Training Log Archive: hutspot

Was planning to paddle Lake of Bays today but couldn't due to my injured shoulder.

Cycle girl was visiting her parents in Baysville so she joined me on the group ride from The Bike Shop. Great ride except a nasty crash for me a few kilometers from the end. Cracked helmet, all kinds of bumps, bruises scrapes and cuts and some soft tissue damage to my shoulder.

But my bike's O.K. and I surprisingly didn't wreck my new shirt or shorts, eventhough the skin was scraped underneath. :)

C • ...trip over a Toepick? ...... 3

walked 3 one minute intervals. Larry joined me.

Lake #s 29, 30 & 31 Go Home Lake, Flatrock Lake and Irvine Lake

Larry was good enough to forsake running and biking to get me back on my paddling goal. First stop: Don's Bakery in Bala for some coffee and very yummy cinnamon buns.

Larry has policed this lake many times so he was a great tour guide The west side of the lake is crown land and quite rugged with all the canadian shield rock. A few choice campsites to choose from. Almost all the cottages are boat access so the marina is quite busy. Funny thing about this lake is that the speed limit is 40km/h in the narrows AND the boats do NOT slow down for paddlers at all! Crazy!

At the end of this lake is a pretty set of falls where we portaged into Flatrock lake. Pretty remote paddle to the next set of falls called Lady Gray falls which was quite spectacular. Larry played around in the whitewater while I got out and took pictures. From here you could portage into Gray lake but we turned around and paddled back to another falls called Flatrock falls . Here we had our picnic lunch and stretched our legs (and neck and shoulders) for a bit.

After lunch we phoned and made arrangements for David to pick Danielle up from work so we could tackle another lake. Across the top of Go Home lake into Mannings Bay where a waterski course is set up in the middle of this remote quiet bay. We searched for a creek that led us to a tiny trickle of a falls that was dammed up top by beavers. We climbed up the trail with the kayaks and put into Irvine Lake where there wasn't a single soul to be found. I wanted to go for a swim but Larry warned about Beaver Fever so we saved the swim for the way back.

The way back was windy and we were tired but what a great way to spend the day! Oh ya, I did have a quick swim which felt sooo good.

C • Awesome Day! 2

Bracebridge loop. Head wind going out so that was tough but beautiful coming back on Gravenhurst Parkway. Average speed: 25.6 km/h

After many months of not running due to a pinched sciatic nerve, I've decided to try again and see how it goes. The run felt pretty good.

I'll try for a couple of weeks and then decide if I'm signing up for Logs, Rocks and Steel. (Frost course option, of course).

:)

C • Yahoooo!!! 1

Group ride from the bike shop. Should probably say level 5 seeing as I was sucking wind the whole way! Interesting the improvement about 10 minutes after eating a gel. Average speed : 26.8 km/h

Lake # 28 Lake Muskoka

Nice wvwning paddle with Larry. We were too hot to travel any farther for a paddle. Luckily, Lake Muskoka is just down the road and I haven't paddled it yet this year.

Great ride with Debbie down Muldrew lake rd and Old Stone Road trail. Crazy muddy and the horse flies were relentless!

C • Riding again! 2

After spending most of my day cleaning my bike and napping, I hopped on the bike to pick up some groceries. Good way to loosen those muscles.

LRT race in Mattawa with Cyclegirl. Great race but she definitely outbiked me. Both of us had one spill but nothing serious. I made better time than I did the last two times I raced this race. But...I had a tougher time. Obviously not enough time in the saddle this year. Some pretty serious cramping...

Actual stopped bike time was 4:44:05 Stopped at 30km to eat a bagel and at checkpoint #3 for bike maintenance, After the crazy mud section the brakes and gears were seized up. He cleaned the cables, adjusted brakes and oiled the chain. Worked much better after that but definitely lost some time. Still better than a broken chain.

C • Well done! 2

Some really great prizing at the race:

A Jamis bike, a gps system, a SPOT system., helmet, bike pumps and much more. I won some handlebar grips which was sweet because I needed them.

This week I need to catch up on my paddling. I'm behind a couple of lakes.

Washago area with Jennifer. Time is a little off due to the flat tire near the end of our ride.

Trying to get a ride in between the bouts of rain. Birdybird's first ride after his tumble. Muldrew Lake road.

Short hike at the Torrance Barrens with Cyclegirl and Birdybird. Deerflies were crazy!

Devil's Gap trail , Southwood road and Old Stone Road trail loop with Cyclegirl. Getting a little more time in the saddle before the Lost in the Rocks and Trees race. She was a little faster than me so it was a good workout (read: I was sucking wind a bit). Clipless went very well. Lots of water on the trails.

TOC's wed. night park series with Lori. Walked it mostly due to the crazy heat. No problem finding the controls. Should have done the long course.

Clipless at Buckwallow with Birdybird and Larry. No injuries! :)

Well...for me that is. Birdybird went over the handlebars and landed on his chest and cut his nose. He's on blood thinners so it wasn't pretty.

C • Ouch 2

Lake # 27 Clear lake

Solo paddle. Had to ask for permission to use a cottager's boat launch. It appears that Clear lake is completely surrounded by private property. Larry told me who to approach, a very friendly old guy who he thought lives by himself. Well he doesn't... His wife was not happy to see me and didn't want to let me on the lake. Something about an agreement to not let other boaters on the lake. Her husband then said it probably doesn't apply to kayaks. They discussed it for a bit and she asked me if my kayak was clean (?) To which i answered that it was not covered in Zebra mussels.

End result , if I was only paddling for an hour ,I could access there and park in their driveway. Nice people after all only the lady was a little suspicious :)

Muldrew lake road , including short atv trail to try the clipless pedals again. A few adjustments but they're working out well.

C • Clipless 4

Lake # 26 Wood Lake

Debbie and I went out on a spur-of-the-moment paddle at 8pm tonight. Picked up a geocache on an island, went for a swim and took pictures.

Pretty to paddle past all the campfires and people out fishing.

Regisreded for the Lost in the Rocks and Trees mountain bike race up in Mattawa July 17th. Pumped!

C • Looks like a great race! 3

Group ride with The Bike Shop:

Was hoping to get into a middle pack group but ended up with the lead group which was a little fast. But I did not head back with a third of them at the 15 km mark because I wanted to go the distance. Some of it I ended up on my own but on the way back I enedec up with a gentleman who set a good pace averaging about 30k/h. Turns out there was no middle group anyways.

Biked from town out the Muskoka Beac road: 118 west and Beaumont drive.

Great work out!

Two rounds of Buckwallow with Birdybird. A nice crowd there today on Canada day.

Lake # 25 Prospect lake

Birdybird and I picked a smaller lake to put into seeing as it was fairly windy out. Tried to figure out which cottage was Debbie's. Think I might know but will have to confirm.

Great day!