Training Log Archive: Bash

We didn't go away for Labour Day weekend because we've been away too much, but we still wanted a change of scenery, so 'Bent, BulletDog and I drove over to Inglewood to get a different starting point for our run. The original plan had been to bike to Inglewood, but ironically, it took 'Bent so long to fix his bike rack this morning that we had to cut the biking from the agenda! Probably just as well, as this was more than enough effort for the Sunday following a rogaine.

We couldn't find our ESAR 2005 maps that would guide us through the trail network from the village of Inglewood up to the Bruce Trail and back again at the end of the run, but hey, how hard could it be? Um, actually not as easy as you'd think. We didn't have a compass, so we were navigating by the sun and by looking at the shape of the escarpment. Periodically, we'd get views that would let us know where we were. "Oh crap, there's the golf course. We're too far south." But the exploration was fun, and once we got to the Bruce Trail, it was an easy (if sometimes hilly) jog to Belfountain. We walked on the steepest hills - and down Devil's Pulpit, which is technically a cliff, not a hill. We had a wonderful 40-minute break at the Shed Coffee Bar in Belfountain, sipping iced mocha and scarfing down cookies while we people-watched from the patio. BulletDog took advantage of their big dog bowl, then sprawled happily in the shade. She went swimming a few times along our route, and was just about as happy as a Lab could be. We'll both sleep well tonight!

Deliciously cool morning for a ride around Palgrave East with 'Bent. We did a mix of single and double track and, for the first time this year, rode through the high weeds along the river in the northeast section. Lots of stinging nettles, but I guess they're past their prime, since we only had minor reactions.

As a result of the new Palgrave trail plan, a lot of the trails we rode today will be closed completely - or just closed to bikes - by next year, so we might as well enjoy them while we can. Kinda sad, since we moved to this area specifically to be able to cross-country ski out our door to join up with this amazing trail network. As an environmentalist, I do appreciate why they want to reduce the number of trails, but I don't have to like it as a neighbour! The result is a much smaller trail system where all the users of different types will be squeezed together, which will ruin the ski tracks and increase horse-bike-pedestrian conflict, amongst other things. The big Red loop has had a long section removed, leaving smaller loops that will only be long enough for Sunday hikers with kids. To get in a good outing, the rest of us will have to do out-and-back routes with little side loops. :-(

Horses have been busily covering the trails in poop. At the trail advisory committee meeting, the equestrian rep from Toronto (who has never been in Palgrave, to my knowledge) repeatedly mentioned all the money that the equestrian industry brings into Caledon. He also liked to chuckle knowingly about the silly people who are bothered by getting horse poop on their shoes, dog's feet and bike tires, because horses are vegetarians, after all, and everyone knows that vegetarian poop is desirable for the forest, the trail, and even the carpets in your home when you track it indoors. I'm tempted to send 'Bent, 3Pin, Tiny, JTor and Urthbuoy over to relieve themselves on his front lawn since he would obviously consider it a favour.

On our way out, I glanced out of habit toward the side of the road where the murder victim was found earlier this summer. There was a bicycle down in the ditch, with its front wheel reversed and two dead trees placed on top of it. It was probably stolen, and it looks like it should still work OK. I called the police, and hopefully some kid will get his bike back.

Some recent cougar notes:

- A Bolton veterinarian was unsurprised to hear about the cougar in our woods, since he has treated several local pet cougars over the years, one of which had reached the weight of 400 lb with the benefit of daily, human-provided meals. Like the Ministry of Natural Resources, he is convinced that any cougar around here would have escaped or been released from captivity, and he believes that domestically-raised cougars are even more unlikely to harm a human than wild ones (who also tend to leave humans alone).

- In London, Ontario, there have been a number of cougar sightings this year, including two by police officers, and at least one on a commuter bike trail within city limits. Here's a typical government bureaucracy thing... because the Ministry of Natural Resources has an official position that the only cougars roaming Southern Ontario are escaped pets, and because their only mandate is to deal with wild animals, they didn't see it as their job to get involved. So there was squabbling between the police, the City and the MNR, trying to figure out who should look into the cougar seen on the urban bike trail. In a place like Canmore, it would have been more clear who to call. In the end, the City forked out the cash to hire a wildlife specialist to investigate the situation.

Passed 15,000 hits today.
No training though!

Caron's Power Yoga for Endurance Athletes DVD - it's been TOO long since I did this! It felt good to stretch, but there were a few moves that were painful for my blackening big toenails and chafed legs. But anyway, it was time to start doing *something*! I've felt energetic all week, and my muscles weren't too sore, considering it was a 24-hr non-stop event. It's just these stupid flesh wounds! (There must be a few Monty Python fans out there.)

My Achilles tendon is working better today, thanks to Dr. Leanimal. If it weren't for my oozing big toenails, I could almost pass for a normal human being in public. People think I'm dressing up this week because I've been wearing loose, flowing skirts, but there is NO way I'm putting pants onto these chafed legs just yet.

Rogaine results are posted. 'Bent and 3Pin were 11th overall with 1528 pts, and we were 12th with 1508 pts. Oooh, now I *really* wish we'd picked up #23 to give me official marital bragging rights! :-) Oh well.

Today my right Achilles tendon will not do whatever Achilles tendons are supposed to do that enables you to raise your toes off the ground. This is making me limp more than my deep blisters (which are noticeably improving). Off to Leanimal for treatment.

Ouch, ouch, ouch. I'm going to lose both big toenails. Maybe more.