tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172749582024-03-07T03:33:23.414-05:00'77 Track 7The books I read. And the DVDs I watch. And similar stuff.James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.comBlogger187125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-45236088824432672052011-01-28T14:58:00.003-05:002011-01-28T15:05:43.199-05:00Cycling: Plotting A CityI've let this place languish for far too long, but I couldn't let this pass without mentioning it here (though I should have mentioned it sooner!):<br /><br />Back in August, 2009, I posted some <a href="http://77track7.blogspot.com/2009/08/cycling-650-hours-8100-km.html">videos</a> I had made from my cycling GPS tracks. Shortly after, in September, I was <a href="http://77track7.blogspot.com/2009/09/cycling-interviewed.html">interviewed</a> by the Torontoist blog.<br /><br />Most recently, the videos were noticed by Patrick Macaulay at the Harbourfront Centre here in town, and I was invited to participate in a small exhibit called <i>Plotting A City</i>: "Eight artists document the city through an active plotting by creative activities such as photography, painting, sound, walking and installation."<br /><br />The reception is tonight, 6-10pm, at York Quay, and the show opens tomorrow, January 29th, to run through to April 3rd:<br /><br /><ul><br /> <li><a href="http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/visualarts/yorkquaycentreYQC11_1.cfm">Visual Arts at York Quay Centre</a></li><br /> <li><a href="http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/visualarts/yorkquaycentreYQC11_1.cfm#E">Plotting A City</a></li><br /></ul><br /><br />I had no idea that this was a possibility when I posted the videos to YouTube. I'm off to the reception shortly -- I'm looking forward to seeing how it all works out.James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-77416489181891106622009-12-18T09:18:00.004-05:002009-12-18T10:08:04.290-05:00Cycling: 10,000,000 Meters MapsAccording to my GPS logs, this Tuesday I reached 10,000km of cycling since I started recording my rides -- which was when I started riding a recumbent, a <a href="">Rans V-Rex</a>, on June 25th, 2004. I hadn't been cycling for a few years at that point. A pulled muscle in my back made riding for more than a half-hour or so rather unpleasant, but the recumbent did away with that problem.<br /><br />The 10,000km has been over 1239 rides taking about 727 hours total, which is a lot of time to spend on a bike. You can see why a recumbent helps.<br /><br />I rode about 955km that first summer, but this last year -- starting early (February 10th) and riding late (Dec 15th) I got in well over three times that distance (3179km). 3839km of my overall total has been for 1011 rides under 10km (mostly commuting to and from work), 1811 for rides over 50km, and the rest in-between.<br /><br />My longest ride so far is still the 2008 <a href="http://77track7.blogspot.com/2008/08/cycling-hamilton-and-back.html">Hamilton ride</a>, 177km, though I've put in a few centuries since then.<br /><br />On May 8th, 2007, I upgraded to an <a href="http://www.hpvelotechnik.com/produkte/sm/gte/index_e.html">HP Velotechnik Streetmachine Gte</a>, which has been my bike every since. Overall, 2972km has been on the V-Rex, 6894 on the Streetmachine, and the rest on Lori's trikes, the <a href="http://www.bicycleman.com/recumbents/trikes/sun/sun-ez3-ez3ltd-recumbent-trikes.htm">Sun EZ-3</a> and the <a href="http://www.recumbent-bikes-truth-for-you.com/catrike-speed.html">Catrike Speed</a>.<br /><br />As I mentioned in a <a href="http://77track7.blogspot.com/2009/08/five-years-more-or-less.html">previous post</a>, I've been making maps and animations of my rides. Here are a couple of the latest:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGx-xFBNDjBGfS4hm7ivzRiHxrrSx-xzZfLBXyitG9lgXYpzQgr6JvqcZaHof2rcF_Ll-B3wD2hR0-iW0HLzp6w5LeDzTjfPZAjYhkzycttWSZJiQ3XDozRst87mtDVpmv6ey/s1600-h/downtown_1000.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGx-xFBNDjBGfS4hm7ivzRiHxrrSx-xzZfLBXyitG9lgXYpzQgr6JvqcZaHof2rcF_Ll-B3wD2hR0-iW0HLzp6w5LeDzTjfPZAjYhkzycttWSZJiQ3XDozRst87mtDVpmv6ey/s400/downtown_1000.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416584407568476690" /></a><br />Downtown Toronto<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyP96Af3ayAQ0pb9MbME_FOllE37o3vWdGdQ-vV_PyRoDINLhKDjtPIQIXU_drq1KRZRI14LcZs5BTT6rmVljVP1xLqZ6U1ast2uwVY6CW37TKJzhh_ZCBXmq5y15-3wwWPsuz/s1600-h/toronto_1000.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyP96Af3ayAQ0pb9MbME_FOllE37o3vWdGdQ-vV_PyRoDINLhKDjtPIQIXU_drq1KRZRI14LcZs5BTT6rmVljVP1xLqZ6U1ast2uwVY6CW37TKJzhh_ZCBXmq5y15-3wwWPsuz/s400/toronto_1000.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416584406244532674" /></a><br />Toronto<br /></div><br /><br />These leave out my rides in Missisauga, Hamilton, Bruce County, and Haliburton, but those are a relatively small part of the total.<br /><br />All-in-all, it's a nice milestone... Though the fact that cyclists in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_Across_America">Ride Across Amierca</a> do half that distance in about nine days puts it in perspective.James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-90645262023752633882009-12-15T19:23:00.002-05:002009-12-15T19:25:31.115-05:00Cycling: 10,000,000 MetersToday, on the way home from work, I hit 10,000km of recumbent cycling since I started in the summer of 2004.<br /><br />But I think it's time to put the bike away for the winter.<br /><br />I'll post some maps tomorrow.James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-66664242678289748222009-12-15T11:05:00.002-05:002009-12-15T11:11:52.579-05:00Denim: Happy BirthdayTwo years ago yesterday, Denim looked like this:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2222295047/" title="Newborn Denim by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2244/2222295047_163bcb4637_o.jpg" width="432" height="346" alt="Newborn Denim" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />A couple of weeks later -- almost Christmas -- she still looked like a guinea pig:<br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2223087668/" title="Christmas Denim (11 days old) by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2367/2223087668_de1da937e3_o.jpg" width="576" height="448" alt="Christmas Denim (11 days old)" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />By New Years, she started looking more like an actual dog:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2223087740/" title="New Year's Denim (2.5 weeks old) by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2174/2223087740_2d93cb761b.jpg" width="484" height="500" alt="New Year's Denim (2.5 weeks old)" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Then we introduced her to Cobalt:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2256063003/" title="Smug Pounce by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2246/2256063003_06cd610db0.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Smug Pounce" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />They hit it off immediately:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2267520309/" title="Sharing by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2267520309_c686f9e32a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Sharing" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />They became inseparable:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2267519517/" title="Peek by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2385/2267519517_f7d0018e16.jpg" width="500" height="282" alt="Peek" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Now she's our acrobat:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3435899583/" title="Cobalt & Denim by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3344/3435899583_fae793c870.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Cobalt & Denim" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />She's a complete goofball:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2743246687/" title="Cheery Pup by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2051/2743246687_22b0744a62.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Cheery Pup" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />But very sweet:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3992099419/" title="Flopped Denim by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2429/3992099419_9d282a1662.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Flopped Denim" /></a><br /></div>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-32351860151430065652009-11-19T10:05:00.003-05:002009-11-19T10:06:38.474-05:00Cobalt: Happy Birthday Photon, AlsoAnd happy birthday to Cobalt's litter-mate Photon, from <a href="http://www.chezplj.ca/">Chez PLJ</a>:<br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/493069912/" title="Sisters by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/190/493069912_8586bb706a.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Sisters" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />And thanks to Laura from Chez PLJ for sending the pre-adoption Cobalt pictures.James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-80276003943597488882009-11-19T09:51:00.006-05:002009-11-19T10:02:34.933-05:00Cobalt: Happy BirthdayThree years ago today, Cobalt looked like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJyRV2EAUwbu05FSvpSOrdyGSZ318b-1dq2Q5gcv6_ZLQYSmYcc-D_D2dJE0ivOTCiLoRxvHxLmcE1MsgG8FLDaPbi6u-YJItzzDEAo7g3G_sVQyEYH8YBaC2lDNlQvZCQHPC/s1600/Hbmf5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJyRV2EAUwbu05FSvpSOrdyGSZ318b-1dq2Q5gcv6_ZLQYSmYcc-D_D2dJE0ivOTCiLoRxvHxLmcE1MsgG8FLDaPbi6u-YJItzzDEAo7g3G_sVQyEYH8YBaC2lDNlQvZCQHPC/s400/Hbmf5.jpg" border="0" alt="Newborn Cobalt" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405827873852280242" /></a><br /><br />A week later, she still looked like a guinea pig:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUH5ehbPesbfgV2HruSbxwqLUgIUSREwWqc7D99PDVFUgZWCv0rI_Yuy-588hO_YiN9W0jLZAPGo-XJFanknvdRjWoojbnwH5oM3voKn_FbZLX6WkiBLA8FwxLR98d5TwKDT22/s1600/1wjolly7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUH5ehbPesbfgV2HruSbxwqLUgIUSREwWqc7D99PDVFUgZWCv0rI_Yuy-588hO_YiN9W0jLZAPGo-XJFanknvdRjWoojbnwH5oM3voKn_FbZLX6WkiBLA8FwxLR98d5TwKDT22/s400/1wjolly7.jpg" border="0" alt="Cobalt at One Week" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405828230678247106" /></a><br /><br />After four weeks -- almost Christmas -- she started looking more like an actual dog:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvQQMwiISzlYpASxmot9Apjfm5nHVW_ezX6vBhrTvJw_3JZ1yngXo0U5UPWVODyWQHgIXbHfZIGcEH3PixNrZzyM0j2JqWXcj-W_UO9gUz76IPMGw6hPIbbvTs4tzjaaWvLTV/s1600/4wjolly9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvQQMwiISzlYpASxmot9Apjfm5nHVW_ezX6vBhrTvJw_3JZ1yngXo0U5UPWVODyWQHgIXbHfZIGcEH3PixNrZzyM0j2JqWXcj-W_UO9gUz76IPMGw6hPIbbvTs4tzjaaWvLTV/s400/4wjolly9.jpg" border="0" alt="Cobalt at Four Weeks" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405828518927408978" /></a><br /><br />At six weeks, it was New Years, and she really started to look like our pup:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RZQWtj9-ybJlEbqMgxEfeHYbTbq56qekWt4O5ZLa_4_kgMkOLh3bQXxi7NpjXVBckugJI0zKwbPxtaXKHU1rj_9tWkrHfw-OStOMMCUzb-hr6Q8sARPjcbnUIQAVW3zXVOqx/s1600/6wjolly4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RZQWtj9-ybJlEbqMgxEfeHYbTbq56qekWt4O5ZLa_4_kgMkOLh3bQXxi7NpjXVBckugJI0zKwbPxtaXKHU1rj_9tWkrHfw-OStOMMCUzb-hr6Q8sARPjcbnUIQAVW3zXVOqx/s400/6wjolly4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405828785340210018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALehCz4sPs2rVUZokRpOzEU292Hvq3DbgIy_Osca7ZuQ-yMkTtG4ciDrbAI3-UCrCAsjCSIwQPNjP73WpNQMhrP95pSB8DB9QGEPfNmbiwJNGmHkNfTnjsEWwT0jZMtJh5csY/s1600/6wjolly9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALehCz4sPs2rVUZokRpOzEU292Hvq3DbgIy_Osca7ZuQ-yMkTtG4ciDrbAI3-UCrCAsjCSIwQPNjP73WpNQMhrP95pSB8DB9QGEPfNmbiwJNGmHkNfTnjsEWwT0jZMtJh5csY/s400/6wjolly9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405829211144022610" /></a><br /><br />We picked her up from Stoverly Aussies on February 11th, when she looked like this:<br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/386025034/" title="At Stoverly by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/386025034_8e1054c471.jpg" width="500" height="286" alt="At Stoverly" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />And now, she's all grown up:<br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3435910169/" title="Cobalt & Denim by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/3435910169_4fa3dfe158.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Cobalt & Denim" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3992100641/" title="Cobalt by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2562/3992100641_b9e1746b0f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Cobalt" /></a><br /></div>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-46815313830185791862009-09-10T12:12:00.003-04:002009-09-10T17:02:36.217-04:00Cycling: Cycling RoutesJust a quick note that I've added a link to a <a href="http://sites.google.com/site/77track7extras/cycling">page with links</a> to the Bikely and MapMyRide maps of my major cycling trips down at the bottom of the page. As I go new rides, I'll be updating that page with maps.<br /><br/><br /><br/>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-26775748991340862432009-09-01T14:28:00.012-04:002009-09-01T15:34:29.849-04:00Cycling: Route MapsI've uploaded maps of some of my longer rides to <a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/user_profile?u=508125175197349921">MapMyRide</a>. MapMyRide has a lot of nice features, but is rather ad-heavy. I'm also going to try <a href="http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/by/JHGRedekop">Bikely</a>, which doesn't have as many ads, but doesn't have as many features either. Once I've settled on one, I'll throw a permanent link up on the blog.<br /><br />BTW, I'm experimenting with the "Read More!" feature so that I can hide the bulk of these posts, so you don't have to scroll down through several screens to get to the previous post. Please let me know if there are problems!<br /><br /><span class="fullpost"><br />(These maps are trimmed at each end so as not to broadcast exact home location to the world.)<br /><br /><hr>First up, my old standby: the Beaches/Taylor Creek/Don Valley loop.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=a1aa5e338f3894c7aa7ab610b04eb848&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/toronto-/202125175999812034">Beaches/Taylor Creek Loop</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/toronto-">Find more Bike Rides in Toronto , Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br /><hr>A Don Valley/Humber River loop. This eventually got expanded northward to become my first metric century.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=30f2ddb5317ec2794ea1c494b99116ef&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/toronto/355125175696829765">50km Downtown Loop</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/toronto">Find more Bike Rides in Toronto, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br /><hr>My first time riding the Black Creek ravine trails.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=deb8ab972a1e256e09ede29f97148f90&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/-toronto/147125175912390131">Humber/Black Creek Loop</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/-toronto">Find more Bike Rides in Toronto, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br /><hr>A loop out to Etobicoke Creek by way of the Belt Line and the Eglinton bike trails.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=dc4e1bae5dfde0f37d1fde6c97b4a581&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/-toronto/694125176110728841">Etobicoke Creek Loop 1</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/-toronto">Find more Bike Rides in Toronto, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br /><hr>Another Etobicoke Creek loop, this one incorporating the upper creek as well as the lower.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=74b1fbcbb444c8d868f51da59d3cb49b&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/-toronto/242125176196641758">Etobicoke Creek Loop 2</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/-toronto">Find more Bike Rides in Toronto, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br /><hr>My first time riding in Scarborough. The Highland Creek trail is great, though last time I was there part of it had washed away.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=28db492bcc9e5090f329c0e2fbc857b0&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/toronto/813125175777083028">Highland Creek Loop</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/toronto">Find more Bike Rides in Toronto, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br /><hr>Another ride out into Scarborough. This one is one-way because I forgot to eat breakfast and ran out of energy. I had to get a ride back.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=72175ead516ea9dd18f46048ca7a0af0&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/-toronto/593125175820615736">Don Valley to Highland Creek</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/-toronto">Find more Bike Rides in Toronto, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br /><hr>A ride the full length of the Don Valley Trail. <i>This</i> one is one-way because I got caught in a thunder storm and had to get a ride back.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=2f8c8561f2f14de0725963b43aa36171&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/toronto/127125176095042167">Don Valley</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/toronto">Find more Bike Rides in Toronto, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br /><hr>This was my first <a href="http://77track7.blogspot.com/2006/08/stuff-best-week-in-ages.html">100+km</a> ride, incorporating the Don Valley and Humber River trails.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=71df425148a997db69beac4e25b069ec&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/-toronto/233125175832566941">West Toronto Century</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/-toronto">Find more Bike Rides in Toronto, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br /><hr>My second <a href="http://77track7.blogspot.com/2007/09/cycling-another-century.html">100+km</a> ride, this time through Scarborough.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=d8d16a9bb1bd554c8d1d37c90fd55906&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/toronto/241125175894360607">East Toronto Century</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/toronto">Find more Bike Rides in Toronto, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br /><hr>A good ride from Toronto to Port Credit. This was a precursor to my Hamilton ride.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=ea7080972fd84027456394ab227d359d&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/toronto/692125175870143733">Toronto to Port Credit</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/toronto">Find more Bike Rides in Toronto, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br /><hr>The big <a href="http://77track7.blogspot.com/2008/08/cycling-hamilton-and-back.html">Hamilton</a> ride.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=c99dd0ad63ed291ab90a95bbc9ecedc5&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/-hamilton/625125176077223461">Hamilton</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/-hamilton">Find more Bike Rides in Hamilton, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br /><hr>The <a href="http://77track7.blogspot.com/2009/08/cycling-around-world-well-toronto.html">Tour of Toronto</a> ride.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=c7957b3f5578c382988584f6c0917c20&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/-toronto/856125176163791968">Circumnavigating Toronto</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/-toronto">Find more Bike Rides in Toronto, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br />This one is also up on Bikely:<br /><br /><div id="routemapiframe" style="width: 300px; border: 1px solid #d0d0d0; background: #755; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap;"><br /><span style="display: block; font: bold 11px verdana, arial; padding: 2px;"><a style="color: #fff; text-decoration: none" href="http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Tour-of-Toronto">Tour of Toronto</a></span><br /><iframe id="rmiframe" style="height:260px; background: #eee;" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Tour-of-Toronto/embed/1"></iframe><br /><span style="display: block; font: normal 10px verdana, arial; text-align: right; padding: 1px;"><a style="color: #ddd; text-decoration: none" href="http://www.bikely.com/">Share your bike routes @ Bikely.com</a></span><br /></div><br /><br /><hr>Sunday's <a href="http://77track7.blogspot.com/2009/08/after-tour-of-toronto-i-got-to-thinking.html">Canada's Wonderland</a> ride.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=51086ae9e9826449b90a07c49df9e895&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/toronto/246125176230374954">Canada's Wonderland Loop</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/toronto">Find more Bike Rides in Toronto, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br /><hr><hr>And here are some out-of-town rides:<br /><br />A short loop on the Bruce Peninsula.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=101b83587f8a3b7c9b1a253dbd149b7d&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/-bruce-county/504125175788936876">Pike Bay Loop</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/-bruce-county">Find more Bike Rides in Bruce County, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br /><hr>A very hilly ride from the <a href="http://redumbrellainn.com/">Red Umbrella Inn</a> on Twelve Mile Lake into Haliburton.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=f87abafb92c2ad22904b597ec620c145&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/-haliburton/937125175972155890">Twelve Mile Lake to Haliburton</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/-haliburton">Find more Bike Rides in Haliburton, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br /></span>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-57274659482719430472009-09-01T12:55:00.006-04:002009-09-01T15:16:56.176-04:00Cycling: Interviewed<a href="http://theintrepid.blogspot.com/2009/09/timelapse-biking-video-of-toronto.html">Stephen Michalowicz</a> of <a href="http://torontoist.com">Torontoist</a> has posted a short article about my <a href="http://77track7.blogspot.com/2009/08/cycling-650-hours-8100-km.html">ride animations</a>: <a href="http://torontoist.com/2009/08/the_cyclist_who_drew_toronto.php">The Cyclist Who Drew Toronto</a>.<br /><br /><span class='fullpost'><br />Ignore the "Read More!" -- it doesn't apply here. Anyone know how to turn it off for short posts?<br /></span>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-43299779926260093872009-08-31T22:42:00.007-04:002009-09-01T15:15:58.266-04:00Cycling: Canada's WonderlandAfter the <a href="http://77track7.blogspot.com/2009/08/cycling-around-world-well-toronto.html">Tour of Toronto</a>, I got to thinking that I'd done very little cycling outside the city's boundarys (except along the lake towards <a href="http://77track7.blogspot.com/2008/08/cycling-hamilton-and-back.html">Hamilton</a>), and started wondering what the trails were like north of Steeles.<br /><br />During the Toronto Tour, I came across a sign for the Bartley Smith Greenway, which seemed a good place to start. The trail runs north from Steeles directly across from G. Ross Lord Park, which I'd only biked through once before, so it seemed a good place to start. Using Google Earth, I eyeballed where the trails went and how they connected -- or how to get between them if they didn't connect -- and put together a route that ran north from about the 401/Allen Expresssway interchange all the way up to Canada's Wonderland, then south again by way of Black Creek and the Humber River.<br /><br />I ended up tweeting the ride again, though without as many photos as the Toronto tour:<br /><br /><span class='fullpost'><br /><hr><b>11:15 AM Aug 30th: Trying a new cycling route. Let's see how this goes...</b><br /><br />The first part of the ride was very familiar: up through Rosedale then along the Belt Line Trail to the Allen Expressway. North from the Allen was moderately familiar -- there isn't really a bike trail there, so it's all residential streets.<br /><br /><hr><b>12:11 PM Aug 30th: Ok, reached the new part of the route. Time to not get myself lost.</b><br /><br />Now I was at Baycrest Park, which I hadn't ridden through before. This was supposed to connect to a series of valley trails that would take me up to G. Ross Lord Park.<br /><br /><hr><b>12:39 PM Aug 30th: First time through Earl Bales park. Really nice trail - well forested.</b><br /><br />This was a great trail. I wish the Don Valley and Rosedale Golf Clubs didn't keep this trail from connecting to the West Don. That'd be a great route.<br /><br /><hr><b>12:57 PM Aug 30th: Note to self: next time, don't use the trail behind the Jewish Centre on the West Don to get out of the valley...</b><br /><br />First big mistake in the plan. Google Earth shows a trail behind the Jewish Community Centre of Toronto on Bathrust. Well, the trail is there... But it runs up a steep climb and is paved entirely with coarse gravel. Completely unmanagable on my recumbent. I ended up walking that climb.<br /><br /><hr><b>1:18 PM Aug 30th: This is not that helpful:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3875950495/" title="This is Not That Helpful by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3459/3875950495_1d2b481d48_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="This is Not That Helpful" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />This is in G. Ross Lord Park, which has great wooded trails. I have no idea what it's supposed to be warning against.<br /><br /><hr><b>1:19 PM Aug 30th: This is, though:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3876741790/" title="This Is Helpful by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2546/3876741790_079c00674f_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="This Is Helpful" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />I didn't see any, though.<br /><br /><hr><b>1:26 PM Aug 30th: Great creek-side trail in G. Ross Lord park:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3876741486/" title="G. Ros Lord Park by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2567/3876741486_75b1b7b625_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="G. Ros Lord Park" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />After a stretch in the woods, the trail moves to a wide-open flood plain. This trip largely alternated between woods, meadows, and streets, in a pretty nice balance.<br /><br /><hr><b>1:32 PM Aug 30th: Last time I was here, I said I'd have to investigate. So, time to do so!</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3876741224/" title="Time To Investigate by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2572/3876741224_50fc5753f5_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Time To Investigate" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />The sign for the Bartley Smith Greenway that I saw during the Tour of Toronto ride. This marks the start of my first real ride north of Steeles (as opposed to those short jaunts into parking lots to grab lunch with in 100m of the street).<br /><br /><hr><b>1:50 PM Aug 30th: Nice trail:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3876740932/" title="Nice Trail by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2622/3876740932_1c772a26b8_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Nice Trail" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />The Greenway didn't disappoint, except for being too short. It only ran maybe half a kilometer on a diagonal from Steeles to Dufferin. Fortunately, other trails picked up where it left off. On the west side of Dufferin, the trails in Marita Paine Park and Geln Shields Park actually have tunnels running under the suburban roads so that pedestrians and cyclist barely have to worry about traffic at all.<br /><br /><hr><b>1:52 PM Aug 30th: First time biking past the 407:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3876740582/" title="First Time Biking Past the 407 by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2609/3876740582_9c39802d20_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="First Time Biking Past the 407" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />My prefered way of crossing a major freeway on a bike: along a dedciated path underneath.<br /><br /><hr><b>2:11 PM Aug 30th: This looks less overgrown on Google Earth:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3875948803/" title="This Looks Less Overgrown on Google Earth by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2568/3875948803_48082247d9_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="This Looks Less Overgrown on Google Earth" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />The second major failure in the plan: this looks like a paved path on Google Earth. It's the winding path that runs up between the trees in this view:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=43.824914,-79.500868&spn=0.004776,0.00942&t=h&z=17&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=43.824914,-79.500868&spn=0.004776,0.00942&t=h&z=17&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /></div><br /><br />It turns out it's kind of abandoned. I could follow the trail for about 200m, but eventually it was so badly overgrown -- and so infested with mosquitos -- that I picked up my bike and hauled it straight through the trees. I just happened to meet the fece for the lot behind the big rectangular building on Basaltic at a point where it was partly collapsed, and I could get the bike over it. Unfortunately, I discovered later that I broke my bell in the process...<br /><br /><hr><b>2:23 PM Aug 30th: Note to self: when planning a ride using Google Earth, remember that some roads might not exist anymore...</b><br /><br />This is important to remember.<br /><br /><hr><b>2:39 PM Aug 30th: Odd little house:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3876739976/" title="Odd Little House by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/3876739976_6929d33fac_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Odd Little House" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />All I know about this house is that it's behind a fence at the east end of a wooded area called Cromwell Park.<br /><br /><hr><b>3:07 PM Aug 30th: Reached the north end of the ride. It's downhill from here!</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3876739648/" title="Reached the North End of the Ride by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2609/3876739648_b6648d18cd_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Reached the North End of the Ride" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Actually, this is slightly south of the northernmost end of the ride. But it's the official terminus.<br /><br />From Canada's Wonderland, I just took Creditstone Road south all the way to the 407. Normally, I'm not that fond of riding on suburban industrial roads, but Sunday was very nicely overcast, which took care of my biggest gripe -- the lack of shade. Throw in almost no traffic and a slight downhill grade, and I just zipped along.<br /><br /><hr><b>3:44 PM Aug 30th: Crossing 407 again.</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3876739438/" title="Crossing 407 Again by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/3876739438_813fb23194_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Crossing 407 Again" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />My least favourite way of crossing a major freeway on a bike: on a busy overpasss with a strong cros-wind.<br /><br /><hr><b>3:53 PM Aug 30th: Back in Toronto: Black Creek Pioneer Village cemetery.</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3875947717/" title="Black Creek Pioneer Village Cemetery by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3434/3875947717_0ab4dd8e6d_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Black Creek Pioneer Village Cemetery" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />I realized a little after this that I should have gone along Steeles for a block and into the Black Creek valley from Murray Ross Parkway, rather than down Jane to Shoreham. Oh well, next time.<br /><br /><hr><b>4:12 PM Aug 30th: Another great creek trail: Black Creek</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3875947417/" title="Black Creek Trail by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/3875947417_be58a731d6_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Black Creek Trail" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Yet again another great wooded trail. My only gripe with Black Creek -- and it applies to a number of other ravine trails in Toronto -- is that there are a number of places where you have to climb a steep grade up to a busy road, get across, and ride down a steep grade on the other side. A tunnel would be much more convenient -- <i>and</i> safer.<br /><br /><hr><b>4:32 PM Aug 30th: Nasty climb:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3875947127/" title="Nasty Climb by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2539/3875947127_f1033f2332_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Nasty Climb" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />This is the climb from Downsview Dells Park to Langholm Drive, but the picture doesn't do it justice. For starters, the first 50m of the trail from the Downsview Dells parking lot isn't paved -- it's practically marsh. Unridable. Then the climb out of the park is a killer.<br /><br /><hr><b>4:39 PM Aug 30th: A nice, short trail between cul-de-sacs: Giovanni Caboto Park</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3875946837/" title="Giovanni Cabotto Park by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/3875946837_b26ee812e3_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Giovanni Cabotto Park" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />I'd never ridden this park before. Google Maps labels this Tavistock Park at the start, then Exbury Park further down, though the sign across from where I entered said Giovanni Cabotto. Whatever the name is, it's a nice ride, though, again, only a few hundred meters long. You come out of the woods and connect to the Heathrow and Chalfkarm Greenbelts, which are trails through standard, open parks.<br /><br /><hr><b>5:14 PM Aug 30th: I always have trouble spotting this entrance to the Humber trail:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3876737940/" title="I Always Have Trouble Spotting This Entrance by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3447/3876737940_3228d1b192_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="I Always Have Trouble Spotting This Entrance" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />On the Humber, you can get from Steeles to the lake entirely on paved multi-use paths, <i>except</i> for a 600m stretch from Fairglen Crescent to Conron Place. A combination of a steep cliff on the east bank and the Weston Golf & Country Club on the west bank has prevented the city connecting the two sections.<br /><br /><hr><b>5:23 PM Aug 30th: The remains of Raymore Bridge, destroyed in 1954 by Hurricane Hazel, along with many valley houses:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3875946199/" title="The Remains of Raymore Bridge by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/3875946199_352b4fa136_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="The Remains of Raymore Bridge" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />This is one of my favourite "sculptures" in Toronto. It's one of the anchor blocks of the Raymore Bridge, yanks halfway out of the ground by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Hazel">Hurricane Hazel</a> in 1954. The block has been etched with a drawing of the original bridge on the long side (on the right in the photo), and has had reproductions of newspaper front pages from the aftermath mounted on the short side.<br /><br />Before Hazel, this flood plain had been built up with several houses. The rain from the storm raised rivers' water level by as much as eight meters, and 14 homes in this area were washed away. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_Hurricane_Hazel_in_Canada">81 Canadians were killed by the hurricane</a>, and 35 of those lived just across the river from this marker, where the Raymore Bridge used to go.<br /><br />After Hazel, Toronto banned building on the flood plains, which is one of the reasons why we have these great ravine parks today.<br /><br /><hr><b>5:48 PM Aug 30th: Speaking of storms...</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3875945915/" title="Speaking Of Storms by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2122/3875945915_d4dc3e1579_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Speaking Of Storms" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />A tree knocked over in one of the recent thunderstorms, possibly the one that spawned all the tornadoes across southwestern Ontario.<br /><br /><hr><b>5:49 PM Aug 30th: One tree knocked down the next:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3875945585/" title="One Tree Knocked Down The Next by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2463/3875945585_edbd953012_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="One Tree Knocked Down The Next" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />On closer inspection, I realized that the tree in the previous photo was actually two trees: the one had fallen on the other.<br /><br /><hr><b>6:08 PM Aug 30th: The home stretch! Hope I don't run into Caribana this time...</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3876736758/" title="The Home Stretch by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2550/3876736758_fdcd5d3c56_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="The Home Stretch" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />I return to the Humber River Bridge -- from here on home, I'm practically coasting.<br /><br /><hr><b>6:56 PM Aug 30th: All done! ~95 km, not a bad ride.</b><br /><br /><hr><br /><br />And here's the whole thing. I'm trying out an online service called "MapMyRide" for sharing my rides. It's pretty good, but ad-heavy unless you spring for the paid membership. We'll see how it works out:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=51086ae9e9826449b90a07c49df9e895&u=m&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/toronto/246125176230374954">Canada's Wonderland Loop</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/toronto">Find more Bike Rides in Toronto, Ontario</a></iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br /></div><br /><br />This map gives the length as 86.91km instead of 95km because I trimmed off the ends (so as not to give directions right to my house) and cut out a few wrong turns and dead ends. The "Dirt" markers are the two places where I ran into unpaved trails, and the red mountain marks the muddly climb out of Downsview Dells Park.<br /></span>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-7908882922717999022009-08-19T11:41:00.007-04:002009-09-01T15:17:57.289-04:00Cycling: 650 Hours, 8100 kmA couple of weeks back, I <a href="http://77track7.blogspot.com/2009/08/five-years-more-or-less.html">posted</a> the images I created from the GPS logs of my five years of recumbent cycling. I mentioned then that I was working on an animated version of those images, and I now have those up and working. I've split them up by year, with and without labels that track time, distance, date, and the bike & GPS models used.<br /><br />I find these animations fun -- they bring back memories of the rides quite sharply. I don't expect others will have a similar reaction, but just in case you're interested, here they are.<br /><br /><span class='fullpost'><br />YouTube has reduced the size of the videos from the original, so the text in the labelled versions isn't always that clear. I may re-upload these using videos created at YouTube's resolution at some point.<br /><br /><big>2004 - 69hrs, 850km</big><br /><br />This was my first year with a recumbent, a Rans VRex. You can see my explorations of various trails that would be come regular rides: the Don Valley, Taylor Creek, the Waterfront, the Humber River, the Belt Line / Cedarvale Ravine loop, the Leslie Spit, the Islands, etc. The red path represents five minutes of cycling.<br /><br /><div align='center'><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i3tzllfG6Bo&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i3tzllfG6Bo&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nk3vyXBp_U8&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nk3vyXBp_U8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br /><br /><big>2005 - 76hrs, 823km</big><br /><br />In my second summer of recumbent riding, I tended to stick to the same trails I'd explored in 2004. The two main exceptions are the Ride for Heart (I did the 50km route that year) and a trip out to Highland Creek in Scarborough, probably my longest single ride to date. We also took the bike up to Bruce County, where we vacationed for a week, and I did some nice loops up there. <br /><br /><div align='center'><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HMyR04qssTM&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HMyR04qssTM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/drTIhmPAHFs&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/drTIhmPAHFs&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br /><br /><big>2006 - 89hrs, 1113km</big><br /><br />Early this year (May 6) was my first major failures. I was taking Lori's Catrike Speed out on a ride through High Park when I hit a rock or a log and bent the chain -- she had to come rescue me. Also, on May 28th, I tried to do a longer version of the the Highland Creek ride in reverse (parks first, then Kingston Road) and conked out around 70km, again needing rescue. Not all the big rides were failures, though. I was still doing the 50km route for the Ride for Heart, and on June 17th we took my Rans down to visit a friend in Mississauga so I could bike back on my first outside-Toronto recumbent ride. But the big ride was two month later, on August 16th, when I did my first (metric) century ride, up the Don Valley, across the top of North York, and down the Humber.<br /><br /><div align='center'><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HNPhUgWFDEM&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HNPhUgWFDEM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fQC6DZOy92c&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fQC6DZOy92c&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br /><br /><big>2007 - 145hrs, 1802km</big><br /><br />In 2007, the VRex started showing signs of wear. I had to abandon two consecutive rides along the Belt Line loop because of mechanical problems, and we decided it was time to upgrade the bike. I moved up to a HP Velotechnik Streetmachine Gte, a recumbent with front and back suspension and under-seat steering. With the new bike, I decided to up the Ride for Heart to the 75km route, which worked great. I started expanding the Belt Line loop over to Prospect Cemetery for variety, and threw in a ride out to Port Credit, as well as some big loops through Scarborough and Etobicoke. In October we took a week's vacation in Haliburton, and I did some riding up there as well. <br /><br /><div align='center'><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nFTmT2hIViU&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nFTmT2hIViU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IdSCIc11OR0&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IdSCIc11OR0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br /><br /><big>2008 - 144hrs, 1810km</big><br /><br />Most of my riding in 2008 was pretty close to downtown -- I didn't get out to Scarborough or up to North York at all. But I made up for a lot of that on August 2nd, when I did my longest ride to date: <a href="http://77track7.blogspot.com/2008/08/cycling-hamilton-and-back.html">almost 180km to Hamilton and back</a> -- my first ride over 100 miles.<br /><br /><div align='center'><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bpIltI3DLvY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bpIltI3DLvY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kaRUxLpoS4c&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kaRUxLpoS4c&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br /><br /><big>2009 (to August 17th) - 127hrs, 1676km</big><br /><br />2009 isn't done yet, of course, but I have gotten some good rides in. Nothing out of town, but I pushed the boundaries of my Toronto riding to the limit -- literally, with an August 1st ride around the perimiter of the city. Other rides include a run up the Don Valley that was cut short at the north end by a massive thrundestorm that felled a tree right in front of me, and some nice rides east and west along the lakeshore. I've started replacing my Belt Line loop ride into work with one along the Waterfront Trail to High Park, then back along Dundas, which is nice and relaxing.<br /><br /><div align='center'><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jDMIByGzbF4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jDMIByGzbF4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-YuVtHCzMQg&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-YuVtHCzMQg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br /><br /><big>The Whole Thing</big><br /><br />Finally, here's a single animation with all five years' of rides. Unfortunately, YouTube's compression really degrades the quality of this one, even more than the previous ones.<br /><br /><div align='center'><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/p-29FspGjA8&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/p-29FspGjA8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iC56P-Ro4PY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iC56P-Ro4PY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br /></span>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-25730843488614893332009-08-18T12:05:00.003-04:002009-09-01T15:18:58.215-04:00Books: An Odd Litle Science BookWay back in high school, I found a very odd book on relativity in the library. It was very thorough, getting right into the tensor math, but it was typeset almost like poetry -- one phrase per line, in a sans-serif font (though not Helvetica) -- and filled with surreal, Rudy Rucker-esque illustrations. I worked through all the math I could handle, but I didn't have enough tensor calculus to get through the whole thing.<br /><br /><span class='fullpost'><br />A few months back, a science mailing list I'm on was in the middle of a big flame-war about relativity -- the usual "Einstein makes me uncomfortable, so he can't be right" sort of thing -- and I kept wishing I had a copy of the book around, as it was both the most thorough and easiest to follow non-textbook on the subject I'd ever run into. (Larry Gonick's chapter(s) on relativity in <i>The Cartoon Guide to Physics</i> were pretty good, but didn't get nearly as deep into the subject.)<br /><br />Well, I was in Pages (a great independent bookstore in Toronto, which will unfortunately be closing its doors at the end of this month) looking for Neil deGrasse Tyson's new book, <i>The Pluto Files</i> (which I didn't find) and spotted a paperback that hadn't been there last time I was in: <i>The Einstein Theory of Relativity: A Trip to the Fourth Dimension</i>. I popped it open and immediately realized it was the book that I'd read way back then. I had forgotten the title and author's name, but there was no mistaking the format and illustrations.<br /><br />It turns out it was written in 1945 by Lillian R. Lieber, with illustrations by Hugh Gray Lieber. It's definitely one of the oddest serious science books I've ever run into. In many ways, it feels like one of those books that tries to explain how quantum physics explains the author's favourite form of mysticism -- like the ones Fred Alan Wolf would put out -- with odd typography and illustrations (and USE of<br />CAPITALIZED WORDS), but it also completely ignores the old publisher's adage about "ever equation cuts your audience in half": by that rule, I must be the only person ever to have read it.<br /><br />To give you a feel for the book, here is the conclusion, aka <b>THE MORAL</b>, typeset approximately as below:<br /><blockquote style="font-family: sans-serif;"><br /> Since man has been<br /> so successful in science,<br /> can we not learn from<br /> THE SCIENTIFIC WAY OF THINGKING,<br /> what the human mind is capable of,<br /> and HOW it achieves SUCCESS:<br /><br />I. There is NOTHING ABSOLUTE in science.<br /> Absolute space and absolute time<br /> have been shown to be myths.<br /> We must replace these old ideas<br /> by more human<br /> OBSERVATIONAL concepts.<br /><br />II. But what we observe is<br /> profoundly influenced by<br /> the state of the observer,<br /> and therefore<br /> various observers get<br /> widely different results --<br /> even in their measurements of<br /> time and length!<br /><br />III. However,<br /> in spite of these differences<br /> various observers may still<br /> study the unvierse<br /> WITH EQUAL RIGHT<br /> AND EQUAL SUCCESS,<br /> and CAN AGREE on<br /> what are to be called<br /> the LAWS of the universe<br /><br />IV. To accomplish this we need<br /> MORE MATHEMATICS<br /> THAN EVER BEFORE,<br /> MODERN, STREAMLINED, POWERFUL<br /> MATHEMATICS.<br /><br />V. Thus a combination of<br /> PRACTICAL REALISM<br /> (OBSERVATIONALISM)<br /> and<br /> IDEALISM (MATHEMATICS)<br /> TOGETHER<br /> have achieved SUCCESS.<br /><br />VI. And,<br /> knowing that the laws are<br /> MAN-MADE,<br /> we know that<br /> they are subject to change<br /> and we are thus<br /> PREPARED FOR CHANGE.<br /> But these changes in science<br /> are NOT made WANTONLY,<br /> BUT CAREFULLY AND CAUTIOUSLY<br /> by the<br /> BEST MINDS and HONEST HEARTS,<br /> and not by any casual child who<br /> thinks that<br /> the world may be changed as easily<br /> as rolling off a log.<br /></blockquote><br />Has anyone else ever seen this book?<br /></span>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-77958259978983405102009-08-05T16:43:00.018-04:002009-09-01T15:19:19.732-04:00Five Years, More or LessSo what do you suppose this is?<br /><br /><div align="center"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHeLlPl6Tg33PE9ZYNWlau0jRo6Y2SCjyXoKpSwMmkXDi6LXQMeTjGz5xTrEDXM5Pocbkuo1iL1Y0tk2GM9qIOYzmjS4DjNMvTRC5TRzZimsngpFf3BTnxouYflQIvyDqlOMT/s800/Grange.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><span class='fullpost'><br />It looks sort of like a doodle someone might make during a boring meeting at work, kind of a make-some-random-dots-and-sketch-in-lines thing.<br /><br />How about this one?<br /><br /><div align="center"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJN3P9HohwjicPvM_J3cVqQpTMz_5a7pukXaDI6ZTywNtk34BoTKPjPXZQM-f6gY9o585QFq4TmLH7oBjGQxsEZFuim4BuBOgk3JIz34nqvpJCWYTDYAxzS8uhdkLxtTh7_A83/s800/Davenport.jpg" /></div><br /><br />A litle more relaxed and curvy -- maybe the meeting was less stressful, so the lines are more relaxed and fluid.<br /><br />Actually, they're both part of the same thing. Let's pull back a bit:<br /><br /><div align="center"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswFsz9AvtqS-UKlgp2HMtyUc-XJvNNN5hXht2ynY_Ad_5xMNZxYf6Ggbth0-awf6v8GYSRmdXO9-tShgeiRpcRHmsAXbPBJO309DkFMjJQ4rhUrjthHBqvyQNC2VoDHfF5df2/s800/DowntownWhite.jpg" /></div><br /><br />Recognize it? Maybe if we pull back some more:<br /><br /><div align="center"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNU3DyBhqJ251NDJPVlxpE3iNQ6SP83pqSW4zkstbrorriIZ2FxGxO14Jw8ySJjeBcNoncK9qMzqDnczdq8QqFrKl6nv-tDV3iNuu5B8Dar2tN0Q6F4pWXk13UZSmnEvVSpWW/s800/TorontoWhite.jpg" /></div><br /><br />Torontonians may have figured things out at this point: it's a sketchy map of Toronto. I drew it myself -- but not by hand. Over the past five years, I've drawn this map with my bike.<br /><br />A few years ago I pulled a muscle in my back, and ever since, riding a regular bike for more than half-an-hour has been painful. Then, in 2004, I got a <a href="http://www.ransbikes.com/2005bikes/V-Rex.htm">Rans V-Rex</a> recumbent, which not only made long rides possible, but revived an old fondness for cycling that had faded for a while in Toronto, even before my injury. I lateer upgraded to an <a href="http://www.hpvelotechnik.com/produkte/sm/gte/index_e.html">HP Velotechnik Streetmachine Gte</a>.<br /><br />Except for my first ride on the V-Rex, a tour of Sunnybrook Park, I've had a GPS on all my rides, long and short. On that first ride, I realized how fun it was to get out on a bike again, and I wanted to keep track of everywhere I rode, and how much riding I did. I wrote some software to go through the GPS logs and work out some stats on how much riding I'd done, and started playing with importing the maps into Google Earth.<br /><br />While experimenting with Google Earth, I noticed that, if I made the tracks as thin as possible (instead of the several pixels thick that's the default), I got this sketchy effect. And if I blanked out the map, it took on an odd feeling, kind of like a medial image -- especially if rendered as white on black. This shot of downtown, around where I work, gives a good example:<br /><br /><div align="center"><a target="map" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyX80SUJxljsbWv3O83blehoX4Z3TyJ3vaiOB-SLLIq0lv1Upq0pNP0OKjy826AUfT61-H-PXHO9uUuuwJS0iociZI1a9gvUzKWr97fjoG3pqbUZWoPy9S-Bk2XLMrOcWGBU0/" onmouseover="mapdowntown2.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8CxiStmrAARUJC_bDUGHf_3uDk2NcrSWXPXh8IBIyOSVwObP_l5MwKHDWSnWJW-Ng-hWpUYbEy5TuK7l5nV9hRcrsBWdhDaN-Miv7YCEaqmHsDwiWl3rgeeI0IRoQoN2yWWj/'" onmouseout="mapdowntown2.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_TLRy1wrvjLCxezFkyTVdffjFYOwvHSyRxTjGWfNJUaKD3vbyH2dwcLqx_hTaDPXo6Bo4oKllJ_xUgxxbX4-Yc4JKu6LSI7AqDXOIwlWJIsnWXaozJoKZnEKUWdemFi9dCVC/'"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_TLRy1wrvjLCxezFkyTVdffjFYOwvHSyRxTjGWfNJUaKD3vbyH2dwcLqx_hTaDPXo6Bo4oKllJ_xUgxxbX4-Yc4JKu6LSI7AqDXOIwlWJIsnWXaozJoKZnEKUWdemFi9dCVC/" name="mapdowntown2" border="0" /></a><br />Downtown Core</div><br /><br />By the way, all of the white-on-black images in this post link to larger versions, and if you mouse over them, you'll get labels of some key features. If you aren't getting the labels, wait a few moments and try again -- it might not have downloaded the alternate images completely.<br /><br />This image shows off the medical feel pretty well, I think. You can see that I do most of my east-west riding on Gerrard, Dundas, Queen, and Richmond. Most of the north-south is on Spadina, Beverly, and University. In the upper left is the university -- King's College Circle is quite clear, as is half of Spadina Circle. In the lower right, the streets are fuzzier and sketchier -- as is the stretch of College where it crosses Yonge. Why would that be?<br /><br />GPS receivers work by catching signals from orbiting GPS satellites. Each signal has a time stamp that lets the GPS know how long it took the signal to get from the satellite to the GPS unit -- and it knows the exact position of each satellite as it orbits. Knowing the distance to three satellites lets the GPS triangulate and figure out its location -- within a margin of error. The more satellites the GPS can lock onto, the more accurate the position information.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the GPS satellite signals tend to bounce off of buildings. If the buildings around you are short, or spaced far apart, this isn't a big deal -- but in the canyons of a downtown core, it can bit a big pain. I've had the GPS tell me I was in Nathan Phillips Square when I was actually 500m away. So, in addition to giving a history of my rides, this gives you a sort of GPS accuracy map.<br /><br />Here's more of downtown:<br /><br /><div align="center"><a target="map" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wOKr12sUGQvdZssry2DpfoUlqWXK3xqp9Clo9IYwRHfXuvYO0wQxr9Hss4rWl8pqSW-j18Gogkm5O8dxqvIsbGG4zkcDzAOqQZWWZWH1coHgMXlNUXwAeQr1xDhsr-y9TPjD/" onmouseover="mapdowntown1.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZp45wOstF2VHj3oNtXu47gshyphenhyphenkhE_-mQMJfAqCDOAofGjsOn-xWMPhRRO9QNXPl5598hIJwpSEuPCuvkyMDQJz5blU3tCOCH7plVlJiZNejxHmplrhu99cC7FWtcFJp67Itd/'" onmouseout="mapdowntown1.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPtNQ85YMCTEKBXtAcJ9hYcdaCfOGiRkmAeh77TGgcTxicoI-UqqyXqVMbnSqmvb3TBiDYtPG8uAvVQYkA3Gk9ol84N7ARJob6WodZqR5OZLVVdpg3kWDvEf2Ox-fx20-SUEa/'"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPtNQ85YMCTEKBXtAcJ9hYcdaCfOGiRkmAeh77TGgcTxicoI-UqqyXqVMbnSqmvb3TBiDYtPG8uAvVQYkA3Gk9ol84N7ARJob6WodZqR5OZLVVdpg3kWDvEf2Ox-fx20-SUEa/" name="mapdowntown1" border="0" /></a><br />Downtown</div><br /><br />This map shows off what I call "the Long Way Home" -- A 20+ km loop that runs up through the University to Cedarvale Ravine, up to the south end of the Allen Expressway, then down the Belt Line trail to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, and finally south through Rosedale to home. There are a few variations -- you can see a fainter line that runs from Mt. Pleasant in a curve around Rosedale: that's the Moore Park Ravine trail, which runs past the Brickworks, which I take when I want a slightly longer ride.<br /><br />I haven't used that route much this year, as I've been experimenting with other long rides, but I've done it enough that it's one of the most prominent features of my bike's-eye view of Toronto.<br /><br />Here's another favourite ride, which I call the "Taylor Creek Loop":<br /><br /><div align="center"><a target="map" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6VCNo0arRLn6HQVT4zkEK1Hf_6WG2Pxe7ONGOEy9BV-_vjrglq4lQeCHdi-AzIXzu9CJ4VUTbXtrOzuI028NcYgSmUYZUyYUZCTk2ZVvGvbiqXYHyraLXOSCDbtLKmqdtqHz/" onmouseover="maptaylorcreek.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMH_QHNBEvP56-XVDYj0nqCnPkwfyfCbVtx-kmnFwFMqfbd5Ir9wNaBmbWg4MHWSt8b4m4PuKhG6dEcapOfn3xH7MNZ6mGgKUcZgs-3zAiKMlixJVIhDcqshYmyTRXGIIG1Jkz/'" onmouseout="maptaylorcreek.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMni-LgY0Ad_sKkT9PSyL-dF_EuN1iFldoupVGx_C2cESJklk8xBpHRL8w42UwaNVoLgfevS91UXgFdBVsIX8cZnXaiYL6c2ZBXt-nvv09OUmXGfyQuMG-ZsEAxMe9mEbim4J/'"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMni-LgY0Ad_sKkT9PSyL-dF_EuN1iFldoupVGx_C2cESJklk8xBpHRL8w42UwaNVoLgfevS91UXgFdBVsIX8cZnXaiYL6c2ZBXt-nvv09OUmXGfyQuMG-ZsEAxMe9mEbim4J/" name="maptaylorcreek" border="0" /></a><br />Taylor Creek Loop</div><br /><br />Of course, there's much more here than just that one loop: every time I've crossed east Toronto is in here. The Taylor Creek Loop runs along the Waterfront Trail to the east end of the Beaches, then up Victoria Park to Taylor Creek. From there, I go west along the creek and south along the Lower Don trail, back to where I started. It's around 35km, a nice couple of hours. The only downside is climbing the hill from the beach to Kingston Road.<br /><br />One of the fun things about this map is that there are little details all over it that call up memories. This is an obvious one: my first ride on my first recumbent. I said above that I didn't have a GPS for that ride, so I've faked it -- I went back later with a GPS and re-rode the route, then re-labelled the track with the time of the original ride (more or less):<br /><br /><div align="center"><a target="map" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBPBaaVTvOOPf2MuPHOwYsIbGbbAEE8FvUjexCUe6MPXwSaad6fPbbHfMSvPt31hJcyCplXSYAifpMMbMD4ctX8cvR1ofznCmn9wdZWEJQgUQYA-k8xLorbzwm7V2LQxSpjP8/" onmouseover="mapsunnybrook.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GOXxenxDxmq6Pu7FWUCXsiEZFWOMh8xtZ5SBzhg-dY9RmkiOIQvYUGyV9CQDqWSgtF_G0EhqX4lq-Zjlo7dy-dJF6U79_nu2vR10hwfUwGyD8bEO5nVLn-lm_WNX2Gkumkqz/'" onmouseout="mapsunnybrook.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4QDYqJu0lVJFznPy0nTy-ej87WQT7hk29hdZxeoFHEvcjS_fl3MGmeBzACFytTgAtqvzXKLIBhUkPji4yjNdTEvJHiTJPkHvrh-J1UfW7GcNeeoAcLC-6KQXw9mdVtcLaiIg/'"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4QDYqJu0lVJFznPy0nTy-ej87WQT7hk29hdZxeoFHEvcjS_fl3MGmeBzACFytTgAtqvzXKLIBhUkPji4yjNdTEvJHiTJPkHvrh-J1UfW7GcNeeoAcLC-6KQXw9mdVtcLaiIg/" name="mapsunnybrook" border="0" /></a><br />Sunnybrook Park</div><br /><br />The map here shows the West Don trail coming up the Don Valley from the south. It branches into the Wilkit Creek Trail going north (the route you take if you want to head to North York) and the Sunnybrook Park road going west. The first ride started from the parking lot that's just south of that fork -- the little squiggle below the line -- and ran up around the sports fields. Not a long ride, but I was a little unsteady on the bike at that point.<br /><br />You can also see three tracks heading west. The north shows the one time I biked along the dirt trail that continues along the Don. A little rough for a recumbent. The south one was from a geocaching trip with L -- we biked up the hill, then walked to the cache (the walking part is in paler grey). The middle track is how I get into the Don Valley when I'm coming from the west -- through Sunnybrook Hospital grounds and down the hill. I've done that ride several times.<br /><br />Another memory triggered by the map:<br /><br /><div align="center"><a target="map" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxkIV9ulb6AeLgtPZKNyg7mKaIDu358VtQbXZEZtFUyfxV1XHX-GtQ2LeTysym8_A2-mPnRouI0OISmXLM1ZEQNaoCTnO9eHPSt5HZHD4kgLgVR96plubuh_Bq-17EWtpi8PD/" onmouseover="mapmtpleasant.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tGXDPIdZ8nHXbvP0FktIfSMqdv7veiaYG19NAKF9lvqAlu1vy5gcRgrBAMBvar1yaB6xjSH07uatRGvJj7HtT_XskJo9yR5kV6PQNbbz65PdIGbwtJql1uDTuyRZepgRNLgI/'" onmouseout="mapmtpleasant.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkbE0Ne1IF1n8mnrCkexSmI4kcrcGikd21Z8MZK2Q7kHfxoicwuShQhMco2klkMjx8rf0bOeOtDdc4FbYgXAQuLvLohdm9nSViPgxqbTHQBp3qmkCEU-SvPiAmr58u3KPpmOY/'"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkbE0Ne1IF1n8mnrCkexSmI4kcrcGikd21Z8MZK2Q7kHfxoicwuShQhMco2klkMjx8rf0bOeOtDdc4FbYgXAQuLvLohdm9nSViPgxqbTHQBp3qmkCEU-SvPiAmr58u3KPpmOY/" name="mapmtpleasant" border="0" /></a><br />Mount Pleasant Cemetery</div><br /><br />This shows the area around Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. You can see the bright line that's part of the "Long Way Home" route, which cuts through Mt. Pleasant, but you can also see the roads of the cemetery themselves. Those mostly arise from two trips.<br /><br />The first was another geocaching run. There's a puzzle cache set in Mt. Pleasant that involves looking up dates & figures on tombstones & mausoleums, then plugging those into a formula to get the location of the final cache. Most of the roads you see on the east side are from that trip, though some on the west are as well. The final cache itself was about halfway down Moore Park Ravine.<br /><br />The second trip accounts for most of what you see in the western half of the cemetery. The oral surgeon who did my molar implant is just north of Mt. Pleasant - you can see some trails that go up to his office in this image. I always biked up, but one day I misread the time and arrived and hour early. To pass the time, I tried to bike all the roads in the west half of the cemetery -- and I got most of them. It was a fun morning.<br /><br />By the way, you can see the Brickworks trails in the lower right of the image as well.<br /><br />Here are a few other maps that I thought were kind of fun:<br /><br /><div align="center"><a target="map" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvMLl_LGzH9PFCacfn_4G-rwLILGaMCm2dIhRWh9AH6TJFpYH5RDBquS6lflMEQDdH60GU0uDQ7chQXYC0aun5Ff1btfXu244m6DYePZiMAmCk87xdDt5CRqSk3ttgDcVrTkA/" onmouseover="mapdonvalley1.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdr6t5o05gLetAaSEQvWQOAA55ZvdmAav-Jxfs2Eh72nceTjmNGt0XWJTJ1bztFeAiwA-IKLkFY2yWMcmd_Vrpd8fWKX1oAtzQXLKQqPCV_RowXXkxO1LrhZSJs1uE6y1Tl27/'" onmouseout="mapdonvalley1.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzBaEFoht9Ue4zcmHoZJplapkabmKnxPxk2hxHfGa_2W8QZ3B9kCXKHYnvUSYqUojjRyp98qjqFo7ivjOzJJEznj2ojPayuu3Qe8iAk1UGptGYmEV6fN_3u-Ru78iPl292SEs/'"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzBaEFoht9Ue4zcmHoZJplapkabmKnxPxk2hxHfGa_2W8QZ3B9kCXKHYnvUSYqUojjRyp98qjqFo7ivjOzJJEznj2ojPayuu3Qe8iAk1UGptGYmEV6fN_3u-Ru78iPl292SEs/" name="mapdonvalley1" border="0" /></a><br />Don Valley</div><br /><br />This shows the junction between the Lower & West Don trails and Taylor Creek. Up through the middle is a very smooth set of tracks -- that's the Don Valley Parkway, from the Ride for Heart, which I've done every year since 2005 (I couldn't in 2004, as I didn't get my bike until the <i>end</i> of June).<br /><br /><div align="center"><a target="map" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24IFmMYas7XyxjXmuLAzij0RUyCr-eOTM31T_QvtWgQve2A9VTJjD0Qao9SloMs-bBIXI0A-7qADHYTAqOd4RHcjDWDUSzpP9Fb1UDIerR3Q7ljifAUIHbWRnQnAQky9jB2i6/" onmouseover="maphighlandcreek.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKqyy_Fxltqg0zILNhYjQpuhOqpxS4NsuI9nS2j7XpVys0DSIoHTmgvQwC90lQ1B1NPDeeYmLs4lYVwfVCrZwFdPxYfs9jooTgPJBafGln2bTS85jV3QSU4KW5roadiGYLVyB/'" onmouseout="maphighlandcreek.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUD9gEBwDkiftjYXuVYmdjPaq6BydbSdtuiYs7bFngQ1yp41GxoB2BKHIXPfYXBgC7IRBbBJKo_koWBpqSftwb7HHrvxgwP8QHNOKL7T8qg_dPG0fr4VEqjiKfE9JHIjm4JeVd/'"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUD9gEBwDkiftjYXuVYmdjPaq6BydbSdtuiYs7bFngQ1yp41GxoB2BKHIXPfYXBgC7IRBbBJKo_koWBpqSftwb7HHrvxgwP8QHNOKL7T8qg_dPG0fr4VEqjiKfE9JHIjm4JeVd/" name="maphighlandcreek" border="0" /></a><br />Highland Creek</div><br /><br />I haven't biked Highland Creek all that often -- I've brightened it here, as on the full map it comes out quite faint -- but it's a really nice ride. The only problem is that it takes a couple of hours just to <i>get</i> there.<br /><br />On the left, you can see a long, thin rectangle. This is the Lawrence St bridge over Highland Creek. I either come from the west and go along the south side of this rectangle to the traffic lights, where I cross, then backtrack to the trail; or come down the trail and go along the north side to the other traffic lights, where I cross and backtrack to the south road. It makes for an odd feature on the map.<br /><br />The diagonal that comes down from the top of the curve of the creek is Kingston Road. It only actually connects with the creek trail because a storm washed out part of the bike path earlier this year, forcing me out of the valley.<br /><br />Last year they opened a bridge over Highland Creek, which means I can now bike further east -- that's the line heading off the right edge of the image.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a target="map" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7yKEOtTrZ6ICfFVHZlrXvvtLxErFNkubo4rogzkuj3tmfnRfGQKiIN6QrCFcNV1xdVSbQi71pgsE6uN6LfuqKS3WNVWK3kzoT4EyqaVOiC8fzNCWe7lSmVe849v4B_v5V0hh/" onmouseover="maphighpark.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb-io-hF3gBhBZGtDVebPcKEtdQgp-uCdOmJghc_MHOO9toAAHebVIFdXgdIhw09ry9ekN3gUcuBkrBc3Gce-tVOVljEfLmckBLcQ0PyCZWg0aF3Hy14RN2X_0GVcBN-KVoQU/'" onmouseout="maphighpark.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGSQe9xNbZsk9jmu247O5rauRfndNUzlVzz3RXFxvLs-1WOCxTe0XxpFGvYHxVDdMj_Ty4_IfSEtUlhnOaTZJ_3E0WZQ8vklB8QETBFkYVHGngUwM6P-RO4ECGwPlr8eDewns/'"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGSQe9xNbZsk9jmu247O5rauRfndNUzlVzz3RXFxvLs-1WOCxTe0XxpFGvYHxVDdMj_Ty4_IfSEtUlhnOaTZJ_3E0WZQ8vklB8QETBFkYVHGngUwM6P-RO4ECGwPlr8eDewns/" name="maphighpark" border="0" /></a><br />High Park</div><br /><br />High Park is fun to explore by bike. In this image, you can see the curve of the Waterfront Trail as it goes around Humber Bay. Just north of that is the DVP from the Rides for Heart, then High Park itself. I'm currently using the south-east corner of the park as part of my most recent "Long Ride To Work", along the waterfront, up through the park, and back towards downtown along High Park Boulevard.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a target="map" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcZC62_BzPozViNoim7gUKvqwC6W3JlGvx4YEpJXqaEJq2fomcDMlELJ7yZK0fEEBC4Sn4MFr-tckZG-2uDNq7HECG-Dfk57DUJUq0Rw_7tINDM28DhCGEx5VAnWkWA-tTofn/" onmouseover="maprideforheart2.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4B2VIoPbQ-Mv7yv-ubyodknAwOsB-9dnQbXt3BeeGicXLTCQHURyS0X_mQ6S5onphFbnNo7lFuXF4zoTErFpLGAVv9GyeVLbRKrh7Mucx-UyGykfc9FmZBhMFtbHSRGvVkFA/'" onmouseout="maprideforheart2.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUD_jJjMxds8mDbWiJ_6fBBI_xGksxSZQgAr3gUPsv62WBpNpQY5vIImszakRWr7IsdBFNKWq1VqNUsQEgmBmLF2bi_DspHDdJTmUOBPCZ_GqU2IKhWBx_dp4wR7mouUg28lrg/'"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUD_jJjMxds8mDbWiJ_6fBBI_xGksxSZQgAr3gUPsv62WBpNpQY5vIImszakRWr7IsdBFNKWq1VqNUsQEgmBmLF2bi_DspHDdJTmUOBPCZ_GqU2IKhWBx_dp4wR7mouUg28lrg/" name="maprideforheart2" border="0" /></a><br />Ride for Heart Turnaround</div><br /><br />I wanted to put up an image showing the full Ride for Heart track, but it spans so much of the city that it tends to get lost among everything else. This is just the north end, where the route turns around at York Mills. It reminds me of a long-stemmed flower of some sort. The faint track cutting across is from a ride loop I did out into Scarborough.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a target="map" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmy8mn5BSCf153MDqEATzHprtQ8Mj6HxZhiHg0nupN-DZy-OwHEtMVi5_39FxJ0g63Hu0iUAxwSMpWis9-mwbcRQNsxv1-NOdytBISqegZMvqMhdG6IC-0afymttx9IyS4Bit/" onmouseover="maptorontoisland.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2Ib12mLMm65yS4kcBAMRoQ8N5EHH0waj_Q9CqiTnEEcTDyuLrEBetX1mKo2oFs1I77cstuDpDcE09NgXxQm1IFbiGXKAYcxPgXUYQ_csw_syLPh2-inBDB4WCyFdT5y8egB3/'" onmouseout="maptorontoisland.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_G_hGfdf1g_cMMzRmpvVkRdJosmtmQ4JnTwInApI4hFp3JLE72DGUcWicT3unxz57FFF1FCzfFavCPLsn8vikc7OIQcnE3mVgpT4HEwGW1P8e4LBBWxl-DXr8BfnyZ8z3QBH/'"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_G_hGfdf1g_cMMzRmpvVkRdJosmtmQ4JnTwInApI4hFp3JLE72DGUcWicT3unxz57FFF1FCzfFavCPLsn8vikc7OIQcnE3mVgpT4HEwGW1P8e4LBBWxl-DXr8BfnyZ8z3QBH/" name="maptorontoisland" border="0" /></a><br />Toronto Island</div><br /><br />I haven't been riding on the Islands since we got Cobalt, but they are fun to bike on (if not particularly challenging). They have a nice, pleasing shape to them, too.<br /><br />So, here's the full map. Last Saturday's 140km ride was the first ride I've done specifically to put something in this image -- namely, the border of Toronto (more or less). Before that, I had some of Steeles and some of Etobicoke Creek, but that was about it.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a target="map" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZkwyY9RQaZeEaYRYSvetnPdcfepWaUYk0VlBaDRNP9wfeOHtUjlhyphenhyphenyR0eCJdSxJuhrCLrzF-Q2qSDx_CL87v9rGi4vQkhNPQiirAQXSauNI5MqhxwfIf8ZYp_FzlnJA9XXJ_/" onmouseover="maptoronto.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewczW8EYE7mZVda70Hgv5xZZxpNhSk9-Df9MV7Gu1NYeRUC4N-wkgxa7msxdrzGn__3Ph8O5p98RfMzGNXR7UbXAOuwro3AnM4pO9D_tiwSGT84Brfvq6PjETbsHx0CMkZ2Yn/'" onmouseout="maptoronto.src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidY0MmMZJfBAaGowdO8m8lgqIYoSFDnKsetIFrYLFJI8Dawz1D6_Kmj7Qo6E0pjodn4sxNA9i4YRlAb0kQ2qvc2zphkFRFWkzGhfj-rud3E0tKHzjbT9fhFL5D5sHa01U7vRWP/'"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidY0MmMZJfBAaGowdO8m8lgqIYoSFDnKsetIFrYLFJI8Dawz1D6_Kmj7Qo6E0pjodn4sxNA9i4YRlAb0kQ2qvc2zphkFRFWkzGhfj-rud3E0tKHzjbT9fhFL5D5sHa01U7vRWP/" name="maptoronto" border="0" /></a><br />Toronto</div><br /><br />As for those stats I mentioned... As of August 5, 2009, I've done about 560 hours of riding totalling 8240km. 2920km on the V-Rex, 5180km on the Streetmachine, and the rest on L's trikes. Not all of that total is represented on this map: this doesn't show the rides in Grey County, Haliburton, or down towards Hamilton. But this map should account for very nearly 8000km of cycling, which isn't bad when you consider that Toronto is only about 20km x 40km.<br /><br />I'm also working on an animated version of this -- that'll come later.<br /></span>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-71421363336539630642009-08-02T20:47:00.013-04:002009-09-01T15:19:50.165-04:00Cycling: Around the World (Well, Toronto)Almost a year now since the last post. That's a little longer than I meant to leave things idle.<br /><br />I've actually been working on something I intend to post, but it's not quite ready yet. One of the things I wanted for it was a GPS track of the (approximate) boundaries of Toronto -- so, yesterday, I biked the border, as best I could.<br /><br />You can't actually bike the exact border. Sure, the north edge is easy -- 40km straight of Steeles -- but you can't ride through the Rouge River valley, and taking the paths along Etobicoke Creek is hindered by a couple of missing bridges. But I did the best approximation I could.<br /><br />For extra fun, I decided to try live-tweeting the ride, and I've collected the tweets below, with some extra comments.<br /><br /><span class='fullpost'><br />The photos are all taken using my iPhone, which presented a few problems: the iPhone camera has a fixed, wide-angle lens, so there isn't a lot of flexibility in composition; and the Sun was bright enough that, most of the time, the only things I could make out on the screen were silhouettes.<br /><br />Note that some tweets didn't send properly at the time I composed them, and I ended up re-submitting them when I went to write the next tweet -- so the time stamps can't always be trusted!<br /><br /><hr><b>7:47 AM : Trying an experiment today: gonna tweet my bike ride. But first: silly cat photo!</b><br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783605278/" title="But first: silly cat photo! by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2675/3783605278_04c31e82c2_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="But first: silly cat photo!" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />I needed to try the TwitterFon app to see how you posted photos with it, and Mouse provided a perfect subject.<br /><br /><hr><b>8:10 AM: Ok, ready to go. First stop: Cherry Beach!</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783604796/" title="Ok, ready to go by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2438/3783604796_73440364b9_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Ok, ready to go" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />The Streetmachine Gte, sporting a new chain & cassette thanks to the wear and tear of 5000km of riding having worn the teeth of the old one.<br /><br /><hr><b>8:26 AM: At Cherry Beach. Now for an hour of running with the pups.</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783604190/" title="At Cherry Beach by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3514/3783604190_d480fd2eeb_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="At Cherry Beach" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Often when doing long rides on weekends, I bike down to Cherry Beach and meet L there with the dogs. We do our usual morning dog-walk, then she takes the dogs home and I continue on my way.<br /><br />As I was leaving Cherry Beach, I started getting "network failure" messages, and my tweets didn't get through. The problem continued for a while.<br /><br /><hr><b>10:44 AM: Twitter problems... Testing...</b><br /><b>10:46 AM: Ok, seems to be working. Getting food at Kingston & Eglinton. Here's the new Unwin bridge:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783603426/" title="Here's the new Unwin bridge by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2456/3783603426_41e20a73e3_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Here's the new Unwin bridge" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Finally, after a couple of hours, things were working again. I had taken a photo of the new Unwin bridge, which had only recently re-opened, so I forwarded it once I had the network back.<br /><br /><hr><b>11:17 AM: Looking out at Darlington as I approach Highland Creek. 1/3 done</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3782792661/" title="Looking out at Darlington by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/3782792661_2cc2058bfd_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Looking out at Darlington" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />There's not that much to see between the Beaches and Highland Creek, but once you're approaching the creek, you get a good view of the Darlington power plant. Unfortunately, the wide-angle lens on the iPhone reduces tht part of the view to a tiny fraction in the middle.<br /><br /><hr><b>11:20 AM: This bridge over Highland Creek is fairly new. Before, I'd have to turn north here.</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3782792047/" title="This bridge over Highland Creek is fairly new by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3562/3782792047_80c7685ed3_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="This bridge over Highland Creek is fairly new" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />My usual Scarborough path is out to Highland Creek, then up along the creek in a big semi-circle that curves back through Colonel Danforth Park towards the Scarboro Golf & Country Club. This bridge went in fairly recently -- last summer, I think -- and this is only the second time I've ridden across it<br /><br /><hr><b>11:33 AM: The Rouge River pedestrian bridge.</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783601612/" title="The Route River pedestrian bridge by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2619/3783601612_db8858d22a_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="The Route River pedestrian bridge" /></a></div><br /><br />Not far past the Highland Creek bridge is this bridge over the Rouge River. The city's building a bike trail all the way here, but for now you have to cross the GO tracks at Rouge Hill (there's a level crossing) and take Lawrence Ave E to get here.<br /><br /><hr><b>11:43 AM: I've never biked in Durham before...</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783601026/" title="I've never ridden in Durham before by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2656/3783601026_41c2a5f261_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="I've never ridden in Durham before" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />I'd only ever gone as far east as the Rouge Hill GO station before. Next time I'm out this way, I'll continue along the Waterfront Trail to Darlington. I'm going up through Pickering because you can't bike through the Rouge River park (so far as I know).<br /><br /><hr><b>12:24 AM: Petticoat Creek:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3782790601/" title="Petticoat Creek by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/3782790601_a12bbf22f2_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Petticoat Creek" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Around here, the hills started getting annoying. Not that you can tell in this wide angle shot.<br /><br /><hr><b>12:31 AM: Hard to climb on a recumbent:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3782789957/" title="Hard to climb on a recumbent by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2667/3782789957_caf980146d_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Hard to climb on a recumbent" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />This doesn't really show the steepnes of the climb very well. Recumbents are great for long rides, but for climbing hills you have to rely entirely on your gearing -- you can't stand on the pedals to use your weight.<br /><br /><hr><b>12:37 AM: Finally! Steeles. 40km to the next turn.</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783599154/" title="Finally! Steeles. 40km to the next turn by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/3783599154_4aa29d29cf_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Finally! Steeles. 40km to the next turn" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />I'd never been out this far on Steeles. It was more rural than I'd anticipated -- though I have no idea why I should have expected anything else.<br /><br /><hr><b>12:44 AM: A reminder of how far east I am:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783598580/" title="A reminder of how far east I am by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2480/3783598580_af67a04aee_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="A reminder of how far east I am" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />This sign is pointing south to the Zoo. I don't think I've ever been inside Toronto north of the Zoo before.<br /><br /><hr><b>12:49 AM: Moo.</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3782788175/" title="Moo by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3424/3782788175_b4e8688322_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Moo" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Wildlife! Sorta.<br /><br /><hr><b>1:01 PM: 52km - Time for a breather and a drink.</b><br /><br />I spotted a pharmacy and grabbed some water.<br /><br /><hr><b>1:32 PM: Pacific Mall - the heart of Little Hong Kong.</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783597348/" title="Pacific Mall - the heart of Little Hong Kong by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2591/3783597348_b8060836a9_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Pacific Mall - the heart of Little Hong Kong" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Good green tea ice cream there.<br /><br /><hr><b>1:49 PM: Almost half way. Lunch break!</b><br /><br />Traditionally, when on long rides, I do a McDonald's breakfast and a Wendy's lunch. Not sure why.<br /><br /><hr><b>2:28 PM: Gah! Nettles!</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3782786983/" title="Gah! Nettles! by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3520/3782786983_0ff70940fa_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Gah! Nettles!" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />I zipped through these plants, and it was only as I hit them that I realized they were stinging nettles.<br /><br /><hr><b>2:38 PM: Long climb ahead:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783596054/" title="Long climb ahead by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2488/3783596054_db2bff7265_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Long climb ahead" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Again, the wide-angle really downplays the climb.<br /><br /><hr><b>2:51 PM: Yonge St - Halfway done Steeles:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3782785651/" title="Yonge St - Halfway done Steeles by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2580/3782785651_36223218ab_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Yonge St - Halfway done Steeles" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />The city boundary along Steeles runs 40km in a straight line. I think that's the longest I've ever actually ridden in a straight line...<br /><br /><hr><b>3:11 PM: I'll have to check this place out some other time:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783595102/" title="I'll have to check this place out some other time by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3579/3783595102_35f8309e68_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="I'll have to check this place out some other time" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />This connects in to G Ross Lord Park, which I've ridden in before.<br /><br /><hr><b>3:21 PM: York University:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783594490/" title="York University by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2492/3783594490_f578d4465f_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="York University" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />It's in behind the trees somewhere. I've been here a few times on my bike, usually when riding Black Creek's paths.<br /><br />Around this time, I was starting to worry that there might be a storm coming. Wouldn't be the first time I'd've been caught in a downpour on Steeles.<br /><br /><hr><b>3:36 PM: Across from Radioworld, my fav GPS store. Time for a drink.</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783594070/" title="Across from Radioworld by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3783594070_ff88c936ae_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Across from Radioworld" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.radioworld.ca/">Radioworld</a> is a great GPS store, though my current Garmin Oregon 300 comes from <a href="http://www.mec.ca/splash.jsp">Mountain Equipment Co-op</a>.<br /><br /><hr><b>4:22 PM: Here we are - The west end of Steeles. It's downhill from here!</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3782783559/" title="Here we are - The west end of Steeles by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/3782783559_18d767d24b_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Here we are - The west end of Steeles" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Looking back the way I came. Not quite as rural as the other end.<br /><br /><hr><b>4:30 PM: Abandoned road & Hindu temple:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3782782985/" title="Abandoned road & Hindu temple by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3534/3782782985_cf6b7f0e6b_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Abandoned road & Hindu temple" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Indian Line Road is falling into disrepair. No cars are allowed at this point. It provides a back way into Indian Line Campground on Claireville Lake, next to Wild Water Kingdom. The somewhat incongruous temple in the distance is the new <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAPS_Shri_Swaminarayan_Mandir_Toronto">BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir</a>, which opened in 2007.<br /><br /><hr><b>4:33 PM: On the Claireville Dam:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3782782219/" title="On the Claireville Dam by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2538/3782782219_984547d37a_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="On the Claireville Dam" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />A quiet view of Claireville Lake, with the campground off to the left. I exited the park through the campground, with lots of kids yelling "Cool bike!" as I rode past.<br /><br /><hr><b>4:45 PM: Hmm... I didn't know about this:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783591786/" title="Hmm... I didn't know about this by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/3783591786_51d5eeb408_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Hmm... I didn't know about this" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Another set of trails to explore!<br /><br /><hr><b>5:15 PM: YYZ:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3782781117/" title="YYZ by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2467/3782781117_8c5eb5273a_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="YYZ" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Not just an instrumental by Rush, it's also an airport!<br /><br />Not that you can see much of anything in the photo -- I just figured that, since this is the closest I've ever biked to the airport, I should get a shot.<br /><br /><hr><b>5:24 PM: 100km - Yay! 30km left - 1.5-2 hours.</b><br /><br />At this point, I've exceeded my original time estimates for the ride. These estimates also will not hold, for a few reasons.<br /><br /><hr><b>6:19 PM: Hmm... Can't get down Etobicoke Creek yet...</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783590672/" title="Hmm... Can't get down Etobicoke Creek yet... by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2471/3783590672_38803bdc42_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Hmm... Can't get down Etobicoke Creek yet..." /></a><br /></div><br /><br />The city border runs down Carlingview, past the airport to Eglinton. It then follows Eglinton to Etobicoke Creek, and runs down the creek to the lakeshore. I thought I might be able to head down this street, Rakely Court, and find a trail along the creek, but no luck.<br /><br />The image is oddly skewed because the iPhone's camera uses a scaning method for pulling the image off the sensor chip, and I moved the camera while it was doign this. It's an interesting effect, but not at all what I was after.<br /><br />It turns out, after later investigation with Google Maps, that there is a path at the creek, but I missed it this time around. I may do the Humber-Eglinton-Etobicoke Creek loop to fill that in later. The big problem is that, as near as I can tell from Google Maps, the bridges are out on that path:<br /><br /><div align="'center'"><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=43.644569,-79.602664&spn=0.00472,0.008787&t=h&z=17&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=43.644569,-79.602664&spn=0.00472,0.008787&t=h&z=17&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /></div><br /><br /><hr><b>6:20 PM: Hey, I'm not the only one!</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3782780045/" title="Hey, I'm not the only one! by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2613/3782780045_3eb88107af_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Hey, I'm not the only one!" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Usually, when I do the Etobicoke Creek-to-lakeshore path, I join the creek at the south end of Centennial Park and follow that to Dundas. At that point the path stops, and I take The West Mall down to this Tim Hortons, grab a drink, and rejoin the creek with the new path. This is the first time I've stopped anywhere (except the <a href="http://www.ucycle.com/">Urbane Cyclist</a>) and seen another recumbent parked outside!<br /><br /><hr><b>6:33 PM: Nice talk with the owner of the Bacchetta.</b><br /><br />We chatted about over-seat stearing vs. under-seat, long-wheel-base vs. short-wheel-base, and sundry other recumbent topics. The rider's husband joked that, whenever he rides his plain green bike along behind his wife's Bacchetta, he might as well be invisible.<br /><br /><hr><b>6:52 PM: Finally! Back at the lake. Revised time estimate: 45-60 mins</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783589398/" title="Finally! Back at the lake. by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2526/3783589398_1edc3c5572_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Finally! Back at the lake." /></a><br /></div><br /><br />The talk with the other recumbent owner delayed me an extra 15 mins, but this is the home stretch now!<br /><br /><hr><b>7:26 PM: First sight of downtown on the home stretch:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783588700/" title="First sight of downtown on the home stretch by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2450/3783588700_0c8e1a8cc0_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="First sight of downtown on the home stretch" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />This is somewhere around 5th Street in Etobicoke. Once again, the wide angle on the camera kinda minimizes the effect.<br /><br /><hr><b>7:27 PM: Humber bridge:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783588068/" title="Humber bridge by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2507/3783588068_4889a1c100_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Humber bridge" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />It was shortly after this that I started realizing that I'd mis-remembered when Caribana was...<br /><br /><hr><b>7:34 PM: Busy down here:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3783587544/" title="Busy down here by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2424/3783587544_96ce4b5f44_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Busy down here" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Sure, it <i>started</i> a couple of weeks ago...<br /><br /><hr><b>7:37 PM: Very busy:</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3782776907/" title="Very busy by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2591/3782776907_ed4ef48bdd_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Very busy" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />But the <i>parade</i> was today!<br /><br /><hr><b>8:16 PM: Almost there...</b><br /><br />I backtracked to Parkside and worked my way back north to Dundas, then College. This was tweeted from College & Bay.<br /><br /><hr><b>8:24 PM: There... All done!</b><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/3782776273/" title="There... All done! by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3456/3782776273_dfe625664d_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="There... All done!" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />And home.<br /><br /><hr><b>Final tally: 141km, 12h30 including dog park, two meals, and other stops. And I really should have remembered that it was Carribana...</b><br /><br /><hr>Here is the overall route:<br /><br /><div align="'center'"><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fmaps.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fms%3Fie%3DUTF8%26hl%3Den%26oe%3DUTF8%26vps%3D1%26jsv%3D169c%26msa%3D0%26output%3Dnl%26msid%3D103467301696323257203.00047032ad7202e9f7c0dhttp:%2F%2Fmaps.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fms%3Fie%3DUTF8%26hl%3Den%26oe%3DUTF8%26vps%3D2%26jsv%3D169c%26msa%3D0%26output%3Dnl%26msid%3D103467301696323257203.00047032ad7202e9f7c0d&ie=UTF8&ll=43.720602,-79.377968&spn=0.270084,0.523224&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fmaps.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fms%3Fie%3DUTF8%26hl%3Den%26oe%3DUTF8%26vps%3D1%26jsv%3D169c%26msa%3D0%26output%3Dnl%26msid%3D103467301696323257203.00047032ad7202e9f7c0dhttp:%2F%2Fmaps.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fms%3Fie%3DUTF8%26hl%3Den%26oe%3DUTF8%26vps%3D2%26jsv%3D169c%26msa%3D0%26output%3Dnl%26msid%3D103467301696323257203.00047032ad7202e9f7c0d&ie=UTF8&ll=43.720602,-79.377968&spn=0.270084,0.523224" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /></div><br /></span>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-16436976214318520812008-08-19T13:41:00.018-04:002009-09-01T15:20:13.341-04:00Cycling: Hamilton And BackA couple of weekends ago I managed my longest bike ride ever: Toronto to Hamilton and back!<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fjames.hg.redekop.googlepages.com%2FHamiltonX-FullRide.kml&ie=UTF8&t=p&ll=43.44069,-79.63375&spn=0.416616,0.517415&output=embed&s=AARTsJqy65p2aXqSWvryamzDVq1BJgleng"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fjames.hg.redekop.googlepages.com%2FHamiltonX-FullRide.kml&ie=UTF8&t=p&ll=43.44069,-79.63375&spn=0.416616,0.517415&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /></div><br /><br />(Note: the maps in this post are all interactive Google Maps, so you can zoom in and scroll around to see the fine details of the routes, or switch to satellite mode to see what buildings I passed.)<br /><br /><span class='fullpost'><br />I'd been planning this ride for a while. My longest ride to date had been 115km. This was going to be at least 50% longer than that, so I had to be prepared. The first step was picking Hamilton as a destination -- the route is along the lake front, so there aren't too many hills to tire me out. After that, the question was whether to go the longer way, around the west side of Burlington Bay (past tye Royal Botanical Gardens), or to go along the beaches under the Burlington Skyway, on the east side of the bay? I decided to do both -- one on the way in, and the other on the way back.<br /><br />I arranged with a friend who lives in Hamilton to drop by between noon and 1:00 for lunch, so I could catch my breath for the return trip. I wasn't sure, even as I set out, wether I wanted to do the western route going in (it's hilly, so I might have been too tired after biking that far) or save it for going back after I'd had something to eat. I decided to make up my mind when I got to Burlington.<br /><br />The route I took is based on the <a href="http://www.waterfronttrail.org/">Waterfront Trail</a>, which runs (on and off) from Kingston to Niagara Falls. It's uninterupted from the Beaches in Toronto to Stoney Creek in Hamilton, though it alternates between dedicated off-road multi-use trails and simply using Lakeshore Boulevard -- between Port Credit and Burlington, it's almost entirely on Lakeshore.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fjames.hg.redekop.googlepages.com%2FHamiltonA-TorontoToPortCredit.kml&ie=UTF8&ll=43.596554,-79.480225&spn=0.090474,0.210366&t=p&output=embed&s=AARTsJrVzh2RJzUCtljqPjbkPMKRXn_nDA"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fjames.hg.redekop.googlepages.com%2FHamiltonA-TorontoToPortCredit.kml&ie=UTF8&ll=43.596554,-79.480225&spn=0.090474,0.210366&t=p&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /></div><br /><br />The first leg (above) was very familiar to me -- I'd done the Toronto-to-Port Credit ride several times. I stopped in Etobicoke for breakfast (I learned my lesson about eating early in a long ride a couple of years ago, when I conked out after 55km without a breakfast, still 20km from home).<br /><br />From Etobicoke, the trail runs along Lakeshore for a while, then cuts down to the water to alternate between parks and neighbourhood streets all the way to Port Credit.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fjames.hg.redekop.googlepages.com%2FHamiltonB-PortCreditToBurlington.kml&ie=UTF8&t=p&ll=43.43577,-79.691451&spn=0.233066,0.219512&output=embed&s=AARTsJqjcCOn7YvyhpG9iUBnFC5qOOfxgQ"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fjames.hg.redekop.googlepages.com%2FHamiltonB-PortCreditToBurlington.kml&ie=UTF8&t=p&ll=43.43577,-79.691451&spn=0.233066,0.219512&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /></div><br /><br />On the west side of Port Credit the trail goes into a large park. At the entrance to the park, I encountered this sign (first flag on the map):<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2779466045/" title="Caution: Coyotes In The Area by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/2779466045_c011e5c428.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Caution: Coyotes In The Area" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Further along is Jack Darling Memorial Park, where I saw a couple looking intently at something in the grass (second flag). As I got closer, I realized it was a hawk which had caught a starling. Unfortunately, the hawk took off before I could get the camera out. Instead, I took a photo back at downtown Toronto<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2780321486/" title="Toronto From Mississauga by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3046/2780321486_c8277f073f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Toronto From Mississauga" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />The Jack Darling path leads into Rattray Marsh, but the trail turns to sand as you enter, so I decided to go around, though the neighbourhood. This involved the first noticable climb of the ride, though nothing major.<br /><br />The the next while, the path was pretty straightforward -- long stretches of Lakeshore Boulevard, with the occasional dips over to the water in the parks around town centres.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fjames.hg.redekop.googlepages.com%2FHamiltonC-BurlingtonToHamilton.kml&ie=UTF8&t=p&ll=43.284316,-79.846832&spn=0.070222,0.09125&output=embed&s=AARTsJoeGGcVgtFdh5aftrtVPWtc6UVhBQ"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fjames.hg.redekop.googlepages.com%2FHamiltonC-BurlingtonToHamilton.kml&ie=UTF8&t=p&ll=43.284316,-79.846832&spn=0.070222,0.09125&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /></div><br /><br />When I got to Burlington, I was still feeling reasonably fresh, so I decided to take the hilly route around the east side of Burlington Bay. The route continued much as it had, though I got a little mixed up in my directions at one point (first flag) and ended up on a steep, sandy path that I couldn't quite force the bike up.<br /><br />By this point, I was getting a little tight on time -- I promised my friend I'd be at his place for lunch around noon -- so I decided to forgo the route through the Royal Botanical Garden, and head straight downs Sping Gardens Road to get to York Boulevard.<br /><br />The first part of this was easy -- a downhill run to Valley Inn Road, where I took this photo of the York Boulevard bridge, which runs over the channel between Cootes Paradise (the innermost part of the bay) and Burlington Bay.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2779464623/" title="York Boulevard Bridge by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/2779464623_07c706c8bf.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="York Boulevard Bridge" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />The problem was, I had to get back <i>up</i> to cross over that bridge... A 25 metre climb in a run of 300 metres, after having just ridden over 80km from Toronto. Needless to say, I didn't quite make it all the way up, and had to finish the climb on foot.<br /><br />Once up there, and across the bridge, I stopped to photograph the Burlington Skyway -- the route I'd take going back.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2780319048/" title="Burlington Skyway by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/2780319048_6158f465fc.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Burlington Skyway" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2779461311/" title="Burlington Skyway by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2779461311_6af4ee0752.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Burlington Skyway" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Then came the biggest problem of all -- to get back to the Waterfront Trail, I had to get my bike back <i>down</i> 25 metres, and the only route was a set of stairs (second flag). Thoughtfully, they'd included a bike groove, but my recumbent bike doesn't work well in those.<br /><br />Fortunately, a friendly jogger helped me carry the bike down the eight-or-so flights.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2779459643/" title="York Boulevard Bridge by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3063/2779459643_0e3c72a131.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="York Boulevard Bridge" /></a><br />The bridge, as seen from the top of the stairs.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2779457539/" title="Stairs by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2779457539_c1b4c3e762.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Stairs" /></a><br />The stairs, seen from the bottom. You can't make out the first three flights, which run from the monolith to the top of the flights you can see.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2779455503/" title="York Boulevard Bridge by JnL, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/2779455503_cd0ef053b5.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="York Boulevard Bridge" /></a><br />The bridge, as seen from the bottom of the stairs.<br /></div><br /><br />From there, it was a short ride along the Waterfront Trail to where I could get onto Hamilton streets, and then another 15 minutes or so to my friend's place. So far, I'd ridden about 95km.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fjames.hg.redekop.googlepages.com%2FHamiltonD-HamiltonToBurlington.kml&ie=UTF8&t=p&ll=43.275933,-79.767801&spn=0.087102,0.066398&output=embed&s=AARTsJqKFcxpe4voWDqrO_bnYFC_a7f5CQ"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fjames.hg.redekop.googlepages.com%2FHamiltonD-HamiltonToBurlington.kml&ie=UTF8&t=p&ll=43.275933,-79.767801&spn=0.087102,0.066398&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /></div><br /><br />After a nice barbequed lunch, I was on my way again. The return route was about 85km, and without the hills that the trip down had ended with, so I was feeling optimistic. The route started but cutting east across town to Stoney Creek, where I could hook back up with the Waterfront Trail.<br /><br />Unfortunately, just as I got to Stoney Creek, the city was hit by one of these miserable summer downpours that has been plaguing the area this summer. I had to hole up in a Mac's Milk for 15 minutes or so, until the rain had passed (first flag).<br /><br />The Waterfront Trail under the Burlington Skyway runs along the east side of the land below the bridge. Bicycles and pedestrians can cross at the lift bridge (second flag), but apart from that the ride is extremely flat and easy.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fjames.hg.redekop.googlepages.com%2FHamiltonE-BurlingtonToPortCredit.kml&ie=UTF8&t=p&ll=43.436198,-79.69109&spn=0.233429,0.218428&output=embed&s=AARTsJrkaNaE2RUrReamp953UKYW4isKvQ"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fjames.hg.redekop.googlepages.com%2FHamiltonE-BurlingtonToPortCredit.kml&ie=UTF8&t=p&ll=43.436198,-79.69109&spn=0.233429,0.218428&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /></div><br /><br />Once back in Burlington, I was retracing the route I'd taken on the way down. I did make some changes, though: I skipped a few of the smaller detours from Lakeshore Boulevard to the waterfront, and instead of going around Rattray Marsh, I went through.<br /><br />The trail was pretty good, but at one point, turning a corner, I had the most serious spill I've ever had on my recumbent bike. The limestone path, wet from the downpour, had turned to soft clay on the corner, and my rear wheel slide sideways, taking the entire bike out from under me and dumping me on my tailbone in the mud (flag).<br /><br />This was more surprising than anything -- it's <i>very</i> hard to get thrown from a recumbent bike. My worst spill ever on a recumbent was far less dangerous than even a mild spill on a standard bike, since it's almost impossible for me to fall head first. Still, it was uncomfortable, and wet. The bike also suffered some minor damage: the bell was totalled, the steering was knocked out of alignment (not by much, only a couple of degrees, but noticable), and the seat was soaked. It was still quite ridable, though, so I was back up and on my way in a few minutes.<br /><br />I had to walk the bike for the last part of the marsh trail, because it has stairs and ended in that sandy section that had discouraged me from entering the marsh on the way down.<br /><br />Not long after that, I arrived in Port Credit, and decided to stop for a bite of pizza.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fjames.hg.redekop.googlepages.com%2FHamiltonF-PortCreditToToronto.kml&ie=UTF8&t=p&ll=43.600711,-79.480866&spn=0.096574,0.205979&output=embed&s=AARTsJqkiQyP7Fu9eWN2JbExZxXe6K3GAg"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fjames.hg.redekop.googlepages.com%2FHamiltonF-PortCreditToToronto.kml&ie=UTF8&t=p&ll=43.600711,-79.480866&spn=0.096574,0.205979&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /></div><br /><br />The last leg of the ride was uneventful, though by this time I was starting to wear down. It was almost 12 hours since I'd left the house, and I still had 30km to go.<br /><br />When I got back across the Humber River, the last complication appeared -- Caribana. On my trip out, I'd passed by the parade route long before festivities were to start, but now the western beaches were packed with celebrants who'd stuck around after the parade ended. The Waterfront Trail was far too busy to ride, so I cut up to the Queensway and rode the rest of the way home on King Street (which was packed solid from Roncesvalles to about Spadina). Finally, around 8pm, I got home. I'd been out for roughly 13 hours, of which 10 were spent on the bike. L & I went out for dinner as my muscles complained about having to be used for <i>walking</i> instead of cycling, and I had a <i>very</i> good night's sleep.<br /></span>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-46827320327133296132008-08-19T13:24:00.005-04:002009-09-01T15:20:53.416-04:00Cobalt: Agility Fun RunWe've had Cobalt in Agility classes for quite a while now. She can handle all the obstacles, but she doesn't have a lot of drive when she goes around the courses. We've been suspecting she's kind of bored with the whole thing, so we've moved her from Agility into Rally Obedience (which starts in September) to see if she likes that better.<br /><br />However, Lane White, the Agility trainer, announced at the end of the last course that he was having an Agility Fun Run. A Fun Run is a run on a standard outdoor course that doesn't count towards any ranking -- it's great experience for the dogs, because an outdoor course is very different from an indoor class, even if the gear is the same.<br /><br /><span class='fullpost'><br />Lane runs <a href="http://www.daytripperdogtraining.com/">Daytripper Dog Training</a> from his <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=5+Boulder+St,+Little+Britain,+ON,+Canada&sll=44.262044,-78.764591&sspn=0.024341,0.055275&ie=UTF8&ll=44.45731,-79.019165&spn=1.552663,3.537598&t=p&z=8&iwloc=addr">place on Lake Skugog</a>. He and his partner, Teddy Green, have a full-sized Agility area set up in the field beside their house.<br /><br />When we arrived, the place was being circled by a turkey vulture, which wasn't very encouraging, but things went quite well. The vulture was no doubt disappointed.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/jnl/2715411330/" title="Visitor (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2715411330_871f6f9535.jpg" title="Visitor (by JnL)" alt="Visitor (by JnL)" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Cobalt's first run was hopeless -- she was much more interested in sniffing around the field than running the obstacles. But Lane assured us that that's typical of a dog's first time on an outdoor course.. In fact, Cobalt was running the course pretty well by her third run, and Lane told us that some dogs can take six months to get their act together, so we were pleased.<br /><br />Lori took Cobalt on the runs while I managed Denim and took photos. Managing Denim proved to be a little tricky. At first, I just had her on a flexy leash while I walked around to shoot the dogs running the course. She was fine with that, until Cobalt went up -- then she went squirrelly, barking her head off. I ended up putting her in the travel crate we had for her, where she continued to bark and whine while I shot stuff.<br /><br />Unfortunately, she managed to <i>chew through the mesh</i> in the crate, and had her head out by the time anyone noticed. So much for that crate!<br /><br />For the rest of the run, I kept her on a short lead, and kept her back from the fences while photographing -- though that limited my options for angles.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/jnl/2714594287/" title="Cobalt on the A-Frame (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2714594287_42a71c8f46.jpg" title="Cobalt on the A-Frame (by JnL)" alt="Cobalt on the A-Frame (by JnL)" width="333" height="500" /></a><br />Coming over the A-Frame<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/jnl/2714591895/" title="Cobalt on the Table (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3192/2714591895_4f5cd275b4.jpg" title="Cobalt on the Table (by JnL)" alt="Cobalt on the Table (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Stopped on the Pause Table<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/jnl/2715405400/" title="Cobalt Jumping (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/2715405400_926fa1e091.jpg" title="Cobalt Jumping (by JnL)" alt="Cobalt Jumping (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Over a Jump<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/jnl/2714581735/" title="Cobalt in the Weave Poles (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/2714581735_2734e34acd.jpg" title="Cobalt in the Weave Poles (by JnL)" alt="Cobalt in the Weave Poles (by JnL)" width="333" height="500" /></a><br />Through the Weave Poles<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/jnl/2714581097/" title="Cobalt on the Dog Walk (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/2714581097_383b6d8484.jpg" title="Cobalt on the Dog Walk (by JnL)" alt="Cobalt on the Dog Walk (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Over the Dog Walk with L<br /></div><br /><br />There were four other dogs participating as well:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/jnl/2715410416/" title="Allie Jumping (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/2715410416_d8c0b87e9a.jpg" title="Allie Jumping (by JnL)" alt="Allie Jumping (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Allie, a Golden Retriever<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/jnl/2715402382/" title="Chip Jumping (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/2715402382_aae0c96d60.jpg" title="Chip Jumping (by JnL)" alt="Chip Jumping (by JnL)" width="333" height="500" /></a><br />Chip, a Standard Aussie<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/jnl/2715400332/" title="Phoebe on the A-Frame (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/2715400332_4f4b749c47.jpg" title="Phoebe on the A-Frame (by JnL)" alt="Phoebe on the A-Frame (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Phoebe, an Italian Greyhound<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/jnl/2715401298/" title="Talia on the Course (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3164/2715401298_760ed62563.jpg" title="Talia on the Course (by JnL)" alt="Talia on the Course (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Talia, a Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever<br /></div><br /></span>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-46332441319771097932008-06-02T10:23:00.004-04:002008-06-05T15:10:45.542-04:00Denim: Frisbee FanaticDenim has a new talent -- leaping.<br /><br />This first showed up at <a href="http://www.urbandog.ca/">Urban Dog</a>, where the staff reported that she was jumping over 3-foot gates to be with them.<br /><br />We already knew she was an escape artist, since she could get out of her pen -- but we figured she was just climbing, like Cobalt used to.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/390677162/" title="Escape from Alcatraz (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/390677162_3da72cf661.jpg" title="Escape from Alcatraz (by JnL)" alt="Escape from Alcatraz (by JnL)" width="285" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />We hadn't counted on her actually clearing such high barriers in one go!<br /><br />Unfortunately, we don't have any pictures of her escape attempts. But we do have some of her newest passion -- catching frisbees (well, "floppy discs" in her case) on the fly.<br /><br />We first noticed that she'd scrunch down and wriggle when people were getting ready to throw the discs, and she'd lunge at them as we threw them.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2544919476/" title="Concentration (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2219/2544919476_eee9d08172.jpg" title="Concentration (by JnL)" alt="Concentration (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Note the tongue<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2544102807/" title="Reach (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/2544102807_3d67ac1653.jpg" title="Reach (by JnL)" alt="Reach (by JnL)" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />But it wasn't until a few throws later that she started getting serious about jumping.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2544931118/" title="Sproing! (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/2544931118_a95983064f.jpg" title="Sproing! (by JnL)" alt="Sproing! (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2544935004/" title="Monster Lunge (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3276/2544935004_0bd12ac1fd.jpg" title="Monster Lunge (by JnL)" alt="Monster Lunge (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Her jumps got more and more impressive with every throw.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2544089983/" title="Flying Catch (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/2544089983_2d11b8a471.jpg" title="Flying Catch (by JnL)" alt="Flying Catch (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Though her <i>catches</i> didn't always match the drama of her attempts:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2544085297/" title="Timing's Off (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/2544085297_65177ec071.jpg" title="Timing's Off (by JnL)" alt="Timing's Off (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2544080119/" title="Getting Better (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3120/2544080119_507249b6cb.jpg" title="Getting Better (by JnL)" alt="Getting Better (by JnL)" width="500" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />She has now mastered the art of levitation:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2544905814/" title="Levitation (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2159/2544905814_cc90ae9851.jpg" title="Levitation (by JnL)" alt="Levitation (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2544903374/" title="Flying Denim (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2544903374_0f0a7f8385.jpg" title="Flying Denim (by JnL)" alt="Flying Denim (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />And she's getting good at mid-air maneuvers:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2544082693/" title="Straight Up (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2544082693_9b9ea31f75.jpg" title="Straight Up (by JnL)" alt="Straight Up (by JnL)" width="334" height="500" /></a><br />Going up<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2544908778/" title="Getting Better (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/2544908778_d9e9fca16a.jpg" title="Getting Better (by JnL)" alt="Getting Better (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Coming down<br /></div><br /><br />Note her shadow in front of Cobalt.<br /><br />Of course, now we have to work on her actually bringing the thing back...James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-76895813508399921872008-03-24T10:36:00.003-04:002008-03-24T10:45:57.460-04:00Dogs: Visiting Tala and Cody AgainOur friends <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/jnl/516233528/">L-Girl</a> and <a href="http://joyofsox.blogspot.com/">Redsock</a>, who had had us over to visit with Cobalt back on <a href="http://77track7.blogspot.com/2008/02/cobalt-tala-and-cody.html">New Year's Day</a>, had us over again for Good Friday. (They work weekends, and we work weekdays, so we can only really visit on statutory holidays.) This time, of course, we brought Denim as well, so she could enjoy their huge yard and their two dogs.<br /><br />L-Girl's already posted an <a href="http://wmtc.blogspot.com/2008/03/pupdate-part-1-doggie-play-date.html">extensive write-up</a> of the visit, so I'm not going to go into a lot of detail, but here are some photos:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2356505318/" title="Denim (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2264/2356505318_02940727ee.jpg" title="Denim (by JnL)" alt="Denim (by JnL)" width="333" height="500" /></a><br />Denim jumped right into the fun.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2356504862/" title="You're Not The Black One (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/2356504862_d3b4d87577.jpg" title="You're Not The Black One (by JnL)" alt="You're Not The Black One (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Cobalt and Tala are, of course, good friends now. Denim was a little wary.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2355668043/" title="Closing In (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/2355668043_3d47518cfc.jpg" title="Closing In (by JnL)" alt="Closing In (by JnL)" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2355667165/" title="I'm Gonna Getcha! (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2112/2355667165_5d00d6626a.jpg" title="I'm Gonna Getcha! (by JnL)" alt="I'm Gonna Getcha! (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Tala and Cobalt got right into the chase games.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2355711855/" title="Playful Pups (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3226/2355711855_f064f2bb37.jpg" title="Playful Pups (by JnL)" alt="Playful Pups (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />All four together.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2356524474/" title="Puppy Worship (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2199/2356524474_f4ac4aebfa.jpg" title="Puppy Worship (by JnL)" alt="Puppy Worship (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Cody, it turns out, loves little dogs, and spent the whole time following Denim around.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2355706615/" title="The Chase Is On (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/2355706615_db0076481d.jpg" title="The Chase Is On (by JnL)" alt="The Chase Is On (by JnL)" width="500" height="500" /></a><br />Cobalt would retrieve the ball, Tala and Denim would chase Cobalt, and Cody would chase Denim.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2356521798/" title="Puppy Worship (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/2356521798_cfd1537cd5.jpg" title="Puppy Worship (by JnL)" alt="Puppy Worship (by JnL)" width="333" height="500" /></a><br />Denim just couldn't get away!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2355714879/" title="What Do YOU Want? (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3205/2355714879_700fd7531b.jpg" title="What Do YOU Want? (by JnL)" alt="What Do YOU Want? (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />She found Cody's attention a little overwhelming at times.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2355692703/" title="Denim (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2002/2355692703_4e2ccdafaa.jpg" title="Denim (by JnL)" alt="Denim (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Denim ended up a little mussed from Cody constantly slurping her head.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2356516978/" title="Puppy Worship (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/2356516978_d9625295f6.jpg" title="Puppy Worship (by JnL)" alt="Puppy Worship (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />She tried retreating up onto a snow pile, but it wasn't tall enough to get away.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2356515808/" title="Nyah! (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/2356515808_5168f70f56.jpg" title="Nyah! (by JnL)" alt="Nyah! (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Nyah!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2356512040/" title="C'mon! Chase Me! (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3270/2356512040_291d4957ce.jpg" title="C'mon! Chase Me! (by JnL)" alt="C'mon! Chase Me! (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Meanwhile, Tala was fixated on Cobalt.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2356510892/" title="Chase (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2273/2356510892_3194bc88c2.jpg" title="Chase (by JnL)" alt="Chase (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2355704659/" title="Chase (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2068/2355704659_3f269c5464.jpg" title="Chase (by JnL)" alt="Chase (by JnL)" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Eventually, Denim discovered that she could fit between the slats in the fence, and visited the neighbour's yard. Fortunately, her recall is good, and she returned on command -- but moments later, Cobalt went through, then Denim again, and we decided to move indoors where we wouldn't lose track of the dogs.James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-81786054408564272072008-03-11T21:45:00.003-04:002008-03-11T21:51:23.355-04:00Books: The Surreal Art of Robert VanderhorstThis spring, painter <a href="http://www.twoartists.ca/">Robert Vanderhorst</a> will be publishing a comprehensive collection of his surreal paintings in <cite>The Paintings of Robert Willem Vanderhorst</cite>. The book will feature twenty-six of Vanderhorst's oil paintings, as well as an introduction and an original short story by <cite>Night of the Living Dead</cite> directory <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Romero">George A. Romero</a>. Romero's story was inspired by the Vanderhorst painting <cite>The Yacht Club</cite>, and will also be published in three installments on Vanderhorst's website, <a href="http://www.twoartists.ca/">www.twoartists.ca</a>, over the next few weeks. The announcement of the final publication date for <cite>The Paintings of Robert Willem Vanderhorst</cite> will also be announced at <a href="http://www.twoartists.ca/">www.twoartists.ca</a>.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><img src="http://www.twoartists.ca/images/paintings/The_Yacht_Club.jpg" alt="The Yacht Club"/><br />Robert Vanderhorst's <cite>The Yacht Club</cite><br /><br /><img src="http://www.twoartists.ca/images/extra/VanderhorstAndRomero.jpg" alt="George A. Romero and Robert Vanderhorst"/><br />George A. Romero (left) and Robert W. Vanderhorst (right)<br /></div><br /><br />Robert Willem Vanderhorst is a self-taught artist with a talent inherited from his father and a technique born of a strong Dutch tradition in art. Emigrating from Holland to Canada in 1951, he now lives in Toronto, Canada. In 1979, he began publishing limited editions of his images under Vanderhorst Graphics. In 1973, he held his first solo exhibition. Over the next three and a half decades, Vanderhorst's imagery has been used in many diverse ways, including in music videos, television programs, live stage productions and record jacket designs, as well as illustrations in psychology journals and aviation book covers. His paintings have been featured in almost thirty exhibitions, culminating in two major retrospectives at the St. Lawrence Hall, Toronto in 2004 and 2005. Vanderhorst's work has also been featured and explored in two DVDs titled <cite>View from the Gallery 1</cite> and <cite>View from the Gallery 2</cite>.<br /><br />George A. Romero, the celebrated directory of <cite>Night of the Living Dead</cite> and its sequels, met Robert Vanderhorst at the 2005 retrospective in Toronto while filming <cite>Land of the Dead</cite>. Impressed with Vanderhorst's talent and fascinating imagery, he struck up a friendship with the painter that has led to his contribution of not only an introduction, but an original short story, to <cite>The Paintings of Robert Willem Vanderhorst</cite>.<br /><br />Check out Robert's site at <a href="http://www.twoartists.ca/">http://www.twoartists.ca/</a> to see his paintings and keep up with news about the book.James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-54744184921722979522008-03-11T21:39:00.004-04:002008-03-11T21:43:35.448-04:00Denim: In The SnowSome snow pictures!<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2327332151/" title="In The Snow (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2327332151_bfc5f1dfeb.jpg" title="In The Snow (by JnL)" alt="In The Snow (by JnL)" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2328146314/" title="Explorer (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2312/2328146314_fd38492e41.jpg" title="Explorer (by JnL)" alt="Explorer (by JnL)" width="500" height="285" /></a><br />Exploring<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2328145280/" title="Zip (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/2328145280_c699c29853.jpg" title="Zip (by JnL)" alt="Zip (by JnL)" width="500" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2328144702/" title="Leap (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3259/2328144702_1c0a464646.jpg" title="Leap (by JnL)" alt="Leap (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2327332907/" title="Yar! (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/2327332907_bc1be8ff86.jpg" title="Yar! (by JnL)" alt="Yar! (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />The wrestling game continues outside<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2327318593/" title="Impending Ambush (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3276/2327318593_675543c71e.jpg" title="Impending Ambush (by JnL)" alt="Impending Ambush (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2327318017/" title="Pounce (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2327318017_ee1ec3daca.jpg" title="Pounce (by JnL)" alt="Pounce (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Cobalt is much rougher with Denim when they play outside than when they're inside. We're not sure why, but Denim often ends up completely snow-covered.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2327317275/" title="Snow Chase (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2353/2327317275_0d32150fce.jpg" title="Snow Chase (by JnL)" alt="Snow Chase (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2328133692/" title="Pinned (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/2328133692_41d87ecce6.jpg" title="Pinned (by JnL)" alt="Pinned (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2328132686/" title="Gotcha (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/2328132686_7ee53ed456.jpg" title="Gotcha (by JnL)" alt="Gotcha (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2327312819/" title="Aussies Aren't Supposed To Be White (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2108/2327312819_1839353e22.jpg" title="Aussies Aren't Supposed To Be White (by JnL)" alt="Aussies Aren't Supposed To Be White (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2328129424/" title="Aussies Aren't Supposed To Be White (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2200/2328129424_f4a6ebd2a2.jpg" title="Aussies Aren't Supposed To Be White (by JnL)" alt="Aussies Aren't Supposed To Be White (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2327311451/" title="Snow Pup (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2357/2327311451_b699ccfcff.jpg" title="Snow Pup (by JnL)" alt="Snow Pup (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />But Denim doesn't seem to mind!<br /></div>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-36234291790764727082008-03-11T21:31:00.005-04:002008-03-11T22:05:43.115-04:00Denim: Yet More PhotosI've posted a lot of Denim photos to Flickr since the last set here. I'm only going to put a few of them up here, and in the next couple of posts, but be sure to check them out in the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/sets/72157603887878003/">Denim</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/sets/72157603894282778/">Cobalt & Denim</a> sets on Flickr.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2288378196/" title="Can I Have A Hug? (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/2288378196_da0f3d7cdc.jpg" title="Can I Have A Hug? (by JnL)" alt="Can I Have A Hug? (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Looking a little forlorn<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2288381252/" title="Chewy (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2260/2288381252_b38922c6f5.jpg" title="Chewy (by JnL)" alt="Chewy (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Up close<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2287670179/" title="Ear Chomp (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2033/2287670179_94b123d9f2.jpg" title="Ear Chomp (by JnL)" alt="Ear Chomp (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Ear chomp<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2287674721/" title="Nose to Nose (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2287674721_9212a44113.jpg" title="Nose to Nose (by JnL)" alt="Nose to Nose (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Nose to nose<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2287677303/" title="Mouth Wrestling (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2194/2287677303_026de5af2a.jpg" title="Mouth Wrestling (by JnL)" alt="Mouth Wrestling (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Wrestling<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2288462488/" title="Who's That? (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2024/2288462488_dddc95fd83.jpg" title="Who's That? (by JnL)" alt="Who's That? (by JnL)" width="500" height="500" /></a><br />Cobalt & Denim notice L coming down the stairs<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2312826953/" title="Up Close (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2312826953_1e6c16db35.jpg" title="Up Close (by JnL)" alt="Up Close (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Even closer<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2313646732/" title="I Want Out! (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/2313646732_caec63a148.jpg" title="I Want Out! (by JnL)" alt="I Want Out! (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Planning her escape<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2312841397/" title="Watching (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2312841397_901f0344ae.jpg" title="Watching (by JnL)" alt="Watching (by JnL)" width="400" height="500" /></a><br />Kilroy Was Here<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2313641700/" title="Tired Puppy (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3261/2313641700_63b7180f15.jpg" title="Tired Puppy (by JnL)" alt="Tired Puppy (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Tired pup<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2312833253/" title="Wiped (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2002/2312833253_c8091fe963.jpg" title="Wiped (by JnL)" alt="Wiped (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Very tired pup<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2312847637/" title="Sleepyface (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2361/2312847637_321c14931b.jpg" title="Sleepyface (by JnL)" alt="Sleepyface (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Exhausted<br /></div>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-78539056111264639452008-03-11T21:27:00.003-04:002008-03-11T21:28:41.032-04:00Cobalt: Old PhotosHere are a couple of old Cobalt photos that I only just got up on Flickr:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2319331462/" title="Sail Pup (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2319331462_d8ccb47e2b.jpg" title="Sail Pup (by JnL)" alt="Sail Pup (by JnL)" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />Cobalt at the beach<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2319333408/" title="Exhausted (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2285/2319333408_0e40f55cb1.jpg" title="Exhausted (by JnL)" alt="Exhausted (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />Cobalt after a busy day<br /></div>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-31108064010795561402008-02-16T09:48:00.006-05:002008-03-11T21:26:32.834-04:00Denim: More Playing With Cobalt<span style="font-weight:bold;">UPDATE:</span> Corrected the images, so they're back!<br /><br />There are now two main games: the keep-away game and the wrestling game. In the wrestling game, Denim tries to see how high she can climb on Cobalt. Cobalt usually ends up on her back.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2267519517/" title="Peek (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2385/2267519517_f7d0018e16.jpg" title="Peek (by JnL)" alt="Peek (by JnL)" width="500" height="282" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2268307460/" title="Wrestling (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2321/2268307460_6b3d54ed1b.jpg" title="Wrestling (by JnL)" alt="Wrestling (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2268307700/" title="Pinned (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2376/2268307700_58f249a825.jpg" title="Pinned (by JnL)" alt="Pinned (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2267521443/" title="Pounce (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2348/2267521443_00154e99d8.jpg" title="Pounce (by JnL)" alt="Pounce (by JnL)" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2267521537/" title="Two Pups (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2299/2267521537_4be0e0a8eb.jpg" title="Two Pups (by JnL)" alt="Two Pups (by JnL)" width="334" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />The two of them will play the keep-away game with any toy, or even with rawhide chews.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2267520395/" title="Sharing (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2049/2267520395_2510177a4d.jpg" title="Sharing (by JnL)" alt="Sharing (by JnL)" width="500" height="250" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2267520309/" title="Sharing (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2267520309_c686f9e32a.jpg" title="Sharing (by JnL)" alt="Sharing (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2268308348/" title="Gotcha (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2131/2268308348_e8ea081c07.jpg" title="Gotcha (by JnL)" alt="Gotcha (by JnL)" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2268308068/" title="Nom (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2393/2268308068_0128869f71.jpg" title="Nom (by JnL)" alt="Nom (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />Sometimes Denim wins<br /></div><br /><br />And here are some solo shots:<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2267518967/" title="Miss Mischief (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2015/2267518967_0039646f24.jpg" title="Miss Mischief (by JnL)" alt="Miss Mischief (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />This one shows off the blue highlight in her right eye.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2267520967/" title="Contemplative (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2292/2267520967_7400505971.jpg" title="Contemplative (by JnL)" alt="Contemplative (by JnL)" width="396" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2268309808/" title="Pause (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2232/2268309808_8ef433057b.jpg" title="Pause (by JnL)" alt="Pause (by JnL)" width="500" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2268309572/" title="Exhausted (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2037/2268309572_9f341da7ff.jpg" title="Exhausted (by JnL)" alt="Exhausted (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /></div>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-71649006063179087232008-02-13T21:05:00.001-05:002008-02-13T21:07:35.284-05:00Denim: The Game VideoI almost never actually use the video capabilities of our cameras. I much prefer stills. However, stills can't quite capture the dynamics of the Game, so here is five minutes of Cobalt and Denim playing.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pk6ou5YT62I"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pk6ou5YT62I" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /></div>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17274958.post-48844217377288249182008-02-12T11:16:00.000-05:002008-02-12T16:31:10.030-05:00Denim: The GameAs I mentioned last time, Cobalt's invented a game for Denim. It started when Cobalt was playing with a hard plastic ball (she likes it because it's slippery, and so easy to knock around the room to chase). She noticed that Denim was curious about the ball, and started to play keep-away with it.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2256869250/" title="Play Bow (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2380/2256869250_54fae4eae4.jpg" title="Play Bow (by JnL)" alt="Play Bow (by JnL)" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />At the next play session, though, Cobalt decided to up the stakes. She went and got her very favourite toy, a purple plush sheep, and brought it into the living room for Denim to play with.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2259496614/" title="The Favourite Toy (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2343/2259496614_731ce5a6fc.jpg" title="The Favourite Toy (by JnL)" alt="The Favourite Toy (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />They've played this game three or four times now. Cobalt sticks the sheep in Denim's face to get her interested, then pulls it away to get the little fuzzball to chase her.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2259503686/" title="C'mon, Chase It (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2255/2259503686_6582f085ab.jpg" title="C'mon, Chase It (by JnL)" alt="C'mon, Chase It (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />The Tease<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2259505878/" title="Chase Me! (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2346/2259505878_8be84e7d61.jpg" title="Chase Me! (by JnL)" alt="Chase Me! (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br />The Chase<br /></div><br /><br />Sometimes, Denim manages to catch the sheep, and Cobalt will drag her around by it, or yank it away for another run.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2259505314/" title="Got It! (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2396/2259505314_b2ae22a5fe.jpg" title="Got It! (by JnL)" alt="Got It! (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />When Denim gets distracted, Cobalt plunks the sheep down and back off a bit, just to get her little sister interested again.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2259504176/" title="Ferocious (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2167/2259504176_82eec030d7.jpg" title="Ferocious (by JnL)" alt="Ferocious (by JnL)" width="500" height="233" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Sometimes, Cobalt will even let Denim win the tug -- though only for a moment!<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2259502452/" title="Tug (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2162/2259502452_8b056e0f1d.jpg" title="Tug (by JnL)" alt="Tug (by JnL)" width="500" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Usually, the game winds down to a sheep-plucking session (Cobalt <i>loves</i> to pull the fuzz off of plushies), which Denim participates in enthusiastically. It usually involves Cobalt holding the sheep down with one paw and tugging lightly on the fur, while Denim puts her whole minuscule weight into yanking on the toy, which doesn't budge.<br /><br />Cobalt adores these play sessions. It's causing us a slight problem -- Cobalt doesn't want to eat in the morning, she wants to play with Denim. We have to coax her into eating with promises of playing after.<br /><br />It's fascinating watching Cobalt manage these games. We barely do anything, ourselves -- we basically enforce the "Cobalt can leave the room whenever she wants, but Denim can't" rule and leave it at that.<br /><br />Last night, the two pups were having a very quiet session in the room, just wandering, chewing on rawhide and such. Then Denim got up and wobbled over to the hard plastic ball (she's still a little unsteady on her stubby puppy legs) to bat at it. Cobalt noticed this going on, and calmly went over and picked up the ball. She teased Denim with it a little, until the pup started bouncing, then left the room with the ball. A couple of moments later, she returned with the sheep, and started the Game in earnest. You could almost hear her thinking, "Oh, you want to play the Game? Sure, but that thing's no good for it. Let me get the right toy."<br /><br />Eventually, after 15-20 minutes of the Game, Denim starts to get tired, and the play session turns into more of a quiet wrestling match.<br /><br /><div align='center'><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2259501152/" title="Hey, Big Sister! (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2370/2259501152_a22a9fa4bb.jpg" title="Hey, Big Sister! (by JnL)" alt="Hey, Big Sister! (by JnL)" width="500" height="407" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2259499032/" title="Sisters (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2142/2259499032_c56a7ae062.jpg" title="Sisters (by JnL)" alt="Sisters (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnl/2258702483/" title="Sisters (by JnL)"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2065/2258702483_6aab94acd8.jpg" title="Sisters (by JnL)" alt="Sisters (by JnL)" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /></div>James Redekophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05833355144832388008noreply@blogger.com1