Let's Make Some Art, Dammit

August 31, 2021. Yes, it's cat picture time again. This is Emma on the shelf behind my chair in the dining room. It was a pretty quiet work day; I filled out time sheets, attended an online conference, created a newsletter and met with colleagues from other government departments on using AI in learning in the public service. https://flic.kr/p/2mktjaG

August 30, 2021. Got out for a quick bike ride after work and ran across this incident on Rue Principale involving a damaged police car, a completely wrecked car, and potentially damaged bicycles and train tracks. No idea what happened, but I sent the photo to the newspaper, so maybe there will be more. Meanwhile, it was back to work today as I cleared out my email backlog and responded to edits on a paper. Newsletter resumes tomorrow. Feeling good about working again. Want to get stuff done. https://flic.kr/p/2mkioio

August 29, 2021. With my brother Bill and Shirley in town, we gathered for a get-together at Mum and Bernie's place. My brother Gord was also there with Shelli, along with Bill and Shirley's three children and Debbie, Bernie's daughter. It was really informal, we had a nice time, and were surprisingly organized enough for this photo. I took many of the shots but had a lot of help from Liam and Lorelei. Here's the full set. https://flic.kr/p/2mk57uk

August 28, 2021. After 666 days, the RedBlacks are back and were were there in our new (and first-time) season tickets seats. The game wasn't the best, but it was still fun. We tried the new 'Very Vegan Tacos', which were a complete fail (the problem wasn't the 'meat', it was the taco shell, which was bland and flimsy). It's hard to cheer with masks; gotta get a cowbell. https://flic.kr/p/2mjWLqZ

August 27, 2021. This is the fan on the ceiling of my bedroom. We don't really need a fan, since the house is air conditioned, but nonetheless, it is there. Today was an indoor day, which felt weird, but allowed my various bites, cuts and bruises to heal a bit. I got my bikepacking photos uploaded. Busy day tomorrow, then another day of rest, then back to work. https://flic.kr/p/2mjKWfg

August 26, 2021. This is the Via Rail trail pulling into the Belleville station. I have good things to say about Via today. The plan was to take the train to Kingston, pick up the car, return to Belleville to pick up the bike, then drive home. Except I left my car keys in the bike at the station in Belleville. Via staff retrieved the keys and sent them on the next train to me, resulting in only a two hour delay (and zero cost). Thanks Via! https://flic.kr/p/2mjyp2r

August 25, 2021. View along the trail from Moira Lake to Belleville. I cycled most of it today, 44 km, missing only the top couple of kilometres toward Madoc. It was good to start but got rougher the further south I went. But it has its good spots, like this. That's the end of my bikepacking adventure for now, but the open trail never stops calling... https://flic.kr/p/2mjm2sg

August 24, 2021. In the distance you can see a number of large white birds (geese? swans?) enjoying the lake and honking up a storm back and forth with some other unseen flock. The trail was rough again today, not as bad as yesterday but still a challenge. But it was also one of the most scenic segments of the entire ride. I did a hard-won 38 kilometers from Marmara to a HipCamp-listed campsite near Tweed. https://flic.kr/p/2mjga1D

August 23, 2021. This is the view of Callaghan's Rapids Conservation Area from the trail. It was just a slight detour on today's 50 km ride to Marmora. The river here flows over a large flat rock surface, so it's shallow enough to wade easily. In one place boaters stopped near an island and set up chairs in the water. The trail, meanwhile, was rough all day, with a lot of ATV damage. It's good preparation for a planned future ride but for today is tough and slow. More heat-warning heat, but still a bit cooler than it has been. https://flic.kr/p/2miZdJP

August 22, 2021. Here I am with my bike on the suspension bridge over Ranney Gorge over the Trent River in Campbellford. Today I 'took a zero', meaning that I didn't cover any kilometers. But I still did some shopping and explored the town a bit. Tomorrow, it's back on the trail for the last three days of my ride. https://flic.kr/p/2miHe7f

August 21, 2021. This is the farmers market at Campbellford, where I had a blueberry pie and blackberry refresher. Today was a very short cycling day - 12 km - as I went from the park to the motel to recharge both batteries and myself. I actually treated myself to a couple IPAs at a local pub in the evening. https://flic.kr/p/2miC7Lt

August 21, 2021. This is the scene at sunset from on top of a drumlin, a large hill created by glaciation. The sun was a brilliant ruby red (the picture doesn't do it justice) because of the smoke in the air from the many forest fires. Today was another heat-warning day and my ride was a shorter 50km - but it was basically all uphill as I started at the lake, clumped the escarpment, and then, finally, this infernal hill. Lovely to be here though. https://flic.kr/p/2mimDgt

August 19, 2021. This is a scene from somewhere in the middle of Prince Edward County, which is almost a large island in Lake Ontario. Around the edges it can be pretty touristy (though in places that's not the case). In the interior is is very rural. Today was a 75 km ride from one end to the other in oppressive heat, one of the toughest rides I've had. https://flic.kr/p/2mijHRd

August 18, 2021. This is the Bay of Quinte, a long narrow inlet that separates Prince Edward County from the mainland. I cycled here - about 60 km - along the Cataraqui Trail and then through Napanee and over the very large bridge. I had a rough night last night as the itching from dozens of mosquito bites took hold. That's what I get for skipping the repellant. https://flic.kr/p/2mhWfuq

August 17, 2021. This is Camden Lake, a provincial wildlife park, where I spent the night. I began the day by driving to Kingston, getting my bike set up (kudos to Frontinac Cycle for their help), then biking about 50 km back to the Cataraqui Trail and thence up to the lake. And just like that, I'm back to bikepacking again. It's hard not to be happy after a day like that. https://flic.kr/p/2mhU8Pj

August 16, 2021. This is a sign I put up today. I saved a bunch of signs from the last election and so got them out today for the new election. I didn't think we needed this election now, but I do love elections. We also went to the city for shopping and I got prepared for bikepacking part 2, with departure planned for early tomorrow. I'll be picking up in Kingston where I left off. https://flic.kr/p/2mhu9J9

August 15, 2021. The missing cable has been found! It was located at my Day 2 campsite. Today we drove out to the site and picked it up. So now I'm preparing to get back out on the trail, picking up where I left off, but with a less ambitious route. So I'm planning to head back out Tuesday morning. As you can see, the cable has a unique rectangular interface and I have no idea why the makers of ResMed would use such a non-standard design. https://flic.kr/p/2mhnfxd

August 14, 2021. This is a view of Upper Rideau Lake from westport, a small community on the road between Kingston and Ottawa. We spent a full day driving to Kingston and back to retrieve my bicycle, because Via Rail hates bicycles, and stopped at Westport for ice cream.. https://flic.kr/p/2mhgvuu

August 13, 2021. The view from my train window felt like the antithesis of my previous week. It basically took all day to travel from Kingston back to Casselman by train. Kingston isn't that far from Ottawa, but viewed differently, it's quite far. https://flic.kr/p/2mh6gYr

August 12, 2021. This spot, about 15 km out of Kingston, is where I sat down for half an hour and had a videoconference with a colleague in England. It was my last day on the trail for now, with the ride ending after 40 km at a hotel near the train station. I had water, a pizza, watched a ball game, and basically just enjoyed what has been a fantastic experience. Now to recover from the bugbites and the bruises... https://flic.kr/p/2mgTVWb

August 10, 2021. My camp site was supposed to be beside a beaver pond. I found the Beavers, but the camp was itself inaccessible. So I found a spot by the trail across from the pond and the Beavers and I spent a pleasant evening together, joined later by ducks and loons. https://flic.kr/p/2mgPnWY

August 10, 2012. This was the scene from my motel room in Newboro. But my trip is being cut short... I lost the recharging cable for my CPAP battery. So I'll take a couple days getting into Kingston and then take the train home. Heat was brutal again today, even though I cycled only 25 km. Tomorrow I have about 30 km planned. https://flic.kr/p/2mgvkfh

August 9, 2021. After a 70 km slog on 30 degree heat I arrived exhausted late afternoon. The park itself is a gem, the campsites large and spread out. I had The. Best. Shower. Ever. Lots of bugbites. I won't lie: this is hard. https://flic.kr/p/2mgfVHr

August 8, 2021. This was the view as I ate supper for today, purchased at the Kemptville farmer's market, which I found by accident after making a detour to get a new sleeping pad. As a result, today was a 71 km day (on a fully loaded gravel bike). Rain and thunder last night. https://flic.kr/p/2mg4jTD

August 8, 2021. This is my supper for today, purchased at the Kemptville farmer's market, which I found by accident after making a detour to get a new sleeping pad. As a result, today was a 71 km day (on a fully loaded gravel bike). Rain and thunder last night. https://flic.kr/p/2mg9jzi

August 7, 2021. I left today on my bike packing challenge. This is my bike fully loaded 10km in (1 percent complete!). I'm at a campground near Manotick, forgot a few things, but am otherwise off to a good start https://flic.kr/p/2mfUxEf

August 4, 2021. I have a long bikepacking trip planned and the AirMini is an essential part of the planning, as I need a CPAP at night. So a few weeks ago I ordered an AirMini and a couple of batteries. This morning it still hadn't arrived and looked like it wasn't going to, and after some desperate calling to other stores it appeared as though there were none to be had anywhere. Just one battery. So, OK, I'll take the battery and use it with my large bedside CPAP, I said. I quickly ordered a large battery backup unit from Amazon, then drove into the store. Not the best for bikepacking (the CPAP is the size of a large shoebox). We tested the battery with bedside unit, it all went well. Then - as I'm prparing to pay! - the delivery comes into the shop, and there it is, the AirMini (and hose). So I was able to get the set. I'm still short a battery so I'm postponing my departure until Saturday, after my battery backup unit arrives. Still, I've never had such ...

August 3, 2021. Costco day today. The large new @Costco on Olgilvie Road has 750 parking spots but nowhere near that number of spaces for shopping carts. Combine that with understaffing and you get random traffic barriers making parking lot navigation, well, a challenge. https://flic.kr/p/2mftFnp

August 2, 2021. This McIntosh apple tree might not be the very first one, but it's a direct descendant, being only a few feet from where the original McIntosh apple tree stood in Dundela, Ontario. The apple will be bright red and green by the fall. I stopped here on a leisurely 65 km ride through a number of towns and villages all new to me south and west of Chesterville. I hoped for some apple juice, but surprisingly, they didn't have any, so I had a couple of delicious pumpkin tarts instead. https://flic.kr/p/2mfiCpH

August 1, 2021. We went for an 8 km hike in the South March Highlands forest today. It's pretty rocky with a lot of up and down on the trail but it's also wet and swampy in places, and after the rain there were puddles and fungi galore. But it was also one of the most interesting trails we've hiked in the region; it's mostly used by mountain bikes, and while it seems pretty easy near Second Line Road (where it starts) it gets a lot more technical the deeper you go in. We went pretty far in, to Bonk Point, definitely a recommended hike. https://flic.kr/p/2mfngtp

July 31, 2021. This is one last look from Mont Tremblant, where we had a very pleasant stay even if there was no Blues Fest. Today I did nothing but relax and edit some photos (of which this is one) and create OLDaily posts & catch up on email. https://flic.kr/p/2mf8fp2