Back at it?

I've been laid up since last Monday with my back being out. That's the technical term. Missed three hockey games. Grr.

The treatment has been chiro, massage, ice, stretching, and muscle relaxers. Nothing has worked. So I finally lost my patience and went for a long easy ride yesterday with Anna. We did about 70k in 3.5 hours of moving time. There were about three stops for stretching and some slow time creeping along the ice at Diamond Cove (we took a wrong turn aiming for Fish Creek Park).

We backtracked and hit the other side of the river to find ice free asphalt the rest of the way. The back is no worse and no better.

Fresh Tracks on the February Long Weekend

The weekend's not done yet and it's been great so far! Yesterday the high was +11C in the afternoon. Sarah and I got out for a road ride in the morning. It wasn't quite that warm yet but very pleasant and not too windy. We rode from Tuscany to Cochrane and back. Hills and my cross bike (aka, tank) make for a good leg workout. I was done in time to get Kate to the airport for her second attempt to fly out for her big race in Spain. Then a nice walk with Heather and some doggies. It's tough to be out and watching Sante's every move right now to make sure she doesn't do anything to interfere with healing after her tonsillectomy. She's rarin' to go and full of energy but her throat is still raw and random objects that go into a Labrador's mouth are to be avoided. The vet wants her kept low key for another week. Boo! So today's awesome bike adventure was sans Sante. After a morning on the phone with the bank. Not fun. I met Gloria and Diana out at West Bragg. Fun!

The trails were reportedly in decent shape so we opted for that rather than the longer drive out to Canmore. I expected a dusting of snow but as I got through Bragg and closer and closer to the trailhead parking lot, there was more and more snow. I'd guess there was about 2" of powder! Oh well! You never know what kind of fun can be had if you never give the situation a go so ... after a huddle, the consensus was to give it a try. My only regret was that I didn't bring my flat pedals with me. I just wasn't anticipating that much fresh snow. The 3 hour adventure (from parking lot arrival to departure) involved a whole lotta smackin' my shoes on my pedals to try and dislodge some snow and ice so I could get some cleated purchase in the pedals. I did all right overall but there were times when a foot left the pedal entirely and created an extra pump of adrenaline or a stall. Gloria had similar issues and decided about 15 minutes into things that she wasn't up for the pedal battle. She went back to the parking lot and, we found out later, did some riding in Fish Creek as a Plan B.

Diana

Di and I (and Emmee, Di's pup) carried on up Ranger's Summit, breaking trail. A snowshoer had gone before us so we weren't the first tracks, but definitely the first bike tracks. And foot tracks at times; I'd say we walked about 30% of the climb. Other than the 2" of top cover, there were sections of loose, crusty, deep ice/snow that would grab the wheel. All good though. I've taken my bike for walks before! Ha ha ... we made it up to the "rock chairs" which marks the start of the descent down Strange Brew.

Riding in the snowy forest is a different experience; you don't hear much really. Your breathing of course, maybe a random creek from the bike. There's not a lot of speed happening on the flats or the climbs so it's a little surreal how quiet it is -- no wind in your ears, the bikes seem to only whisper as they glide over the soft snow. I loved it. So peaceful. Every now and then on the way down I'd stop and, if I was in front, it would take a minute or so before I'd spot Di soundlessly moving through the trees above me.

We enjoyed the descent. Riding the snow means you're "skiing" the bike in some ways. Or surfing (might be a better word) through the soft sections or around the switchbacks. Feeling the bike under me and working it down the trail and around the switchbacks was so much fun. I was thinking back to a ride Suz and I did on these trails early in the season last year and how challenging I found it. It's nice to remind myself of improvements I've made over my first year mountain biking. Certainly the winter riding, even on the cross bike, has made a difference too.

Now it's time to go play some hockey. Go legs!

Snow brush!

 

Gloria

 

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Saturday

After a nice morning with some great coffee, a bike and car wash, and some cocoa coconut chili prep (for the crock pot - thanks for the recipe Heather!), I set out for a little fun with Sante on the trails. The sun was high, the skies were blue, and it was 6C. I had the studded tire set on the bike; with all the melting going on there's a lot of thick ice on the trails.

The trails in the woods are passable and crunchy with lots of traction to be had. There are some glassy spots but they're easy to spot and manage. I tried to do the fun trail along the valley below Silver Springs over to the boulders looking over the river bridges in Bowness. The trail there was decidedly not crunchy. I rode the glassy ice on the decline for a couple minutes but it never improved and I decided my staying-upright luck had held quite a while and I shouldn't push it, so I aborted that plan and headed back east. I tried a favourite climb but again I couldn't get any sustained traction for the climbing. Yep, the only good trails are in the woods where they're not as exposed to the sun melt. So we did some loops on the good stuff and had a fun time.

Nobody was in the park for most of our ride. Ironically, I only saw people, and lots of them, as the big black cloud was rolling over the hills from the west. Blue sky and one giant black cloud! I was wrapping things up anyway and making my way back out of the park but I didn't make it before the wind whipped up and started pelting Sante and I with hard snow. Ha ha! It was actually even more fun with the change of scenery. At one point though I saw a dog (?) through the sheets of blowing snow. No human to be seen so ... I stopped and held Sante's collar. She saw it too and was not at all interested in going to it. I stood there for a minute and started walking the bike towards it assuming if it was a coyote it was going to move on when it spotted us. And then the human came into view through the blizzard. Yep! Doggie. Phew!

We saw Rupert not long after that but his owner was quick to get two hands on his leash and assure me she "had him" this time. Sante didn't believe her I don't think but she eventually snuck by him with a wide berth and hurried to catch up to me on the bike.
So much for that bike wash this morning! Oh well, not much mud so the bike's still pretty clean. Home to Hockey Day in Canada on the TV and some cocoa coconut chili bubbling away in the crock pot. Nice!

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Sunny Calgary!

Bowmont Weekday Sunset

Another great weekend in Calgary with Mother Nature giving us the gift of February plus temperatures and loads of sunshine! It's weekends like these when I pat myself on the back for choosing THIS spot on the map 17 years ago before heading down the Alaska Highway. Mountains? Yep. A good sized city where I could likely find work? Yep. I didn't know it at the time but ... sunniest spot in Canada? That's right!

The weekend started with big brother Marc and nephew Kevin rolling into town Friday afternoon for a pre-ski weekend overnight visit with Sante and I. Nice! We had a yummy supper and they were on their way at 0500 Saturday for a day at Louise. I spent the day with a long dog walk and a pathway ride then hooked up again for supper that night at The Bison in Banff. It was great to spend some time with them!

I pulled my hamstring Tuesday night at hockey. I've pretty much concluded that less hockey is in my future ... it's been a little rough on me the last couple of years and when it's laying me up for days at a time, it's obviously not a good thing. I'll still spare for the Reckers but I don't think a full time commitment is in the cards going forward. At any rate, I was happy to be healed enough to get out for a ride Saturday after a few days of nothing but ginger dog walks. (Well one had me running after Sante yelling at her to come back when she was Hell-bent on catching up to a coyote she and Toby inadvertently flushed out while playing. Her play drive and athleticism out-voted her typical timidity with strange "dogs." She gave up the chase before Toby did and came back. Toby I don't worry about. That boy has more primal know-how.)

Today I gave the hamstring a little more work with a some single track and it's all good again. Yay. After a long walk this morning with an old friend I hooked up with Anna downtown for a ride. Freshly arrived from Texas, she's already spared at a Recker's game and, today, rode some snowy single track with me on her cross bike and with a big smile. Nothing shy or reserved about this girl. I'm happy to have another riding friend who's up for some off season (?) time on two wheels. We did about 50kms today, mostly on the pathway with a finish through Bowmont with a little taste of single track. It was pretty soft and slippy, especially without the spikers, but fun as always!

Tuna, dressing, raisins

I made it through Week One of Grain/Dairy/Egg/Peanut/Cranberry/Banana (GDEPCB?) free eating. It's not really that hard but I've had to be on my toes and paying close attention. I've been finding snack options and have eaten out without any trouble. Kate and I went to a Vero bistro in Kensington Sunday night that was awesome. The Bison subbed in roast potatoes for some fancy stuffing for me. And Olly's in the food court downtown has been an easy spot to sort out lunch. I love Olly's ... roast beef, turkey, ham, pork, tons of veggie options, and all of it labeled gluten and dairy free. $7 buys me a hot healthy lunch every day. Can't beat that.

Some good products

Breakfast is a bit weird. No eggs? No bread? No dairy? Weird ... but I've had shakes made with pumpkin, avocado, coconut milk ... or throw in some berries and almond butter. I've also cooked up a bunch of sausage and yams and apples that's good for breakfast. Probably the only thing that really bugs me is not having cream in my coffee. I've tried some substitutes and have decided that So Nice! is good enough to convince me I don't have to switch to black coffee. Yay! It's not cream but it's a little creamy and doesn't alter the taste of the coffee in a weird way like ordinary soy milk or the Silk creamer does. I'll settle for that.

My body wasn't too happy for the first 4 or 5 days but I'm feeling much better now. I sure got hungry riding yesterday and today ... need more carbs I'm thinking. I'm working it all out and happy to know that it's an actual blood test pointing to this and not just guess work. It's worth it.

Another PLUS week of sunshine ahead. Here's to more fun outside!

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