River's Day 2011

I was thinking of helping out at the Ancient Forest, but I really wanted to sleep in this weekend.  I might help out next week.  I hanged around home for a while, then I decided to take some fall foliage photos at Fort George Park. I forgot that there was the River's Day Festival going on.  I promised the birds that I'd be gone for a short time, but I instead spent the afternoon at the park.

Daily Sun News preview #2

Laura sent me another 'teaser' for the article that I did.  Too bad it's not online!

Ozalenka Adventure- Part II - Photos

 

Here are some more of the best photos taken on the recent Ozalenka trip, enjoy! Thanks for the GREAT weekend Vivien.  Here's hoping that next year it will be just as nice!

I've been published, once again!

Yeh, I've been published, once again!  I will post more about it when I get a copy of the newspaper.  I did a writeup and submitted photos for the Sunnyside's (Washington State) Daily Sun News.  It won't be available online, but I'll post a scan of it for my followers to look at.

Odometer issues

My odometer has been wonky for the last bit with the speed bouncing all over the place!   I cleaned the sensor by the wheel and the magnet, and so far it seems to be working ok.  But today, I noticed that the wire is worn in parts and wire is exposed.  I wonder if this is what is causing problems with it?  I might get another odometer and use the base/wires for that one and the old odometer.

Anyone else have the problem of worn odometer wires?  Any solutions?  I am thinking perhaps covering the wire in electrical tape might help...hmmm.  I don't want to wreck the wire fiddling with it to get electrical tape on it..  I am almost thinking of getting the base and wire new for the Winter.  And get the bike shop to wrap the new wire in the electrical tape for me to give the wires more protection from rubbing.  This is a bit annoying!

Speaking of bike shops, I've been to Koops a lot lately.  After test riding the B-67s, I returned on Tuesday and decided to get the seat since it is so comfortable on my bum (no sore bum after Sunday's long ride).  He gave it to me for a good deal, not the price on the tag!  That is so cool.  But it gets better.

I returned again on Wednesday to pick up some Proofide Saddle treatment by Brooks, and the bike shop just gave it to me!  Wow!  I love deals like that.  While I was there on Tuesday/Wed, I did have the odometer looked at but couldn't seem to fix the problem.

Ozalenka Adventures- Part I

Vivien L. has to move the poles to fit 2 more vehicles in

Ozalenka- September 3-5, 2011 

Guest Post by:  Vivien Lougheed

The following is a guest post by Vivien Lougheed.  It's reposted with permission from the Caledonia Ramblers Website. Some of the photos are taken by me and some were taken by Debbie Hazel with permission also.  As there are so many good photos, I'll publish more in a second post.

A ride into the country

Today I rode out past the Airport for 17.9 km ride one way to a friend's place for a potluck.  This morning as I woke up I thought I was nuts as it was very windy outside.  But I had told my friend that I was riding to her place so there was no backing out from it!  Besides, it was the PERFECT test ride for the Brooks B-67S saddle on my bike.

Looking for interested bike tourists

 I'm going to put out the plea again for interested bike tourists.  I am looking for someone to bike down the West Coast with.  I am thinking of starting from Prince George, but I don't really want to bike alone.  I am pretty sure that I will do this route, although if someone is looking for a person to join them on a similar distanced bike tour, I might take them up on their offer.

The above is just over 1400 kms.  I can probably even do more as I know now how far I can go each day.

Friends told me that posting stuff at bike shops might also work too, so I am going to try that.  If anyone reading this is interested possibly, or knows someone who might, please let me know.  I'll post this for a while as I think that the farther the ahead the better.  I am sure that I can find some interested parties.


**Febuary 2012 update-  I have decided to bike from Astoria Oregon to San Francisco-  I have found a rider to ride with.  But, I will still invite anyone else who may be interested in doing this trip to leave a message below and I will get back to you.

PGCAR2011

Today was the Annual geocaching event in Prince George called PGCAR2011.  Short for Prince George Cache and Release day.  As the caches are spread all around town, today's caching would have to be done by vehicle.  We all met at the geocaching member Plumbacres to get the necessary info and passport.

Guess what I'm test riding for a few days?

A Brook's B-67S for Woman.  I am still on the fence for this one as it's a bit wider then the B-17.   But the shop owner was nice enough to let me borrow it for a few days to try it out.  I have seen some touring bikes with it on  Just have to see how it feels.  It'll be hard as it takes time to break in, but I want to get a sense about the width for my bum.  It's definitely different!

Squirt's enjoying the Autumn ride.

I want to give it to myself for Christmas, so now is the time to test ride it, beforehand.  I would really appreciate any thoughts about the B-67S or the B-17S with Springs.  What do you prefer?

I figure that wearing my current seat out after 2 1/2 years, it'll be nice not to have to worry about that again!  I'll have to buy a seat one way or another for next Season.  And I'd rather spend my money on items I like, rather then toss money out on stuff that I don't.  I will let you know what I think about it after trying it out for a while.  This goes along with all the customizing that I've done with her already, ie upgrading the tires, handle grips, pedals, etc. The last thing that needs to be done!

Tour De Jasper 2011 photo preview

I apologize for not posting about Tour De Jasper 2011 yet.  I've been waiting to receive photos that I've purchased from the tour as I really want to share them with my blog followers along with a few stories about the trip.  I hope you don't mind waiting.  I also hope you don't mind that I'm posting so late after the event.  Like on the 2010 tour, the photographer on the trip took some great photos!  And I had such a great time that there are good stories to be told.

Wil and Laura's Dutch bikes return for 2011

Here's some of the awesome photos taken by the tour photographer on Tour De Jasper 2010. Some are my photos as well. Please note that there are other photos in the book as well from my Summer 2010 travels. 

Click here to view this photo book larger

Beautiful postcard surprise in August

When I arrived home after my Summer Bicycle adventures in the middle of August, there was a nice bicycle postcard sitting in my mailbox!  It was from my good bicycle friend from the Netherlands congratulating me on my ride.  I love the flowers, it's such a beautiful postcard!  My Postcrossing friend, Nolleke, has good taste.  I wonder if those are Basil bags on the bike?

Thanks Nolleke!

I really need to get back into Postcrossing, I've just been trying to save money this month after having little income for the last while. I have set my status there though to active so I am good to go!

Squirt tours Vancouver

English Bay Inukshuck

After the bicycling from Prince George to Vancouver via the Icefields this Summer, I ended up with some time to bicycle around Vancouver. It felt great to ride around with my own bicycle!

Finally, some Summer Geocaching

Out Geocaching with Geocognita

Summer started in Prince George this past week.  We've had the highest temperatures all season!  I'd say better late then never.

Smile for the Squirrel!

I don't know where my hiking buddy Brendon M. found this, but it's so cute!   It goes with my Squirrel theme.  I really can't until when logo is made later on this year, but this works for now. If you know where it's from, email me.  I hate to post something that isn't mine, but I couldn't resist.

Additional:  I'm starting to think that it's a fox!  Oh well.  Nice try I'd say, won't tell my friend.

September 10th, the final thought.  - A friend pointed out that there are nuts in the basket, so a squirrel it is!

2011 Bike Tour- the last day

Squirt enjoys the beaches of Cultus Lake

Squirrel and Bunny (Squirt too) just want to have fun!

Bridal Falls to Cultus Lake, Chilliwack, BC.

We had rather a short ride to Cultus Lake, about 30 kms.  It was another challenging day on the freeway as far as Chilliwack.  One thing that I noticed while riding in that area that I never noticed before was the sound of the cannons going off in the Blueberry fields to scare off the animals that would like to eat them.  This is one of the great things about bicycling around, you hear and see things that you don't when riding in a vehicle.

Day 15 - Manning Park to Bridal Falls

Crossing Allison Pass (1,342 m /4,403 ft)

Grumpy Squirrel and the Bunny.

After having a good sleep in Manning Park, we woke up to another sunny day.  I struggled getting out of bed and dismantling the stuff as the many days touring was catching up.  I could have used a full day rest, although not there as there wasn't much to do.
As I was riding I felt like all my energy was drained despite having had breakfast before riding. It turns out that there was a slight ascent up to Allison Pass, and I was doing it while riding into the strong headwinds.  I could only manage 12 kms an hour, which pretty good for what I had going against me that morning.