Vegging by the pond

Day 40 & 41, Rest and Rest. in Ottawa...
Dist: Beer, Avg spd: Chinese Buffet,  Saddle Time:  Cat vs. Cat 
06 26 2011 & 06 27 2011
I am submitting Day 40 and 41 into this post for simplicity.
Hanging out with David and Anna at their castle in Ottawa is a fantastic way to spend 2 days off.
I introduced Highwaycat to everyone. Of coarse she was an instant hit. Anna thought that Highwaycat was larger, like the size of a Triceratops perhaps. Celebrities are often larger than life. Calpurnia (Resident guard cat) had a nice chat with HWC. I don't know what was said, but I think that some ground rules may have been established. They got along just fine after that. Intelligent cats such as these rarely have problems adapting to new situations. Humans could learn a thing or two.
It was nice to have food, beer and coffee at my disposal. Anna is extremely thoughtful as there is never a hesitation when it comes to catering to my every demand. After all, she is a Greek woman ya know. (Kidding in a nice way Anna)
David has a nice pond in his back yard that he constructed by himself, complete with large boulders, lights, running water and pond monsters. Toads enjoy hanging out there at night. Oh my god, they are so loud ! I had no idea that toads could be this audible, very cool.
I spent a day as a tourist on my bike. I hit the hot spots like the Rideau Canal and downtown Ottawa. It was nice to ride around casually without all my gear. The weather was fantastic too.
Chores such as laundry and bike maintenance were easily taken care of as well as hanging up my tent to dry out.
We did lots of other things that were great, but I must sum it up now. Staying at Camp Binkus was a welcome stop. Seeing David, Anna, Calpurnia and my Aunt was a fantastic opportunity that could not be passed up. My best stopover so far !!

Thanks for the great hospitality Guys !!

I had to get past the Gate Keepers

Then I had to bribe the Chief Security Officer...He took Evil thoughts that were locked deep in my subconscious. A win-win scenario.   

Bumble Bee on purple thingamabob

Beechwood Cemetery 

Visit the sister that I never met. I shouldn't be smiling.

"This pond has some serious flaws... I'll find those bastards soon " 

Cousin David and my Aunt Helen

Gardens at the Beechwood Cemetery Ottawa 

The Binkus Pond. A diverse collection of life forms reside and thrive here. Swimming is not encouraged.

Noisy little bastard...

Another brutal thankless annoying day...

"My thoughts are your thoughts..."

This piece of Junk is so primitive. What a loser.

"Ya, well, I don't speak of my travels because I don't want to intimidate anyone, besides, I don't buy that one about bunny hopping over a tractor trailer or the story about 2 Black bears a Powerbar and a spoke wrench." Blasphemy !

"OK What's this meeting about"

It's a bloody Zoo over here 

The old Homestead. I grew up at this campsite . 'Cardinal Heights', Gloucester. David took me on a drive-by just to fill a curious void. Many fond memories created here.  Someone else lives here now.

Cool name for a bike shop. Nothing here for me though. 

Outside Canadian Museum of Nature

I used to love this  Museum..."Canadian Museum of Nature" Back when I was a youngster, this facility had a nice Dinosaur collection. My father used to bring me here, I loved the fossils, still do. Most of it was moved to a newer facility in Hull Quebec, "Museum of Civilization"  A brilliantly designed building.

Museum of Nature 

Digging up S. Bank Street...

Warzone

Bad for business, but gotta be done

The Rideau Canal near Dows Lake. Beautiful. I took these places for granted when I lived here.

Multi-use trail around the Canal. Maybe 20 km round trip from downtown to Dows Lk. Not sure. A great skating rink in the winter for sure. "Winterlood" is a big event in February.

Rideau River

Trail following the Rideau River. Nice. (near the Binks Campsite)

This store has expanded since my days growing up in Ottawa. Got myself some new bike gloves, water bottle and calorie bars. Nice store.

New bike bottle. Lost my nice easy-clean bottle.  

View Larger Map General area of Ottawa that I pedalled and strolled around...

Otta - Frig'n- Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa !!!!!

Day 39, Pembroke - Ottawa (Where I was built)
Dist, 159km, 24km/hr, Saddle Time 6:36


06 25 2011,
I rode the 17 til I realized that it had changed to the 417. I got off on #20 and into a tiny town called Kinburn. (I guess that when the road transforms from a 1 lane with a tiny shoulder to a 4 lane with a huge shoulder, I should've clued in) I had wanted to visit Fitzroy Harbour Pov. Park for old time sake, but I had missed the turn and didn't feel like turning back. ("turning back" is forbidden, unless absolutely necessary). This was a popular camping/party spot for me and fellow dirt bags back in the day when "Two - Four" meant 24 beers, not "Two for One" at the local retail outlet of your choice. Many a hangover spent here. Good times indeed.
FITZROY !
The ride from Pembroke to Arnprior was AWFUL. Pretty much a "swear-fest" the whole way. Half of the time the 1 foot shoulder was crumbling and it was like riding cobbles, and the other half was BRAND NEW SECTIONS with a rumble strip thrown in. They actually CUT a rumble stip into the new shoulder rendering it useless to me. I was forced to ride the white line. Brainless Arshole Anti-Cyclist Goofs at the Ontario Road Engineering department. I'm so Pissed. Luckily, I got off the #17 when it turned to the #417 highway. I took the 20 to Kilburn. A tiny town with a small store where I found eats and advice. The E. Indian owner told  me to follow something or other to "Donald B. Munro ". Useful advice as I had no idea where to go.
Thankfully the ride from Kilburn to Kanata was quiet and beautiful. I took the Donald B. Munro Dr which zig zagged through the countryside with no cars, just farms and the sound of birds.
I got dissoriented around a town called Carp, but managed to find Carling Av.. in Kanata. This took me almost straight to my cousin David and his wife Anna's castle. (And yes, The Home of the Great Cat CALPURNIA)
This stretch of road was nasty!  Pot holes, Evil Cars and Flotsom and or Jetsom was strewn about. I think I saw a black hole or 2 as well. Finding the destination was a welcome sight. David (my cousin) was at the front door waiting to greet me with beer in hand. Sweet sweet man. Ha Ha...

GRANDMA'S HOUSE !! (from the good'ol days) Lots of ghosts in here, especially up the spiral staircase to the attic 

I may be smiling now, but this place used to, and still does creep me out. It looks great though, which is good to see. Such strong childhood memories..."Hail Peever Clan !"

A car seemed to drive by everytime I tried to take this. I wonder if anyone was watching me. "Mommy who's that weird man outside our house ?"

The neighbourhood 

This street corner

The other street corner

Downtown Pembroke, cool place of old and newish. I have no memories of the town, just the drive from Ottawa, and the house. Why didn't I see the town as a child ? hmmm...

Some rare nice blacktop 

"I'm Leav'n, Leavi'n here" (Motorhead) East of coarse

It's worse than ya think. On a 97 pound road bike with 100 PSI tires and a 178 lb rider, this feels like driving a car on a train track. (I haven't done that, but I think it's a good comparison) This is fresh blacktop. Why couldn't they put the Rumble Strip on the white line ? I'm forced out into traffic otherwise. When will cyclists get recognition across (all of) Canada ? Ontario Sucks !

Sketches showing old and new highways. Even with brand new highway, there is no place for a bike. Ontario is pathetic.

I think Highway Billy Bob used the wrong sign here. This hill wasn't too impressive. I mean, this is the Ottawa Valley for Christ sake.

Gloomy boring crappy road ahead...

Nice shop seemed out of place outside Renfrew

Well kept ghost community

Taking the #20 to Kinburn off the 417

Overpass looking at the 417 East

A much quieter, slower yet more interesting country route zig - zagging through the Ottawa Valley farmlands. Nice.

Nice new door on the right anyway

Straight stretch into lonely darkness... Nice

Lovely church with a bench screaming to be sat on... Alas, no one in sight.

No stopping here. Nothing available anyway.

Farm art

Carling Ave, Little Italy near Downtown Ottawa

 Camp Binkus. This facility offers free beer, food and toads ! That's cousin David in the doorway. He and Anna share this castle with Calpurnia "The Great Cat".  Definitely an oasis amongst evil.

Once I navigated past the Gnomes and other landscape furniture, I found my safe zone. Ahhh!...

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