October 7, 2013

I have told the company that I work for that I am leaving. I was having a meeting with two of the partners, my annual performance review which was going very well, when they suggested that I should think about courses or professional development that I could take the following year.  I had to come clean.

I told them that I had a retirement plan in place. Then blurted out that our house is sold, the flights are booked and I would like my last day to be November 8, 2013.  A stunned silence followed, then I explained what I was doing and they were incredibly supportive and understanding.

Due to the workload and time to replace me they asked if I would work until the end of November.  My last day will be November 29, 2013, just 5 days before flying.  I have a few vacation days owing which I will take before we move so that I can pack.  The last two weeks were only going to be staying at a friends house, so I don’t mind working and training my replacement.

Yesterday I announced the Grand Adventure to the remainder of my colleagues in the Barrie office during our Monday morning meeting.  Of course I presented it as a PowerPoint presentation.  There were a lot of stunned people after that presentation, after all I am one of the oldest in the Barrie office and I am going to cycle around the world.  The remainder of the Company was also sent an announcement later in the day.

I am so relieved that everything went well with the announcement and have been encouraged to keep in touch and would be welcomed to return to work there if a position is available when I return.

Wednesday September 4, 2013

When people see that as a title they usually envision the worst that there was an accident and the bike came of worse.  This is a much more fun tale.

As you know my bicycle is called Mrs. Sweetcheeks, the VP of the Company I work for has personalized license plates – Brady Lk.  This is the bike versus car.

Mrs SweetCheeks and Brady Lk leave the office at the same time.  Sweetcheeks catches up with Brady Lk at the first set of traffic lights, waves to driver.  Both make it through the advance green.  Brady Lk gets stopped at the next three sets of traffic lights – Sweetcheeks joins the cycle trail and blows by Brady Lk – ringing bell and giving a friendly wave.  Brady Lk passes SweetCheeks with a friendly wave, but then gets stopped at the next set of traffic lights.  SweetCheeks passes Brady Lk before the left turn onto Lakeshore Drive.  See you at Hurst Sweetcheeks shouts.

Then the Mark Cavendish clone takes over, heart pounding, legs pumping, lungs bursting SweetCheeks takes off flying up the trail to Minets Point Road and Hurst.

At the traffic lights SweetCheeks waits to make her left turn, but doesn’t see Brady Lk.  Could she have beaten him or had he passed her while she was in the wooded area away from the road.

Next morning Brady Lk admits he knew SweetCheeks would beat him home as he had seen her pass the Southshore Centre before making the right turn and didn’t want to lose to a cyclist so took the long way home.

Bikes Rule – Commute to work it is so much fun.

Wednesday August 14, 2013

Distance: 129 kms       Cycling Time: 6 hrs 15             Actual Time: 8hrs 15

The first fully loaded ride started off with a bang, literally – I came of my bike!!

We had stopped for a quick drink and a bite to eat and as I started off, the pad on my shorts got caught on my seat and over I went.  I landed on my left knee, hip and arm.  My knee was a bloody mess but looked worse than it was.  Fortunately I had my Boots First Aid Kit handy and was able to clean myself up.  I have had my handy dandy Boots First Aid Kit since I travelled in 1983.  I think this is the first time I have ever had to use it in an “Emergency”.  We hadn’t even got to Shanty Bay (20kms from home).  What a start to the Grand Adventure Part 1.  I carried on cycling and I was fine. Pride hurt more than myself.

Headwinds on the way to Orillia but as usual Ralf and I took our turns to be up front.

Our first navigation error was at the bridge at the Atherley Narrows, in Orillia.  We went to the end of the Lightfoot Trail thinking there might be a pedestrian bridge over the Narrows, but there wasn’t.  We stopped and asked a couple if there was a bridge, but they confirmed there wasn’t and we needed to back-track about 500 metres to cross the Atherley Narrows Bridge, it had a nice wide shoulder.  They asked us where we were headed with all our gear.  We explained that it was the first training run and then told them about the Grand Adventure.  They were very interested, and asked a lot of questions.  We spent about 20 minutes talking to them, I am sure when we actually start the Grand Adventure this will be a common occurrence.

After Orillia we had to spend about 19 kms on Highway 12, it is a busy road and no shoulder, I stayed out in front, because I had broken my mirror in the fall.  Ralf was behind warning me of cars, trucks, and campers.  We survived and at Brechin we stopped for lunch and were then able to drop down and follow the shoreline for about 18 kms to Beaverton, much more enjoyable.

Brechin’s street flowers were all displayed on bicycles – very pretty.

In Beaverton we had our second navigational error.  For some reason the Garmin was saying that it was another 121 kilometres to Jackson’s Point.  We eventually got on the right road and followed the shoreline for a little ways before joining Highway 48 until Virginia.  Highway 48 is another busy road, but it does have a shoulder and it was only for 10 kms.  Of course that meant I was upfront again, it was a little windy but not too bad.

At Virginia we followed Black River Road into Sibbald Provincial Park.  We had a nice site in the No-Audio area, very quiet and peaceful.  We set up the tent in about 15 minutes, trying not to look like complete newbies and were completely set up in about half an hour – not too bad for the first time out.

A perfectly pitched tent !

It was our 28^th wedding Anniversary, so Ralf made a wonderful one pot pasta and tomato sauce with extra garlic and sundried tomatoes.  Lovely.

Sleeping in the great outdoors is an interesting experience.  At first you think how relaxing, the wind in the trees, the chirping of crickets very peaceful.  Until the crickets won’t shut up, the wind is blowing acorns from the trees onto the tent and then the raccoons decide to investigate the panniers to see if there is anything worth eating.  Not a particularly restful sleep, but we will get used to the noises the more we camp.

Thursday August 15, 2013 – Day Two

Distance: 92 kms         Time: 4hrs 52          Actual Time 6 hrs

We woke at our usual time of 6:30 and left the camp site at about 9:00.  I think we need to speed up our breakfast and breaking camp, but we were not in any hurry.

The Sibbald family owned what is now the Sibbald Point Provincial Park from 1835 until they sold the property to the County of York in 1951, the County then conveyed it to the Province in 1956 and it opened as the Sibbald Point Provincial Park in 1957. Eildon Hall was the family home and now houses a museum dedicated to life in rural Ontario during the mid-nineteenth century.

Another important structure located adjacent to the park is St. George’s Anglican Church. The church was built by Susan Sibbald’s sons to replace an existing small wooden church, and was dedicated as a memorial to her. Completed in 1877, it ministers to the community to this day.

St. George’s Church

Attached to the church is a small cemetery which contains the graves of many prominent citizens of the Lake Simcoe area including writers Stephen Leacock and Mazo de la Roche as well as musician Jim Schwalm.

After leaving the Provincial Park, we stopped at St. George’s Church.  It felt as if we were in a local Village church in England.  We spent about half an hour wandering around the grounds.  Unfortunately we could not get inside the church, but it is open to the public on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and of course Sunday

I love doors, Ralf took this photo of the entrance to St. George’s Church.

The road from Sutton to Keswick is a lovely shoreline road, with signs telling motorists to share the road with pedestrians and cyclists.  It is a lovely ride approximately 27.5 km. Very relaxing ride with lots of nice houses and waterfront views to see.  We saw quite a few cyclists on their road bikes, it must be a nice training ride.

After Keswick there is a busy and hilly section of road called the Queensway up to Queensville.  Again there is a paved shoulder and Ralf stayed behind.  I am not the greatest on hills so this was really good experience going up hills (not too steep) with the bikes loaded.  I guess I am fitter than I thought I was because they were not that bad.  I was ready for lunch at Queensville.

After Queensville we continued through Bradford on a busy section of Highway 4, the shoulder could have been a little wider for my liking as this was a busy section of road and most of the cars were doing over the speed limit of 80km closer to 100km. I felt the cars were a little too close for my comfort.

As soon as we could we dropped down on to the quieter 20^th Sideroad which bought us all the way back into Barrie.  A road we know well, which is quieter, not much of a shoulder, but the cars do give you some more room.  This road takes you through the rural farming area of Innisfil.  Thank you to this unnamed farmer for putting on this great floral display.

Things we learned on this trip.  I need a side loading bottle cage.  Because my frame is small it is difficult for me to get to my water bottle out of its cage while on the move.  We need to be aware that hills do take it out of you and we need to refuel a little more often.

This was a great training ride for us.  We know we can do distances and hills with fully loaded touring bikes and enjoy the ride.

July 17, 2013

On Thursday I led a Trek Women ride –usually it is Wednesday night, but there was a severe thunderstorm watch in effect, so we cycled Thursday instead.  We cycled Ralf’s Big Bay Point Loops and added a couple of loops through the subdivision to make it a 23 km route.  As we were about to join the 25^th SideRoad in Innisfil a young man passed the top of the street on a long board (similar to a skateboard but longer and wider).  He was moving – We had paused for a few minutes at the Stop sign and then continued our ride.  By this time the young man was about 500 metres in front of us. Our average speed was 20 kph and we were not catching up to this guy.  As we passed the bottom of Big Bay Point Road, there is a slight downhill and we had a tail-wind – he was still about 500 metres in front.  I came along side the other rider in my group and said I have to catch up with him to see what speed he is doing, see you at the bottom of Mapleview.  I topped 40 kms to catch up with him and tailed him for about 100 metres, his average speed was 20.1 kms  Awesome.

I have in the past assumed alternative transportation was bicycles, walking and public transit I now add long-boards to this list.  If you can maintain an average speed of over 15 kms per hour for 5 kms you definitely have alternative transportation.  Show long boarders some respect.  If we can only teach them to respect the rules of the road I would be really happy – but of course, some cyclists have to be educated as well.

June 15, 2013 Great Ohio Bike Adventure  (GOBA)

GOBA  is a week-long supported ride.  It is organized by the Columbus Outdoor Pursuits and this year celebrated 25 years.  GOBA attracts all sorts of cyclists, from speedy to slow and steady, from skinny too huge, from old to young.  Some riders get up before dawn and are finished early and others take all day to finish the 50 miles (+or-) and enjoy the sites and rest stops.  The rest stops provide food and drinks for the approximately 2,200 riders and are supplied by church groups, sports groups and even EMS stations.  Some of the rest stops have music and entertainment.  At the end of the day GOBAVILLE has been set up in City parks, schools grounds or County fairgrounds. The evening meal can be found at the various churches or schools or at any restaurant in the overnight Town.  Basically, GOBA is a small travelling town.  Over 2,000 cyclists descend on small Towns throughout Ohio and take over for an overnight rest stop or a two-night rest stop.  Most of these Towns get a huge economic boost from GOBA.  If every cyclist only eats at the Church supper (average price of dinner is $7.00 the economic spin-off from GOBA is a minimum of $14,000.00.  All for the relatively cheap price of a school field or park.

GOBA is our first test with loaded panniers and bikes.  The only thing we are not doing is carrying our Big Agnes tent.  GOBA is an organized ride with SAG (support vans) carrying your stuff.  We decided to carry all our stuff except Big Agnes and have an enjoyable week sleeping in our big tent with camp cots.  The camp cots and the tent weigh about 45lbs, we are allowing the GOBA Sag wagon to carry that. We are carrying everything else: sleeping bags, thermarest mattresses and cot, our clothes and of course my Mac and power supply and cameras about 30lbs for me.

We had decided that GOBA would be a good test for us and it would change our normal cycling style from head down and going to stop and smell the roses.

Saturday June 15 2013 – Barrie to Urbana Ohio

We left home at 9:15 am and had a good drive down to Urbana and arrived at 5:15, we located the Dayton Ohio Cycling club van and set up our tent.  The Dayton Ohio cycling club rent a Penske van for the week and carry the camping equipment of their club members and “guests”.  They set up canopies and have drinks and snacks for us when we have finished each days ride.  We also meet a lot of really nice people.  If we didn’t join the Dayton Club our camping gear would be loaded on one of three tractor trailers.  Instead of searching for our gear with over 2,000 other cyclists we only have to find our gear with 100 other cyclists.

Sunday June 16, 2013 – Urbana to Troy

Kms: 79.23     Time: 4:03:49     Elapsed Time: 5:35

It rained throughout the night and continued through most of the morning, we got wet but we didn’t mind too much as we are on holiday and it is GOBA.  Four rest stops today.  The first was at 8km and was at the Cedar Bog Historical association.  If it hadn’t been raining we probably would have stopped and had a look at the information regarding the Cedar Bog, but it was raining and we didn’t want to get cold.  The last section of the ride was along the Great Miami River Trail and parts of the old Miami Erie Canal.  We passed an old section of the canal and we stopped and read the historic plaque and took photos.

The lunch stop had this fabulous school bus decked out with all manner of plants.

Ralf made us “license plates for the back of the bicycles – they say SweetCheeks and Mrs SweetCheeks – we have put our website blog address and a small Canadian flag.  This allows people who are coming behind us to chat as we cycle along. It is a social ride. A couple of guys asked why we were fully loaded and Ralf told them we were in training for the Grand Adventure.  They were fascinated.  As was the lady who heard part of the conversation and then came along side me and asked more questions.  It is a good way to start a conversation and that is what this ride is about –  meeting new people.

In the evening we had a “church” supper at the American Legion – Spaghetti with vege sauce and salad for $7.50.  We had a wonderful wander round the downtown area which had some great sculptures and Street furniture. The evening entertainment was an Eagles cover band.

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Monday June 17 – Rest Day or a 50 mile loop to Dayton and back

Distance: 77.84     Time: 3:38     Elapsed Time: 4:00

We decided to take a \’Rest day\’ by cycling the 50 mile loop – without panniers.:)  It was an out and back on the bike path – the Greater Miami River Trail.  Ralf spotted two Grey Herons and I spotted a deer drinking in the river in the woods.  Although we were supposed to be stopping and smelling the roses, this was an out and back and we had cycled part of the route yesterday, so we kinda reverted back to our old cycling style of pedaling and not stopping.

We got back to camp fairly early showered and then went downtown to check out the shops and more sculptures.

We met Barry and Anne – this is the couple who introduced us to GOBA in 2008 and the fact that the U.S. has some great week long touring rides.  We hadn’t connected with them before on GOBA for a variety of reasons, last year they cycled the southern Tier of the US.  We joined them for dinner at a nice restaurant.  It was great catching up with them and telling them about our Grand Adventure.  They were able to give us some tips on clothing and were very excited about our trip.

Ralf does take some great photographs, even with a little digital camera.  We bought him a new smart compact camera for his birthday.  He didn\’t bring it on GOBA as he hadn\’t had the chance to read all of the instructions.  I can\’t wait to see what photographs he can take with his new camera.

Tuesday June 18 – Troy to Greenville

Distance: 83.6     Time: 3:53     Elapsed Time: 5: 52

Today was a 52 mile route through rural Ohio.  Primarily flat with a couple of rollers and ribbon roads.  The route as always is very well signed and the rest stops were well stocked.  Ralf got a flat tire so we had to fix that, lots of nice people asking if we were o.k and did we need a hand.  Great people on GOBA.

The lunch rest stop was really busy and had hot “fast food” and a mile long line, we decided to skip it and head to the last rest stop which was only 10 miles (45 minutes).  We hadn’t taken extra Cliff bars so we were risking it a bit.  But we have done other rides without as much food as we are consuming on this ride, I figured we would be alright and we had enough water to keep us going.

It was getting hot as we arrived into Greenville (the end of the days ride) and there were several welcome groups one was a couple of girls playing the song “What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger”.  As we came into the school where we are camping tonight the High School cheerleading squad were doing a routine.  An older couple were setting up their tent and the woman commented on the very cheerful-cheerleaders, the guy responded – “let them do 50 miles on a bike and see how chirpy they are after that”.  I laughed.

Wednesday June 19, 2013 – Greenville to New Bremen

Distance: 90kms

I forgot to reset my Garmin, so I don’t have the individual times for Wednesday and Friday

Today was a 57 mile route through more of rural Ohio.  Similar terrain as yesterday, but windier out of the NNW and we were cycling north and west and very occasionally south (headwinds for 57 miles)!!  It was a lovely day perfect temperature, a little cool to start off but soon warmed up to perfect temperature.  I felt good, legs were good, shoulders were good, etc but I just wasn’t feeling right – couldn’t get into the rhythm.  Ralf left me to my own thoughts and I decided it just didn’t start of right – no loo roll, no cold water, no oatmeal breakfast – pancakes again, I really didn’t want to catch my breakfast again, just didn’t start me off right.  I even spotted two windmills and that didn’t brighten my day.  Eventually, after a lovely lunch I brightened up, but it seemed like a long day.  Ralf was wonderful – as he said there will be days like this on the Grand Tour.  He is wonderful.

I think part of my discombobulation was due to the fact that I haven’t had any caffeine, and probably too much sugar as well.

Hills or headwinds asked a young boy as we passed him and his Dad (with the daughter on a tag-along).   We both agreed that hills were better than headwinds, because you could see the end of a hill.

This is a great family ride, often there will be three generations riding together.  A variety of bikes are used with tandems and and tag-alongs seeming to be the most popular.

Thursday June 20, 2013 – Rest Day

Thursday was a second scheduled rest day, or two loop options – a Century ride and a 50 mile loop.  Ralf loves his century rides, so I decided that I would have the rest day.  Which meant getting up at 7:30, having a relaxed breakfast, chatting to Richard and Beverley (from the Dayton Cycling club) and then going to the laundromat and getting the washing done.  Very relaxed morning.

Another example of the great people on GOBA, – the Laundromat was served by one young woman who was a little overwhelmed by the amount of people that had descended on the Laundromat.  Unfortunately the drains were a little overwhelmed as well and began to flood the floor – she tried to mop the floor and deal with the number of people but as I said she was on her own, so one GOBA cyclist took the mop from her, and started mopping, then another took over from that woman, then I started to wring the cloths out and another guy got a rubber mop and we managed to get the floor mopped and dried.  Great people all helping out.

Ralf did the Century in record time.  He hooked up with a couple of guys from Scarborough Ontario and kept up with them on his touring bike  (no panniers) while they were on speedy road bikes.  Mind you one of the guys was 74!

New Bremen also houses the American Bicycling Museum.  After Ralf had showered and changed we went into New Bremen and spent a couple of hours in the Museum.  Every variation of bike, it was great they even had a section of Raleigh bicycles.  Apparently there was another bicycle company in Beeston called the Humber Bicycle Company which made Penny Farthings and they had an example of one.

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We had a great meal at an Italian Restaurant, the waitress was lovely.

The Penny Farthing or High Wheeler

Friday June 21, 2013 New Bremen to Sidney

Distance 81.84

This was a lovely riding day.  The weather was great not too hot, and lovely ribbon roads.  It reminded me of the flatter areas of Pennysylvania, where the Amish farmed with horses.  No horses plowing the fields here but very rural and quiet country roads.  We stopped at a couple of the historic signs and read that the French had been in this area, but were kicked out by the British and the North American Indians.  However, as we were getting close to the end of the ride we should have stopped at the remains of some canal locks but didn’t, I think they would have made some great photographs.  We really have to work on slowing down.

The last night of GOBA we caught the shuttle bus into the Town and walked a few kilometres to the bike shop.  The owner was surprised at how many cyclists managed to find him as he was out of the downtown core area.  We had our evening meal at the Methodist Church – vege lasagna, salad and some great desserts and a drink for $7.00.  As usual at GOBA you never sit on your own for long, someone will always join the table and start chatting.

Also on the last night the organizers present some facts and figures and there is the GOBA song contest.  This is where participants will write a song about their week on GOBA or take the music from a well known and provide new lyrics – I particularly liked the little known Kenny Rogers song called “You took a Fine Time to Leave me Lose Wheel”.  Very funny.  We said our goodbyes to the wonderful people we met from the Dayton cycling club because we are not sure if we will see them tomorrow before we hit the road.

Saturday June 22 – Sidney to Urbana

Distance 66.57 kms      Time: 3:05     Elapsed Time: 4:37

Breakfast is usually available in the ‘campground’ but there wasn’t any on the last morning.   We had known about this so had a couple of granola bars and some water to start our morning.  By the time we got to the first rest stop they had run out of almost everything so we shared some nuts with another Dayton cyclist and carried onto the next rest stop.  I was hungry by this point, we stopped and had a good sandwich which kept us going until the end.  At the end we loaded our bikes and luggage into our car, had a shower and after saying our farewells again to the Dayton people we were on the road by about 2:30.

Once again we didn’t stop to take photos during the ride – the Big Four Railroad Bridge leaving Sidney was an amazing large span railway bridge.  It would have made a great photo in the early morning light.  We really have to learn to stop!!  Although in our defense after cycling 66 kms and then an 8 hour drive home, we needed to get the ride finished at a reasonable time.  We will not have these deadlines on the Grand Adventure.

We told a lot of people about the Grand Adventure.  Everyone was very excited for us and we hope they will follow the Blog.

As I was cycling on the last morning I turned to Ralf and whined I don’t want this to stop, I don’t want to go to work on Monday.  But, I will go to work, we will save the money and this time next year we will be on the Grand Adventure.