Back to Ottawa – Transit vs Car

In July, I took the train to Ottawa.  It was my first time on VIA Rail. I enjoyed it immensely. Michael and I drove to David and Dayle’s house to pick them up, then onto Rani’s.  Rani drove us downtown to Union Station and her brother, who lives downtown, drove  the car home for her.Continue reading “Back to Ottawa – Transit vs Car”

Back to Ottawa – December 1

We decided to take Trystan and Owen to Ottawa for a long weekend. Owen has never been before. Trystan visited on a Grade 7 school trip. Michael and I took Megan and Alun to Ottawa in August 2016. Before that we had not visited Ottawa together for 18 years, although we have each been hereContinue reading “Back to Ottawa – December 1”

#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Stats Summary

I thought it would be fun to summarize the riding days from Ottawa to Brampton. Also, here is the complete list of blogs for the trip: Prep Day – https://wp.me/p4TEzX-OE Travel Day – Train Travel Day to Ottawa – https://wp.me/p4TEzX-OK Ottawa Day 1 – Meeting and Tour Day – Ottawa – https://wp.me/p4TEzX-Pl Ottawa Day 2Continue reading “#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Stats Summary”

#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Ajax to Brampton – Final Day

I felt so much more energetic on our final day, after staying in for the evening, than I did on Day 5.  At our final evening briefing we decided to take the advice of our local experts, who provided such a great escort yesterday, and follow the Waterfront Trail to the Don Valley, for aContinue reading “#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Ajax to Brampton – Final Day”

#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Port Hope to Ajax With an Escort

I am a member of the Brampton Cycling Advisory Committee and was fortunate to be able to attend the 2016 Bike Summit as a representative of the committee.  While I was there I met Joe Arruda, a commuter cyclist promoting active transportation in Oshawa. Joe and I started following each other on twitter.  While weContinue reading “#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Port Hope to Ajax With an Escort”

#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Belleville to Port Hope – Headwinds

This blog post is late since Rani kept me up late talking and when I tried to upload pictures, I found that the internet at Summerville Bed and Breakfast in Port Hope was inadequate. I found the following day of riding grueling and discovered the Ajax Super 8 wifi was also inadequate, putting me twoContinue reading “#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Belleville to Port Hope – Headwinds”

#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Kingston to Belleville – A Day of Contrasts

The day dawned overcast with a light rain. We faced the disappointment of knowing that John would not be able to ride with us today, due to his damaged ankle, and the concern that he might not be able to ride again, during this trip.   It was our third long-distance ride day in a row.Continue reading “#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Kingston to Belleville – A Day of Contrasts”

#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Merrickville to Kingston

Today was probably the best day of cycling I have ever had. I think all the others on this trip agree. The day started with breakfast at 7 AM on the second floor of the 1840 Guest House in Merrickville. If you out of the French doors to the balcony showed a stiffly blowing flag indicatingContinue reading “#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Merrickville to Kingston”

#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Ottawa to Merrickville 

The day started with breakfast in John’s and Jim’s room, packing suitcases, getting suitcases into the trailer, bikes down to the parking lot from the rooms, ensuring nothing was left behind and checking out. The original plan was to head out of town at 8 o’clock, however, we decided , only with about 80 kmContinue reading “#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Ottawa to Merrickville “

#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Retail Therapy, Carbo Loading and Shenanigans

Once again, we started the day with an excellent breakfast provided by Jim. We ended up eating in his and John’s room on the 17th floor, but I did get a picture of the view from the common room where we ate breakfast yesterday and a picture of the room. Jim once again graciously sentContinue reading “#OttawaBramptonOdysseyCycle – Retail Therapy, Carbo Loading and Shenanigans”