Hello Andrew!
Trust you are both well and that your respective Easter weekends went well. Ours was busy. I had an incredible ride on Saturday, simply gorgeous day, perhaps the best of the entire weekend, as it turned out. Left Harbour Terrace shortly after 9:20am and made our way to Main via Seawall and Olympic Village and then to East Van, taking Lakewood north somewhere after Commercial. Then Adanac to Hastiings and over Second Narrows, Sarge in lead, followed by me, than Flamin' and then Ray. About half way across, some dope wanted to pass. He had already passed other two behind me and it is not without difficulty that one can stop, as I'm sure you know. Since I was close behind Sarge, he had to do same with him and just as he was about to do this, we came upon a chap coming the other way so it was a bit of traffic jam to say the least! Idiot, discourteous rider said that he wanted to pass as he felt he was "Too heavy and wanted to get up to 80K." His very words. Sarge thought it was me who wanted to pass and he couldn't figure out what I was all about. He had taken off his jacket just as we started up Lakewood, as it was wonderfully warm, and so scraped his bare left arm on railing as he slowed down and wobbled while other rider scraped by. Absolutely no need for that sort of thing, ridiculously selfish and possibly dangerous, probably not life-threatening but a nasty gash, cut or bump, quite easily.
At any rate, made it over the bridge without further incident and wound our way up to Demonstration Forest area where we headed out to Seymour Falls Dam on the wonderful bikeway. Ray had been before but none of the rest of has ridden through the magnificent forest, the cliffs of the mountains looming majestically above us whenever we came to a bit of a clearing. At about the 6K mark Ray and I went ahead and Sarge stayed behind with Flamin', to coax her along. This was already at 30K or more so she knew it was going to be at least 65-70K by time we were back home and she had never ridden that far before. On Friday, with Flamin' and Sarge, out to Steveston, much the same route as I had taken Saturday before, with other friends, except we didn't turn off dike quite as early, following it along to point where it connected with a paved road that allowed us to follow Rice Road over Highway 99. We stopped at this point as Flamin' didn't want ride to turn into more of an endurance test than it already was shaping up to be. Found No. 5 Road and took it all the way to River Road, (crossing over 99 at Steveston Highway, I think), coming to it just past Vulcan Way, just before stretch from our ride of day before, out to New Westminister and over Queensboro Bridge. Would like to explore where RR would take us, further east of Steveston, at some point. Back over new Cambie Sky Train Bridge, up Cambie and home for 61K.
Ray and I pedaled on ahead and before we knew it, 9K mark on this part of ride, we came to a rest stop with a biffy or two and a few benches, plus a metal screen barrier to service road. Couple sitting on one of the benches told us that path straight ahead lead to base of dam and I walked over rise to look at track. Asked a rider coming up grade if it was paved all the way and he said it was but only about a K in distance. Service road, north and south, were posted with signs informing one that roadway was off limits for recreational users. We chatted with couple for a few minutes and then both went into a separate outhouse before heading back. We assumed F/S would be waiting at one of picnic areas or had simply decided to go home. Waved goodbye to fellow cyclists and started our return. At each rest area we scanned seats but no sigh of the the Sutherlands so we kept going. Thought that they might be at FD area but no sign there either so we made our way on, choosing to follow path to Lynn Valley Headwaters. Last time Ray and I were on it, early December, it was very icy but very good surface this time, if a bit rocky/bumpy at times.
Soon on Lynn Canyon, I think, and took it all the way to Esplanade, down Grand Boulevard. Really gorgeous view of Vancouver and could hardly believe how high we had climbed as we just kept going down, down, down! Bit of backing and forthing until we connected with Marine Drive, near Keith Road, I think, and then over to 3rd and then 1st and we were away to Lions Gate. Bit of a grind for me on way up as I could really feel my legs. Shifted into low gear and enjoyed view! Once out of Park we took street as Seawall was awash with people as you can imagine. Took Beach and wound around some of the streets just back from water to hit Pacific all the way to Science World and then behind Olympic Village for an easy run to Lamey's Mill. Just as we approached Harbour Terrace Ray mentioned that we could call it an 85K outing, as odometer read 80K at that point. I said that I didn't think it was 5K to his place but he reminded me that he had ridden to GI! I acknowledged my oversight but once I left him at 1st and Cypress I headed for Kits Point and decided to put 87K on odometer just for good measure, not competition, you understand. Probably a subconscious way to get back at him for leaving me in the dust on all those hills in North Van and on Lions Gate! Thought fleetingly about going out to UBC, (Just to bottom of hill, mind you, as I'd had more than enough of hills by then. Even thinking about Ray and his homeward bound Cypress Street climb tired me out!), but didn't have the steam or desire to go that far so just dipsy-doodled around on the streets of Kits Point and then on the flat near our place, enjoying the sun as the K's clicked over.
When I was back, (roughly five and a half hours later!), popped downstairs to see what happened to our companions and we pieced things together. It seems that they went by us while we were in the toilettes! They rode up to the dam, ignoring signs, and I guess we left before they returned. They made their way back down Lilloet and even stopped for a beer and nachos at a pub somewhere along the way, before returning over Second Narrows. Sarge said he found grade pretty long and tiring by then as well. Suppose beer didn't help matters!! They made their way along your old street, I suppose, coming out at Wall and Powell, Powell to Main and then back via Science World, etc.
Really enjoyed listening to Bernhardt Schlink. He read from his latest, The Weekend, (both in German, one of sponsors was Goethe Institute!), and English, about a terrorist who has just been released from prison. His sister invites a number of old friends to her place to spend the weekend with him. Bit like Peter's Friends with a dash of Molotov, Baader-Meinhof cocktail! Cora Lee is reading one of VPL's copies as I compose! He is wonderfully articulate and it was fascinating to hear his take on contemporary German society as well as his answers to many interesting questions about his work from the floor.
Today's outing was a pretty grueling ride, all things considered, at least for me. Ray cycled to our place, close to 9:00am, and we took off around Seawall, over Lions Gate and then along 1st Avenue, more or less, through North Van to foot of Lilloet, up past Capilano College to Seymour Demonstration Forest and then back down via Lynn Canyon Headwaters Trail, Lynn Valley Road/Keith Road to Marine and 1st Avenue, over Lions Gate and down through Stanley Park. Returned to Kits over Burrard as Ray had to be home by noonish. I continued on out to UBC, along Spanish Banks, bucking a reasonably strong headwind, of course, out Marine to Dunbar and back to retrace my steps home. 103K by time I made it to Harbour Terrace and I'll tell you I was pleased as punch that wind was pushing me along on return leg!
I plan to go for a much shorter ride tomorrow, probably out to UBC, given today's distance,
Plan to redo Seymour Falls and by way of training, tomorrow morning Ray and I plan to head out towards UBC to ascend the Hills of Point Grey, 9th, 4th and Marine Drive, looping around campus first, from Crown/Marine. Cheers, Patrizio!
Ragin' Bull's Diesel Cruise has been delayed for a week or so, next Monday or Tuesday. Let me know if you would like to join us. I think Lost Paridiso is interested in coming along so Branymir will have three able bodied seamen to swab the decks if you are still willing to risk life and limb!
Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to continually be part of unanimity. -Christopher Morley, writer (1890-1957)
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