Bayshore and back

Finally got to Bayshore and back. Started near my home, ended at a Vietnamese restaurant, where I had my dinner. Total of 4 hours, with generally warm weather. If my bike is in better shape, I could have done it in less time. For now, I'm not trying to go faster, just longer.

Bayshore and back at EveryTrail

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my place to Bayshore

With properly inflated tires, 30 km seem not too hard.  It's still a bit cold today for cycling, as the wind and very light rain makes biking less enjoyable.

trip to bayshore at EveryTrail

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Longest ride so far, along Rideau river

Hopefully I will start posting longer rides soon, with photos, after I buy a new Point & shoot camera and get the bike in better shape.

afternoon ride at EveryTrail

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WestMount walk after AQPMC

Was in Quebec City for a day, (actually 20 hours, to be exact) never had a chance to explore the city, as I was stuck inside listening to talk in French. Here's a walk in my old neighbourhood the following day.

WestMount walk at EveryTrail

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downtown cycling, return trip

Tried cycling on the bike paths this Sunday. Paved trails are bare now, but dirt trails are still covered by snow, likely due to their tree cover. A bit windy for a pleasant ride, but saw quite a few cyclists on the trail. My bike's in really bad shape, thanks to my insistance of dragging it through the snow during the past winter. I guess bike parts don't mix well with salted snow. Need to buy some bike lube soon to quiet the bike a bit.

returning from downtown at EveryTrail

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downtown cycling

going towards downtown at EveryTrail

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GPS tracking again.

Spring is almost here.  Almost, I have to emphasize.  The cycling trails of ottawa were still covered by snow, forcing me to go on the expressway.  Not the most pleasant experience, as traffic is light but fast, and the shoulders are not as well maintained as the trails.

cycling attempt at mid march in ottawa at EveryTrail

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gps logger testing

Winter walk to walk.  

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Illution of warning up? Jan 21

The days are definitely getting longer compared to New Years time, and the deep freeze is taking a break for now. I walked home yesterday, and the temperature is fairly pleasant. Too bad the battery of my GPS logger didn't seem to like it. Well, better luck next time.

Back in Ottawa

Sometimes, I really question the phrase "best place on earth" people in Vancouver keep chanting. This Christmas was a white Christmas in Vancouver, and life is pure hell. Nobody seemed to know how to shovel snow, and all minor streets stayed covered for weeks after the snow. Most sidewalks stay ice-covered a week after snow, as half-thawed snow froze overnight when temperature dipped below zero. Back to Ottawa, sidewalks and streets seem to be clear, and life just seem to go on as usual, despite however many centimeters of snow that have fallen. Oh, did I mention that the bus strike is still on? It's mightly inconvenient, as I can't bike to many places in the snow. I did bike to work today, however. Due to the lack of exercise an excessive food I ate during the holiday, I find myself out of breath after a short bike ride in fairly warm weather (by Ottawa standards).

Overall, I seem to like Ottawa more than Vancouver for now. But it could just be the rare snow, or the fact that I was staying in a moldy basement room in Vancouver, and a clean and big upstairs bedroom in Ottawa. But I'm definitely warming up to the idea of living in central Canada rather than the Wet Coast. Of course, if housing gets cheaper in Vancouver, this might change.