A Good Question

From http://jefmallett.blogspot.com/

Google Bike

I was fiddling around in Google Maps this evening. Pathetic I know but times are tough with trails still recovering from our awesome record snowfall. Anyway I stumbled upon a new option to get map directions for Bicycles. Google Maps already had directions for cars, public transit, and walking. Biking is a new addition. Cool.

So I punched in part of our ride from last weekend. Sean was our guide and he took us on an awesome 30 mile loop from the Blue Heron out Little Conestoga past Struble Lake and St. Mary's, and home via Creek Road. It was a sweet route - rolling country roads and very little automobile traffic.

Anyway Google Maps took a more direct route which I presume would be less bike friendly. By fiddling with the map I was able to coax it into routing us along Little Conestoga. I was curious to see how long it would take (to ride that leg, not fiddle with Google Maps). Google predicted 1 hour and 10 minutes.

We beat that time by at least 20 minutes.

We must be studs.

Yeah right.

Chris

The Cannondale

'Twas brillig, and the slippery slopes

Did gyre and gimble in my wake.

All mimsy were the spandexed legs you know,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

Beware the Cannondale, my Father!

The wheels that rip, the frame that mashes!

Beware the pedestrian, and shun

The frumious motorcycle!

* * * * *

Best birthday card yet, from my 13 year old daughter.

Monty Python and Lewis Caroll fans should be impressed. I was!

Breakfast Ride

Breakfast was delicious.

We started with a MTB road ride on the Struble. The trail into town was clear but still as flat as ever, so we decided to tack on a climb to the top of Skelp Level. It had the desired effect and by the time we were back to the bottom, we had worked up a pretty good
thirst
appetite and well, Chelsea's was open and it was almost noon in Halifax Nova Scotia, so we decided to duck in to drink eat some breakfast.

Half an hour later, fueled and rejuvinated, we headed back out into the spring-like weather for some more riding. We weren't the only ones enjoying the mild weather. We saw a couple of foxes during our ride - a reddish one streaking across an open field by the lake, and a blondish one sniffing around down near the creek. The second one might be rabid as it was showing a distinct interest in our lead rider, so be careful out there.

Chris

"Bikes, babes, and beer. Whenever life gets you down, return to the fundamentals."

-- anonymous

Unplanned Trip to the Hardware Store

Oh

...my

......God

Mountain bike log crossing that went badly. Looks like Bill will catch up on his reading this winter. I think I will just crawl into the fetal position now.

Chris

Make the Quarry Climb Legal

There is a petition circulating to enlarge Marsh Creek State Park by purchasing the parcel of private land abutting the northwest corner of the park. Known to local mountain bikers "the quarry" this is at least 100 acres of land and includes some timeless (and currently illegal) trails like the Quarry Climb and O Positive.

As far as I know this effort does not carry the political baggage of the recent Shyrock unpleasantness (which incidentally did end in a positive outcome for users of the park and a tidy sum for the developer).

You can sign the petition via email.

Chris

I Tried I Really Did

I tried. I really did. But 24" of fresh powder was too much (four hours of shoveling might have been a contributing factor).

More snow on Tuesday. The Rig may be gathering dust for a while.

Chris