It is fairly unpleasant to ride in the cold!

Went for a short ride on my bike today. This helped me to remember something from when I used to ride motorcycles – over 40 years ago: it is fairly unpleasant to ride in the cold! That’s why we put our motorcycles away for the Winter. It was 11C or 51.8F outside (not even real cold!) when I left home today (dressed warmly) – intending to ride 30K or 35K. After a short while, I turned back and rode for home – 8.6K ride total – just too unpleasant.  My wonderful eBike is now “put-up” until Spring and warmer temperatures come back. 

Grass Fire behind our Townhouse Complex

Grass Fire behind our Townhouse Complex tonight at about 5:00 p.m. on the land between us and the Freeway. We were okay because the wind was moving the fire away from us. Some excitement though! Cathy was quite scared for a while. Angela saw the smoke rising when she drove home – had to park a little way away because of the Fire Trucks – then ran home to make sure it was still there! 

Pitt River Greenway

Nice Fall ride along the Pitt River Greenway in Pitt Meadows, BC (32K). Sunny, warm and enjoyable, but a little unusual – long trail/road which has some tunnels and goes under highway and railroad bridges – also through a Sawmill parking lot. Sometimes Farms, residential homes and light industry on one side of the trail. This Greenway is across the Fraser River from Langley and Surrey and Barnston Island. 

Fraser River Sand

I now get to say that I've ridden my bike in the sand (and a little mud) along the banks of the mighty Fraser River!

It looks like meat is back on the menu boys!

It looks like meat is back on the menu boys! Over the last 2 or 3 years (cockroach Covid years!) I lost most of my teeth. they were so full of fillings that they just crumbled away. I suffered through many extractions. For the last 3 months, I’ve been down to 13 teeth with most of my molars gone. None of the remaining teeth were opposing, which meant I couldn’t chew anything. Anything I ate had to be small and soft and just swallowed – which has been no fun at all. But happy days are here again! I’ve gotten top & bottom partial dentures, and after some adjustment, they’re working just fine. We are going out for a sushi dinner tonight! 

The Beauty of it All

The Beauty of it all. . . fortunate to have this day. Perfect weather, sunny and warm – and it’s almost October! Went around Surrey, BC - Green Timbers Park and then over to Coquitlam by the Fraser River. Only 24K, but I took my time and enjoyed myself.

Mud Bay Park to Centennial Beach

Made it all the way from Mud Bay Park to Centennial Beach – 41.2K ride (one of my longest). Dirt trail all the way – so my Mariner got very dusty – My Darling Wife Catherine will be glad to know I washed my bike when I got home. Wonderful day for a ride – sunny and warm. 

Two Park Ride

Two Park Ride today: 29.7K. First to Surrey Bend Regional Park – nice ride on dirt trails – only too short. Second to Barnston Island (again!). Beautiful day for a ride – sunny and warm. 

EBIKES ARE GOOD FOR US!

Just today, with a 25.4 ride, I reached over 1000 kilometers on my trusty VoltBike Mariner - Raani - the Queen of Running. This is since April. Besides the simple pleasures of riding in some beautiful places, there has been some truly marvelous health benefits. I’ve now lost 22 pounds since April. But. . . something much more important has happened! I have type 2 diabetes and my blood sugar reading is usually in the 8’s and 9’s and sometimes higher. In the last month, my readings have been dropping – first to 7’s, then, 6’s, yesterday 5.9 and today 4.6 - I’m keeping in mind that I’m still taking oral medication – but I’m still very pleased. I see my heart and blood Specialist in early September. . . we’ll see what he has to say. EBIKES ARE GOOD FOR US! 

First ride since August 6

First ride since August 6 - to Tynehead Park again: 20.4K. I’m very happy to now be able to do this! Because of some fairly serious dental problems. . . I’ll spare you the details. However, I have been The King of Pain for most of the last 10 days. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel: the last of the extractions are done and partial dentures are in my near future. Those of you that know me well will remember that I’m very superstitious about the number 13: On January 13, 1981 I bought a membership at The Elm Tree Sports Club in Oliver, B.C. My membership number at the Club was C13. On February 13, 1981 (not even a Friday) I was hit in the eye while playing racquetball. I spent thirteen days flat on my back in the Hospital, with both eyes bandaged, and all my food was pureed. I was not allowed to get up and go to the washroom. I missed thirteen days of work. it is very extra ordinary that this very scary number has “got” me again. . . this is how many real teeth I have left! 

New longest ride

New longest ride today: 52K – Barnston Island again – around three times and to a couple of places near my home in Surrey, BC. Even made it onto some sand at the East end of the Island. Didn’t stay there long as there were a lot of mosquitos. . . but my Mariner liked the sand! Took some more photos, as it is just so pretty there. 52 kilometers was a long ride for me and I got quite tired at the end. . . but I did it! A fifty kilometer-plus ride!