Just in time!

I need to cycle 37km to hit 2000km on my road bike this year, and checking the weather forecast during the week I realise that Saturday is the day to do it.

 

Rechecking the weather Saturday morning and things look ominous...

 

 

However, we are planning a morning ride, so hopefully we will beat the first snows, which are due to arrive at 3pm!

 

 

Earlier in the week we sent an email to a few friends to see if anyone was interesting in joining us on the Saturday ride.  Amazingly, despite the weather forecast there are nine of us that turn up.  As we set off through the old port I practise getting my camera out my back pocket and taking a picture as I ride.  Fortunately this is accomplished without falling off!

 

 

Today we are heading to Nun's Island.  Destination Mme Clafoutis for coffee and a croissant.  At one point on the ride I am asked if we are lost, to which I feel the answer must  be yes.  If you are on Nun's Island you are by definition lost.  It is a complete warren of roads and the only way to figure out how to get round is to hug the shoreline.

 

Here are the nine hardy cyclists, not lost, on Nun's Island  Neil, Jonah, Tristan, Adrienne, Monika, myself, Stuart, Stephane and Cecile

 

 

At one point Monika takes us on a detour to the shoreline.....

 

 

....to show us a lovely seat for a wee rest where you can dip your toes in the St Laurent river.  I think we'll save that pleasure for a summer bike ride.

 

 

After completing a circuit of the island we reach our goal!

 

 

 

....and are sated with the most amazing croissants.  I chose the chocolatine and pistachio which is awesome.  No-one is brave enough to try the Mon Dieu, which is a croissant that contains everything - chocolate, maple syrup, almonds, pistachios.  It's not for the faint hearted!

 

 

This is definitely what cycling is all about  (well, for me anyway!)  coffee shops and good friends!

 

After a quick calculation of distance ridden and distance left to ride I realise that the return journey is not enough to hit the target.  Therefore a detour is needed.  So we leave Nun's island on the Estacade - the Ice Bridge.  A bridge that was built to protect the Champlain Bridge from the ice floes in winter.

 

 

The Estacade is a car free bridge - great for cyclists!  (More photos whilst cycling - I'm getting good at this!)

 

 

Although, I'm not quite ready for the hands free approach that some people take  (and quite frankly this is just showing off!)

 

 

 

Our route takes us onto the Gilles Villeneuve track, where the formula one cars race.  A couple of cars do drive past us, but I'm not quick enough to capture them on camera.

 

We also get to ride next to Habitat 67, yep still ugly!

 

 

Finally, we arrive back at St Louis square, and thanks to our friends for the good company this morning!

 

 

The ride back was calculated to perfection.  I hit 2000km as we ride around the square...

 

...and no snow so far!

Y2K....?

.... well why not?

At the end of my last ride I realised that I was 101km short of having cycled 2,000km on my beloved new road bike in its first season.  This does not seem right and needs to be fixed.

 

Despite entering the month of November and temperatures dropping to freezing, the weather forecast for Sunday looks excellent - blue skies and sunshine (my favourite!)

 

As we set off down Lachine Canal we realise that some of the puddles are frozen, so extra care is needed, plus many branches are strewn across the bike path following a mega gale on Friday.

Despite the hazards we make excellent progress and at one point I realise that I am cycling at 25km/hr without pedalling all that much.  I mention to Stuart that the return journey may be a little challenging.  He says it is important to enjoy the outward journey rather than worrying about the return or you wont enjoy any of the ride.  Fair enough!

Given the sub-zero temperatures we decided not to attempt the 101km in one day, so it was destination Pointe Claire for a 60km round trip.
I couldn't decide what picture to use to symbolise Pointe Claire.  Really it should be the little church that sits on the point of Pointe Claire...

 

 

 

...however, I feel the cake counter at the Patisserie and Boulangerie is more representative!  Stuart always has the muesli and date muffin, which we have deemed to be the healthiest treat in the store.  Today I had a particularly impressive iced cinnamon danish swirl thing. Who knows why my weight doesn't seem to be decreasing despite all the cycling?  (Note - in the earlier picture on this page I have many layers on for warmth!)

 

By the time we get to Pointe Claire my toes have been replaced by 10 little ice cubes, so we spend quite a while here gradually warming up.

 

 

Halfway home and I stop to take a picture of the small lighthouse at the end of the Lachine Canal.  There are in fact two lighthouses, one in the distance that sits on the end of a point, and one hidden in the trees.  The lighthouse may be a symbol of safety to sailors, but to me it symbolises a handy bathroom stop on the way home.  However, it seems that public restrooms are only open during the warmer months, no idea why - my bladder isn't seasonal!

 

We are lucky on the return journey, the wind has dropped making the homeward ride just as enjoyable as the outbound.  It has been a glorious day, sunshine makes cycling special!

 

 

A quick stop at Atwater market on the way home, and Stuart has a pannier full of organic goodies.

 

Finally, home again and I think today was one of my favourite rides of the season.  Perhaps it is the knowledge that we will soon be losing all the wonderful colours to a blanket of white for a few months that made the ride so poignant.

 

So, only 37km to go!  Will we make it before the snow comes?!