Thu - October 2, 2003
Fall 2003 - Michigan-Ontario pannier ride
New trip: Williamston, Michigan, USA to Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada
On our Rans V-Rex recumbent bicycles, my friend
Wendell and I plan to ride tomorrow from Williamston, Michigan to Metamora,
Michigan, then the following day to St Clair, Michigan. On October 5 we plan to
ride 80-100 miles (depending on the weather) in the Blue Water Ramble tour ,
crossing into Ontario and back. On October 6, we plan to depart from St Clair,
Michigan, cross by ferry from Marine City, Michigan to Sombra, Ontario, and then
ride for three days to Hamilton, Ontario, where we plan to spend several days
watching the World Road Championship bike
races.
Wendell (left) Ed (right)
Wendell (left) Ed (right)
Posted at 02:48 PM Read More
Wed - July 2, 2003
Packing List
There is a new packing list on my
website.
When I got home, I looked at all the stuff I'd been
carrying for a week on my bicycle and managed to eliminate 5.5 lbs (2,450 grams)
of superfluous baggage that I never used. I eliminated my bike club jacket, 2
spare jerseys, my cable lock, a waterproof bag in which I was carrying my
raincoat, an extra metal hex wrench tool, several compression straps, some
plastic bags, extra sunscreen, extra parachute cord, extra socks, extra
headbands and some extra snacks.
Then, using my wife's kitchen scale, I carefully weighed each item that I would take with me on the bike on a future trip and photographed all the items. I have prepared a spreadsheet listing out all my gear, which I plan to upload to tailwinds.org later today or tomorrow.
Altogether, I carried about 48.5 lbs (plus 2 bottles of Gatorade) with me every day from Toronto to Montreal. In the future, I'd get my load down to 43 lbs (plus Gatorade).
If I didn't take all my high tech gear with me, I could get my load down to around 36 lbs. And, I could reduce the weight another 2-3 lbs by using fewer containers and smaller panniers.
As bad as my load was on this trip, it was only about half of what I carried on my Alaska to Florida trip. I was carrying about 100 lbs through Alberta.
Then, using my wife's kitchen scale, I carefully weighed each item that I would take with me on the bike on a future trip and photographed all the items. I have prepared a spreadsheet listing out all my gear, which I plan to upload to tailwinds.org later today or tomorrow.
Altogether, I carried about 48.5 lbs (plus 2 bottles of Gatorade) with me every day from Toronto to Montreal. In the future, I'd get my load down to 43 lbs (plus Gatorade).
If I didn't take all my high tech gear with me, I could get my load down to around 36 lbs. And, I could reduce the weight another 2-3 lbs by using fewer containers and smaller panniers.
As bad as my load was on this trip, it was only about half of what I carried on my Alaska to Florida trip. I was carrying about 100 lbs through Alberta.
Posted at 02:35 PM Read More
Tue - July 1, 2003
Homeward Bound
I rode my bike one block to Montreal's Gare
Centrale and departed at 9:40 this morning for Oshawa.
The last time I was at the Gare Centrale, my wife
and I dropped our daughter off there to catch a train to Ottawa. She was a
graduate student then at Carleton University. My wife and I had found a good
fare to Montreal, so flew there then drove a rental car to Ottawa. On our way
back to Montreal, our daughter decided to join us and take the train home.
We walked for a while and had a nice lunch in Montreal, dropped our daughter off at the train station, drove to the airport, turned in our rental car then proceeded to US Customs and airline checkin. When the customs agent asked to see my wife's passport, she opened her purse and saw our daughter's wallet there where she had put it for safekeeping while we walked around. Panic ensued. We had dropped our daughter off without her money or identification in a huge foreign city.
Worried that she'd have realized the problem sooner than us, led us to think she might try to get to the airport before we left, so we were afraid to go back. We headed to Travelers Aid at the airport and asked for assistance. They called VIA Rail and confirmed that she had indeed boarded her train. VIA Rail called a cell phone on the train and we were connected to our daughter. She had a small day pack with her in which she had a few dollars. Though she had less than half the fare from Montreal to Ottawa, VIA Rail had accepted all she had in exchange for a ticket.
Still facing the problem of getting our daughter's wallet to her, Travelers Aid directed us to Purolator Courier Service ion the lower level of the airport. We shipped our daughter's wallet to her via insured courier service and she had it the next day.
Then to our amazement, we were able to board our flight on time.
As I've said repeatedly on this website, the world is full of incredibly compassionate people who are more than willing to come to the assistance of those who need help. Traveling is not risky. On the other hand, I've said that risk is an essential component of adventure. So, then, what is an adventure? To me, an adventure is an activity that anybody could do, but most wouldn't do because of perceived risk. Most people would not undertake a bicycle ride like this because they wouldn't believe they could do so.
I am an adventurer. I have all my life faced perceived risks and found that I could deal with them through careful planning and a little help from the world around me. As the train from Montreal to Oshawa crossed over the Trent-Severn Waterway near Kingston, Ontario, it dawned on me that adventure started for me with canoeing out from Muldrew Lake, Ontario as a kid. Me and my friend Dennis would foray up the lake and portage into the unknown. Once, we canoed to the Severn River. Camping out in the wilderness wasn't anything anybody couldn't do, but we were the ones who did it. In middle school, I wrote Jacques Cousteau expressing interest in his adventures. He responded by inviting me onto the Calypso and I went. Hundreds of subsequent canoe, bicycle, kayak, helicopter, cross-country ski and hiking trips have caused me to be identified as an adventurer. I am constantly looking for new ways to expand my horizons.
We all need to make the most of our lives, or we'll wither away.
We walked for a while and had a nice lunch in Montreal, dropped our daughter off at the train station, drove to the airport, turned in our rental car then proceeded to US Customs and airline checkin. When the customs agent asked to see my wife's passport, she opened her purse and saw our daughter's wallet there where she had put it for safekeeping while we walked around. Panic ensued. We had dropped our daughter off without her money or identification in a huge foreign city.
Worried that she'd have realized the problem sooner than us, led us to think she might try to get to the airport before we left, so we were afraid to go back. We headed to Travelers Aid at the airport and asked for assistance. They called VIA Rail and confirmed that she had indeed boarded her train. VIA Rail called a cell phone on the train and we were connected to our daughter. She had a small day pack with her in which she had a few dollars. Though she had less than half the fare from Montreal to Ottawa, VIA Rail had accepted all she had in exchange for a ticket.
Still facing the problem of getting our daughter's wallet to her, Travelers Aid directed us to Purolator Courier Service ion the lower level of the airport. We shipped our daughter's wallet to her via insured courier service and she had it the next day.
Then to our amazement, we were able to board our flight on time.
As I've said repeatedly on this website, the world is full of incredibly compassionate people who are more than willing to come to the assistance of those who need help. Traveling is not risky. On the other hand, I've said that risk is an essential component of adventure. So, then, what is an adventure? To me, an adventure is an activity that anybody could do, but most wouldn't do because of perceived risk. Most people would not undertake a bicycle ride like this because they wouldn't believe they could do so.
I am an adventurer. I have all my life faced perceived risks and found that I could deal with them through careful planning and a little help from the world around me. As the train from Montreal to Oshawa crossed over the Trent-Severn Waterway near Kingston, Ontario, it dawned on me that adventure started for me with canoeing out from Muldrew Lake, Ontario as a kid. Me and my friend Dennis would foray up the lake and portage into the unknown. Once, we canoed to the Severn River. Camping out in the wilderness wasn't anything anybody couldn't do, but we were the ones who did it. In middle school, I wrote Jacques Cousteau expressing interest in his adventures. He responded by inviting me onto the Calypso and I went. Hundreds of subsequent canoe, bicycle, kayak, helicopter, cross-country ski and hiking trips have caused me to be identified as an adventurer. I am constantly looking for new ways to expand my horizons.
We all need to make the most of our lives, or we'll wither away.
Posted at 10:52 AM Read More
Mon - June 30, 2003
Day 7: Cornwall - Montreal (90 mi)
Once I could see Montreal – about 30 miles out
– there was no stopping me.
It took me about 10 hours (elapsed time) to travel
90 miles. About half my riding was on bike paths, which are invariably slower
than roads. I also experienced some problems with my bike: a stick got caught in
the rear derraileur, causing it to bend and malfunction; I hit a soft spot and
came to an abrupt halt, causing my handlebar to rotate out of adjustment; and
the pannier attachment mechanism failed causing one to flop until I secured it
to the other with a strap.
The bridge to New York from Cornwall would have been quite a climb, but New York seemed only a stone's throw away.
Much of my riding was along an old canal used for shipping before the construction of the St Lawrence Seaway in 1959. These things (I can't recall what they're called) were used to tie up the boats in the canal.
The bike paths were wonderful.
I crossed the Ottawa River on Highway 20, one of the busiest highways, but cyclists were well protected from the vehicles.
My friend Vern told me that once he canoed from Algonquin Park down the Ottawa through Ottawa and all the way to the St Lawrence. Here is where the Ottawa empties into the St Lawrence. The Ottawa is flowing away from me as I stood on the bridge. It looked like a good canoe or kayak river.
I rode for hours through neighborhoods reminiscent of Gross Point, Michigan or Wilmette, Illinois. The waterfront views were quite impressive.
I never before saw such nice bike paths.
Even where the bike routes went out onto the street, they were fantastic.
I bicycled for several hours in urban conditions over huge distances. I was so absolutely beat when I got to downtown Montreal, I wasn't sure I could stand up when I stopped bicycling. I had a list of three hotels to try, but couldn't find anybody, including 3 policemen, who knew where they were, so I decided to aim for the train station, Le Gare Centrale, then look for a place nearby. The station was several blocks uphill in road construction from the waterfront trail I arrived on. I was shaking from exhaustion and dehydration, so I checked into the closest hotel I could see, the Marriott. It is less than a block from the train station.
Looking out my 21st floor window, I couldn't see most of the urban area I cycled through, but could tell it was a huge distance.
The trip was fantastic. Montreal is fantastic. I had an excellent dinner tonight at Wienstein & Gavino Pasta Bar on Crescent.
Happy Canada Day!
I have a lot more to say, but am going to call it a day now. I catch the VIA Rail train to Oshawa tomorrow and will be home ASAP. Hopefully, I'll have a chance then to edit this BLOG to get in some of the things I want to say.
The bridge to New York from Cornwall would have been quite a climb, but New York seemed only a stone's throw away.
Much of my riding was along an old canal used for shipping before the construction of the St Lawrence Seaway in 1959. These things (I can't recall what they're called) were used to tie up the boats in the canal.
The bike paths were wonderful.
I crossed the Ottawa River on Highway 20, one of the busiest highways, but cyclists were well protected from the vehicles.
My friend Vern told me that once he canoed from Algonquin Park down the Ottawa through Ottawa and all the way to the St Lawrence. Here is where the Ottawa empties into the St Lawrence. The Ottawa is flowing away from me as I stood on the bridge. It looked like a good canoe or kayak river.
I rode for hours through neighborhoods reminiscent of Gross Point, Michigan or Wilmette, Illinois. The waterfront views were quite impressive.
I never before saw such nice bike paths.
Even where the bike routes went out onto the street, they were fantastic.
I bicycled for several hours in urban conditions over huge distances. I was so absolutely beat when I got to downtown Montreal, I wasn't sure I could stand up when I stopped bicycling. I had a list of three hotels to try, but couldn't find anybody, including 3 policemen, who knew where they were, so I decided to aim for the train station, Le Gare Centrale, then look for a place nearby. The station was several blocks uphill in road construction from the waterfront trail I arrived on. I was shaking from exhaustion and dehydration, so I checked into the closest hotel I could see, the Marriott. It is less than a block from the train station.
Looking out my 21st floor window, I couldn't see most of the urban area I cycled through, but could tell it was a huge distance.
The trip was fantastic. Montreal is fantastic. I had an excellent dinner tonight at Wienstein & Gavino Pasta Bar on Crescent.
Happy Canada Day!
I have a lot more to say, but am going to call it a day now. I catch the VIA Rail train to Oshawa tomorrow and will be home ASAP. Hopefully, I'll have a chance then to edit this BLOG to get in some of the things I want to say.
Posted at 11:06 PM Read More
Sun - June 29, 2003
Day 6: Brockville - Cornwall (65 mi)
Good progress terminated early by rain.
At 4:00, I'd ridden 65 miles and could have kept on
going, but the skies darkened, thunder roared and it started raining just as I
reached the end of the bike path into Cornwall. There were several motels in
sight, so I called it a day.
Despite riding along the St Lawrence all day, I didn't really see any ships go by. I heard three, but couldn't see them and I only saw glimpses of one through the woods.
At Prescott, the river was quite wide.
It wouldn't be Canada without Canada geese. I saw hundreds.
This flock was apparently awaiting the dedication of the painting.
When I wrote yesterday of the need for paved shoulders, this is what I envisioned.
The shoulder here is about 1.5 meters wide.
Grand Trunk had a big influence in Ontario and Michigan. It's sad to see them mostly gone from Michigan.
Seeing the Grand Trunk train, I realized that I'd missed the turnoff from County Route 2 for the St Lawrence Recreational Trail, so I turned back. The non-rail trail winds through the woods – conifer and deciduous – and across marshland and islands. Initially, I was unhappy with the trail because it's crushed gravel surface wasn't suitable for my little 20" tires. For riding point to point, trails are generally inadvisable. They're too slow and there are typically incompatible uses that necessitate constant attention.
I stopped at the Interpretive Center to ask how to get back to the road. The young clerk did not speak English, and my French is too rusty, but the clerk did manage to tell me that Route 2 was "ugly," so I relented and headed off on the trail again. I was pleasantly surprised only about 200 meters later, however, to come to an intersection where the trail was paved and very nice. For about 20 miles into Cornwall, I rode on the trail.
I'm fuming mad at Verizon Wireless, my cellular phone provider. A couple of days ago, I was riding on a busy road when my phone rang briefly. Since I don't give out my cell number to many people, I thought it might be an emergency, so came to an abrupt halt on the stony shoulder. It was a text message from Verizon trying to sell me new services. I was furious that the cell phone provider was spamming me. Then it happened again today. When I get home, I'll be sure to lodge a complaint.
It appears that Montreal is about 80 bike miles away. I don't know if I can do that tomorrow. Thunderstorms are forecast for the afternoon, and even if I did manage the distance, I wouldn't want to reach such a big city exhausted.
Despite riding along the St Lawrence all day, I didn't really see any ships go by. I heard three, but couldn't see them and I only saw glimpses of one through the woods.
At Prescott, the river was quite wide.
It wouldn't be Canada without Canada geese. I saw hundreds.
This flock was apparently awaiting the dedication of the painting.
When I wrote yesterday of the need for paved shoulders, this is what I envisioned.
The shoulder here is about 1.5 meters wide.
Grand Trunk had a big influence in Ontario and Michigan. It's sad to see them mostly gone from Michigan.
Seeing the Grand Trunk train, I realized that I'd missed the turnoff from County Route 2 for the St Lawrence Recreational Trail, so I turned back. The non-rail trail winds through the woods – conifer and deciduous – and across marshland and islands. Initially, I was unhappy with the trail because it's crushed gravel surface wasn't suitable for my little 20" tires. For riding point to point, trails are generally inadvisable. They're too slow and there are typically incompatible uses that necessitate constant attention.
I stopped at the Interpretive Center to ask how to get back to the road. The young clerk did not speak English, and my French is too rusty, but the clerk did manage to tell me that Route 2 was "ugly," so I relented and headed off on the trail again. I was pleasantly surprised only about 200 meters later, however, to come to an intersection where the trail was paved and very nice. For about 20 miles into Cornwall, I rode on the trail.
I'm fuming mad at Verizon Wireless, my cellular phone provider. A couple of days ago, I was riding on a busy road when my phone rang briefly. Since I don't give out my cell number to many people, I thought it might be an emergency, so came to an abrupt halt on the stony shoulder. It was a text message from Verizon trying to sell me new services. I was furious that the cell phone provider was spamming me. Then it happened again today. When I get home, I'll be sure to lodge a complaint.
It appears that Montreal is about 80 bike miles away. I don't know if I can do that tomorrow. Thunderstorms are forecast for the afternoon, and even if I did manage the distance, I wouldn't want to reach such a big city exhausted.
Posted at 05:33 PM Read More
Sat
- June 28, 2003
Day 5: Newboro Lake - Brockville (63 mi)
Another glorious and invigorating day on the Trek.
People in about half the cars I saw today waved to me and all the honks were
friendly.
It was fun staying with my friends Chris and
Mary.
Their son Eric, age 12, was completely immersed in the latest Harry Potter book, so wasn't there for the picture. J.K. Rowling should be awarded the Nobel Prize for making literacy popular once again in first world countries.
I tend to prefer making my own routes, rather than following somebody else's. While there is some hesitation to set out into the unknown, it's always more rewarding if you survive. I survived.
It took me about 25 minutes to ride/push the 2.5 miles of loose gravel from the cottage on Newboro Lake to Highway 10. From there, I headed northbound toward Westport on 10, turning east on Hutchings Road, a gravel road about 8 miles long that took me to Highway 42. That took about an hour. Heading east on 42, I rode over the Rideau Canal at Newboro,
then through Delta and Athens. At Athens, I headed south on Highway 5 through Mallorytown, across the 401 and onto the Thousand Island Parkway eastbound along the St. Lawrence. The roads were hilly, but traffic was lighter than it was on Highway 10 from Kingston to Newboro Lake. I was slow; 6.5 hours for 63 miles.
In Delta, I had a great hot dog and fries lunch at a fries "shack" run by a guy named Brian (I think). The place was amazingly busy. These fries stands are found in small towns all over Canada. The fries are the best I've eaten.
There were very few clouds, so I tried to be careful to drink plenty of Gatorade®, but I noticed that all three bottles (2 Gatorade® and 1 water) were full. Thereafter I tried even harder.
I crossed parts of the precambrian shield with its rocky hills.
I rode out of my way down Highway 5 in order to ride on the Thousand Island Parkway. I wasn't impressed. The bike path was on the left side of the Parkway, so the road was built up to the point that the view wasn't what I had hoped for, and the pavement on the bike path was in poor condition most of the way.
I tried riding on the road, but there were no shoulders and the traffic was too intense.
As I rode along today, and every other day, I always wished for decent paved shoulders. Just one yard/metre of extra pavement would make all the difference in the world. While getting such shoulders on all roads might be too much to wish for, I think a few carefully chosen shoulder projects would do the trick. If there was a paved shoulder route between all the major urban areas of the States and Provinces, I firmly believe that bicycle touring would be much safer and far more popular. I don't know about Canadian funding, but I do know that the US Congress has given huge sums to the United State Department of Transportation for non-motorized transportation. If that isn't enough, I would be willing to pay an annual bicycle tax to help fund shoulders.
As a member and former President of the Tri-County Bicycle Association (TCBA) in Lansing, Michigan, I've seen how far voluntary funding by bicyclists can go. TCBA paid the local match to put bike racks on all the Capital Area Transit Authority buses and to put bike loops and lockers (for secure bike parking) at many locations around the Lansing area. While I hate new taxes as much as anybody else, it is my hope that a bike tax would show that bicyclists mean business about making cycling safer. I just thought of this today, so I haven't yet figured out how to administer and apply such a tax, but rest assured that I'll be thinking about it.
I think the notion of bicyclists paying for more bicycle-friendly roads would help to shut up motorists who have the misguided belief that they pay for the roads and we don't. They should look at the history of road building. After all, the whole notion of paving roadways came about for the benefit of bicyclists, not motorists. The roads in Detroit and many other cities were paved before the invention of the automobile. So, I think it's time bicyclists step to the plate once again and make sure their needs are being met. Bicycling on the roadway is a right. Driving a motor vehicle is merely a privilege for which a license is required.
Their son Eric, age 12, was completely immersed in the latest Harry Potter book, so wasn't there for the picture. J.K. Rowling should be awarded the Nobel Prize for making literacy popular once again in first world countries.
I tend to prefer making my own routes, rather than following somebody else's. While there is some hesitation to set out into the unknown, it's always more rewarding if you survive. I survived.
It took me about 25 minutes to ride/push the 2.5 miles of loose gravel from the cottage on Newboro Lake to Highway 10. From there, I headed northbound toward Westport on 10, turning east on Hutchings Road, a gravel road about 8 miles long that took me to Highway 42. That took about an hour. Heading east on 42, I rode over the Rideau Canal at Newboro,
then through Delta and Athens. At Athens, I headed south on Highway 5 through Mallorytown, across the 401 and onto the Thousand Island Parkway eastbound along the St. Lawrence. The roads were hilly, but traffic was lighter than it was on Highway 10 from Kingston to Newboro Lake. I was slow; 6.5 hours for 63 miles.
In Delta, I had a great hot dog and fries lunch at a fries "shack" run by a guy named Brian (I think). The place was amazingly busy. These fries stands are found in small towns all over Canada. The fries are the best I've eaten.
There were very few clouds, so I tried to be careful to drink plenty of Gatorade®, but I noticed that all three bottles (2 Gatorade® and 1 water) were full. Thereafter I tried even harder.
I crossed parts of the precambrian shield with its rocky hills.
I rode out of my way down Highway 5 in order to ride on the Thousand Island Parkway. I wasn't impressed. The bike path was on the left side of the Parkway, so the road was built up to the point that the view wasn't what I had hoped for, and the pavement on the bike path was in poor condition most of the way.
I tried riding on the road, but there were no shoulders and the traffic was too intense.
As I rode along today, and every other day, I always wished for decent paved shoulders. Just one yard/metre of extra pavement would make all the difference in the world. While getting such shoulders on all roads might be too much to wish for, I think a few carefully chosen shoulder projects would do the trick. If there was a paved shoulder route between all the major urban areas of the States and Provinces, I firmly believe that bicycle touring would be much safer and far more popular. I don't know about Canadian funding, but I do know that the US Congress has given huge sums to the United State Department of Transportation for non-motorized transportation. If that isn't enough, I would be willing to pay an annual bicycle tax to help fund shoulders.
As a member and former President of the Tri-County Bicycle Association (TCBA) in Lansing, Michigan, I've seen how far voluntary funding by bicyclists can go. TCBA paid the local match to put bike racks on all the Capital Area Transit Authority buses and to put bike loops and lockers (for secure bike parking) at many locations around the Lansing area. While I hate new taxes as much as anybody else, it is my hope that a bike tax would show that bicyclists mean business about making cycling safer. I just thought of this today, so I haven't yet figured out how to administer and apply such a tax, but rest assured that I'll be thinking about it.
I think the notion of bicyclists paying for more bicycle-friendly roads would help to shut up motorists who have the misguided belief that they pay for the roads and we don't. They should look at the history of road building. After all, the whole notion of paving roadways came about for the benefit of bicyclists, not motorists. The roads in Detroit and many other cities were paved before the invention of the automobile. So, I think it's time bicyclists step to the plate once again and make sure their needs are being met. Bicycling on the roadway is a right. Driving a motor vehicle is merely a privilege for which a license is required.
Posted at 08:42 PM Read More
Fri - June 27, 2003
Day 4: Kingston - Newboro Lake (32 mi)
A detour to Rideau Lakes.
After the 1812 war, Canada sought to develop a
supply route not as vulnerable as the St Lawrence River between Kingston and
Montreal. A series of canals and locks were utilized to connect the Ottawa River
with the Rideau River and a series of lakes between Ottawa and Kingston. Though
tensions between the US and Canada never necessitated the use of the Rideau
Canal for military purposes, the 250 Km waterway is one of the best recreational
boating systems anywhere.
The old road between Ottawa and Kingston (Rt 10) was once a trail between the two cities. It winds around hills and lakes, is quite hilly and very narrow. There are no shoulders most of the time and the traffic was often very heavy. I was honked at offensively once and was forced to ride off the paved surface and onto the gravel shoulder once.
Then when I got to my turnoff, I had a 3 mile ordeal on loose gravel. Three or four times, I was forced by the steep grades and loose gravel to dismount and push my bike uphill.
When I got to my friends' cottage, they weren't there, so I took a swim in the lake. Oh, that was wonderful. I'm sitting in the cottage now drinking an Alexander Keith's ale. Life is good!
Here is the view from the deck.
The old road between Ottawa and Kingston (Rt 10) was once a trail between the two cities. It winds around hills and lakes, is quite hilly and very narrow. There are no shoulders most of the time and the traffic was often very heavy. I was honked at offensively once and was forced to ride off the paved surface and onto the gravel shoulder once.
Then when I got to my turnoff, I had a 3 mile ordeal on loose gravel. Three or four times, I was forced by the steep grades and loose gravel to dismount and push my bike uphill.
When I got to my friends' cottage, they weren't there, so I took a swim in the lake. Oh, that was wonderful. I'm sitting in the cottage now drinking an Alexander Keith's ale. Life is good!
Here is the view from the deck.
Posted at 06:47 PM Read More
Another note
I forgot my tape recorder
I generally carry a microcassette recorder with me
to record "trigger words" as I ride. I have trouble otherwise recalling my
impressions or thoughts for writing. I forgot to bring the recorder on this
trip. I walked around Kingston looking for a replacement, preferably a digital
voice recorder. The only store I could find that carried any was Radio Shack. I
use a Macintosh Powerbook for all my computing and the literature on the $250
digital recorder at Radio Shack didn't show any Mac support, though I expect it
saves to a standard sound format for USB connections. $250 seemed a bit
steep.
Posted at 11:15 AM Read More
note from Kingston
I'm planning to ride today from Kingston to Newboro
Lake on Rt 10.
I'm making the 45 mile detour to see my Ottawa
friends Chris and Mary. I met Chris a couple of years ago when I was surfing the
web for a cottage in the Rideau Lakes area. We subsequently met and found we had
a lot in common, so we have gotten together several times since in
Ottawa.
Newboro Lake is the epitome of the north woods lake.
The water is clear and cool and there are loons every evening.
From Chris and Mary's cottage, I intend to ride tomorrow to Westport, then across to Delta and down to Gananoque.
The narrow, winding roads have no shoulders. There are some very steep hills. And, the last few miles off the road to the cottage is utterly unimproved. There is no pavement, and plenty of loose sand on very steep hills. Another issue with that route is lodging. I have no idea what's out there. And, lastly, I don't expect to have an opportunity to update the website.
Newboro Lake is the epitome of the north woods lake.
The water is clear and cool and there are loons every evening.
From Chris and Mary's cottage, I intend to ride tomorrow to Westport, then across to Delta and down to Gananoque.
The narrow, winding roads have no shoulders. There are some very steep hills. And, the last few miles off the road to the cottage is utterly unimproved. There is no pavement, and plenty of loose sand on very steep hills. Another issue with that route is lodging. I have no idea what's out there. And, lastly, I don't expect to have an opportunity to update the website.
Posted at 11:05 AM Read More
Thu - June 26, 2003
Day 3: Trenton - Kingston (78 mi)
What a glorious day of cycling! Riding along Lake
Ontario made a big difference in temperature and temperament.
Riding on the Loyalist Parkway for something like 100 Km, prompted me to wonder which side I would have likely chosen had I been around two centuries ago. The "loyalists" were the folks who fled the newly formed United States because they were loyal to the King of England.
As far as I know, all my ancestors came to North America after the American Revolution, so we can't be labeled easily.
My Grandfather on my mother's side, a Scot, served in the Royal Navy, but migrated to the US in the 1930s. I don't have any information about the earlier generations, but being members of the Anglican church, I'd tend to lump them with the loyalists.
On the other hand, my Great Grandfather on my father's side came from Ireland, joined the Union Army, was injured in Sherman's march on Atlanta, and died of his injuries before making it home to Illinois.
My Grandmother was Canadian, so one would presume her family to be loyal to the monarchy, but I don't know anything about them.
It seems that loyalty implies blind faith. I've never been one to accept authority without question. That's an Irish trait of which I am fiercely proud. I protested the Vietnam War and recently the Iraq War. It seems therefore that I would have most likely sided with the US.
I never cease to be amazed at how little Americans know about their history, especially with respect to the 1812 War. Michiganders don't seem to know that Detroit, Mackinac Island and the rest of what is now Michigan was surrendered to the Brits and Canadians. At the ALA/CLA convention in Toronto last week, I met Pierre Berton, my favorite author. Berton has written two books about the 1812 War. His approach to history is spellbinding and balanced. Both sides were led by idiots.
One of the primary reasons for my ride across southern Ontario is the historical perspective. There was history all along my route. Every historical marker or old building got my attention.
I slept from 8:30 to 6:30, so managed to get out the door really early. I had an enjoyable breakfast with some Trenton locals who joined me at my table to talk about my journey. Wearing lycra into a restaurant always prompts some sort of discussion.
While normally, I refuse to ride on the sidewalk, traffic on the Trenton bridge was heavy and I didn't relish the notion of holding it up as I struggled in a granny gear to climb over the bridge, so the sidewalk was a reasonable option.
Ever since I bought a sea kayak, I've been contemplating kayaking from Ottawa to Michigan. My plan was to paddle down the Rideau Canal network to Prince Edward County and the Trent-Severn Waterway, which connects to the Severn River and Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. The bridge at Trenton goes over that waterway. Further south, where the road crosses the waterway, there is a bridge that rotates out of the way of the boats.
As I was riding south on the Loyalist Parkway, these cyclists from Oshawa stopped to say hello. They were driving SAG for a senior citizen ride in the area. The man on the right rode his Tour Easy recumbent across Canada from Vancouver. He noted that he drove through Lansing last week.
I love old barns.
The Glendore Ferry about 5 miles east of Picton was free and quite enjoyable.
I didn't expect to see wildlife, but did. There were two roadkill racoons and a beaver. I was surprised to see a live Bald Eagle (or some other big bird of prey) nesting in a power pole.
I was also surprised by what appeared to be a salmon run in the outflow from the Ontario Power plant. Fish were jumping left and right, but I couldn't catch one with my digital camera.
Not sure what the power plant was discharging into the Lake, I stopped a few miles further along to soothe my aching feet in the cool lake water.
The rocky shoreline provided a perfect natural bench.
After 78 miles, I arrived in Kingston, one of my favorite towns. While eating outdoors at an Irish restaurant, a man passed by in a tourist rickshaw and commented that he felt like the queen. One of the folks in the sidewalk restaurant yelled back, "you look like her too."
Tomorrow, I may deviate from my planned route to ride north to see some friends at their cottage near Westport, Ontario.
Posted at 09:58 PM Read More
Wed - June 25, 2003
4 Day 2: Port Hope - Trenton (46 mi)
I don't have a thermometer with me, but it was too
hot for cycling.
It wasn't too bad where I was running fast with a
tailwind or into the wind, but windless climbs were pure hell. I'd forgotten how
hilly it was in eastern Ontario. I'm not complaining, just explaining how
drained I feel.
About half the ride today was with wide shoulders. The other half was a bit stressful because I was passed by hundreds of cars in a relatively narrow lane.
Port Hope is pretty with its clearwater river running over rock ledges.
These old towns are all quite charming. Last year, I bypassed downtown Cobourg. I'm glad I saw it this year.
The route specified by Brian Hedney took me along the Lake for about 12 miles. I missed the Knight family apple orchard who I'd met last year, but the riding was fabulous. At one point a beach was only about 20 feet off the road. I was tempted, but hunger pushed me on to Coborne.
I stopped in Colborne for lunch.
A group of self-proclaimed "biker chicks" were there on a cycling loop from Port Hope. Unladen, they were enjoying their ride a bit more than I was.
Heading out of Coborne, I saw some wonderful copper cupolas. I wonder about replacing the shingles on my barn roof and adding a cupola.
By the time I got to Trenton, I was exhausted and dehydrated, but since the air wasn't smoggy like yesterday, I didn't have any asthma symptoms. I did have to call it a day by around 5:00, though. At 90+ F, I sought out a motel.
I have not seen any other bicycle tourists. Last year I saw several in this segment. I wonder if SARS caused cyclists to stay away. Wimps!
There is a phone in my motel room, but it doesn't have a normal dial tone, so I think it's digital and therefore dangerous for modem use. Also, it would be a long distance call. Yesterday's upload call cost me about $9 and the line speed was so slow that I didn't get to see my handiwork, so I'm going to wait for Picton or Kingston. Access is free from Kingston.
About half the ride today was with wide shoulders. The other half was a bit stressful because I was passed by hundreds of cars in a relatively narrow lane.
Port Hope is pretty with its clearwater river running over rock ledges.
These old towns are all quite charming. Last year, I bypassed downtown Cobourg. I'm glad I saw it this year.
The route specified by Brian Hedney took me along the Lake for about 12 miles. I missed the Knight family apple orchard who I'd met last year, but the riding was fabulous. At one point a beach was only about 20 feet off the road. I was tempted, but hunger pushed me on to Coborne.
I stopped in Colborne for lunch.
A group of self-proclaimed "biker chicks" were there on a cycling loop from Port Hope. Unladen, they were enjoying their ride a bit more than I was.
Heading out of Coborne, I saw some wonderful copper cupolas. I wonder about replacing the shingles on my barn roof and adding a cupola.
By the time I got to Trenton, I was exhausted and dehydrated, but since the air wasn't smoggy like yesterday, I didn't have any asthma symptoms. I did have to call it a day by around 5:00, though. At 90+ F, I sought out a motel.
I have not seen any other bicycle tourists. Last year I saw several in this segment. I wonder if SARS caused cyclists to stay away. Wimps!
There is a phone in my motel room, but it doesn't have a normal dial tone, so I think it's digital and therefore dangerous for modem use. Also, it would be a long distance call. Yesterday's upload call cost me about $9 and the line speed was so slow that I didn't get to see my handiwork, so I'm going to wait for Picton or Kingston. Access is free from Kingston.
Posted at 07:43 PM Read More
Tue - June 24, 2003
Day 1 - 2003: Oshawa - Port Hope (45 mi)
I plan to start riding today around noon from
Oshawa, Ont.
UPDATE: I did it!
UPDATE: I did it!
I may make today a short day, just to stay out of
the heat - 90 degrees F is a bit scary for an overweight cyclist doing the first
loaded tour of the year. Wish me luck.
Next post - when I get to a phone line.
I got out of Oshawa at 2:00. It was HOT. I don't have a thermometer with me, but I'm sure it was 90+ F. I had some Propel, sports drink from Gator Ade and I filled up a water bottle at the Oshawa VIA Rail station. In downtown Oshawa, I bought a bottle of cold water. I bought Gatorade and got more water along the way. I tried to stay hydrated, but that's a tough bill to fill when it is that hot.
I decided to follow Brian Hedney's excellent Web-based cue sheets for a trip from Toronto to Montreal <http://www.hedney.com>. Most of Brian's route follows the Waterfront Trail.
At the eastern edge of Oshawa, I passed GM's Canadian Corporate Headquarters. Isn't the new truck made in Lansing, not Oshawa?
There were some gorgeous views of Lake Ontario from the Waterfront Trail. The route today was about 90% rural and traffic free.
I got lost at Port Darlington. A crushed gravel section of the trail ended at a tee-intersection, with no signage specifying which way to go. Brian's directions failed me too. I didn't have a local map, so had to stap in the dark for another route. I headed right/south until I reached an impassible hazard, a waterway with no bridge. I then headed about a mile back to where I had erred and then headed another mile north toward "The 401," and old route 2, but I turned back from that choice too when it veered west. Heading south along the eastern side of the waterway, I connected with a pleasant waterfront road that ran along the Lake.
In Newcastle and all along today's route were several examples of first class historical home restoration. I liked this simple farm house.
The heat wore me out like never before. I was exhausted, dehydrated and suffering from asthma symptoms. There were times when I doubted I could make it to Port Hope, but I didn't see any earlier lodging, camping or food choices, so struggled along.
In one of my worst days ever, I managed only 45 miles in 6 hours.
I checked into a motel, mainly so that I could take a shower. At dinner, I drank about 84 ounces of water. I'm starting to feel better.
Tomorrow is expected to be hotter and more humid, with a heat index above 100 F. I may purposefully shorten my progress out of concern for my health.
Next post - when I get to a phone line.
I got out of Oshawa at 2:00. It was HOT. I don't have a thermometer with me, but I'm sure it was 90+ F. I had some Propel, sports drink from Gator Ade and I filled up a water bottle at the Oshawa VIA Rail station. In downtown Oshawa, I bought a bottle of cold water. I bought Gatorade and got more water along the way. I tried to stay hydrated, but that's a tough bill to fill when it is that hot.
I decided to follow Brian Hedney's excellent Web-based cue sheets for a trip from Toronto to Montreal <http://www.hedney.com>. Most of Brian's route follows the Waterfront Trail.
At the eastern edge of Oshawa, I passed GM's Canadian Corporate Headquarters. Isn't the new truck made in Lansing, not Oshawa?
There were some gorgeous views of Lake Ontario from the Waterfront Trail. The route today was about 90% rural and traffic free.
I got lost at Port Darlington. A crushed gravel section of the trail ended at a tee-intersection, with no signage specifying which way to go. Brian's directions failed me too. I didn't have a local map, so had to stap in the dark for another route. I headed right/south until I reached an impassible hazard, a waterway with no bridge. I then headed about a mile back to where I had erred and then headed another mile north toward "The 401," and old route 2, but I turned back from that choice too when it veered west. Heading south along the eastern side of the waterway, I connected with a pleasant waterfront road that ran along the Lake.
In Newcastle and all along today's route were several examples of first class historical home restoration. I liked this simple farm house.
The heat wore me out like never before. I was exhausted, dehydrated and suffering from asthma symptoms. There were times when I doubted I could make it to Port Hope, but I didn't see any earlier lodging, camping or food choices, so struggled along.
In one of my worst days ever, I managed only 45 miles in 6 hours.
I checked into a motel, mainly so that I could take a shower. At dinner, I drank about 84 ounces of water. I'm starting to feel better.
Tomorrow is expected to be hotter and more humid, with a heat index above 100 F. I may purposefully shorten my progress out of concern for my health.
Posted at 07:23 AM Read More
Mon - June 23, 2003
Toronto to Montreal 2003
"You only have so many summers in your entire life.
Make the most of this one!"
Alan Doyle, Great Big Sea – Toronto
Alan Doyle, Great Big Sea – Toronto
Having no desire to repeat the ride through
Michigan, where I was constantly honked at and "flipped-off," or through the
Toronto urban area, where I stopped for more than 200 red traffic lights, I
decided to start off this year from Oshawa, an eastern suburb of Toronto, where
I'll park my car at the VIA Rail train station. From there, I plan to bicycle to
Montreal. It's about 600 Km or about 400 miles and moderately hilly, so it
should take me 7-10 days. I'll return to Oshawa by train, retrieve my car and
drive home. One train daily has a baggage car, so I can take the bike with me
for only $15. It's quite a
bargain.
Right now, I'm enjoying myself in Toronto. I attended a fantastic celtic rock concert. There were upwards of 10,000 fans at the Molson Amphitheater to see "Great Big Sea," a Newfoundland band that uses traditional Irish instruments like acoustic guitars, a penny whistle, a violin and even an accordion to make rock music. . Everybody was jumping to Irish music. Cool!
It is hard to imagine so much life as I experienced at the Great Big Sea concert. Not even the Beatles ever so energized their audience. It was jumping music. Absolutely every person there was jumping and waving their arms to the beat. It was the first day of Summer chronologically and emotionally.
Fear of SARS had clearly subsided. Celtic rock and sunny weather had wiped away any concerns about anything. Life is great!
My plan is to drive tomorrow to Oshawa and ride to Port Hope or Cobourg. It is expected to reach around 90° F tomorrow, so I'm a bit apprehensive.
Now lets see how well I do at posting my first Blog to the Web.
Ed
Right now, I'm enjoying myself in Toronto. I attended a fantastic celtic rock concert. There were upwards of 10,000 fans at the Molson Amphitheater to see "Great Big Sea," a Newfoundland band that uses traditional Irish instruments like acoustic guitars, a penny whistle, a violin and even an accordion to make rock music. . Everybody was jumping to Irish music. Cool!
It is hard to imagine so much life as I experienced at the Great Big Sea concert. Not even the Beatles ever so energized their audience. It was jumping music. Absolutely every person there was jumping and waving their arms to the beat. It was the first day of Summer chronologically and emotionally.
Fear of SARS had clearly subsided. Celtic rock and sunny weather had wiped away any concerns about anything. Life is great!
My plan is to drive tomorrow to Oshawa and ride to Port Hope or Cobourg. It is expected to reach around 90° F tomorrow, so I'm a bit apprehensive.
Now lets see how well I do at posting my first Blog to the Web.
Ed
Posted at 05:08 PM Read More
Sun - June 22, 2003
Introduction – 2002
Williamston, Michigan USA to Picton,
Ontario,
Canada
At the end of May, 2002, I set out to ride my Trek R200 recumbent bicycle solo and self-contained from Williamston, Michigan to Ottawa, Ontario to attend my daughter's masters degree convocation at Carleton University.
Emergency Call
Eight days and five hundred ten miles from home, I was whistling a happy tune on my bicycle when my cell phone rang. Pulling off the road into a nearby farm drive, I received a message to call my wife at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. Connected to her in the Emergency Room, she explained tearfully that her mother had just passed away unexpectedly from a massive heart attack. I told my wife that I would come right home and called my daughter to tell her that her Grandmother had died.
Even though I was having one of the most enjoyable rides of my life, I had to abandon my solo bicycle tour and head home as soon as possible to console and assist my wife in dealing with her mother's death.
I was in Prince Edward County, Ontario, along Lake Ontario, a day’s ride away from Kingston and three days from Ottawa, my destination. Riding on the Loyalist Parkway toward Picton, I had no idea how to get home from there.
Not knowing whether I was closest to Trenton, the town behind me, Picton, the town ahead, or some other town, and not even knowing where I was on the map of the rural county, I pedaled ahead a couple of miles to the nearest marked intersection. Signs at the intersection showed that it was about twenty kilometers – an hour by bicycle – to any of three towns: Trenton, Picton and Belleville. But, I had no idea which of the three would best offer me a way of getting home.
Standing astride my bicycle looking at a map, I saw a van pull into the parking area of a closed bakery across the intersection. Needing help, I approached the couple who had stopped to walk their dog. After meeting Dave and Fran, tears welled up as I told them that my mother-in-law had passed away and that I had no idea how to get home from where I was. Dave and Fran promptly suggested that I put my bicycle in their van, that they would drive me to their house, where they would contact VIA Rail Canada about the next train from Belleville.
We removed my panniers and loaded them and my bicycle into the back of the Dave and Fran's brand-new mini-van. A drive of about fifteen minutes got us to their house, where Dave called VIA Rail and I made arrangements to depart to Toronto on an 8:00 train and from Toronto to East Lansing on a 6:30 train the following morning.
Fran handed me a towel and suggested that I take a shower while she made dinner. After I changed into my street clothes, we discussed how to handle my bicycle. They agreed to store the bike and panniers until I could retrieve them, presumably the following week when I would be driving to Ottawa to attend my daughter’s masters degree convocation. I repacked my essentials into one pannier that I would take with me on the train, then stowed all my remaining gear with my bicycle in the front hallway. After an enjoyable dinner, followed by some scotch to settle my nerves, the Dave and Fran drove me to the train station in Belleville.
I made it to Toronto and checked into the Royal York Hotel, directly above the main railroad station, at around 11:00. At 6:30 am, I departed on "The International" to East Lansing, arriving home that afternoon.
The following week, after funeral arrangements were complete, and we were on our way to Ottawa for the graduation ceremony, my wife, daughter and I drove to Picton and retrieved my bicycle and gear from the Larkins. No mere gift could properly reward the Dave and Fran for their generosity, but in appreciation, I did give Dave a bottle of aged single malt scotch.
Posted at 07:02 PM Read More
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Published On: Oct 02, 2003 05:49 PM
Published On: Oct 02, 2003 05:49 PM