Paul Ricklefs
July 11th 03, 03:00 AM
Great story.. Gives me the ambition to put my head down this weekend and see
how far I can go. :)
Heck, I should take a week off. :)
--
Paul Ricklefs
Check out: http://thehappyscrapbooker.com
"Barry Gaudet" > wrote in message
...
> Yup. I did a personal odyssey on Sunday and Monday. I made it to the
> town of my teenage years almost 20 years ago.
>
> It was a strange experience. Making the trip by bicycle made it a...
> pilgrimage in the spiritual sense - a zen thing. A form of meditation
>
> Fair warning: What follows is a long rambling recitation of my
> experience. Read at your own risk.
>
> Starting at 7:30 am I roll through the Southern Ontario towns, villages,
> and hamlets between Guelph and Bolton.
>
> The optimal route distance is 75 km [47 miles] but my route, avoiding
> highways and detouring for points of interest makes it 95 km [57 miles].
>
> I develop a rhythm. After the first two hours I pause every hour for 5 or
> 10 minutes to stretch, check the map, and hydrate.
>
> I eat up the kilometers, averaging 20-25 kmh. The sky is a brilliant
> crystaline blue. The smog advisories have eased but it's supposed to
> quite warm, ~ 30 c.
>
> As noon approaches, the heat builds. I can feel it radiating from the
> asphalt itself. I imitate a camel and increase my liquid consumption. I
> reapply sunblock as well. I'm thinking spf 30 doesn't cut for me. I'm
going
> to have to increase the dosage. Maybe ask the r.b.m riders what they
> use.
>
> I'm almost to my goal. When I was last in Bolton 19 years ago it was
> smallish town of 20-25,000 that, other than a smattering of commercial and
> industrial concerns was mainly a suburbanoid bedroom community for the
> Greater Toronto megopolis. Now it seems to have doubled in size at least.
> The number of auto's, trebled. But maybe it's a fuzzy memory playing
> tricks.
>
> I enter the town from the west but to the south of the town proper,
> through a commercial district that used to be farmland. On the other side
> of highway 50 is the sprawl of a suburban development that didn't exist
> either.
>
> I expected growth I guess. It's both more and less jarring than I
> thought it would be. I take to the highway to ride an overpass crossing
> railroad tracks. The same way I first entered the town 2 decades ago by
> auto. I recognize the odd old familiar haunt. An independent fast food
> joint that survived the onslaught of the mega-franchises. A convenience
> store peaking out from ever more strip plaza development.
>
> I push onward to the town center in the Humber river valley.
>
> *So many cars*
>
> It's hollowed out a bit like small town centers all over, thanks to the
> malls and plazas with ample auto parking on the outskirts.
>
> I stop for lunch. The restauraunt under a different name but in the same
> spot as the first meal I had in the town over 20 years ago. The waitress
> who served me was probably busy being born when I was last here.
>
> I follow the Humber river a bit. It seems noticeably lower. Drought? Or
> over consumption by southern Ontario's thirsty millions? Or maybe it is
> indeed faulty memory.
>
> Then I climb the north side of the valley to the subdivision. The houses
> were surprisingly the same, just more of them. I expected that. What I
> didn't expect was the _trees_. They had grown, changing how it looked
> from what I remembered. Subtly different but surreal in a way. Who would
> have thought trees would grow so much in a mere 19 years? Many of the
> homes have 4 and 5 vehicles. I dawdle along passing the high school I
> went to, the parks I played in...
>
> One can only take so much nostalgia. I take to the highway again heading
> north. The cornfields where we had bush parties are gone. More houses.
>
> My sojourn is only half over though. I have to get back home - my
> current home, The plan was to take the Caledon Hills rail trail back to
> Terra Cotta. It's a 50 km trail if you include the unoffical unimproved
> bits on each end, generally sloping down from the north east end - which
> is why I chose to take it from that direction. I make the trail at
> Palgrave. First I replenish my liquid supplies.
>
> The trail is quite nice, though a bit rough in spots. The shade of the
> trees is a much welcomed relief after the heat of the pavement. The
> scenery is pleasant taking in river valley, wetlands, farmlands, and the
> Niagara escarpment. No radical climbs though - not that I'm up to the
> effort by this time. As evening approaches more deer, rabbits and
chipmunks
> make there appearance on the trail.
>
> At the end of the trail I make for Georgetown. A large town or small
> city, depending on one's POV. I make the decision to call it a day and
> get a motel room. I've clocked a little over 100 miles and am exhausted.
> I guess that makes it a century. It is a tough decision as rain and
> thunderstorms are predicted for the next day. I'm tempted to push on but
> I know I need to rest.
>
> I sleep the sleep of the virtuous... ok, ok the sleep of the
> damned-fool-who's-to-stubborn-for-his-own-good. I wake at 5 am to the
> sound of thunder - not a good sign. turning over to sleep some more I
> make ready to hit the road at 9:30 for the last push. A light rain that
> tapers off greets me. My quads, calfs, and sit bones scream in protest
> then give up complaining as the rhythm starts.
>
> An hour in and I stop for my morning coffee. I indulge in a couple
> cookies for that energy boost. Before I finish the rains starts picking
> up. I turn on my blinkies and press on. No thunder but the rain turns
> into a downpour. I am completely soaked. Head down I push on. What
> choice is there? I actually appreciate the odd bow wave from large
> trucks. It gives me a boost. I take all the assistance I can get.
>
> Finally I enter the outskirts of Guelph. My odyssey is almost complete.
> The rain has ended and it is turning into a beautiful day. Over the two
days
> I made a 200 km loop and seemingly traveled 20 years in time.
>
> I guess it was worth the aches and pains.
>
> The getting yelled at I referred to in the title?
>
> Within the city first two mental midgets in a penis extender muscle car
> yell at me on a deserted straight highway. Before I make it home two more
> vehicle's - both SUV's - occupants feel a similar need to try to cause an
> accident by startling a cyclist. The last one I almost caught at the
> light. Probably lucky I didn't. I would have done something foolish.
>
> As I've said before , for all its' faults, Guelph is fairly lucky as far
> as accomodating cyclists go. The people on the other hand.... I'm
> thinking IQ varies inversely with vehicle size. Or maybe it's an example
> of familiarity breeding contempt.
>
> Anyways that my story of southern Ontario time travel.
>
> --
>
> 'Ooh I will make you a believer'
> -Sass Jordan
how far I can go. :)
Heck, I should take a week off. :)
--
Paul Ricklefs
Check out: http://thehappyscrapbooker.com
"Barry Gaudet" > wrote in message
...
> Yup. I did a personal odyssey on Sunday and Monday. I made it to the
> town of my teenage years almost 20 years ago.
>
> It was a strange experience. Making the trip by bicycle made it a...
> pilgrimage in the spiritual sense - a zen thing. A form of meditation
>
> Fair warning: What follows is a long rambling recitation of my
> experience. Read at your own risk.
>
> Starting at 7:30 am I roll through the Southern Ontario towns, villages,
> and hamlets between Guelph and Bolton.
>
> The optimal route distance is 75 km [47 miles] but my route, avoiding
> highways and detouring for points of interest makes it 95 km [57 miles].
>
> I develop a rhythm. After the first two hours I pause every hour for 5 or
> 10 minutes to stretch, check the map, and hydrate.
>
> I eat up the kilometers, averaging 20-25 kmh. The sky is a brilliant
> crystaline blue. The smog advisories have eased but it's supposed to
> quite warm, ~ 30 c.
>
> As noon approaches, the heat builds. I can feel it radiating from the
> asphalt itself. I imitate a camel and increase my liquid consumption. I
> reapply sunblock as well. I'm thinking spf 30 doesn't cut for me. I'm
going
> to have to increase the dosage. Maybe ask the r.b.m riders what they
> use.
>
> I'm almost to my goal. When I was last in Bolton 19 years ago it was
> smallish town of 20-25,000 that, other than a smattering of commercial and
> industrial concerns was mainly a suburbanoid bedroom community for the
> Greater Toronto megopolis. Now it seems to have doubled in size at least.
> The number of auto's, trebled. But maybe it's a fuzzy memory playing
> tricks.
>
> I enter the town from the west but to the south of the town proper,
> through a commercial district that used to be farmland. On the other side
> of highway 50 is the sprawl of a suburban development that didn't exist
> either.
>
> I expected growth I guess. It's both more and less jarring than I
> thought it would be. I take to the highway to ride an overpass crossing
> railroad tracks. The same way I first entered the town 2 decades ago by
> auto. I recognize the odd old familiar haunt. An independent fast food
> joint that survived the onslaught of the mega-franchises. A convenience
> store peaking out from ever more strip plaza development.
>
> I push onward to the town center in the Humber river valley.
>
> *So many cars*
>
> It's hollowed out a bit like small town centers all over, thanks to the
> malls and plazas with ample auto parking on the outskirts.
>
> I stop for lunch. The restauraunt under a different name but in the same
> spot as the first meal I had in the town over 20 years ago. The waitress
> who served me was probably busy being born when I was last here.
>
> I follow the Humber river a bit. It seems noticeably lower. Drought? Or
> over consumption by southern Ontario's thirsty millions? Or maybe it is
> indeed faulty memory.
>
> Then I climb the north side of the valley to the subdivision. The houses
> were surprisingly the same, just more of them. I expected that. What I
> didn't expect was the _trees_. They had grown, changing how it looked
> from what I remembered. Subtly different but surreal in a way. Who would
> have thought trees would grow so much in a mere 19 years? Many of the
> homes have 4 and 5 vehicles. I dawdle along passing the high school I
> went to, the parks I played in...
>
> One can only take so much nostalgia. I take to the highway again heading
> north. The cornfields where we had bush parties are gone. More houses.
>
> My sojourn is only half over though. I have to get back home - my
> current home, The plan was to take the Caledon Hills rail trail back to
> Terra Cotta. It's a 50 km trail if you include the unoffical unimproved
> bits on each end, generally sloping down from the north east end - which
> is why I chose to take it from that direction. I make the trail at
> Palgrave. First I replenish my liquid supplies.
>
> The trail is quite nice, though a bit rough in spots. The shade of the
> trees is a much welcomed relief after the heat of the pavement. The
> scenery is pleasant taking in river valley, wetlands, farmlands, and the
> Niagara escarpment. No radical climbs though - not that I'm up to the
> effort by this time. As evening approaches more deer, rabbits and
chipmunks
> make there appearance on the trail.
>
> At the end of the trail I make for Georgetown. A large town or small
> city, depending on one's POV. I make the decision to call it a day and
> get a motel room. I've clocked a little over 100 miles and am exhausted.
> I guess that makes it a century. It is a tough decision as rain and
> thunderstorms are predicted for the next day. I'm tempted to push on but
> I know I need to rest.
>
> I sleep the sleep of the virtuous... ok, ok the sleep of the
> damned-fool-who's-to-stubborn-for-his-own-good. I wake at 5 am to the
> sound of thunder - not a good sign. turning over to sleep some more I
> make ready to hit the road at 9:30 for the last push. A light rain that
> tapers off greets me. My quads, calfs, and sit bones scream in protest
> then give up complaining as the rhythm starts.
>
> An hour in and I stop for my morning coffee. I indulge in a couple
> cookies for that energy boost. Before I finish the rains starts picking
> up. I turn on my blinkies and press on. No thunder but the rain turns
> into a downpour. I am completely soaked. Head down I push on. What
> choice is there? I actually appreciate the odd bow wave from large
> trucks. It gives me a boost. I take all the assistance I can get.
>
> Finally I enter the outskirts of Guelph. My odyssey is almost complete.
> The rain has ended and it is turning into a beautiful day. Over the two
days
> I made a 200 km loop and seemingly traveled 20 years in time.
>
> I guess it was worth the aches and pains.
>
> The getting yelled at I referred to in the title?
>
> Within the city first two mental midgets in a penis extender muscle car
> yell at me on a deserted straight highway. Before I make it home two more
> vehicle's - both SUV's - occupants feel a similar need to try to cause an
> accident by startling a cyclist. The last one I almost caught at the
> light. Probably lucky I didn't. I would have done something foolish.
>
> As I've said before , for all its' faults, Guelph is fairly lucky as far
> as accomodating cyclists go. The people on the other hand.... I'm
> thinking IQ varies inversely with vehicle size. Or maybe it's an example
> of familiarity breeding contempt.
>
> Anyways that my story of southern Ontario time travel.
>
> --
>
> 'Ooh I will make you a believer'
> -Sass Jordan