August 31, 2026

Final Day of the Great Cycle Challenge

I hopped on the bike this morning, only to be forced home by the increasing rain. Clouds can be deceiving!

If you supported this ride, thank you!! Know that you not only donated to a very worthy cause, but you also supported and encouraged me, and held me accountable to that 400 km mark! 😊 Huge thanks.

If you followed along, I hope I didn’t bore you too much! I really do appreciate every comment, encouraging text, email, or “hey” along the way. Thanks for being part of this worthwhile one-month cause.

PHOTO: If you’ve ever wondered what a new McDonald’s looks like before it gets its big yellow M (and I know you haven’t), here’s the next installment in the ongoing development of Mount Brydges. It’s expected to open in October. You can only imagine…the excitement is underwhelming. 😂

August 29, 2026

Despite the hurdles, I have crossed the 400 km goal!

Today's ride was with my brother, back on the G2G (Goderich to Guelph) Trail. We rode from Guelph to Millwood, where Rebecca met us, and then ended up at Anna Mae's for a late lunch!

The ride app kept kicking out, which explains the multiple posts.

The ride took us through a variety of mishaps. First, the trails are horribly marked near cities. towns and especially trail detours, so although we started on the G2G in Guelph, we somehow ended up on the Royal Recreational Trail, which took us wayyy north. So, we had to correct our course and find our way back to the G2G.

Then we followed signs to a covered bridge, only to discover it was being rebuilt and completely closed. Backtrack ... and back en route.

At about the halfway point, I had a rear flat tire. Repair time.

Then we ran into slight headwinds.

A 45 km trip turned into a 60 km trip ... as usual. But it was an excellent ride regardless!

I had hoped to get on the G2G this year, and I did. Twice. I had also hoped to do the ride to Port Stanley again after missing last year, and I did that too.

It feels pretty good to have crossed that 400 km mark!

August 28, 2026

As we near the end of August, I'm closing in on my 400 km goal. I've always exceeded the goal by a good margin, but this year I'm unusually coming down to the wire.

Over the past year, I've had some unusual health oddities that they haven't been able to keep me from taking part in the GCCC. In 2025, I was still in recovery mode from Streptococcus anginosus but managed to get back on the bike. Earlier this year, an MRI strangely discovered that I had Giant Cell Arteritis. And of course, more recently, pulmonary embolisms. It can't be anything common with me. Well, if you have to have an issue, you might as well be unique!

PHOTO: The farm down the road grows these every year at the end of their driveway and in spots all around the farm field. It's hard not to stop and take a photo ... so I did.