Just an FYI that the posts for this trip may be a little briefer than typical. Maybe that isn’t a bad thing :). Usually writing is, among other things, a way to occupy my evenings. Since I have company this time, this is less of a thing.
It was a pretty long drive to the starting point today so a short ride. We left Toronto at 10 and didn’t park the car until about 4. Chris’s bike was in the car and mine precariously hanging off the back.
We repacked and assembled the bikes and started riding them early evening. We were able to park at a friend of Gary’s which is conveniently just a few kms off the route. We stopped for shawarma and potatoes with heavy garlic sauce in Carlton Place 6 km into the ride and then posed for a photo at the official start of the route in Almonte a short distance later.
The riding was quiet gravel roads and the Ottawa Valley rail trail. Despite the forecast, it didn’t really rain which was great.
We are camped at a brewery. Strangely it closed at 6 before we arrived. We have the place to ourselves. Bugs are out but honestly not as bad as I thought it would be. We will see if I feel the same when I wake up with bites tomorrow.
Chris’s words
Early morning today gave me lots of time to overthink everything I packed. After coffee it was time to load the bike. In preparation for Chad arriving at 9 I got my set up broken down and loaded in the car.
Once Chad arrived I realized I’d have to remove the rear wheel as well in order to fit him in the passenger seat.
Both wheels removed we set about strapping Chads bike onto my car. After 45 minutes of strapping and tightening we were ready to go.
And we sat in traffic. An hour crawling along to 401 out of the city combined with my paranoia of Chads bike falling off my car at speed meant we arrived in Carleton Place a little later than expected.
It’s was about 4:30pm by the time we were rolling. After a quick 6km we stopped for some food. Falafel wrap and garlic potatoes.
Back in the road we hit gravel pretty quickly. There was a decent unmaintained section that gave us a taste of what’s to come and ensured I had wet feet for most of the 44km.
We made fast work of the rail trail with decent tailwind. Just as I mentioned we hadn’t seen anyone else on the trail an ATV with a train horn came up behind us. We let them pass with the EDM blasting, neon alight flashing and train horn alerting everyone they were coming.
We rolled up to our camp site at Cartwright Brewing and found a spot to pitch our tents. We missed the opening hours so didn’t get to sample anything.
First few km under our belts and I’m looking forward to what tomorrow’s ride brings.
Exciting! Looking forward to tagging along on the blog.
We have the same somewhat janky Thule rear rack. I’ve had bikes fall twice, both times going over speedbumps, which taught me a lesson about reducing speed and also triple checking my straps. I guess if you trust it with your Panorama, you must have some faith!
Wasn’t much choice and though I haven’t used it much it has always been worked. Chris also drove very cautiously.