Depot Lake Loop July 2019

The day before flying to Vancouver finally made the run up to Depot Lakes to do the loop. It has taken many weeks to get to this point. And knowing it is a remote gravel road loop which would mean no cars.

Depot Lakes Loop July 2019

Got there to discover that the Cataraqui Conservation Authority had implemented pay parking. Funny thing is they when checked online claimed they had given advance warning which based on last Decembers ride. They did not as recall no notices of 2019 becoming you have to pay to park in a barely maintained lot. Great way to ambush users.

But back to the task at hand. This would be the first long ride with hills and such since got crushed by a car in march. So had no expectations of anything other then see how it felt especially before BC. And would be the first long ride with the Chromag Wideangle. And would do it with flat pedals.

Made it to the Echo Lake Site with no issues well aside from the Deer Flies following along. Which meant a brief stop to look and take a pic. Then get moving again before to many landed. Heading down the road was starting to think of the long climb of the route known as Haddock's Hill. This would be a test of my knee and leg.

And while not fast in any capacity got up and over with no pain in the right leg or knee. Which was good and very relieved. From there it was the slightly rolling gravel back to the Dirtbag Ute. Which went by as always quicker then you think.

Almost forgetting that last hill near the end but rode up it no problem and then was back at the start. While it wasn't fast it was a good long ride on the Chromag Wideangle and good about the right knee. As it was important as was confirming the issue that riding was ok. While all the pain was caused by walking to much. And this confirmed it.

It was definitely a dusty ride this time round the loop. But that was still a good ride.

Thomas P Murray Recreation Trails Combermere ON

Helping a friend out allowed me to go north way north of Kaladar near Barry's Bay in the village of Combermere during the first couple of days of July. While I did bring the Chromag I wasn't expecting much as there is nothing showing up on Trailforks.

However having the Backroads Map Book for Cottage Country I did notice something that might be worth it. The Thomas P Murray Recreation Trails just north of Combermere on Highway 62 while ATV and snowmobile track might be rideable. Plus it showed a bike on the what you could do there. But without riding you never know.

http://www.madriverrentals.ca/images/maps/TPMtrailMap.pdf

Starting an exploration of a new system might not be a good idea during full bore Deer Fly season but couldn't be helped. After trying the first of 2 trailheads that where signed and finding not much parking went up 62 to the second and found a better option. Heading in it was as expected sandy  ATV track.  Nothing exciting but still was riding in the woods.

First trail was on I found out was Red Pine Trail which eventually reached a junction where I headed right and ended up on Tom's Trail.  It was so far pretty much mid 80's kind of mountain biking where you rode what you could. So after a while reached another juncture and headed right onto what was called Drohan's Trail. This it turns out was to be a mistake but unless you had local knowledge you wouldn't know.

Drohan's Trail started ok and had the usual backcountry conditions of rough and some mud. No bi deal. How little I knew that would change as soon it devolved into Hellbiking. A good chunk had been made unrideable with all the trees downed by wind. So a good chunk of effort was put into getting through that and all the over growth.

After a while of that finally came to another junction that was the main route which led back to the Dirtbag Ute. And some cold fluids as it was a hot day to do some Hellbiking unintentionally. And as Drohan's Trail showed there was minimal if that trail maintenance in Combermere.

While it shows there is potentially something rideable in the Thomas P Murray Trails it is best looked at either early Spring or in September when the bugs die off and the overgrowth isn't as bad. That way one can go in and really see and figure out what is there.

Thomas P Murray Trails Hellbike

However the Thomas P Murray |Recreation Trails are backcountry mountain biking. To go in you need to bring gear to do bike repairs and what not to be able to self extract.  Print up a version of the trail map before you go in and use it with the Trailforks record your ride so you can navigate your way. But do not just rely on Trailforks. Remember at all times this is remote and rescue will take far longer. Bring gear for weather changes.

And due to location leave a cooler in the truck with water and food for after the ride. That way you can cool off and drive safely not craving food. Hopefully might be able to visit once more in the future.

Kingston Trophy 2019

June 1st was the early last stop of the Substance Projects marathon race series. And as per usual was out doing course work...well as best as could due to the recovering from the getting crushed by a car.

Race day I entered the Short Course 17km again as it was the smarter decision. Not much one can say as had to ride as hard as could yet be careful of my knee. And am still trying to get the riding feel I usually have to come back. So it was a harder ride then usual for even the 17km.

It  is hard to accept mediocre races when you know you could be better and in your mind should be. This is why after the previous race coming to a decision that maybe was meant to be. And something my Lapdog team mate Barry stated after riding the LSC in May after I finished it.

I showed up to both races in reality angry and fed up. Angry because some self entitled prat tried to crush me with a vehicle. In truth it was me showing I wasn't a fully broken mess and saying fuck you to it all.  Because in my head it was one more thing taken away by a shitty human who will never be punished. And because laying around would have been worse for the second case of PTSD I now have.

So while I did get the medal again and got a PR on a section of the course. After was the decision that had put off.  The decision was to not race till 2020 and just focus on riding and trying to ride stuff. Not worry about mileage at all while try to figure out the mess that is my body.

Long Sock Classic 2019

10 weeks to come into the 2019 Long Sock Classic with a different mindset and many unknown body factors. 10 weeks since crushed by a car driven by a hit and run driver.

Race day after driving down with a barely 3 day old knee brace lined up with the short course 17km group. Reality I had no goals nor any expectations as had no handling time and only begun working on the mess my body became on March 4th. Plus had really no trail time on the new bike.

Once the race started and despite an initial faster then normal start began the grind. There was no flow or right mindset. It was pretty much a fight to try and ride trail while trying to get some kind of flow going. Had to stop 4 times to adjust the knee brace as it was not just right yet. Hoofing it up up to many hills as was paranoid about my knee.

It took 13km before I came even close to getting anything that felt close to what I know works. So for maybe 4 km kind of felt some flow but no power. Kind of understandable as spent 10 weeks starting the process of post getting crushed by a car recovery. And finally the finish line. While it was good to be out was kind of frustrating as legs felt like garbage.

After hanging out for a while with teammates found out that had placed 3rd in the short course open category.  So had an unexpected bonus to the day. Kind of a break from dealing with the crap from the few weeks prior.

March 4th 2019 A Bad Day

7 years and 7 months since I was last hit by a car in Ontario. Which was March 4th 2019 of getting hit.

Warning link has blood.

Pinball

March 4th of 2019 was taken out by a hit and run driver who left me to suffer at the side of the road. All I heard was the sound of an engine revving then it was tumbling and landing in pain and bleeding on the sidewalk. I was taken to the ER at KGH with a possible spine, cervical, and head trauma or concussion. Eye was swollen and potential knee damage.

While the physical injuries heal and head was cleared of fractured skull that is not the end of it all. Because while physical injuries have healed and everyone talks like it is all good. Reality is the mental injury which no one sees takes longer. And about a week after the bad dreams started. While I don't recall those bad dreams I know they happen as I don't sleep as well that night.

And nearly 2 months later while am down to waiting on my MRI. I still haven't even ridden on the sidewalk near traffic. Am worried that I will have a bad interaction and end up in jail. People will say things like be the better person. Or you will get over it. That is nonsense. Knowing what I know now. I won't just get over it or move on. All I will be able to do is work on ways to manage the mental effects of being left to die on the sidewalk.

It will be hard to heal the mental side but will be easier talking to a counsellor to at least better manage it better.

Current goals...

Long Sock Classic May 18th at Ganaraska
  Kingston Trophy June 1st

Simply ride to places via the sidewalk.

And figure it out as best as can as it progresses.

Minus 29 Hike

On Saturday Jan 19th with the minus 29 temperatures that would cause my freehub to take a sick day. In an effort to do something headed out to hike into the Swampatorium. Boredom and such being the avoidance exercise.

Minus 29 Frozen Few Hike

And since I never have been in there with snow on the ground figured it was worth an effort.

I haven't gotten in there in winter but it was good to take a look. Have been told that one can backcountry ski across the swamp when it is this frozen.

The minis 29 cold didn't even get through the old school Mountain Equipment Co-Op heavy fleece mountaineering pants. WOOO.  of course with this level of cold one does feel a bit chilled no matter what. Now to stalk the weather forecast to aim for the recce ski up the Hwy 2 Hydroline to Oddessa and see how close it actually gets.

2018 Northumberland Humbler Half Marathon

Saturday Sept 29th 2018 was the final race in the Substance Projects Half Marathon Series at the Northumberland Forest. While initially had planned to drive down and camp in the Dirtbag Ute to make life easier. ended up going early in the morning. Oh well.

This race would be different as aside from the Paul's Dirty Enduro racing is done by labour day weekend. By end of September it is fun time on bikes.

As always follow my older and wiser pre race plan of arriving maybe 45 minutes before the half marathon start. Why arrive early and have to kill more time and over think even further? How about Nope. After getting the plate and getting the bike ready.

Got off to a better start then usual and as always rode the first half conservatively as I start racing truly at the aid station for the last half. Of course with the first half going smoothly have to screw up for the first time at a Substance Projects race over shooting a turn at an intersection. Once back up to the rest and back in flow got to the aid station and the road crossing.

Cross the road and in the immortal words of Phil Liggett...the preliminaries are over. Now the work begins to maintain flow while pushing it for the next 15km. Knowing that will reel in many as so many burn it all in the first half.  Nailed all the downhills and corners. Caught a a few racers who slowed down in the second half....never blow it all in the first half.

Back across the road crossing and down the sand road to the turn onto the last few KM's of singletrack. After the singletrack was the finish. Good day at the races with a 3rd in Clydesdale for the day and with the second year as Ontario Half Marathon Clydesdale champ. Wooo