Wednesday 13th August

Today is Saturday the 9th of August.

I know those of you keeping up with my blogs have already donated to the sick kids already, and I thank you from the bottom of my ❤️.

This coming Wednesday, the 13th of August, is MATCH DAY. Any online donation made will be matched. If you can make a small donation, it will be doubled, so if you donated another $5, it will be a $10 donation.

I'd really like to make my target of $1500, but to exceed that would be phenomenal. Thanking you all in advance.

Daily Commute

Having realised, I am going to achieve my distance target. I am going to save the larger rides for the weekends when I have more time available and can get out in the early hours when the temperature is more conducive to longer rides.

If it is cooler in the evenings, I will do 10-15 km rides in the local neighborhood.

I have had a couple of evenings recovering from the weekend 125km ride, so tonight, 7th Aug. I'm going for the usual ride.

Thank you all again for your generous donations

Feeling loved and blessed.

Day 4

Was going to ride with a friend today, but due to unforseen circumstances, this was not viable, so I had another lonesome ride. I'm so glad I can use the phone to tune into the radio and keep the momentum going.

After today's excursion, we are now 25% complete, only 375km more to go.

I know things are difficult at the moment with prices on nearly everything going through the roof. So again, thank you for your donations.

Another thing I have noticed is that my fluid and food intake has increased bananas, and peanut butter sandwiches, pasta, and chicken are now all high on my diet list. Fluid intake is high protein smoothies made with fresh fruit plain yogurt and milk. I also have hydration energy powder to add to my bottle.

Today's ride was a little over 27.5km.

Day 3

Went for a steady ride today, not the fastest, but im learning a mtb is heavy, and knobbley tires are not the best for road riding. I'm just shy of the 100km mark, so 400km left. Remember, approx 200km will be my daily commute. I'm going to be getting alot fitter by the end of this challenge.

Have already decided that this is going to be something i'm going to do annually. Next year's ride will either be on a road bike or a gravel bike.

Personal Best

This morning, Saturday, August 2nd, I was up just after Lorraine left for work (540am), had a morning coffee, and the usual walk around the block with the dogs. After which they got their breakfast well I got it for them they can't serve themselves.

Looking at the blue skies and feeling the mild temperature, it was time to get the bike out and go for a ride. I was determined that a few scrapes and bruises were not going to stop me.

Mounting up, I started with the usual area ride, and then when I reached Mooneys Bay, I followed the Rideau canal downtown (Petula Clarke in my head now). I made it to the Chateau Laurier and then down the path to the NAC going back towards Mooneys Bay on the opposite of the canal, around Dows Lake up to the locks at Hogs Back, finishing my loop on the regular paths.

30km ride well happy.

Not the start I wanted.

Where to start. Riding home Thursday after work, I took a tumble. I graised my left shoulder forearm knee and ankle. The right pedal skinning my right shin. I'm all good, nothing broken, just bruising and a little soreness. Took a couple of advil and rested.

I felt better Friday evening still aching in places but dug deep and did a 12k ride to start my challenge.

Tomorrow is another day, and im going to get back in the saddle and make a better impact on my challenge.

The attached photo is the remains of my watch, so I'm going to have to get a new one at some point, feel a little naked not having a watch to wear.

Updates on progress will follow.

So It Begins

Today is the 1st of August, and I embark on my journey of 500 km. I'm planning on getting 50km done today. It is also a long weekend, and we have a mainstream holiday today, so I'm lucky to get a 4 day break instead of the 3. That means I can get some serious distance covered this weekend. If I get close to my 500 km mark, I will increase my goal again.

The Final Countdown

We are into the last 4 hours of the countdown until the start of the Great Canadian Challenge for Kids with Cancer.

Once again, I'd like to say a HUGE THANKYOU TO ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE DONATED.

I'm excited to get on with this challenge as it is my 1st year back in the saddle after 25-plus years, I'm also privileged to be riding for a worthy cause.

When I was a lot younger in my youth, I did sponsored walks for MenCap and swims for the British Heart Foundation. The walks were 10 miles, and the swims were a mile (64 lengths of a 25m pool). So 500km should be a walk in the park.

Feeling Blessed and Loved.

GREATER DISTANCE

Having realized that my daily commute is 6km each way. I have increased my distance goal to 500km. The reason for this is that I want to show my gratitude to all my sponsors and also want to prove to myself that if you set your mind to it, you can achieve anything.

I'm also going to ask you to share my post with your friends and family, I would really like to raise a lot more for these kids who are fighting an uphill battle. With your generous donations, they are going to be able to beat cancer and do what kids do best, which is live love and laugh.

AGAIN A HUGE THANKYOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS.

The reason for my ride.

Okay, so this is the reason I decided I was going to do the Great Cycle Challenge, and yes, I know it's a dog. This is Loki he was born on the 12th of February 2019, and we (the wife and I) were lucky enough to have 6 years with this beautiful boy. It wasn't cancer that took him from us, but stage 4 kidney failure.

We had got him a friend Gigi who pined and cried just as we did. So we contacted Gigi's breeder to find out if another litter was available. As good fortune would have it, there was a litter that would be available in February the pups being born in December of 2024. We collected Jasper on February 25th of this year.

The change in Gigi was instantly noticeable. She became more playful and energetic, and her little brother snuggles and plays with her on a daily basis,

Gigi is 14 months old, and Jasper is 7 months old.

Now think of Loki as your 6-year-old child fighting cancer.