Canada Day Ride July 1, 2012

Up at 5:15 am just before the sun breaks the horizon.

Quick breakfast of oatmeal and tea. Being as quiet as I can so as not to disturb my daughter who is sleeping on the living room couch because her attic bedroom was too hot last night.

Pedaled down our lane way at 6:15.

My plan is to do a big 3 hour loop which will take me southwest to the waterfront town Kincardine, then north along the Lake Huron shoreline to the waterfront cottage community/village of Inverhuron, then east and inland past the town of Tiverton, back to my home in the countryside.

The morning was surprisingly cool, especially considering the hot day we had yesterday.

But the coolness quickly vanished within the hour. Our typically hot and humid July weather claimed the day. But at no time on this ride was the heat oppressive.

Just as I was leaving Kincardine, I came upon a small turtle bravely attempting to cross the road.

I stopped my bike in the middle of the road and waved my arms stopping traffic in both directions.

Some motorists applauded me made strange gestures with their fingers. But the turtle crossed safely.

I'm glad I'm pretty much past those years of one's life where you actually care what other people think of you :-)

A few Kms down the road, along the shore line, I noticed a pathway leading down to a little park by the rocky beach. I thought it looked like a good photo opt. So I followed.

It was a good photo opt. But it was also a moment of discovery.

I found a simple, well maintained, hard packed trail stretching out in both directions further than I could see, following the shoreline as far as I could see.

Though I have biked this area many times over the past two years, I had no idea such a trail existed.

So I followed the trail north, the direction of my travel. It reconnected with my paved shore road in about 15 minutes. I will return here soon and take the trail as far south as I can.

Three hours and 23 minutes, and 48 km (29.7 mi) later I returned home. I averaged 16 kph (9.9 mph).

My heart rate only exceeded 100 bpm once. That was while going up the final 10 km incline away from the lake to my home. This was a fun ride. Not a cardio workout!

Thanks for sharing the adventure with me today.

And Happy Birthday Canada!

(17 years ago today I became a Canadian. I am so grateful to call this land my home.)