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 …”
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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.
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I bought an inexpensive (CAD $43) 25 litre rear top pannier bag for those trips I want even MORE capacity.
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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.
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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:
I happily joined in the Adlard family and friends vacation to Newport, Oregon following our climb of Mt Adams, Washington.
Newport only has a population of 11,000 yet is a big tourist destination. Great beaches.
Here’s the vista from their rented beach house deck.
We enjoyed cycling the HUGE beach. (VIDEO)
It’s WINDY so Kites and Kite Surfing are popular.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
That’s close to Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area. A fun stop.
Oregon Coast Aquarium is well worth a visit too.
We had 3 terrific dinners at seafood restaurants on Newport’s Historic Bayfront. Research for Chef Dave Adlard.
Local Ocean was great. Clearwater Restaurant, as well.
Tom enjoyed our stop at the Rogue Nation Brewery & Spirits factory. We did well, as well, at a boutique wine tasting shop.
Dave cycles every day. So our group cycled every day.
The iconic image of Newport is the Yaquina Bay Bridge. Art Deco and Art Moderne design motifs as well as forms borrowed from Gothic architecture.
When you have destinations like Newport, who needs Hawaii? 😀
Sister and brother Sage and Cole hosted me in Olympia WA while I organized my Covid test within the 72 hour limit required for my international flight home to Canada.
THANKS.
Did you own a huge house, big lot and a 3-car garage when YOU were Cole’s age?
They schooled me on Anime. Demon Slayer.
One night we watched the first few episodes of Only Murders in the Building.
We went out to lunch, one day, for a HUGE meat pie.
I travelled Portland to Olympia via Flixbus, an excellent service. They carry bicycles under the bus. Recommended.
After climbing Mt Adams with Dave Adlard, the adventure crew headed for a rental house on the Oregon coast.
Click PLAY or watch first morning cycling on YouTube.
En route to specific events, I stayed in Portland in 2019 and 2021.
A good vibe.
It’s a smaller, pedestrian friendly city with good public transit and bicycle thoroughfares.
A mild climate. Great city parks.
Though very White, the majority of citizens are liberal and progressive, supporting human rights.
Most days I browsed Powell’s Books, the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world.
In 2021 I stayed at the excellent Lolo Pass hostel. Private rooms $162. Dorm beds $43.
In rural Oregon there is no shortage of right wing extremists including Proud (Incel) Boys. The world saw violence and looting on Portland streets during the George Floyd protests. Too bad.
Ongoing — the biggest problem is homelessness. It is awful.
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