general rides

Given my upcoming ride to Ithaca and back, I wanted to get out on my bike and keep up my riding fitness. I decided a 4hour/100km afternoon ride would be good — and the weather obliged: i ended up doing 120km in 4hrs 45 minutes.
I rode up the Niagara escarpment via the short Cheridoke rail trail from Dundurn (Hamilton). From there I made it onto Highcrest Rd and followed it to it to its end. I then ended up on Mud Road/Fly road, which I followed all the way to Mountain road. Nearing 50km I decided to head down the mountain and turn back. I had made it to Lincoln.
The riding, especially the last half, was mice, being on low-traffic roads. The only off-putting aspects (understatement) was the smell of death trucks and the occasional 'broiler' hen farm.

With the Tobermory ride put back again, I had the time to ride out to Caledonia, see what was happening first hand, talk to people and indicate my support for Six Nations. It was my first rode-only ride of any distance of late — 30km each way. I decided to attach my fully loaded trailer to give it a good run over some distance and with the necessary direct climb up the Niagara escarpment it would give me a good indication of how I would travel with it.
For a road ride, it was not too bad. I had a small handful of cars come too close and a couple drivers feel that the 4 seconds of their day lost as a result of my presence was
something worth croaking about. I was very thankful for the trucks that gave me a nice and wide berth. As has seemed the norm of late, there was a head wind on the way out — and as often is the case it changed directions to be a headwind on the way back as well!

It might be official — I (think I am) a gear h0r! After picking up what I hope is the last of my gear four touring/distance trial riding the bill is something I do not want to think on at all. Today I added a new (summer) sleeping bag as my other was too warm, too heavy and too large to fit in my dry sack. I was set on picking up a rear rack and Arkel trail rider trunk bag, and I thought I was going to pick up a pair of Keen Newport H2 sandals to ride. Yesterday at MEC I saw decent clipless peddles for around $60 and it got me think that instead of the sandals peddles and shoe might be a good option for a only a little amount more.

Yesterday i rode to the city and back (approx. 175 km) with Gwen which was my biggest single day ride by far. he forecast was ominous and the night before was raining solidly.
The morning was dry and conditions seemed pretty nice - that is except for the predicted 24 knot headwind that did arrived as predicted. It made for slower and more energy draining riding. We stocked up on some essential gear at MEC, had a good feed and left the city a little late...