Swan song!

You thought we were done? So did I but no, Scott begged me to go, begged me to let him load the bikes in the truck, begged me to pick the route...

Don't worry, no poems or musings, or rants. Instead, some credit!

I'm the one who signs up for this Challenge each year, yet Scott is totally on board. Whether by tuning up my bike, checking my brakes and tire pressure, being my sag wagon, comic relief and weather man. PLUS, he has completed 486.7kms himself this August! Thanks, Scotty! And Buzzard, I do not pick on him (all the time!)🙄😅

Continuing with that thought, a HUGE thank you to my amazing sponsors. Your generosity, kindness, support and encouragement mean so much. Thank you. Thank. YOu!!!❤️

And yes, gonna get me a good night's sleep!💤

Go big, and get home!

Forecast for next few days, rain. So figured I needed to finish strong. Heading out County Rd 10 to Perth from home, I had a headwind, but you know what that means! Slow and steady = time to ponder. Be forewarned...

I remember hearing a comedian who said, 'If your knees bent the other way, what would a chair look like?' What would my bike look like and how would I move forward?

How do Berry Farms sell wild blueberries?

In an unofficial survey taken during the 29 days of August, Anheusser Busch is the alcoholic beverage of choice for those who litter our country roads. This is followed closely by the calorie conscious environmental misfits who prefer Bud Light. Tim's is hands down the coffee of choice. Grrr!

What a lonely life those remote controlled lawn mowers have!

Started with this song, which morphed into this. I'm sorry.

I feel it in my fingers

I feel it in my toes...

I feel it in my

Neck, shoulders, wrists, hands,

Saddlebags, nether regions, bum

As everybody knows...

Head winds, side winds, gusts and rain

But I love the Great Cycle Challenge,

It's hard to explain.

Century farms and split rail fences,

Hay rounds and ragweed,

To tickle the senses. Achoo!

Tractors and farm stands,

Corn delicious and sweet,

20 cows under 1 tree,

Escaping the heat.

Rudbeckia and sunflowers,

Hydrangea and sedum,

Beautiful to look at cause I don't have to weed em! (I said I was sorry!).

Grasshoppers playing chicken,

Chickens crossing the road,

Sluggish snakes and noisy brakes,

A bladder about to explode!

Milkweed and bull rushes,

Grapevines galore,

The sights, sounds and smells of August,

I just want more!

But I won't cry, I won't despair

Only 19 days til the Richmond Fair!

Close Call of the Wild!

It's been 3 days off, the longest break all month and I don't like it one bit! I needed 43km to get to 1000km, so I had to, right? RIGHT? Despite the rain this morning, and WIND this afternoon, my bike was calling. I strategically chose my route to avoid open roads, puddles and Friday afternoon traffic.

One thing I didn't factor in, coyotes!

This has never happened before, but to avoid traffic, I turned off Appleton Side Rd onto Old Almonte Rd. I thought I heard a lady calling, but was surrounded by fields. I kept going a bit slower - it is a dirt road. Next field, I heard them. Howling, singing, yipping...I couldn't see the pack (yes, definitely many voices), but they were just across a soy bean field. Not sure if they had picked up my scent, but it sure did turn my bike into a deadly piece of speed! Holy schmokes, the Tas peddled and peddled til her peddler was sore! Maybe, she thought, it's because there's that new movie out, 'Coyote vs Acme' they've been making cameo appearances!

On another note, 1006kms in the books, whoot whoot!

On another other note, loved Dolly Parton. The world has lost a sparkle.

Soaked!

Again, some father-in-law lore: If you can see the back side of leaves, a storm is coming. If you hear blue jays calling, its going to rain.

I should have listened to those jays!😋

For the first time in awhile, I had to layer shirts, and although it was sunny, it took awhile to warm up. Park n Ride on Dwyer Hill, back roads to CP and Almonte. On way home I noticed the dark sky to the west, with wind gusts up to 30km/hrs... with my Spiderman superhero shirt on, I thought I could get back to the car first, but those clouds had other ideas! Not made of sugar,so didn't melt, but cold again! Wah! But I did hear a couple of toddlers in a wagon say 'It's Spiderman!'

On a completely different note that I have to share, Scott convinced me to go on the motorcycle after my ride on Sat. 2 different helmet heads! We passed a bad-ass group of wild hogs stopped for...lemonade? Their shirts were priceless: 'Sons of Arthritis' on front, and 'Ibuprophen Chaper' on back. Can't make this stuff up, but I saluted them!

Subconscious!

Scott said he wanted to work on his wood pile today, but I think, deep down he really wanted to bike!

(Photo borrowed from Pinterest!😅)