Toronto had the worst air quality on planet earth today due to wildfire smoke blowing down from the north west. It was about as far from joyous and celebratory as the weather can be. I’m not even going to get into a rant about human created climate change.
And yesterday in my fine city it reached 38 degrees celsius, pretty much as hot as it gets here. So hot that last night I was scanning the route and planning places I could swim. All for naught. It wasn’t very beachy today.
However, almost nothing stops me from riding a bike. This is not a boast, to the contrary any person with a brain stayed inside today, but rather a statement of fact. If I have plans to ride I’m going to ride. So that’s what I did.
ACA put together an excellent route leading out of Toronto. We have decent if disjointed cycling infrastructure and they managed to string together some of best of it. I can’t share the maps so you’ll just have to take my word for that. The pictures are eerie and I didn’t take many. But here you go anyway.
Round about Pickering the route headed north towards Uxbridge. This bit was a little hilly and the most elevation I think I’ll see over the trip. Which is fine by me because, idiot that I am, I weighed my loaded bike yesterday. Almost 90 pounds. 90! Google AI (I wonder why the world is on fire) suggested a typical loaded touring bike clocks in around 50 to 70 pounds (aspirational I think). 80 or more is for expedition cycling where you’re carrying a weeks worth of food and water. Ottawa ain’t no expedition folks, that much I know 😜
Stopped for dinner in Uxbridge and got some sesame chicken and rice. It was good and I was very hungry so no photo. 30 minutes later I was passing by a little country store and wanted ice cream. Ended up with ice cream, a coke and bacon poutine because I couldn’t think of any reason not to.
Camped on a farm via Hipcamp. No complaints. It’s extremely quiet and slightly cheaper than a provincial park. The tent pad is fun especially since I have a freestanding tent.
Wish for us all better air quality and clearer skies tomorrow.
129 km, 1123 meters elevation
A good day overall.
Worth the Black Lung, I am sure! Though I would guess most physicians would rank that poutine higher in cardiovascular impact. Take care of yourself, and forge on!
You had a good day despite your weather. Can’t imagine breathing smoky air all day long while riding a bike. The poutine looks tasty but what happened to the cake and ice cream photo Safe riding tomorrow and hoping for a clearer day for you.
The smoke looked worse than it seemed to me. Apparently the air quality in Toronto today was lower than yesterday :(. There’s an ice cream wrapper under the poutine container. Best I could do!
Good Luck and have a good ride.
I will never understand those mandatory tent pads. I was forced to set up on one in a park in Pennsylvania once, and it started to rain. My tent, if it’s not staked down, isn’t taunt enough to stop leakage.
So in the middle of the night I moved to the grass and pegged it out. The campground host gave me very nasty side eye the next morning.
Uxbridge, eh? I would have guessed Scugog. Hastings tomorrow?
Just passed Hastings!
I should have known better, I really thought you would pause for a few days. Love how tight your bike looks – all ready for a twister! Hope you find a place for a quick swim tomorrow.
What a notable day to start a bike trip. Hope your lungs feel okay. And that you slept well out in that farmer’s field. Big red sun this morning tells us air quality is poor again today. Mask up? Safe travels this morning.
Yes, Chad:
Are you wearing an N95?
Bought two first thing this morning
Nice work, Champ 🙌!