May 16th

May 16, 2023

out with Ralph

Last night Ralph and I talked about a ride today while having a couple of beers in town. We know it'll soon be too hot. I told him about the canal cycle path that Debbie and I found on Sunday and he's interested in seeing it himself. He emails this morning and we agree to meet in a Family Mart near me at about 9:30. To me, that's coffee time.

Having a coffee while waiting for Ralph in Family Mart

Ralph looks at Google Maps on his phone as we drink our coffees and figures out where to go, so we set off and work our way south along a road that's fairly busy with commuters and whoever. I'm not sure where we are.

I do when we get to Route 66 and make a left and follow the canal. We're pedal away from traffic. This is further along from where Debbie and I cycled, but after a while we reach the small bridge where we found it on Sunday.

It's tranquil with only one or two other riders out today. We pass a solar park built over a pond and keep going, back under the 66 and eventually reach Highway 3. This is where Debbie and I made a left, but Ralph takes another look at Google Maps and opts to go straight, but eventually end up where I was the other day on the main road that leads to Longtan. There are two Louisa Coffee shops there and we like the idea of having another cup and a bite to eat.

We trace the canal Debbie and I cycled beside on Sunday

Sat below Highway 3 where Debbie and I turned - Ralph and I ride in a similar direction

Provincial route 3 is four-lane-wide artery but has a decent shoulder for us to keep to. There's a fair among of traffic and it becomes a case of just getting it over with and it takes us roughly 15 minutes or more of pedalling until we reach a junction on the edge of Longtan. We then veer around the edge and get to Louisa and rest our bikes near the plate window and order a couple of bagels and iced drinks. We need to chill. The temp' is inching towards 30°C.

There are a couple of options to get home, but we opt for the most direct one on a route we both know like the backs of our hands. It heads to Route 66, past where we joined the canal, and Ralph then peels off, while I ride slightly south. It'll be just 20-odd minutes of cycling for us both to get home.

Today's ride: 25 km (16 miles)
Total: 3,021 km (1,876 miles)

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