January 2019

“Bicycling is a manly pursuit and, unlike other foolish crazes it has not died out” Daily Telegraph, UK 1877

I didn’t make New Years Resolutions this year. I created goals.

• Cycle 5,000 kms (outdoor)
• Cycle the Blueberry route in Quebec
• Relearn Tai Chi and do it daily
• Visit the U.K. with my friend
• Eat well, drink in moderation and stay active

January has been brutal for winter weather. So bad, that the second week in January the school buses were cancelled every day. Monday and Tuesday because of the bitterly cold temperatures (-26 with wind-chills of -35), Wednesday because of the snow and Thursday because of the freezing rain. Friday was a PD day (Professional Development day for the teachers.

Yes we got every kind of weather in one week, bitterly cold temperatures, snow and warming temperatures to cause freezing rain.

On the bright side I have been planning my trip to the U.K. with my friend. Hoping to go in June. Although I have now found a job (part-time) and I am hoping I will be able to get the time off to do it.

Ralf has booked his crazy cycling trip to Indiana. RainStorm – Ride Across Indiana – Same Thing Only Ride More. 100 miles (164 kms) every day for five days and then 164 miles (264 kms) on the sixth day. Yes on the seventh day he rests. He has already received the approval from the City for his week away.

The organization has found him a room-mate which reduces the cost by about $500.00. He is already training like crazy on his road bike in the basement, leaving pools of sweat on the floor. It’s a good job we have a sump pump to pump out the water.

I tend to cycle more sedately next to him and only do one DVD at a time. I had a wonderful teacher who once said “Horses sweat, men perspire and women gently glow”. I gently glow!! Ralf will often do the DVD twice or complete one of the longer DVD’s that last up to three hours. He has the time between his morning school bus run and his afternoon school bus run.

With all this training we both should have lost weight in January, unfortunately that did not happen. We love chocolate.

We have had a lot of snow, Ottawa beat their previous record of 93 cms (36”) for the month of January, I think they reached over 105 cms (41”). We were not far behind in Brockville. Fortunately where we moved to we do not have to shovel our driveway or the walkway. We pay a yearly fee to have the snow removed in the winter and the grass cut in the summer, perfect.

I am volunteering at our local museum, which is very interesting. I have been transcribing letters that were written over 100 years ago. They were donated to the museum by a local family. Some of the letters are from Fred Gilbert to his sister Viola. Fred was in England serving in the navy during the First World War. My blog has been active for six years. I am sure that no record of our Grand Adventure will be accessible in 100 years time. Makes you think what we are leaving for future generations.

December 2018

“It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams” Gabriel Garcia Marquez

I celebrated my birthday on Sunday December 2, with my lovely husband spoiling me again. Although he was mean to \”hide\” my present in full view. When we were children my Mum always spoiled us on our birthdays, we didn’t have to do any chores and we got to pick what to have for dinner. Ralf follows on with that tradition. A relaxing day, and a lovely meal out at the Bistro.

The bikes are inside and I am settling into an indoor cycling routine. I have included a light weight work-out as part of my fitness routine and walking. Hopefully I maintain my focus and I will be fit and ready to go when we get the bikes back out on the road in the Spring.

I worked on the local By-Election at the beginning of the month, which was interesting but very tiring (14 hours).

Ralf is working with the school bus and on the City Transit. The City job is only 8.5 hours a week at the moment. He will decide in the New Year if it is worth keeping both jobs or only working on one. The City job pays more but is only guaranteed 8.5 hours (two shifts). He may be able to pick up more shifts, but we will see how it goes.

I am volunteering at the local museum and I have also volunteered to be on the Brockville Cycling Advisory Committee, the City is currently undergoing an Active Transportation Plan, which is very interesting.

The Miracle at Christmas

On Black Friday, Chain Reaction Cycles had a great deal – Schwalbe tires at $25.00 a piece, it was a steal.

Chain Reaction Cycles emailed Ralf, the order had been processed and a tracking number dispatched. Ralf waited with baited breath to receive his new tires.

December 3, 2018 the tires arrived in Canada and were held by Customs for less than two minutes, would he be charged a fee, it didn’t look like it he reported with glee.

There may be a delay due to the Post Office strike, but never mind they would be on their way soon, quick as you like.

They arrived in Belleville on December 12, 154 kms away, wait why are they going to Ottawa that is not the right way.

December 13 Ottawa didn’t want them, oh how sad, the tires are back in Belleville that is too bad.

December 17 Belleville tried again, sent them to Mississauga a further distance west, come back tires, oh what a mess.

The phone calls were made on December 18. The wit at the post office had no idea why they were going around and around, but he would stop them and send them homeward bound.

Back to Belleville, oh no Ottawa again, back to Belleville, oh no Ottawa again, back to Belleville, please tires come to Brockville, it is a lovely place.

Finally at 8:00 a.m. on December 23 the tires arrived in Brockville. Almost here, oh no wait, the tracking notice said they were re-routed again, due to a processing error, where would they go next?

We had to stop this merry-go-round.

We walked to the post office without much luck, it was Sunday and there was no truck.

On Christmas Eve the tires were found, at the Smoke Shop Post Office, Brockville, they were sound.

Ralf bought them home, a Christmas Miracle.

We have no idea why these tires went around and around, the address had no errors, none could be found.

Post Script:

Canada Post reported during their Strike Action that they handled over 6,000 pieces of mail every day, we wondered if they counted the same package every time it was handled 16 times for Ralf’s tires. The tires took two days to cross the Ocean, 6,040 kms from Madrid to Toronto. 27 days from Toronto to Brockville 2,280 kms, scanned 16 times by Canada Post. The distance between Mississauga (Toronto) and Brockville is 346 kms they travelled that distance 6.5 times.

Christmas Day

I called my family in England, Wendy and Baz had my nephew and partner, Wayne & Carol over for dinner and Joy went after she had finished work. Nikki and Chris had Dawn, Mark, Yasmin, Sophie and Linds, Nick, Adam and Millie it sounded like pure chaos but as Dawn said it was great to all be together at Christmas, playing games and being together.

Didn’t get to chat to Dave and Di, hopefully I can chat in the New Year.

My eldest sister and brother-in-law Wend and Baz may come for a visit to Canada next year, that was a nice surprise, looking forward to seeing them here.

We met some wonderful people this year, through warmshowers, guests and hosts and hope to welcome more cyclists next year.

Final outdoor cycling kilometres for me: 3,890.79 kms.  Goal for next year 5,000 kms

Final outdoor cycling kilometres for Ralf: 5,134 kms. Goal for next year 5,000 kms.

Ralf and I wish everyone  a safe, healthy and Happy New Year.

Our dreams for 2019 are to cycle the Blueberry Route in Quebec and other more local rides, maybe drift over the river and cycle in New York State. A few organized rides and others that I will plan.  Ralf wants to do RainStorm – 100 miles (yes miles) a day for 5 days and on the 6th day 164 miles. We did it together in 2009, I am not going to do it this time.  I will plan some longer 100 kms rides for both of us to do together.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

November 2018

November usually turns me into a slug. The weather is too cold for cycling, the clocks are changed and it is usually dark and dreary. The bike is on the trainer, but I can’t be bothered to get on it, I become a slug and then it takes me until January to get back into cycling again.

Not this year.

November 4, 2018

The sun was out and we were heading out on our bikes by 9.30. A beautiful but cold ride this morning. The sun felt warm on our faces as we cycled along the Parkway to Mallory Town Landing. There wasn’t much of a breeze, but by the time we got to the turnaround point my feet were cold, I really need some booties. Ralf told me that the temperature was only 2.9 degrees – whaaaat. Oupsie, I thought it was warmer than that when we set out. The sun must have fooled the outside thermometer.

We were almost back in Brockville Ralf slowed down and told me to go and get the car as he had now officially reached his goal of 5,000 kms. Well done my love.

Oupsie, when he got back and was checking his log, he realized that two of his rides amounting to 92 kms were indoor rides and do not count towards his overall outdoor cycling. I guess we have to hope for good weather so that he can get those 92 kms.

November 8, 2018 Ralf managed to reach his goal of 5,000 kms. Well done my love.

I don’t think I am going to manage 4,000 kms, I don’t have the motivation or dedication to ride in temperatures of less than 5 degrees, although I have done a couple of rides that were cooler. The sun was out and fooled me into thinking it was warmer than it was. I think I need some booties to cover my cycling shoes, to keep my feet warm.

November 8 & 12

Two lovely but cold rides to the barn and back. The barn is on the Parkway and is a quick and an easy 25 k ride.

Our first dusting of snow arrived, around the middle of the month. Ralf is determined to get some more outdoor cycling. 

Then the snow arrived in earnest on November 17 so I switched my bike for my walking boots. I follow the Brock Trail from almost my front door towards St. Lawrence Park which is situated on the St. Lawrence River and then walk into Town. There are a couple of nice places to stop for a coffee along King Street and then home to warm up.

November 19, 2019

We brought the bikes inside and I have managed to motivate myself to get on the bike on the trainer a couple of times each week for the remainder of the month.

I much prefer to ride outside, however we do have training DVDs which make it a little bit more interesting when we ride on the trainers.

I keep hoping the weather improves again and we can cycle outside some more, forever the optimist.

The first week of October it rained every day from Monday to Friday. Was it time to bring the bikes in? By Thursday Ralf hadn’t cycled and was becoming a bear. If he doesn’t ride, even if it is in the basement he becomes a very grumpy person. On Thursday when it was raining again, he took the “MadOne” aptly named (Trek Madone) into the basement and cycled like a crazy person for an hour and a half. It helped.

Sunday October 7, 2018

I woke up and squinted at my watch, age does that to you. You squint and assume you can read a watch that you read clearly 20 years ago. I thought it read 9:45, what a pair of lazy old trouts we are. I got up and checked the weather – it was cold. I should really go for a ride. The first week of October was wet, and I didn’t ride one single day. A lazy and fat old trout. I stood in the bathroom trying to convince myself it was a good idea to go for a ride. Eventually I opened the shower door. I didn’t turn the water on. The weather was cold, it wasn’t raining, it was grey and cold, it wasn’t raining. Go for a ride, and really if the OLD friend in Ohio can do a 29.9 mile ride, you with your younger legs can beat the OLD legs. Unbeknownst to him we have a competition going. I need to beat the OLD guy in total kilometres for the year.

I dressed warmly: leggings, socks, warm hat (inside the helmet), gloves etc. Ralf and I headed out at 9:30. The temperature was still cold 7.5 degrees c (45 degrees F). Those squinty eyes read the watch wrong, it was only 8:45.

We cycled the Parkway, we had a tail wind pushing us out to our turn-around point. A cold headwind on the way home. Ralf took the lead and I tucked in behind him, the wind was cold and my feet were getting colder. Damn you Richard Tool, I could be snuggled up in bed instead of out here below Ralf’s cycling threshold (10 degrees) battling a north-easterly headwind.

The trees are changing colour and on a sunny day this would have been an amazing ride. We arrived home cold but glad we had gotten out of our early autumn stupor and cycled 50 kms. Thanks Richard for challenging me, even if you didn’t know you were doing it.

Sunday October 14, 2018

The second week in October was quite nice, the temperature is still cool but we had more sun than rain this week. Sunday was a lovely day, the sun was out a slight breeze blew from the west with an average temperature of below 10 degrees. As some Norwegian fella once said there is no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing. We were dressed for the weather; socks, thermal leggings, liner gloves and gloves, heavier cycle jersey and a good windbreaker. My toes were cold for the last few kilometres but apart from that it was a lovely ride.

The Parkway was alive with colour, when the sun hit the trees at the right angle, beautiful reds and rusty oranges, with the occasional green it was lovely.

The County have been working on this section of road all summer.  They have finally got it finished.  You can speed down this hill and get half-way up the other side now that it is all nicely paved and smooth.

Sunday October 21, 2018

It has been way too cold for me to cycle. I have reached my threshold – if it is not above 10 degrees and sunny with no wind I am not cycling, my threshold used to be 5 degrees. Ralf has been very dedicated cycling way below his usual threshold of 10 degrees. He even went out one morning when it was below 5 degrees and a wind chill of 0.

I prefer to go for a walk if it is cold. I can wrap up warm, and enjoy the changing of the season.

Sunday October 28, 2018

We woke up to snow on the ground and it was still snowing as we sat eating breakfast. No cycling today. As we sat eating breakfast a red fox ran across our lawn. It came back and stood watching us watching him. Ralf scrambled to get his camera out, but something startled the fox and he took off.

I decided to go for a walk in the snow. Outside of our front door we have a beautiful red maple. Our neighbours have a Norway Maple that has not changed colour or dropped any of its leaves. The Norway Maples are the last maple tree to change colour and drop their leaves, usually after a snow fall. Our red maple has changed colour and is leaving a mess of leaves in front of the house. That is o.k we don’t have to rake leaves here, the maintenance company does that.

The weather improved during the week and I managed to go for a couple of rides this week. I waited until the temperature had reached 10 degrees and then headed out.

At the beginning of the month Ralf checked his cycling log and realized that he needed 714 kms to reach his goal of 5,000 kms for the year.  He has been so dedicated cycling in temperatures well below his usual cycling threshold of 10 degrees.  He would come home from his morning school bus run, change into his cycling gear and head out.  If it wasn\’t raining Ralf would be on his bike trying to reach his goal.  He was 74 kms short at the end of October, but we might still get some k\’s in if the weather stays mild and doesn\’t snow.

Warmshowers Guests

As I said at the end of September, we thought we had come to the end of touring cycling season. We were wrong. We had two couples stay with us this month.

Dominic and Michel an older French couple who have been cycling around the world for the last 7 years. Dominic spoke good English, Michel didn\’t speak any English, but we managed. They go home to France every couple of years to visit their grown children and grandchild.

The other couple were a lovely young couple from Quebec and Argentina – Daphnée and Oris. We spent a great evening with them “putting the world’s to rights”, discussing everything from Argentinian politics and economy to global warming and the environment. They are cycling to Toronto (against the wind) and flying to Hanoi to cycle the east coast of Vietnam, the same route we did in Jan 2017.

Our new fun word is “Oupsie”, when you have done something unexpected. Daphnée and Oris have camping gear and a small stove. After they left us, they wild camped about 55 kms east of Brockville (Gananoque). They got their stove out to heat up their dinner “Oupsie” they forgot to bring a cook-pot. They may mail their stove back to Quebec as the “street food” in Vietnam is so cheap.

September 2018

Ralf is working with the French Catholic School Board transporting children from as far away as Cardinal (35 kms) to the school in Brockville. Poor little tykes have to be on the bus at 7:00 in the morning.

Sunday September 9, 2018

We live in a windy area. As most of you know I hate wind more than I hate hills but this is where we live and I have to deal with the wind. We get the wind either on the way out or on the way back, but we get wind.  Sometimes, it is gentle breeze other times it is a wind that stops you in your tracks.

Before our rides I check on the weather forecast to see which way the wind is blowing. I then plan our route accordingly. If it is coming from the west, we head west into the wind first and then get the tail-wind home.

I had planned a new route west out towards the Parkway, north to Mallorytown and then east, home via Lyn (approx. 50 kms). I was expecting to be pedaling into a headwind for the first 20 kms possibly 30 kms, then we should have had the westerly pushing us all the way home.

The forecast said a WNW moving to the N and then ENE by noon. Something went wrong today. We headed out about 9:30 and had an awesome tail-wind going west, something was wrong. We headed north and up hill into the wind and then headed east into the wind all the way home. We were home by noon, the forecasters got it totally the wrong way around.

Although we had the tail-wind to start, the new route was really nice. A few little climbs to get the heart rate up and then rolling hills with views over the farm fields and some lovely stone farm houses.

Autumn (Fall) is definitely upon us, the trees are beginning to change colour and today\’s ride was chilly. At one point Ralf came alongside and informed me that we were only 2 degrees above his cycling threshold. Ralf doesn’t like to cycle if it is below 10 degrees C (50F). It was 12 degrees (53F), I had decided to wear my socks and I am so glad I did as my feet would have frozen. Ralf’s toes were like little ice-cubes when we came home.

I told Ralf that on one of our rides we should really bring the camera and take some photos. However, we forget to stop when we are on our road bikes, it is a different mentality for us than when we are touring and seeing new things every day.

Sunday September 16, 2018

Today’s ride was going to be a short one for me and a longer one for Ralf. We were going to drive the car to Gananoque, I was going to cycle home (about 55 kms) and Ralf was going to cycle along the Parkway with me and then head back to the car (about 90 kms). Then I got an email from an OLD friend and realized that he was cycling further than I was. I had to pick up my “young” socks. I decided that we would both cycle 80 kms. We headed out towards Ivy Lea – 80 kms ride (there and back), but we stopped in at Rockport a small village where boat cruises depart from for the 1000 Islands Cruise and had an ice-cream.

Rockport is a pretty village but gets inundated by buses in the summer there was over a dozen bus tours stopping in the village to go on the boat cruises that take them around or to Boldt Castle and another castle.

The ride was nice, although very hot. I was feeling tired as we were heading along the last stretch of Highway 2 into Brockville. A cold refreshing beer went down very well when we got home.

I am so glad we have air conditioning now.

Weekend in Prince Edward County

On the weekend of September 22, 2018 we headed to Prince Edward County (approx. 170 kms) not to be confused with Prince Edward Island (1352 kms). The ride was for the Kiwanis Club. Ralf did the 100 km ride in record time (3 hrs 31 mins) and I did the 50 km ride in under 2 hours.

I met two women that were wearing Brockville Cycling Club jerseys. We chatted and I discovered there is an active cycling club in Brockville. They asked if I would like to cycle with them on the 50 k route. I hoped that they were strong cyclists, as my goal was to do this ride under 2 hours. Fortunately, they were good riders and we squeaked in just under 2 hours. We exchanged emails and phone numbers, I hope to join some of their rides before the end of the season. Definitely join them for next season.

The ride was lovely, although the trees had not changed colours, another couple of weeks and the area will look beautiful. The temperature was perfect, a little chilly in the shade but the sun was out and it was a great fall day.

September 30, 2018

Our last ride in September, it was rather grey and overcast. The leaves on the trees still haven’t changed to spectacular colours. We decided our last Sunday ride in September would be an easy ride. The Brock Trail has been completely paved (and sections repaved) from where we live, all the way north to the border of Brockville at the Mac Johnson Conservation Area. The route makes for a slow ride, but it is very pretty winding through wooded areas and quiet, away from the roads. At Mac Johnson we headed west towards Lyn. This is the first time I have ridden along Red Road and it was lovely.  Nice houses on a lovely rolling hilly road. Maybe in another couple of weeks the trees will be spectacular, or the leaves will change really quickly and fall of the trees.

Warmshowers Guests

This month we had one group of three people stay with us and a solo cyclist. Brian, Rachel and Leah were all from Washington DC. We usually only have two people staying but as these three were travelling together and offered to cook dinner, we said they could stay. They were a nice group of people with a varied travelling experience under their belts. We thought that this would be the last of the touring cyclists for this season.

I think we will stick with a maximum of two guests in the future, five was a little crowded around the dining table.

David emailed us at the end of September and we hosted him for one night.

David was from California, he said that he discovered he could make as much money renting his house in the Bay area (San Francisco) as he could if he was working. No brainer – rent the house and travel by bike. He arrived around 7:00 p.m. and we chatted for a while before heading to bed for an early night. The next morning it was raining, David and I chatted for a while until the rain eased off and he headed out into the cool fall morning.

 David had these great pair of rain pants.  We had seen them in the Globetrotter store in Germany and laughed at them.  However, they appear to work well.  They look a little like motorcycle chaps, and they are open at the back.  Whenever, I wear rain pants I get as wet from the inside as the outside (unless it is really cool).  David\’s rain-pants allow you to stay dry while you are riding, do not allow you to over heat, and are florescent, so he can be seen.

We arrived home and discovered that Ontario has been suffering a heat wave. I had asked my neighbour to look after my plants by watering them ¼ of a cup water per week. I had an orchid which had a new flower stem when we were leaving for our trip. When we got back we have a beautiful orchid with 8 blooms. Thank-you Diane you are amazing.

I knew that on our return I would need some incentive to carry on cycling. Not that I don’t enjoy cycling, it is just that I need a goal. I have signed us up for a ride in Prince Edward County for September.

The ride used to be called the Cribbage Ride. We have done this ride before, at the end of the ride we had to play a game of cribbage and possibly win a prize.   The organizers also gave you a bag of fall vegetables. We received so much squash – acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash and apples. We were given two bags, I tried to refuse one bag but the organizers were not having any of that we had to take both bags.

This year we will receive vouchers for five different local companies – winery, brewery, cidery, farm produce and a mustard farm.

Because of the commitment of a ride we have been cycling most days. We get up early have a quick breakfast and head out.

Our first ride

The legs feel quite stiff to start, it has been almost three weeks since we stopped riding our touring bikes in Italy. I am riding my road bike which initially feels twitchy because it is so light and no panniers on the front.

Slowly the legs turn the pedals and the sound of the tires on the road is music to my ears. The wind is in our face and we struggle a little bit as we head to the small village of Lyn. Ralf lets me lead for the first twenty minutes as my legs warm up and get back into the rhythm of cycling. As we head away from Highway 2 the road rises and drops and rises a few more times before we make the left turn into the Village and another left turn that takes us down a steep hill to the Conservation Park that has a small lake and picnic area.

We don’t have the time for a swim or a picnic, I am on a mission. The legs feel good the heart is pumping and I love riding again. I decide on my first ride that I want to complete the Prince Edward County in record time.

I am only going to cycle the 50 kms route and Ralf will cycle the 100 km route. I want to complete the route in less than 2 hours.

We are quickly heading home after a short 20 km ride and feeling good. What a great way to start your day, riding on quiet, rural roads up a few small hills to get your heart pumping and back home for a good cup of coffee.

We now have four training routes – a short Lyn loop (20.25 kms), a longer Lyn loop (30 kms), an out and back on the Parkway (40kms) and a Parkway – Mallorytown – Lyn loop (50 kms).

Warmshowers:

We have hosted two people since getting home: Risto from Estonia. He is cycling around the world and cycled the Nullabor, in Australia. He said that he had packed over 14 litres of water but people were so kind on the road that they would stop and make sure he had enough water.

The second person was Justine from France, she is cycling to Niagara Falls from Montreal into blustery headwinds, and then to New York. She was a really nice person, we had a good laugh about the difference between the English and French personalities.

We also met up with Dan and Mariana and their three children. They hosted us when we cycled through Kingston on our Grand Adventure (2015). They wanted to plan a cycling adventure, however they have three children and could not quite work out the logistics of cycling with the children ranging from 18 months old to 6 years old. They have opted to take a year and travel with an RV, the children are now 4, 6 and 8.  We had a great time catching up and took them through the Brockville tunnel.

We were serious about no more camping on our next Adventure. We have sold the tent and the camp stove! We still have our bigger car camping tent that we will use when we do organized rides in the U.S. where someone else carries the gear, but no more camping for us.

Our “camping gear” will consist of sleeping bag liners (for grubby hotels/hostels), folding plates, mugs and lightweight KFS and the Jetboil to boil water for noodles. We found some great places to stay in South East Asia when we cycled Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and South Korea. Hopefully we will be able to find equally nice places when we cycle Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and China. The plan is also to take the Trans Siberian train to Moscow from Beijing. We have to do some serious penny pinching if we are going to do this Adventure. Which is why I am looking for a part-time job and Ralf is back driving the school buses.