In the tangled web of European old city cobbled streets, I used LIVE view for the first time.
A preview of the augmented reality we’ll all be using soon.
NOW … Google Maps often screws up. LIVE view often doesn’t work. But when it does, it’s a game changer for those frequently lost. Like me. 😀
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I’ve also used Google Map LISTS for the first time. Very handy.
Best advice when visiting Lisbon is to eat MOST of your meals at Time Out.
It’s a massive place where you have a lot of choices at reasonable prices.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Over a couple of weeks, I ate there perhaps 6 times.
My favourite was something billed as a traditional Portuguese meat sandwich. I tried several variations.
Last time I Portugal, my favourite was the Francesinha ( ‘Little French Girl’). It’s a high calorie feed.
My friend Paulo recommended I try a traditional Portuguese light lunch. Cod croquettes alongside a beans dish.
Of course PORK is a mainstay in Spain and Portugal. This was a delicious dish … of some kind.
The traditional desert is a custard tart.
I’m looking forward to exploring the northern half of Vancouver Island by bike.
Sometime.
I’ll do some variation of the Tree to Sea Loop, 1000-kilometres on gravel around the lesser-known areas on the north end of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. It’s 90% unpaved.
Highlights include massive valleys, oceanside villages, towering coastal mountains, and deep fjords via an impressive patchwork of forest service roads.
Right now the route requires a water taxi from Tahsis to Zeballos, which will be replaced by the Unity Trail that will eventually connect the two communities.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I’m 64-years-young on November 2nd.
I’ll be celebrating in Lisbon, Portugal. You know — the most vaccinated nation in the world? 😇
No quarantine. No covid test. BLAST. Connecting in Montreal, I was one of about 10 connecting passengers informed that we did need a Covid test before getting on the plane. I got a 20 minute test at the airport for $150. Very confusing as Portugal allows vaccinated passengers to arrive without a test on TAP airlines and others. I blame Air Transat for poor communication.
I’ll be hiking famed Fisherman’s Trail. And Seven Hanging Valleys.
Renting a touring bicycle from BikeIberia.
BUT if anyone asks, I’m there mainly looking to get some dental work done. North American dentists are the most overpaid in the world.
As usual, I’m flying to Europe on Air Transat. Cheapest by far — BUT they don’t have many flights / week.
As it happens, I celebrated my 53rd birthday in Porto, Portugal. So this is something of a re-do.
I lived in the ‘toon for 10 years. After pandemic delays, I finally got back to visit my longtime friends there.
The big skies at dawn and dusk have a unique prairie beauty.
I been hangin’ around grain elevators
I been learnin’ ’bout food
I been talkin’ to soil farmers
I been workin’ on land
Warren took me disc golfing. NOW I’m planning to buy some discs of my own.
October in Saskatchewan I’m seeing thousands of Canada geese flying south every day.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Alastair Humphreys likes to cycle to remote huts in Scotland.
The Mountain Bothies Association administers about 100 such huts.
“… No tap, no sink, no beds, no lights, and, even if there is a fireplace, perhaps nothing to burn …”
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I’ve booked a number of flights lately. #PandemicOver 😀
I ALWAYS start with Matrix Airfare Search by ITA Software A few companies — e.g. Southwest — opted not to be included.
Even if my date of flight is fixed, I always start with “See calendar of lowest fares”.
Clicking around, once I have the price, date, details (usually AC or WJ), I go directly to the airline website to book the flight. One. Less. Middleman.
I try to avoid booking on a series of airlines as — when something goes wrong — each blames you and the other airline for your woes.
Google Matrix originally let you book flights. But the airlines complained so they dropped that feature.
If I can’t get the price promised on Matrix, I try Expedia or one of the other aggregators. Once in a while they have a block of cheaper tickets no longer available directly from the airline.
If that’s too confusing, here’s a comprehensive tutorial.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Recently I used another Google flight site, deciding to fly to Lisbon on November 1st from Calgary.
From that page you can click from any country to any continent. From Canada to Europe, for example.
As usual, Air Transat was the cheapest way to get to Europe from Canada.
In 2020 I enjoyed 14 multi-day trips on my Ghost. The 15th in November … I didn’t enjoy quite so much.
In 2021 this is only my 2nd multi-day cycling adventure. About 90km return. Overnight camping on Horne Lake. 22 hours total.
Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube. A peaceful, windless September night.
My first overnight TEST of the Checkpoint ALR 4 with full load. Mixed trail, highway and gravel.
Checkpoint passed with flying colours.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Due to the pandemic, it’s very difficult to TEST RIDE bikes. Shops simply don’t have much inventory.
I knew that the Trek Checkpoint line were often included in lists of top Gravel Bikes for All Terrain.
I was looking for something more rugged and with more carrying capacity than my otherwise excellent Ghost.
I ended up with the Checkpoint ALR 4 … mainly because I lucked into finding one in stock at West Point Cycles in Vancouver. Still — it took over 4 months to get the accessories I wanted.
This bike is Aluminum, not steel, so it’s relatively light at 10.26 kg / 22.62 lbs. Carbon fork.
It’s got a ton of attachments. I special ordered the deluxe BONTRAGER racks front and back. I’ll load up with 4 full size panniers for longer trips.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I bought an inexpensive (CAD $43) 25 litre rear top pannier bag for those trips I want even MORE capacity.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I upgraded the tires to BONTAGER HARD-CASE editions. That should mean fewer flats. Just in case, I have a saddle bag basic repair kit.
After considering wearing bike shoes, I’m happy to have decided on flashy flats with adjustable straps. Deftrap nylon platform pedals.
I’ve hidden an AirTag so can locate the bike with the FindMy app.
Internal cables are tidier.
I now have the option to use drop bar grips — but I normally prefer flat bars. Happily, I can switch between several handlebar positions on this rig.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I put a quad lock for my phone central on the Blendr Stem. It has two attachments, normally my light and GoPro.
Once in a while I’ll take off the saddlebags and use it like a mountain bike.
Click PLAY or see it action on YouTube.
What is the Rule of 430?
… a formula that demonstrates replacing about 430 driving miles with 430 riding miles can offset the carbon cost of your new bike. Anything above 430 miles, and your bike is now carbon-negative.
Future BIG bikepacking trips I’m considering include:
Rick McCharles 