Tempus Fugit

Pumper Truck
Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

Just a little bit of excitement downtown today. Shorty before 5pm there was a fairly large fire in an apartment complex downtown.

In fact this apartment fire was right behind the IBM building at 400 Ellice Ave. between it and Portage Place. As I walked over from the GWL offices at 444 St Mary I could see the thick black smoke pouring over the top of Portage Place. I walked up the back lane where lots of people were milling about looking at the fire and all the police and firemen on the scene. This back alley behind the IBM building is where the lockup cage for my bike is located. After changing into my riding gear and taking a few photos I head down to get my bike from the cage only to find that the whole area is cordoned off with “Do No Cross” police tape. I speak to an office about trying to get my bike, but it’s no-go. They are concerned that the fire might spread to a very large power transformer that is right on the edge of the alley across from where my bike is and cause an explosion.

After about a 1/2 hour wait the officer calls me over and I get escorted over to get my bike. We have a brief chat, and I’m on my way. Something a little out of the ordinary, that’s for sure!

This years fireworks at the annual Harbourfest celebration were the best ever. Some of the displays were very spectacular and they had some great combinations of simultaneous low and high she action that was very effective. The phone snapshot does not do the event justice.

Kenora Harbourfest fireworks display

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Artistic Anchor
Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

Normally, the floating dock or swim platform would have been set in place much earlier in the year, but I needed to build some new “anchors” to replace the huge rock that got away last year.

To replace the rock, this year there are three five gallon pails filled with rocks held together with cement and an eye bolt for attaching the chain.

These three pails, each weighing 100+ lbs. are linked together on the end of a 50′ chain. I’ve positioned them at one end of the dock for launching, and they are causing the dock to seriously dip down in the water.

Once in position the pails were edged very close to the edge and then pushed over. It’s quite calm today so the true test will come on a day with a strong south-west wind, then we will see if the new anchor system hold.

Immediately upon splashing into the water this huge group of pelicans comes over for a look.

Surprisingly, they don’t seem afraid and actually swim closer for a better look and hang around the dock for 15-20 minutes.

The need for others to know your speed that is.

Who’s got my fish?
Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

On the weekend we were out on the lake boating back to the cottage after finding a geocache on Strawberry Island and we noticed a large number of birds on the shore of another island. We headed over and counted in excess of 10 eagles, a number of turkey vultures and half a dozen pelicans, all fighting over some fish remains on the shore.

The funny part was that as we approached the eagles moved off to perch in near by trees and while they watched the pelicans returned and one of them made off with the fish!

However, all of this action provided a great opportunity to get some good shots of the eagles and pelicans. The sun was out and the afternoon was warm as we floated over a sand bar before heading for home. Our little boat isn’t quite like this one, but it’s taken us on some great adventures on the lake. All in all a great afternoon on beautiful Lake of the Woods.

Air Kiss, awesome stuff!

First road ride at the lake this year was a little more interesting that some. I followed the usual route of heading out Storm Bay Road, east on Hwy 17 and then taking the bypass, Hwy 17a west back towards Winnipeg and then turning back on Hwy 17 into Kenora, a stop at the Safeway Starbucks and back to Storm Bay.

What made this ride a little unusual was a flat, not just one flat but two! One flat on the rear at about 37km into the ride and the second on the front at about 73km,  within 1-2 km of being back at the cottage. This little CO² device is my new best friend on a ride. It’s the first time I’ve used one and it was very impressive. One little “pfssst” and the tire was at full pressure. This is in comparison to 100+ strokes on a mini-pump which never really reaches the preferred riding tire pressure. I did have a mini-pump with me as well and I used it fill out the tube on the first flat. Later in the ride I stopped at the LBS on Kenora and picked up a tube and some patches. This turned out to be a very good move. After a nice coffee at the Safeway Starbucks it was on towards home. This section of the highway has several rough gravel sections where they have torn up the road to put in new culverts across the highway. I’m blaming these rough gravel sections for at least one of the flats.

The annoying part of the ride, besides having two flats, was on the second flat I realized the mini-pump was missing in action. Fortunately the Air Kiss had enough left to fill the second flat as well. Later in the day we drove back to the place where I changed the first flat expecting to find the pump, but no luck. It’s now on the shopping list with a couple of more CO² cartridges.

Took this photo a couple of days ago when it was very sunny and warm on a lunchtime walk. Not like tonight where it’s trying hard to snow again! Noooooo!

Going the Distance
Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

Saturday was a great day for getting out on the bikes. The weather was warm, sunny and the snow was almost totally gone.

In the morning Eric called and we took the mountain bikes out for a spin down South Drive. we got a little wet but managed to avoid the bigger puddles and thankfully didn’t get splashed by any cars. We had a great ride and talked about all kinds of things and distance just flew by.

In the afternoon I took the road bike out to Birds Hill and did about 4 1/2 laps. Just as I was starting out a paceline of about 5 guys flew by so I tried to catch up, but that just didn’t happen. They had too big a lead and I just couldn’t seem to close the gap. I had the iPod playing a Maxwell session and I just settled into what I felt was a fairly hard pace… until two guys passed me. I got on to their wheel for a short time but realized quickly that their pace was out of my league right now. This was a little discouraging. I thought the winter training would have me in better shape, but actual riding if so different that on the trainer. A couple of more solo laps and then I hooked up with some fellow FOG riders for a good fast pace.

All in all a fairly high mileage day for so early in the year and a good couple of rides.

Well, the first road ride outside in 2010. Scott and I did a few laps around Birds Hill Park this afternoon. The road was mainly dry and clear and the temperature was a pleasant +3 with light winds. It felt good to get back out on the road and off the indoor trainer. However, I suspect there will be a few more indoor sessions before I’m able to make a full return to the open road for the season.

Next time I’m going to let those nice guys who road by and offered to take the picture do it. Scott is looking good, and I look like a dork holding camera taking a picture of himself, which I was. Oh well, next time.

It was a long, slow painful demise. First he went blind (lost his button eyes), then he suffered through a double amputation (both his stick arms fell off), but a remarkable surgical procedure managed to re-attach one of his arms. Then, he suffered a stroke (fell over), but made a good recovery for a few days and was up and about. But in the end the overwhelming sunshine and hot temperatures took him out and he layed down his life.

Snowman, we’ll miss you.