Day 30

Input

• toast, banana chips and grapefruit juice
• 2 bottles water
• rice crackers, cheese and apple
• granola bar
• coffee
• salad, pasta and juice

Output

• Cecelia:10 miles

month to date:622 miles

Day 29, 235 (x-95)

Input

• fresh bread w/peanut butter, banana and grapefruit juice
• coffee
• 2 bottles water
• rice crackers and cheese
• granola bar, dried cranberries
  
• steak, baked potato, asparagus and juice
• pepsi ands cheesies
  

Output

• Bridget:17 miles
• Jill:21 miles

month to date:612 miles
goal achieved

Day 28

Input

• toast banana and grapefruit juice
• coffee
• 3 bottles water
• rice crackers and cheese
• granola bar
• banana chips, dried blueberries and juice
• salmon, salad and pepsi

Output

• Bridget:25 miles

month to date:574 miles
miles to goal:26 miles

Day 27

Input

• toast, banana and grapefruit juice
• coffee
• 3 bottles water
• rice crackers and cheese
• spaghetti and meatballs
• cheerios, dried cranberries and bananas

Output

• Bridget:22 miles
  

month to date:549 miles
miles to goal:51 miles

A Day of Learning

Sunday was to be my 2nd cross country race but with the weather I decided to skip it as I haven't done enough off road riding and didn't want to start with a race in the mud. What I don't need this close to the Ride is to break an arm or something.
I went over to Petries and spent 4 hours helping Farzum put together a $10,000 15.9 lb. carbon road bike. By 'help' I mean I put a temporary tire and tube on the front rim and held the bike occasionally while he worked his magic. He guided me through straitening a rim and re-tensioning the spokes on a customer's wheel. I tried to soak up as much as I could and look forward to more lessons and hopefully to actually helping around the shop a bit in the future. He wants me to try my hand at building a wheel for Eyowen some day when we both have the time.
Later in the day the sun struggled out of the clouds and Jill and I headed over to Mission Marsh. As I pulled into the parking lot I saw a friend who is a mechanic that has been off work tending to a shoulder injury and fighting Workmen's comp and the medical maze for 6 months. He was sitting there in his truck with his camera just to get out of the house for a bit and looked pretty down. I pulled up beside his jeep and thought he might need a good laugh so I forgot I was on Jill and clipped in, fell over onto the grass and then back into the ditch. Another lesson learned.

Day 26

Input

• toast, banana and grapefruit juice
• coffee
• 2 bottles water
• rice crackers and cheese
• meat loaf, mashed tater, corn and carrots
• cheerios, banana chips, dried blueberries and juice
• coffee

Output

• Cecelia:10 miles

month to date:527 miles
miles to goal:73 miles

Day 25

Input

• toast, banana and coffee
• rice crackers and cheese
• grapefruit juice
• pasta and meatballs
• 1 bottle water

Output

• Cecelia:2 miles
• Jill:15 miles

month to date:517 miles
miles to goal:83 miles

What Goes On In There?

Someone asked me, after hearing I spent 5 hours alone riding 60 miles, "Isn't it boring, all that time by yourself?" Well no, not really, I don't think so. I started to think about what I think about during long rides and it goes like this.
The first 30 minutes is normally when I am checking out the particular bike I'm with trying to make sure she hasn't woken up in a foul mood and wants nothing more than to get back to her warm and cozy spot in the basement. Is the seat the right height, are the tires going flat, why is the computer not computing, is that a squeak, what did I forget to bring...and so on. After a while the trust in our relationship emerges and it's on to the next set of questions.
Feels pretty cool, did I wear enough layers for this lovely 2 degree spring morning? Is that the damn wind picking up already? How does mother nature always manage to have the wind blowing 180 degrees from the direction I want to go? Did the meteorologists at the Weather Channel pick heads or tails today? After about an hour my thoughts move on from obsessing about the bike and the conditions and a tune will pop into my head.
When I work at the computer I often have music playing on iTunes. I have amassed a collection of almost 4000 songs or just over 11 days worth of tunes, thats 20+ gigs of files. And if I really want to go back I have some 300+ cds to try and locate around the house. Most often a tune that I heard the previous day will be the one that pops into my head, I only wish it was that easy to get out of there. With all the music I have you can surmise that I don't prefer to listen to the same thing over and over. Unfortunately I have a one track mind. One track...all day long. Not bad when you actually like the track and maybe know the words and can sing along. Not so great when the last track you heard was Pavarotti, as my Italian is not what it used to be and it used to be "bonjourno". Play the video to experience what lapped my noggin one day.
As the hours pass I start to think about some of the comforts of biking long distances, how my butt is not so comfortable at the moment, how my neck is far less than comfortable, how comfortable my quads were on the last climb, how I'm so comfortable I can't feel my fingertips anymore.. Ah but then you take a drink maybe stop for a few minutes and shake it off. And then Jill will give me that look that says, lets go...fast. And off we go again, refreshed and for a little while, more comfortable.
Mostly I think about where I'm going and how far it is to the next turn. When I'm on a new route I'm constantly trying to calculate time and distance. Some places are just calming to ride through like River Road that winds down into Stanley. I really enjoyed the smooth pavement, the slight downhill grade and just taking in the scenery of the small farms along the Kam. All the while knowing that just across the river was the toughest climb of the day back up to the highway. Even the climbs while challenging are rewarding in the end, for every climb there's usually a descent that follows. These parts are what take my mind off of just about everything and make it all worth it, you just can't feel like a part of the world around you in a car. With the wind in my face and the road rolling under the tires, I think I'm happy.

Day 24

Input

• omelette, hash browns, toast and coffee
• banana, apple, banana chips
• 1 bottle water
• tandori salmon salad and 2 beer
  

Output

• Jill:26 miles

month to date:502 miles
miles to goal:98 miles

Day 23

Input

• toast, banana and grapefruit juice
• 3 bottles water
• rice crackers and cheese
• coffee
• banana chips, cheese and triscuits
• salmon, potatoes, corn and juice

Output

• Bridget:17 miles
• Molly:6 miles

month to date:476 miles
miles to goal:124 miles

Day 22, Weigh in 232 X-93

Input

• toast, banana and coffee
• coffee
• 1 bottle water
• rice crackers, cheese and juice
• sm. nachos, strawberries and juice
• steak, pasta and salad
  

Output

• Molly:18 miles

month to date:453 miles
miles to goal: 147 miles

Day 21

Input

• toast, banana and coffee
• 3 bottles water
• rice crackers and cheese
• chicken and wild rice soup, bread, cheese, nacho chips
• apple and crackers

Output

• Bridget:21 miles

month to date:435 miles
miles to goal:165 miles

Day 20

Input

• toast, banana and coffee
• 2 bottles water
• cheese, rice crackers and dried cranberries
• chicken and wild rice chowder, fresh bread
• coffee and blueberry/sour cherry pie

Output

• Bridget:10 miles

month to date:414 miles
miles to goal:186 miles

Day 19

Input

• 2 bottles water
• toast, banana and apple juice
• apple and banana
• cinnamon buns
• pork roast, mashed taters, corn carrots and juice
• coffee and blueberry/sour cherry pie

Output

• Jill:60 miles

month to date:404 miles
miles to goal:196 miles

We got to see the falls this time, as well as Stanley, the tournament centre, Moorillo and most of the rolling pastures around Thunder Bay along with the wonderful scents of spring.
Hitting the 60 mile mark puts one more worry out of my mind. A few tweaks and a tune up and Jill and I will be ready to go.

Day 18

Imput:

• banana
• omelet, pancakes and coffee
• grilled trout, salad, corn chowder, garlic toast, wild rice, beer and a coffee
  
• cheesies and pepsi

Output:

• 0 miles
• gonna pay for that on Monday
  

Celebrating Her 17th Birthday

As Ginko says she's 17...3 times. We spent the day in Grand Marais just having breakfast at the Blue Water, some browsing, walking the beach, watching the 'mericans search for Thomsonite at Cut Rock Creek and then supper at the Angry Trout.

1. take a picture of my birthday supper
2. comtemplating cheesecake
3. birthday message
4. birthday sculpture
5. the A'Trout

These shots are with her new camera.

Day 17

Input

• toast and coffee
• 2 bottles water
• dim sum and coffee
• dried cranberries, cheese and rice crackers
• nachos

Output

• Bridget:10 miles
• Molly:3 miles

month to date:344 miles
miles to goal: 256 miles

Day 16

Input

• toast, banana and coffee
• 3 bottles water
• rice crackers and cheese
• spaghetti
• Ike & Mikes with ginko
• chili and nachos
  
• dried cranberries

Output

• Bridget:10 miles

month to date: 331 miles
miles to goal: 269 miles

Day 15

Input

• bagel, banana, grapefruit juice and coffee
• 2 bottles water
• rice crackers and cheese
• apple
• banana
• steak, asparagus, potatoe and juice
• banana chips

Output

• Bridget:17 miles
• Jill:20 miles

month to date:321 miles
miles to goal:279 miles

Week 2 Weigh-In 232 (X-93)

Another week, 145 miles in the saddle and 1 more pound gone. Yesterday I think I could have riden to Toronto. After work I left my normal route home and went through Northwood and circled around the crescents and ended up coming east down Churchill, crossed Edward and deja vu came on strong as I passed through the old neighbourhood. I went home had a quick bite and then rode over to Charry to watch an inning or two, left and did another 5 miles before it started spitting and I headed for home.

Day 14

Input

• bagel, banana, grapefruit juice and coffee
• 2 bottles water
• coffee
• rice crackers and cheese
• apple
• nachos with cheese and salsa, juice
• banana chips
• coffee and strawberries
  

Output

• Bridget:26 miles

month to date:284 miles
miles to goal:316 miles

Day 13

Input

• bagel, banana and coffee
• 2 bottles water
• banana chips
• rice crackers and cheese
• soup, bread and cheese
• banana chips
• coffee
• cheerios, dried cranberries and pepper
  

Output

• Cecelia: 14 miles

month to date:258 miles
miles to goal:342 miles

Day 12

Input

• toast, grapefruit juice and coffee
• 3 bottles water
• cheese and bread
• salmon, potatoes, salad and juice
• banana chips
• coffee and cookies

Output

• Cecelia:1 mile
• Bridget:16 miles

month to date:244 miles
miles to goal:356 miles

Day 11

Input

• grapefruit juice
• chicken, potato salad, cole slaw, deviled eggs
• diet sprite, tort
• doritos and wine
• cheese and fresh bread

Output

• Jill:13 miles

month to date:227 miles
miles to goal:373 miles

Day 10

Input

• toast and coffee
• chicken, pasta, caeser salad, garlic toast and iced tea
• taco salad and wine
• coffee and cookies

Output

• Jill: 23 miles

month to date:214 miles
miles to goal:386 miles

Day 9

Input

• toast, apple and coffee
• rice crackers and cheese
• 2 bottles of water
• crackers and micro crustini
• chili, toast and juice
• cheerios and dried cranberries
  

Output

• Molly:5 miles
• Bridget:17 miles

month to date:191 miles
miles to goal:409 miles

I sure hope the streets of Toronto and the Golden Horseshoe are in better shape than those in Thunder Bay. There are sections of Memorial Ave. that are like a minefield that just hosted a square dance. I avoid Memorial with the girls mostly because of the traffic but it is horrible. Some of the side streets in the McKellar Ward are embarassing. Some one should buy city council a copy of the old 'Sim City' games, letting things deteriorate is not going to attract anyone to town.

Riding with Company

I approached Tom Petrie last weekend about whether anyone had ever run a group ride from the shop. They had done it years before but nothing lately. Most of the shops on the net have rides on a set night every week and since it gets a bit lonely riding solo every night I said I'd post something on the wall at the shop.
We went out last night, Tom and his wife Carolyn and I. Not much of a turn out but the ride was enjoyable. We ended up doing 15 miles and just having someone to talk to was a great change. The rides with the clubs are mostly competitive so it's tough to carry on a conversation.
Before we rode I was talking to Farzum and he over inflated a tire to about 120 psi and it blew the tube, sounded like a gunshot and the young apprentice said he wet himself.
Speaking of competition, my first mountain bike race with Black Sheep was far better than I had thought. I ended up 9th out of 15 in the Sport Class. Not bad for an old guy. I didn't see too many others even in the 40's so I felt pretty good when the results were posted. Last weekend I stayed with the lead group for 18 miles out in Stanley but it was more of a fun ride than a race. 34.5 mph downhill around a corner on gravel is so much fun, almost as much fun as 2 mph up a hill when Bridget couldn't find granny.

Day 8

Input

• toast, strawberries & coffee
• rice crackers & cheese
• 3 bottles of water
• crackers & cheese
• steak, pasta & juice
• coffee

Output

• Bridget: 11 miles
• Jill:19 miles

month to date:169 miles
miles to goal:431 miles

Anniversary of the Orange Guy

Tomorrow marks one year from the first ride I took last year on Cecelia. I was looking back and my comment about the 2 mile ride was simply 'wobbly legs'. I weighed in this morning and was happy to see progress after 7 days on the old plan, 233 or X-92. I wish I had gone back to blogging my daily intake earlier, I might have gotten down 100 pounds in a year.
Not that I have stopped worrying about things completely but I'm over the lack of confidence I was feeling earlier in the week. Cold feet? Maybe. Whatever it was I just won't let it get to me like it did. I guess I should have kept my feelings to myself until it passed, sorry about that.

Day 7

Input

• bagel, banana and coffee
• 2 bottles water
• rice crackers and cheese
• grapes, rice crackers and cheese
• salmon, baked potato, salad and lemonade
  

Output

• Cecelia:15 miles
• Jill: 19 miles

month to date:139 miles
miles to goal:461 miles

The day started out with a 3 mile ride in the pouring rain but by lunch the sun was out and I managed to catch up most of the miles I'm short for the week. My first weigh-in will be tomorrow morning and I'm hoping for some progress.

Day 6

Input

• bagel, banana and coffee
• 3 bottles water
• rice crackers and cheese
• salad and juice
• banana chips, dried cranberries and crackers
• coffee

Output

• Bridget: 8 miles
• Jill: 10 miles
• 1 set tv weights
  

month to date: 105
miles to goal:495

Waiting for My Second Wind

The Conquer Cancer admin people sent out a 5 page package via email yesterday. Rules of the road, how to hydrate, where to meet, what to bring and so on. I was awake at 5am worrying this morning. Not a great time to have a lapse in confidence with 6 weeks to go but there it was. I thought once I hit the bike this morning the funk would pass but so far I still feel out of it. A million thoughts went through my head this morning. I could have done more to raise money, why haven't people that said they would not made donations, Sal alone in Toronto, knowing Mike is not happy with us, wondering how Jen and Ginko are really doing, what is AJ doing or planning, am I in over my head with the Ride, how can I get out of hockey and not see Northwood fold, money, how long can fcd hang on, and on and on. Finally I just got up and got going.
Hopefully this is like a long ride and if I just keep plugging away I'll find my second wind and things will smooth out.

Day 5

Input

• bagel, banana and coffee
• 2 bottles water
• rice crackers and cheese
• ham, corn and scalloped potatoes, juice
• coffee
  
• strawberries and apple
  

Output

• Bridget:18 miles
• 3 sets tv weights

month to date:87 miles
miles to goal:513 miles

Day 4

Input

• coffee, banana and croissants
• rice crackers, cheese and juice
• 2 bottles of water
• spaghetti, meatballs and homemade buns
• coffee, grapes

Output

• 1 set tv weights
• Bridget:18 miles

month to date:69 miles
miles to goal:531

Can I Jinx a Team or What?

Not even Carboneau's lucky tie was enough to put down my bad juju. Sorry Habs, maybe next year. And don't blame it on Price, the rest of the team was even worse. They discover going to the net in game 5, lotsa luck with that revelation.

Day3

Input

• toast, coffee and banana
• coffee
• dimsum and coffee
• grapes, banana chips and dried cranberries
• 2 pcs. cheese
• 1 bottle water
• grilled pork soup, toast and juice
  

output

• Cecelia: 7 miles
• Molly:2 miles
• Bridget:15 miles
• 3 sets tv weights
  

month to date:51 miles
miles to goal:549

April Mileage

Goal:400 miles

• Bridget:108
• Cecelia:78
• Jill:212
• Molly:32

total April miles:430
year to date:1191
May goal 600 miles

Kaki King

Her music was featured in the film "August Rush" which Sal and I both enjoyed, we grabbed the soundtrack from Itunes within an hour of watching. If you watch it you'll see and hear she's got a style all her own.

Day 2

Input

• bagel and coffee
• 1 orange, 1 banana, 1 apple
  
• crackers and cheese
• banana chips, rice crackers
  
• 3 bottles of water
• fish, potato and corn
  

Output

• Ceclia: 12 miles
• 3 sets of TV weights
  
• Month to date: 27 miles
• Miles to goal: 573
  

I got to try out my rainsuit today and although it wasn't pouring the day was a good test. Cecelia got the call this morning and we had fun splashing through all the puddles on the way home.

Day 1 Again

Input

• bagel and coffee
• 2 oranges
• cheese and crackers, 1/2 glass grapefruit juice
  
• 1 apple
• dried cranberries cheerios and pepper
• steak and pasta
• 4 bottles of water

Output

• Molly: 15 miles