes, and interesting architecture.  This is a facing from the original tin house that stood in this location.

Two lovely days touring the capital of Canada on bicycles.

Tuesday we toured the Byward Market Area on foot and the Rideau Shopping Centre. I bought a couple of things on sale at the Ice-breaker store (Merino wool), a lovely little merino wool skirt and a t.shirt. As we left the shopping centre it started to pour with rain. We headed undercover and had lunch at a little café in the Byward Market.

Then headed back to the car in the rain and to the Wild Birds Unlimited Store to treat ourselves to a new bird feeder.

A great end to a lovely mini-adventure.

Sunday October 20, 2019

Last week-end was Thanksgiving and the Company I work for gave all the employees a large bottle of Maple Syrup from a local producer, Gibbons.

Gibbons Farm and Sugar Shack is located just outside the small hamlet of Frankville. The owner often had to give directions to potential customers – “After Frankville take the left at the  fork in the road.” People still got misplaced and would call him from somewhere in the back of beyond.

He decided to remedy the problem by having a large piece of art made. He got permission from the local landowners and the Municipality to install it. It is a large steel fork which is located at the road where his customers have to take the left turn. Very funny and a great art installation.

I had read about the Fork in the Road and suggested to Ralf we cycle up to see it, if the weather stayed nice.

The forecast was good for a high of 16 degrees, mix of clouds and sun. I had mapped the route using google maps and printed turn by turn directions. I still cannot work out Ride with GPS or Strava.

After a late start, the temperatures had warmed up to a balmy 9 degrees and we headed north for a change. We usually head west to the 1000 Island Parkway. This route was completely different from what I have been cycling most of this season. I have been doing out and backs along the parkway or occasionally going up Highway 2 and returning along the parkway.

The trees have almost all changed and the leaves are dropping quickly. The sky was beautiful with wispy white clouds and the wind was mostly at our backs.  There were some nice houses and this purple church which had been converted into a residence.

We checked the turns regularly and did not get misplaced. We eventually came to the fork in the road. It is a nice piece of metal work.

This route took us along quiet country lanes, some gravel roads, passing farms and being chased by dogs. Oh the joy of cycling along a gravel path with two Dobermans chasing you. Actually it wasn’t that bad. The owner had them both under control until she thought we were out of sight. However, we could hear her shouting at one of the dogs as he decided to give chase to the two strange yellow things on two wheels. He obviously was well trained as he returned to the owner quickly. Another dog skittered to a halt as we stopped and told him to stop barking we put our bikes between us and the dog and slowly walked past his property where he promptly shut up and bounded back up his driveway.

After taking photos at the Fork in the road we headed home along County Road 29 and then County Road 46 into Lynn and home. The weather warmed up to a balmy 13 degrees, we were both well dressed for the cooler temperatures.

I am not sure how many more rides we will get to do as we are well into autumn. We will keep going until it snows.

September 2019

My first bike was a Raleigh ladies bicycle that I would grow into, it was little bit too big. My Mum bought my brother and me a bike that we had to share. We got it for Christmas, although it was also part of my birthday present (early December) and Richard’s birthday (late January). We didn’t have a lot of money when I was growing up, but Mum scrimped and saved and Richard and I had a bike to share.

It was a girl’s bike (poor Richard) but it had to be “safe” for me to ride. The bike was blue, Richard’s compensation for it being a bike without a cross bar. Raleigh bicycles were made in Nottingham, from steel, with three speed Sturmey Archer gears and dynamo hub lights. The Raleigh Bicycle Company was one of the largest manufacturing companies in the world.

Primarily I remember it was for Richard to do his paper round and I helped him. He would have been 12 and I was 10 years old. Maybe I am losing my memory but I recall that after a bit of training from Richard he would allow me to do the morning paper round (when it was cold and foggy) and he would do the afternoon round (as the papers were heavier). I am not sure if the papers were heavier in the afternoon – the Nottingham Evening Post was a broad sheet paper and the weekly magazines were in the afternoon papers. Maybe he was right. Anyway, I would often go in the afternoon with him as well. I would sit on the back rack and hop off to run up the paths to deliver the papers. At Christmas we would get extra tips from the people we delivered to. Sometimes it was chocolates often it was money, which Richard shared with me.

I remember failing my first cycling proficiency test, because I could not touch the ground while staying seated on the bike. I had to borrow a bike to pass the test.

I remember being allowed to go to the library on my own and having that first real feeling of freedom of being able to go anywhere.

Why am on earth am I writing about a bike that looks like the bike I rode over 45 years ago. Well, because I found that bike. Not the exact bike because I do believe Richard and I wrecked the original bike. However, I found a bike that in my mind is exactly the same bike as that first bike I had. 

I found the bike in a local second hand store. It is a steel ladies bike, very heavy and has three speed Sturmey Archer gears with a dynamo light. Why would I want an old heavy weight like that. Well, I could cycle to work in the spring and autumn, when I don’t want Mrs SweetCheeks to get wet. If I bought a wicker basket I could pop to the local farmers market, shops/LCBO. If friends came to stay they would have something to ride, if we cycled the local Brock Trail together. There are numerous reasons why this would be a good buy. Are you convinced yet? Most importantly that first bike I ever owned (shared) was the reason I love biking now.

I asked several people if they had the opportunity to buy the first bike that they ever owned would they do it. The result was a resounding Hell No. Why on earth would you buy a heavy weight that only has three gears and if those Sturmey Archers fail well you have a single speed bike! Because no one knows how to repair Sturmey Archer gears.

I visited the store a couple of times where this old beauty resided. Am I crazy, I have a skinny bike that weighs less than 14lbs, which I enjoy riding 60 – 100 kms. I have a solid touring bike that weighs 26 lbs that has taken me around the world and I want to buy this old heavy weight that probably weighs over 40 lbs. We all get a little heavier as we get older.

I have been mulling this over for weeks. Realistically why would I buy an old sit up and beg bike, when most of my rides are over 50 kms.

Heart ruled the Head. The unnamed Raleigh is now proudly in our garage, waiting for a little bit of care and attention. She is going to be my winter project.

A good clean, a clean up of the wheels and truing. The Sturmey Archer gears/hub looks good and on my initial test ride changed easily.

I will buy a new Brooks saddle and a wicker basket for the front. She is a beauty. I can’t wait to get her ready for riding the trail. She deserves a good home that will love her. Oh I got her for a deal of $160.00. I know the Brooks saddle and wicker basket will probably cost more than the bike. This could end up being an expensive project.

Any suggestions for names will be welcomed. She comes from Nottingham, is blue and is a Raleigh. Thinking about Big Blue, Rosie Raleigh or Queenie.

August 2019

As mentioned previously our rides most often take us west. The prevailing winds come from the west and it is nice to get the tail wind coming along the Thousand Island Parkway home. I take this westerly ride so often I forget to take pictures.

As I had ridden along the Parkway on a short out and back last Thursday I noticed that the gardens were looking particularly lovely. I decided that the next time I came along the Parkway I would take photos of the prettiest gardens of the St. Lawrence.

I often do the Thursday ride on my own, but today Ralf joined me and suggested we head out to Rockport for ice-cream (a 60 km ice-cream ride). On our way back from Rockport I would stop at a garden and ask Ralf to take a photo of the garden, he was very accommodating. It was a lovely ride. 

Enjoy the photos.

On Ralf’s last ride past Jones Creek he had noted how much garbage was there. He had tidied it up and was going to show me how dirty it was under the bridge in the other areas that he could not get to. The fishermen often use this area to fish or launch their boats and Ralf had said it looked like a tip. Obviously someone else had come along and was equally disgusted by the mess as it had been recently tidied. We noticed a kayaker sitting near the bridge and she told us that someone in a kayak had cleaned it up about half an hour earlier.

It is so disappointing for us to see so much garbage left alongside our roadways. As a cyclist you really notice the beer cans and coffee cups. In this particular area (Jones Creek) there is an unregulated parking area but no garbage cans.

We chatted to her for a short while, she told us that they were going to put their kayaks in the water there but had forgotten the paddles. Her husband had gone back to the campsite to get the paddles.

My dearly beloved turned to her and said; “This is the first time I have met someone who is actually up the creek without a paddle” groans all around.

Sunday, July 7, 2019

We often ride west, the prevailing winds come from the west and it is nice to get the tail wind coming home along the park-way.

Today I checked the wind direction and it was a north-easterly, something I always hated as a child in England.

“The north east wind doeth blow and we will have snow and what will the Robin do then poor thing, he will keep himself warm and hide his head under his wing poor thing”

Strange the things you remember. However, I also knew that if we cycled into the wind we would have a tail wind coming home. This ride was going to be easterly towards Prescott.

What a great ride we had today. Although Highway 2 out of Brockville is a bit of hit and miss with the shoulder, the route is full of history and well worth cycling along. The first Town you come into is Maitland which has an historic windmill which is being rebuilt as a tourist attraction.

Then you follow the St. Lawrence River along into Prescott. As we were leaving Brockville we spotted the Canadian Steamship Line – Laker. I am always amazed how these large vessel seem to creep up on you they can be so quiet.

In Prescott the Waterfront Trail takes you along the water where a nice paved path shows you different parts of their history from the rum running across the river during prohibition and the various skirmishes between Upper Canada and America (the Canadians and Americans) during the late 1800\’s.

If you have time you could watch a Shakespearean Play. The Prescott Shakespeare Festival is held in the summer from early July to the end of August. Usually performing two shows for the season.

We cycled through Prescott along the Waterfront Trail. Stopping at the Shakespeare Festival Theatre, this year they are performing the “Winters Tale” and Cyrano. We will have to take in one of their shows.

We were into a head wind, although Ralf didn’t feel it as much as I did. He is definitely much fitter than I am.

As we were leaving Prescott Ralf suggested we head out to the “Battle of the Windmills” this is where the Americans decided that they should “help” their poor beleaguered Canadian brothers and sisters become more democratic.

Of course as most of you know, Ralf loves towers and we had to climb the stairs to the top. As we looked out of the tower there was the Canadian Steamship Laker coming alongside the windmill. We had cycled faster than the Laker.

We enjoyed the scenery from the top of the tower and then headed north out of Prescott. We made our way back to Brockville along the quiet, but boring MacIntosh Road. Although my fellow cyclists on the BCAC recommend this route to touring cyclists. As a touring cyclist Highway 2 is much more interesting. The Blue Church, The tower and the Prescott with its rich history of the Fort and the battle of the windmills.

There was one \’farm\’ that had some interesting vehicles, including this old bus.

On our return we stopped at the antique place on Highway 2. It has a “Penny Farthing” outside which was built as a garden ornament, with planters. Unfortunately it is too big for our garden area.

We arrived home and had a lovely supper, then continued our lovely Sunday by taking in the Concert in the Park. A mix of Big Band music, Beatles, 70’s and other toe-tapping music.

A lovely end to a great summers day.