August 1, 2022. Crow Lake to Perth

 

August 1, 2022. Crow Lake to Perth

August 07, 2022

 Our canoe trip this year turned out to be a bike trip. Joel and I felt that, since I have had back pain from spinal stenosis, my lifting/carrying was seriously affected, and I could not be relied on to do the kind of work we both need for canoe camping. And since I can bike without much pain, we felt that a bike trip would work.

Richard was good enough to allow us to use his cottage as a base. We had looked at the K-P trail that goes along the side of highway 38, from Kingston to Sharbot Lake, as a possibility. But it would have involved a trip of about 80 km, and we both felt that was too ambitious for us. We decided on another trail—the Tay Valley trail, which goes from Sharbot Lake to Perth. We would bike from the cottage, go north from Crow Lake via Cross Road, and pick up the trail east of Sharbot Lake. Sounds simple, eh? We were all set: a day’s bike to Perth, a day in Perth, and a day to return.

Of course, it didn’t work out as planned. 

We got a good start though. Up by 8, and ready to go by 9:30. Biked out to Crow Lake Road, only to remember that we had left our water bottles back at the cabin. And it was going to be a hot day. So we turned around, and went the 1.6 km back to the cabin, got the water bottles and headed off again. This time for sure!

Our first trial was getting out of the town of Crow Lake, via Cross Road. It is a hard climb up to the rail tracks on a dirt road. I walked the bike up part of it. But this was an omen. Lots of up and down to follow for the ten Kms to Armstrong Road. The on that road to Mill Road and up to the Tay Valley trail. We were given a very active accompaniment by the local deer fly delegation, only too happy to take advantage of our inability to swat them. There were a few choice i words spoken about the overall situation: heat, bugs, hills. But we suffered through, stopping more times than usual for a breather (particularly Bob).

Eventually, we found the Tay Valley trail that we were looking for. It was identified for us by a group of motorcyclists who were coming along the trail! We had known that the trail was a snowmobile trail in the wintertime, as well as a trail for ATVs and such in the summer. We met a number of people in their ATVs, and they were very polite and got out of our way. And the terrain was mostly quite pretty, going through rock cuts, and by lakes and bogs. And the sky was clear. We stopped for a brief lunch on some rocks by the side of the trail, before pushing on. Unfortunately it was also hot, and the bugs were bad. Plus the trail bed was better suited to ATVs than to bikes. So it was not a pleasant ride, and long. In fact, the last five kilometres was alongside Highway 7, and ended in the rough gravel at the side of railway tracks. We couldn’t ride the bikes but had to walk them the last fifty meters or so. From there it was on road—mercifully smooth and mostly downhill—all the way to Perth. We were sore and tired, but oh, so glad to get to the hotel. We had done 53 km of pretty tough country. And out aging bodies felt it.

They had kindly given us access to an unused room for our bikes. We checked in and went upstairs to our room. While Joel had a shower, I lay down on the bed and promptly fell asleep for an hour. Joel also slept for a while, when I got up and had a shower. We then went down for a delightful supper al fresco in the fine weather. Bed was calling and I was asleep by 9:30; slept soundly through the night.

One more time in the West

 

One more time in the West

November 27, 2024

 This trip is kind of a spontaneous one. It seemed like a good idea to go out and visit our son Patrick. It seemed like about time that I took the train again. And I checked the VIA site and there was a special on a train from the west (Vancouver) to Toronto. This all cam together into an air trip to Victoria, a visit with Patrick, and a trip back from Vancouver via VIA. And my back was feeling better enough that I elected to go Premium Economy rather than Business Class on the Air Canada part of the trip.

 

I booked my train back from Vancouver with no problem, but then talked to Mary (my sister), and she was interested iin doing that trip as well, and it would fit in with her plan to re-visit the Okanagan Valley friends. She tried and couldn’t get onto the same train as I had done. And I had already booked a cabin for two. So she bunked in with me for the ride home.

 

Now, the time in Victoria was meant to be time with Patrick, and some add-on visits to my friends. The trip over was uneventful, but still tiring, so I arrived in BC about mid-afternoon, and promptly lay down for a nap. I had been in touch with Pat, and we agreed to meet for supper. We went to the Tapa Bar on Trounce Alley, sat outside, and had a good meal and talk. So nice to see him in person: FaceTime is great,  but still not the same. He had the week off after his acute appendicitis and surgery back on November 1.

 

The following day, I had booked a lunch with the Finnies. They picked me up, and we drove to the golf course near their home for a quiet, quite lovely lunch. About two hours of conversation and companionship with the two of them was terrific. They drove me back to the hotel where I promptly had a nap before meeting Pat for a quick meal and a movie. We went to see “The Sunstance” starring Demi Moore as an agin woman who does what she feels she need to do to stay young. Of course it has a bad outcome, but the acting was pretty good. Not my kind of film, but a pleasure to go with my son to see something together that we coud l

I was up early, read the Spectator on-line, had breakfast (again) at The Ruby downstairs, and et Barry and Nancy for a late brunch in Cook Village. Company great, and Barry hand-delivered a signed copy of his most recent book (he asys it is his last, but admits to having some ideas for another one. Again, great to see them both - I hadn’t seen Nancy for several years.

 

Wednesday night was disc golf night for Pat - his first since his appendicitis. We went to the pub in Cook Village, had a good supper with friend of his including Doug (who drove us) and Weirdy (who was the one who took Pat to hospital. They are a really good bunch of friends to Pat, and thus pretty special to me as well. I walked home and got to bed before the rain started (Pat got soaked playing golf).

 

And Thursday was a quiet day. Breakfast at the Ruby after being awake and reading the Spectator. Shopping with Pat at the Market on Main, and then an early supper at the Tandoor restaurant across from the hotel. Pat agreed to help me to the HarbourAir flight the next day. And then to bed.

 

Friday was a travel day. Pat and I got to the airport in the harbour in lots of time, and the weather cooperated by clearing up for the flight. I got to look out the window and see the islands in the Gulf, as well as (I think)a pod of whales surfacing and breathing. The landing in Vancouver was fine, but I had forgotten that there was a long climb and walk up to where thet axis are. I had also forgotten that it was Grey Cup Weekend, so there was lots of activity going on. Bt I got to the train station in good time, and met in line the woman who was to be providing the entertainment on the train. Her name is Glenna Green. She plays soft jazz and blues, much like her friend Jackie Washington in Hamilton did. She was great.

 

When I got to my berth/cabin, I was worried at the size. It is small, enough for one person easily, but how would Mary like it? She was to meet the train in Kamloops at about midnight. She did that and it was fine: we worked out a way of managing the space, and not being on top of each other all the time. Of course, we spent time in the Observation Car, the back car, the dining acr (of course), as well as many times back and forth to our room. CRampled but okay. And the food was wonderful all the way.

 A longer stop in Jasper allowed us to get out and stretch our legs: Mary and I went to find a coffee shop, and gawk a bit at the charred parts of town. The staff on our train didn’t lose any of their houses, but apparently others with VIA did. It was devastating!

 

The trip. was pretty uneventful. We stopped a few times, and Mary would get off. But I mostly stayed in the train, and often had a nap. Hard to believe I could sleep so much. Blame the analgesics. 

 

We actually got to Toronto two hours early, got the GO train to Aldershot, and shared a taxi to out respective houses.

 

Who know whether or if I will do the trip again. But I think I woudl prefer to go from Toronto, rather then to Toronto.