Almonte, Ontario

FWe left Trois Rivières Friday morning and just after getting up to speed on Highway 40 heading southwest to Montreal, Gayle told me to pull over. Sure enough her sunglasses which she had hung on the Seal Line bag strap while getting ready to ride, were gone. ( Sunglasses you say..... even with all the rain of late...... we remain ever optimistic)

We did ride through some showers, but nothing compared to the rains and wind of the day before when we were hold up in the motel in Trois Rivieres. 

What is the first thing you do when you ride into the Nation's capital. Go to Mountain Equipment Co-op of course! Gayle picked up a wind shell jacket and I picked up some new Smartwool socks and some snap lock buckles to have as spares for the Seal Line bag tie downs, which hold the majority of our clothing on the bike. I had already broken one when cinching down the bags onto the bike a few mornings back.

We continued our ride out to Almonte, where we have the loan of a condo for a few days. An old friend from BC Hydro days in northern BC, offered it to us through his friend Sue. Her new still under construction..digs are amazing. (Wish I could post some photos, but hey; its not my place right :) Now that is one great lady; that would offer her place to you and we have not even met... yet! Hopefully she will approve of us when we ride up to her cottage on Tuesday, to meet for the first time.

After settling in, we called friends who also live in Almonte and took the opportunity to see their home and catch up for a few hours with each of them and their son. Great to see them doing so well.

A trip to the local grocery store and we were in for the night. Did I mention how great accommodations are. :) The sounds of the Mississippi river are prevalent right now with high flows just outside the condo building.

A phone call or two to the cottage and we had the internet up and operating (the construction crew had pulled the coax antenna cable out of the rear of the modem); so we kicked back and watched a movie and posted some e-mails. Talk about relaxing.

We were up early today and I had some yogurt and banana before taking the time to go for a 5km run. You just know when you get out and go that it is going to be a good day. Morning runs will do that for you. :) What is not to like about taking a run in such a wonderfully scenic locale? I wished that I had been more diligent of late in getting some runs in, because I wished I could have gone further. I would have paid for it though, as I have not been getting the miles in like I used to! It is a shame to be lazy.

Dr. James Naismith the inventor of basketball sitting around on the Little Bridge street side of Cenntennial Square.(He was born in Almonte Nov. 6,1861)

I knew that hydro generation has existed in Almonte for some time but on a walkabout found a new-to-me plant just down treat of the old one. For all you HYDRO geeks out there... a few pictures.

Gayle took the opportunity while in the big city to head off to the hair salon so I took the time to look up an old classmate\ supervisor\friend and got to meet his friend Jacqui for the first time. Great to see them so happy and talk about busy! These retired people still surprise me. Short visit though it was, I find it so meaningful to keep in touch with friends. Stay well and healthy folks.

The NEW Gayle was sitting outside the hair salon when I rode back to pick her up. She had it cut shorter and had highlights done for a great new look! I'm not sure she wanted to put her helmet on and cover it up. :)

We rode into the Bayshore Shopping Mall to find a new pair of sunglasses and to pick me up a Canada embossed T shirt (from the Bay collection) for me to wear tomorrow.... Canada Day. What could be more Canadian than to wear something to show your pride in living and riding in the greatest country in the world.

 

I touched up the food supplies with a ride to Patrick's Independent Grocers  and we have spent another relaxing evening "home".