Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[kahn]

It’s a very traditional combination, I also prefer tinned plum tomatoes to grilled tomatoes.

Similarly, we Brits find pancakes and Maple syrup with bacon and sausages a strange combination. Our pancakes are much thinner and we traditionally have them on Pancake day (Shrove Tuesday, which is 47 days before Easter) with sugar and lemon juice.

I prefer waffles although my friend makes these great cottage cheese and blueberry pancakes.

Here's one breakfast from China

 

[Cowlitz]

I believe our Navy has beans for breakfast at least once a week.

No bike ride today. Very gusty weather systems are coming through. I just got caught in a pollen storm (it's time for the yard conifers to get it on) and then rain blew in so we had a mixture of pollen and rain. Not good for a bike ride.

 

[DiggyGun]

I prefer waffles although my friend makes these great cottage cheese and blueberry pancakes.

Here's one breakfast from China

View attachment 122538

I remember the times I have been in China, breakfast was the same as the food you ate in the evening.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I remember the times I have been in China, breakfast was the same as the food you ate in the evening.

I also remember the times I have been in China. As I lived in the "Chinese international" hotels (as opposed to "Western international" ones) the food was generally inedible at all. Because it was genuine Chinese food. And no fork or a knife.

 

[kahn]

I remember the times I have been in China, breakfast was the same as the food you ate in the evening.

Yes, there was a ton of what I'd call SAVORY foods and veggies. But they also catered to foreign tastes at these hotels. Our Chinese guide even gave my cholesterol avoiding friend a note on an egg white omelet.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Wow, so much happens when you stray from the forums for a few days! Unfortunately, spring fever has recently kept me busy with yard work and other related tasks. I did manage to sneak out for a couple of trail sessions but haven’t been able to get out on the road until today.

Hard to follow up with @DiggyGun ‘s wonderful trip reports. Thanks for sharing those awesome photos. If there was an award for picnic king and queen you folks would definitely get my vote.

My wife and I did another 38km loop (without PAS) starting from our home base and out along the local rural roads/secondary hwys. Our usual route would normally have us travel out further out along Hwy 11 but we find that these shorter more frequent trips suit us better for training when it comes to doing longer rides with more elevation gain.



We did make a stopover at a really neat roadside eatery on the return leg home…next time we’ll remember to bring cash.

Jonah, the proprietor, has been feeding the locals for several years and decided to setup shop east of Red Deer along Hwy 808 on his brother’s property. If you’re ever in the area, check him out!

Shackehlicious | Red Deer AB

Shackehlicious, Red Deer, Alberta. 1,364 likes · 3 talking about this · 263 were here. Freshly made Crêpes and Salads made right in front of you.

www.facebook.com

Shack made pesto, pickled mushrooms, dressing and Shack BBQ sauce sold out of the bright yellow shed.

Mini golf anyone?

Jonah also grows his own fresh produce/herbs.



How truly Canadiana is that sign!

It's always good sign to see the farmers busy working the fields. They're off somewhat to a late start to seeding this season due to the rather inclement weather that we received over the past few weeks.

My better half pulls her own weight when it comes to climbs and the many hours that she spent on the roller trainer in the off season has really paid off in terms of her overall strength and endurance.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I prefer waffles although my friend makes these great cottage cheese and blueberry pancakes.

Here's one breakfast from China

View attachment 122538

You, @kahn , are a well traveled man! I do agree that after a trip like that, nothing beats a simple stack of blueberry hotcakes.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I believe Art (Prairie Dog) detailed an excellent review of this trip over the Highwood Pass last year but obviously we were a bit early in our push to the summit this year.

View attachment 122449

Hi Bill, the road up to the Highwood Pass is closed to vehicular traffic until June 15 providing safe passage for us roadies until then. We’re planning another trip there hopefully this month but only if there isn’t any snow on the road. Which brings me to my next question…are you pulling a wheelie off in the pic that you posted above? If so, you da man!!

 

[Twin Valley]

Hi Bill, the road up to the Highwood Pass is closed to vehicular traffic until June 15 providing safe passage for us roadies until then. We’re planning another trip there hopefully this month but only if there isn’t any snow on the road. Which brings me to my next question…are you pulling a wheelie off in the pic that you posted above? If so, you da man!!

View attachment 122586

from the south entrance gate on Highwood we are looking at 37 km and about 600 metre gain, we made it half way before snow and a good 3 or 4 inches of ice underneath so its going to take a good melt or snow plow to get this in before June 15, I did hear a rumour that a plow would be sent that way by June 01 so hoping for that for you folks, any wheelie you might notice on my ascent of the off road trail up the ridge would have been poor body positioning and a slight panic on the steep slope knowing full well if I spun out there would be no starting up in the middle of the hill, but what I lack in skill that e-bike finds a way for me, after 3 years of e-biking that smile never goes away p.s. I mentioned to my bride of 42 years that I was da man but got that familiar eye roll that tells me to keep dreaming . . .

 

[kahn]

@Prairie Dog I settled for blueberry waffles this morning but altered the batter to use my steel cut already cooked oatmeal. Good breakfast - wasted but "waisted" on a rainy day AGAIN!

 

[Chargeride]

I guess I have to ask: What is with the British and baked beans for breakfast? They were also available at breakfast at our various hotels when touring China.

I dont like the term baked bean.

I prefer delicately roasted and blanched Navy beans in a Mediterranean tomato sauce, spiced with salt and sugar, often served on a bed of lightly toasted bread smothered in a hot butter dressing.

 

[kahn]

I dont like the term baked bean.

I prefer delicately roasted and blanched Navy beans in a Mediterranean tomato sauce, spiced with salt and sugar, often served on a bed of lightly toasted bread smothered in a hot butter dressing.

Oh, you are right - so much better than "baked beans!" Of course, growing up, my mom had a special recipe. Franks and Beans. Sliced hot dogs and baked bean to which she would add additional brown sugar and ketchup and bake it until it was nicely dried or quite thickened and with a slight crust. Excellent. Oh, and the real trick to this was to use vegetarian baked beans (even though hot dogs were part of the dish). But it was not a breakfast dish. I will admit I always like cold Chinese food or pizza the next morning.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I apologise for being curt today.

 

[mikeschn]

View attachment 122618
I apologise for being curt today.

Wow, 88 miles... does that include the straight line shown on your map?

Mike...

 

[ChezCheese:)]

Wasn't expecting to even ride today, as the forecast was for rain (of course.) But the sun was shining this morning, so I said to my husband let's go for a ride. But he wanted to do stretching and paperwork, so we didn't leave for 90minutes, by which time the sky was darkening. Finally got him going and about 3 miles along it started raining. Not too badly. Then it really started raining, and HAILING. Also, we had forgotten it was Sat, not Sunday, so there was a lot more traffic on the route we chose. We sheltered under a tree for a bit, then plowed on. Then it rained and hailed on us so much that once again we had to pull over for quite some time. By the time we got back, my feet were sloshing inside my shoes and my pants were soaked. Water was dripping through my helmet. It was just ridiculous! But I made it up the hill to our house faster than I ever have before, because I wanted to get out of that rain and hail! A half marathon in a downpour. Now I am in drynwarm clothes, there's a fire in the woodstove, opera on the radio, and cheese and crackers. Life is good!

 

[mikeschn]

Looks like it's good weather all over the place! (Except for the Pacific NW, and maybe part of the east coast, like PA and VA.) Heck, even Poland has nice weather! I imagine everyone is outside riding their legs off. I know I did!

I'm waiting for the reports and the photos to start trickling in!

Mike...

 

[mikeschn]

So it was a beautiful weather day here today. So I went maybe 20 miles round trip, in no hurry. The first part of my journey was between 10 and 15 mph.

It was very busy on the trail today... Lots of people walking too. I had to do a lot of "on your left" and bell ringing!

The local tavern was also packed!

I rode the Vado today, and it's probably my favorite ebike.

Here's a map if anyone is interested...

Even the wildlife was out... I had to gobble with the turkeys, and crawl with the turtles!

 

[kahn]

Wasn't expecting to even ride today, as the forecast was for rain (of course.) But the sun was shining this morning, so I said to my husband let's go for a ride. But he wanted to do stretching and paperwork, so we didn't leave for 90minutes, by which time the sky was darkening. Finally got him going and about 3 miles along it started raining. Not too badly. Then it really started raining, and HAILING. Also, we had forgotten it was Sat, not Sunday, so there was a lot more traffic on the route we chose. We sheltered under a tree for a bit, then plowed on. Then it rained and hailed on us so much that once again we had to pull over for quite some time. By the time we got back, my feet were sloshing inside my shoes and my pants were soaked. Water was dripping through my helmet. It was just ridiculous! But I made it up the hill to our house faster than I ever have before, because I wanted to get out of that rain and hail! A half marathon in a downpour. Now I am in drynwarm clothes, there's a fire in the woodstove, opera on the radio, and cheese and crackers. Life is good!

I started getting ready to ride three times this morning as the sun cast shadows. And then it did NOT. Then it did. About halfway through my ride, it began spitting and it was very black to the northwest. Skipped Golden Gardens, just descended and headed south and east and then north toward home. Avoided anymore rain. The winds were brisk. Probably one of my shorter rides at around 12 miles and 700 feet. But I was dry until I showered

I specifically only wore bike shorts today figuring if it rained there's be less soaking wet clothing and I could deal with a little chill rather than really wet leggings.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Wow, 88 miles... does that include the straight line shown on your map?

Mike...

The straight line is called "transport" and is not included (you pause your bike GPS computer for transport). It was 113 km in northeast Mazovia, and 15+14 km to get to/from the meeting point with Jacek. That was a very interesting trip as both I and my brother were testing "the minimal assistance" for the maximum battery range. My single Specialized battery with 495 Wh of charge was good for 90 km (then I swapped batteries). Jacek's range was 187 km with 20% of a Giant 625 Wh battery charge left! (He is more than twice as strong as I am!)

Many interesting pictures and a story will follow!

I wanted to ride for 90 miles to impress you people but gave up

One of the photos (this one taken by Jacek on the ride). We were wondering if we would get caught by raining. Not. Gorgeous, sunny and warm weather!

 

[Deacon Blues]

Rode up Little Mountain Road today, which is a seriously steep hill. Only a handful of riders on regular bikes have made it to the top without having to get off and walk.
I don't know the degrees of steepness, but it's a bitch.
Here's a photo from the top.