July 9, 2015 Day 1
(In memory of BobSkoot)
Seconds 30 and 31 into my first day on the road were pretty intense with a close encounter of the Bambie kind just metres from my driveway. Had I left 2 seconds earlier I expect the trip might have ended there but as it was we cleared each other by inches. Other than that folks, it's been a lovely day for a ride. The sky was overcast and the temperature - a very comfortable, wear all your gear degrees.
I met two riders from Ontario heading to Halifax. We met up a couple of times en route and had a snack at Tim Hortons, just inside the Quebec border together.
Tonight I'm in St. Nicholas PQ. You may (or may not) remember I spent the first night here on last year's journey. (Right, that was just before the hurricane!)
Was this little baby worth the $16. and the extra weight? You bet your huffin' and puffin' it was. I had to modify the design slightly with a wide elastic band but it had the air mat fully inflated before my glass of wine had a chance to chill.
Here's a toast in memory of BobSkoot. Today would have been his birthday. And happy birthday to Ken as well.
The adventure begins. And is it truely an adventure without adversity (I'd skip the adversity!).
ReplyDeleteI saw that it would have been Bobskoot's birthday today. He had mentioned once that this was the day he planned to retire...
His birthday reminder popped up on my calendar this morning too. So glad that you and some other of my friends will have the chance to enjoy retirement even if Bob did not.
DeleteAnd my adventure begins ... yours is well underway, with a bit more adversity than needed I'd say; at least you are in good company (who will, no doubt feed you well!)
Toasting Bob from here.....travel safe Karen.
ReplyDeleteThanks Coop!
DeleteHere's to Bobskoot! He would have been retired by now.
ReplyDeleteThat pump seems a very smart investment.
To Bobskoot ... and the pump, worth it's weight in gold.
DeleteI too was thinking of putting up a little remembrance of Bobskoot, but I wasn't sure who else knew it was his birthday. Easy to remember since it is also Brad's brother's birthday.
ReplyDeleteGlad you and Bambie didn't have to have words.
It was also my friend Ken's birthday...
Delete(Oh, I had words for Bambie, she just didn't hear them!)
I had my own "close encounter" last night as momma skunk was shepherding 4 wee ones across the road in front of me. Fortunately I saw them in plenty of time to slow down and watch her at work. All made it across safely and I didn't end up smelly. So cute.
ReplyDeleteSafe travels Karen.
Damn, it can be paralyzing to contemplate the coulda'-beens. Such near-misses can remind us (yet again) how so, so fragile we are and that most of what happens is completely out of our control. I suppose that the best response for any of us to have after such an encounter is to--once more--try to be grateful for each moment and to try to savor every second. But enough of that (this is starting to sound preachy)...
ReplyDeleteBe grateful. And savor the ride. :)
Thanks for the reminder Ry, so true.
DeleteThanks for the reminder Ry, so true.
DeleteSo glad you avoided the skunk family ... my brother, as a kid/teen, ran into a family of skunks on his bicycle. I'll never forget it, it was not good. Had to get rid of everything he was wearing, including his precious suede shoes.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday BobScoot - miss you buddy!
ReplyDeleteEncounters of the Bambi-kind are usually not good, glad you avoided each other and had a good start to your trip.