This year's event found me leaving my near to Tiverton home in the morning fog trekking towards the town of Goderich, 67 km to the southwest.
(Goderich is great town on the Lake Huron coast which also happens to be home to several of my kids and all my grand kids, meaning I would have lots of visitors at the hospital there if needed.)
Leaving home at 8:00 am I pedal through an hour of "London Fog." But once the sun broke through I am shedding my outer layer and will know no coolness (until I return home at 7 pm and plunge into our little swimming pool).
Half way point to Goderich on Bruce Road 1 is the town of Lucknow, towards which is mostly a flatland journey through swampland.
But from Lucknow to Carlow, a little general store and last outpost of civilization before reaching Goderich, I face 25 km (15.5 km) of significant and consistent incline with a substantial headwinds which prompt me to think unpleasant thoughts for a long hour or so.
Son Bryan rides out from Goderich to meet me. Enjoying his company.
Arriving in Goderich 4.5 hours after leaving home, I enjoy a fine lunch with Bry and Steph and Caleb and their new kitten, Pippa (who bolted a few days later for a couple of days only to be tracked down and returned and is now under probational house arrest).
About an hour later, before my muscles and joints get the false impression they are done for the day, I lather on the sunscreen again and head back towards home.
Bry on bike and Caleb in trailer escort me out of town on the famed Maitland River Rail Trail.
Once back on the pavement I enjoy my previous headwind now as a glorious tailwind.
But it is now very hot and humid. I am getting my so predictable heat headache. So I now pause every 20 minutes to eat a third of a power bar, drink a third of a bottle of power aid and pour a third of a bottle of water all over my head. I call it evaporative cooling. I am also enjoying these 25 kms (15.5 mi) of downhill-ish road.
So with persistent pedaling I find myself pulling into my lane way just minutes short of 11 hours since I left here this morning.
This year's endurance ride covered 135.7 km (84 miles).
While feeling reasonably tired through the day, I never felt "bad." No muscular or joint pain while riding.
Even though I soon turn 60 years of age, I guess I am still young for another year :-)
Perhaps perspective is important here. Three and a half years ago, my arthritis was so bad, I could barely get out of bed. Life was pain.
Then Bro Mark got me biking. Add some basic nutritional improvements to the mix and I find myself doing feats today I couldn't have done when I was 20 or 30 years younger.
I'm not bragging. I'm trying to encourage our readers. No matter what your age or condition, start exercising. (If I can do this kind of stuff, I know you can!) Your mind, emotions, and body will thank you and reward you greatly!
Today's stats:
Distance: 135.7 km/84 mi
Max speed: 43.3 kph/26.8 mph
Average speed: 17.2 kph/10.7 mph
Time on bike: 7 hrs, 55 min
Total trip time: 10 hrs, 55 min
Temp: 16C/61F to 33C/91F (humidex temp)
Cal Burn: 2,887 :-)
Fat Burn: 247.6
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