Almonte 114km
There is such a thing as hill karma. It’s just an immutable fact. If you’re coming back to where you started, every metre of ascent will be returned unto you in equal part. But with wind, there is only the Murphy’s law codicil: “always against you.” Even if you’re just doing an out-and-back. Winds shift.
Kemptville, 113km
At 25C and irrepressibly sunny, today was truly summer-like. I drained 2.25 litres of water on this out-and-back trip punctuated by a delicious if excessive for biking lunch at my father in-law’s. There’s a fine line between burping and barfing. At least I didn’t have beer with lunch.
Champlain, 56km
What a glorious evening for a bike ride. Temperature in the mid 20s, sunny. Gentle wind. There were gajillions of cyclists out on the Gatineau Parkway (it opens to cars this weekend I think), taking advantage of the relatively clear road and warm weather. There was still a arborist crew clearing deadfall and there were a few spots on the road with tree debris but nothing dangerous.
Treasury Board takes Crown corporations from arm’s length to short and curly length
To hear Pierre Poilievre howl about the Conservative government’s plans to put a Treasury Board negotiator at the bargaining table of Canada’s Crown corporations you’d think that the places were run by the Soviet Workers’ Councils of Leon Trotsky’s dreams.
Dalmeny – 101km
Perfect day for a bike ride. Sunny, cloudless, a wind that seemed mostly to chase me everywhere I went. This is not a bad route. I had planned to come back along Leitrim Road to the Airport, but for some reason, the GPS decided I should take Russell back instead. Oh well. I’m having problems with Garmin Connect, so I’m posting the deets via mapmyride.com.
Merit Canada wants to keep unions out of politics even as they play politics themselves
The nerve. Chapter one: Terrance Oakey, the spokesmuppet for Merit Contractors Association, a lobby group that wants, among other things, laws passed to require unions to cough up private information on any expense over $5000 to Revenue Canada, legal restrictions on what sorts of issues unions can comment or act on, writes an item in Huffington Post saying that unions should not be allowed to engage in politics. Only collective bargaining.
Stittsville, 82km
Unseasonably cold, but sunny. Discovered Corktown Road, which runs east-west between Carling at Andrew Haydon Park and March Road. Traffic free. Scenic. Use it to link up with the Ottawa River Parkway and then Old Carp Road to get yourself out to Kanata practically car free.
After Cavedale Road I will fear no hill
Wow. That was totally exhilarating. And humiliating. I rented a wonderful carbon framed bike with Shimano DI2 gropo from Wine Country Cyclery.
My mom (guest post by Irene Jansen)
My mother, Wilhelmina Jansen, passed away April 4. I wanted to write this personal note about what my mother gave me.
Wilhelmina Jansen, 1924 – 2013
Wilhelmina Jansen, my partner Irene Jansen’s mother passed away today after a short illness. She was 88.
Metcalfe – 95km
Since I’m so much later starting than last year, I figured I’d skip some of the normal, 40km or 60km startup rides. Why not hey? After all, I did more cross country skiing this winter than last so that should prepare me, right? Um… not exactly.
Hockey, curling good. Cycling bad: Tory yo-yo tariffs
Not that this would change my voting preferences. The Tories lost me at Robert Stanfield. But it bothers me deeply that the latest federal budget lowers tariffs on hockey equipment and curling rocks but raises it on bicycles and a thousand other items.
