It's Monday now and I am a bit behind on this blog. One of the experiments I wanted to try was to see if I can update my blogs nightly while I'm on my multi-day bike trips. I have quickly found out that I can NoT. Unfortunately, after a long day on the bike, you just want to sit down, rest and relax once you are at your campsite or your place of stay for the night. Blogging really becomes a 'chore' at this time and you just want to wind down before going to sleep. I don't know how other touring cyclists do it day in day out. Kudos to them, they must type really fast and have already been blogging during the day but for me, I can't maintain that kind discipline. So what we have here is a blog that is done when I have time and patience to do it.
Continuing from my EPIC day on Saturday, I had just finished visiting Rider's Cycles and headed back into the Lochside trail and onto the Galloping Goose trail. There were so many cyclists of all sorts out that day that it was a great sight to see. I can only compare it to Vancouver and it's Seawall with that many cyclists using the pathways. It just goes to show that the saying 'if you build it, they will come' works when regarding separated bike lanes and greenways. One thing that I noticed with the cyclists in Victoria, is that there are a LOT of 'roadies', cyclists who ride road 'race' bikes and wear road racing lycra and gear. I am not sure if this is something fairly new to the area but I can only assume that the resurgent of roadies can be attributed to the recent success of Victoria's very own Ryder Hesjedal who won this year's Giro d'Italia, a feat never before accomplished by a Canadian. Good Luck to Ryder in this year's Summer Olympics. We are all rooting for you!
Downtown Victoria - Oh what a beautiful city. I have been here once before, but I was very young and I don't remember much. I really think that WE as Canadian westcoasters are spoiled to have two of the most beautiful cities in the world. We often take it for granted as we live here but through a tourist's eyes, it gives a whole new look of the place you live in. And yes, I was such a big tourist this day. And I was so happy that I was on my bicycle so I didn't have to fight with car traffic, worry about finding parking, and being able to go from tourist attractions to tourist attractions quickly and efficiently. I did not envy those in cars and to an extent on foot as there were sooo many people out there.
So many people, so many tourists, I being one of them.
Soldiers Memorial Statue
British Columbia Parliament Buildings. And me and my bike and trailer of course.
Two other must-see places of interests for me are Mile 0 at Beacon Hill Park, and Clover Point Park where the southernmost tip of Victoria is located. Mile 0 is as the name suggests just that, the zeroth mile of the great Trans Canada Highway, the longest highway in the world. Mile 0 is often used as a starting point of touring cyclists or any type of traveler that plan to cross the country of Canada. So I wanted to see this for myself for that certain possibility in the future of (should I say it?) riding my bike across Canada. (GULP..)
Mile 0 of the great Trans Canada Highway. Maybe one day this will be a starting point of my trip. gulp.
The Southernmost point of Victoria. Look way way out as far as the eye can see, it's the US of A!
By around this time of the day I started thinking of my place to stay for the night. My original plan was to check out Beacon Hill Park as I have read that it is now free to set up camp in this park. Bonus! Free campground! However, after talking with other cyclists, they warn me that the park isn't very safe and that it is full of transients and drug addicts at night. So there go that idea, I certainly didn't want any problems at night. My choice was to head back north and Google any campsites in the surrounding areas. As I thought this through, I realize that there was still so much daylight left that I can easily make the 5 or 6 o'clock ferry and that I would camp over at Tsawwassen again for the night. Brilliant idea! I already have a free place in Tsawwassen and this way I won't have to pay for campground and I'll just use that money for the ferry ride! Perfect plan, so off I go towards the ferry terminal. I didn't rush going to the ferry as there are sailings every hour until 9pm. I get to the terminal shortly after 5pm, it will not be until 6pm for the next sailing. But to my surprise, the 5pm ferry was still docked. The ticket lady suggested that I book it down to the ferry and see if I can still make it, sure enough I made it just in time before they closed off the docking bays. Woohoo!
A peaceful ride back to the ferry
I felt so special to be the first one in line to get off the ferry
Thank You City of Victoria for one of the best bike rides I've ever had! I will certainly be back and explore some more of your surrounding areas.
Time on the saddle: 10 hours +/-
Distance traveled: 100 kms +/-
Well hello there. Happy First few days of Summer!
I haven't posted here in a while. Did you miss me?
There has been so many things that have gone on since my last posting but the blog posts have become fewer and fewer. I guess with many things, blogging isn't as fun as it used to during my first year since I started chronicling my cycling adventures. Blogging takes time, it isn't like Twitter or Facebook updates, it requires thought and some kind of organizational skills to keep your readers interested., and frankly it gets pretty boring typing up about what you did on your last bike ride. However, I would like to keep trying to update this blog as it is the only way I can keep in touch with you... my readers... the millions of you out there. ;)
This blog entry is simply to update you with a summary on what has happened these 4 months since my last posting. Prepare to be bored...
So where do I start?... ok, my last posting was regarding my broken rib back in February. Well, I did take it easy as what the doctor recommended so there really hasn't been much to update you on during that time. I did, however, take a long bike ride to Barnston Island in which you had to take a ferry across Fraser River to get to the island.
'Wait Here for Ferry' .. so I waited.
Overlooking the Golden Ears' Bridge
March
March is the one year anniversary of this blog. I started chronicling my cycling ventures and anything really that had to do with bikes at this time one year ago. I'm actually quite surprised that I was able to keep it up for one year and beyond. I initially thought I wouldn't last a month.
If you have followed my blog from the beginning, you will remember that my very first blog entry was about the Vancouver Bike Show 2011. A year later I am back at the Vancouver Bike Show 2012. I will say that this was my highlight for March as not only was I able to attend this year's Bike Show, but I was actually able to participate behind the scenes spending my whole time behind the booth with Mayacycle. If you remember from my last year's blog post, I had written about the Mayacycle bicycle trailer in which I had purchased one several months later. Since then I had become good friends with Marta, who is Miss Mayacycle herself, and this year I was lucky enough that she let me join her in her booth at the 2 day event. I had such a great time talking to people about the trailer, their cycling stories and just chit-chatting generally about bikes, and especially bike touring. I was definitely inspired by their stories.
Setting up before the crowds arrived.
One of my bikes feeling right at home.
Talking with all sorts of cyclists and sharing experiences.
You can read more about Mayacycle's time at the 2012 Vancouver Bike Show in Marta's blog here http://www.mayacycle.com/vancouver-bike-show-2012 . Yes, I know, there isn't a single mention of me on her blog but I swear I was there! :) Thanks again Marta! Vancouver misses you!
The rest of March and into most of April was quite a difficult and challenging time for me as I had lost a very dear friend which had affected me greatly. No amount of cycling made me feel better. Time was the only thing that would get me through the depression. Luckily I had a good friend that helped me along the way to get over the sadness.
April
April found me adding two more bikes in my stable. Although I am a little embarrassed to admit how many bikes I now have, I have to say that each and every one of them serve a purpose and I do ride and love all of them. Each are all special in their own way.
The first is a vintage 80's Norco Sasquatch mountain bike that I had converted into a modern day touring bike or randonneur bike. It has turned into one of the prettiest bikes I have. This was somewhat of a Craigslist rescue as I purchased a what somewhat looked to be a rusted out frame for $15 and it was to be stripped down and resprayed. However, when I cleaned it up, the original paint showed through and looked to be in great shape. I have left it all original and is now a great restored bicycle.
The second bike is... get this.. are you ready?... A Tallbike! Yes, I finally built myself a tallbike as I had said long ago and talked about on previous blogs. I had been waiting on acquiring free bicycle frames as I had promised myself that if I was to build a tallbike, that it would have to be completely and 100% free! I finally acquired the required frames and materials during this time and the tallbike build immediately commenced. Thanks to a few friends for the frame and parts donations and of course the welding equipment and help.
May was filled with many epic bike rides as the weather started getting better and daylight started getting longer. One memorable bike ride was through my old neighbourhood where I had spent my childhood and teen years. Visiting my old house, my highschool and elementary schools brought back so many memories that it became a very nostalgic bike ride. Driving through these neighbourhoods in a car just does not have the same effect as riding through them with your bike. Riding the bike brings you back to that place as a kid without a care in the world, riding bikes, skateboarding and raising hell through your neighbourhood. These are the types of rides I live for, bike rides that create an emotional impact.
My old house in East Van
My old highschool that has been torn down to rubble to be replaced with a new building.
My elementary school back in the hood!
Another memorable bike ride was to the Westminster Abbey Monastery in Mission BC which is about 70km from Vancouver. It was truly a magnificent place, very spritual and tranquil. Riding to new and beautiful places such as these make riding up even the steepest hills all worth it for the reward that awaits at the top.
Nearing the end of May, I tried to circumnavigate the city of Vancouver. It was my first attempt at doing this so I did not know what to expect and I did not know the total distance or how long it would take. Unfortunately, I started my ride a little late in the day so I ended up running out of daylight to accomplish this, so I had to turn back just so I can make it home before dark.
My attempt at circumnavigating the city of Vancouver
72Kms was the total distance accomplished. Next time I will start earlier in the day so that I'll have a better chance of completing this ride. Go to this link -->My attempt at Circumnavigating Vancouver<-- to see my GPS tracking of my ride. This includes geo-tagged pictures of the sights along the way.
I also must add that I finally purchased a new tent for all the bike travels I have planned. It is a 2-man 3-season tent that I had purchased at a great sale price from Atmosphere. I'm hoping to start using this tent very soon and even though I have yet to use it, I already love it.
Mountain Hardwear Lightwedge 2
As good a month May was, it also did not end well. At the end of May, I had lost another family member which put the whole family in another heartbreaking time. It's times like these when everything is put into perspective and we come to realize what are really the important things in life. I have been in such an emotional roller coaster these past few months that sadly I may be becoming numb to it. Or maybe I'm just choosing to be numb.. I really don't know.
June
Well, it's June now and it is officially Summer! Unfortunately, it has been a very cold and wet June. Locals have been calling it 'June'uary as the weather really has felt like westcoast winter. This has definitely limited the amount of rides I've had but it has also made me more eager and look forward to every ride that I get a chance to go on. Velopalooza Vancouver is happening now as we speak and I'm hoping to participate in as many events as I can. I enjoyed it greatly last year.
This concludes my recap of these past few months. I hope you've not been bored to death while reading this, or if you've actually made it this far reading. These next few months coming up I am hoping to have been on some bike trips and overnight bike tours. I have a few already planned and hopefully nothing gets in the way. I will try and keep you updated with more stories and pictures. Until then, bye for now and happy trails.
