Little Blue Mountain Peak Night Bagging Sept 14th 2024

Arrived in Gananoque from Macintosh Mills to do the next phase of the road trip. With it being after sunset the plan was to do a short ride to recce the area where the rough approach to Little Blue Mountain and the peak or high point.

Peakbagger Little Blue Mountain

Mounted lights on helmet and handlebar and headed in. Since it was dark was taking my time as this was a recce and no plan to do more. This would also be the first ride with the mount I fabricated to mount the helmet light on the Bell Super DH Helmet. 

It is kind of interesting how doing a recce at night is so different then during daylight. With only the lights your view is very narrow and you can miss things you might see when it is daylight. 

While I did have a some info from a trip report on the Peakbagger app to give a bit of info. There wasn't a lot of details of what the route was beyond someone saying they had to bushwack which isn't always helpful info either. To be honest navigating in the woods at night does require a level of skill that daytime navigation doesn't need. And you have to be more aware of everything as it is easier to become disoriented.

What started as a recce evolved as discovered there was a trail that existed and had been overlooked by Ben Lostco. I mean the first hint that there was a trail somewhere was the observation of some kind of firepit. As shown in the YouTube video link above this went from a recce to a success.

During this part of the day achieved for me three firsts. First night ascent of a peak or high point. First night bagging and then the first night descent. 

This also was a first test of the light mount for the Bell Super DH helmet and worked well. And was an improvement over the last night ride on a road trip.

Bata Island Night Ride Recce September 1st 2024

This ended up being totally more than had expected as had only intended to recce to have an idea to come back and give it an attempt. As said it became far more. Now will have to return later to get this peak during daylight. 

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Macintosh Mills Northwest Passage Exploration Sept 14th 2024

 It has been almost over two years since road tripped too and rode the trails at Macintosh Mills north of Mallorytown. And it was time to go there and have another adventure. 

This trip I decided to attempt to do Northwest Passage to see if can push through to the trails way in the back. Well it didn't exactly work out. The YouTube video will reveal more.

The GPS track,

Mac Mills Northwest Passage Second Exploration No Go then Wander

And yes I did wear the Stylus as a backpack again. And mentally added the Hookabike to the gear wish list for 2025.

Hookabike

To be honest watch the video via the link which will give more detail how the exploration attempt went.

After a wee bit of a break at the Dirtbag Ute. Went up to the little lookout then headed a wee bit further east with the intention of chilling at the little cabin and deck put up by the On The Trail crew. 

Unfortunately when was near it noticed it was in use. And rather then interrupt those who where there chilling and most likely camping out. Headed back to the main parking lot.

Once back at the Dirtbag Ute chilled out there instead. Set up and used the packable firepit to cook a couple of hotdogs to munch on. It would be over a year since used it last as last summer was drier than this year so wasn't able to use it. 

After chilling and eating as well as drinking some fluids. Loaded gear and bike up. Then headed towards Gananoque with the idea to do a recce of the approach to Little Blue Mountain. That is another blog entry and will be the next one.

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Batawa Road Trip Debrief -Things To Work On

 On September 1st road tripped to the Batawa Ski Hill to do a big ride. Well revisit a past one with a slight variation. You can see more in the link below.

Big Dirty Trenton Peak Bagging Ride- 7 Peaks September 1st 2024

Almost all the gear and the Stylus worked well. Like most things there are a couple of things that could have been done better. One of them is that probably should have carried a bit of on bike refueling stuff like did the first go in 2022.  

It is my own fault as there has been something around that have been for a long time meaning to restart carrying. That being a Gel Flask with maple syrup and salt mixed together. I learned of this way back in 2003 when was doing some 50km Ultramarathon trail races. Long before someone decided to do something similar with one use tubes. 

Hard to follow through with though when memory issues have you forgetting you where going to do something like that. So you keep putting it off. That would have helped as the ride progressed.

Bata Island Night Ride Recce September 1st 2024

The second ride showed need to finish making the light mount for the Bell Super DH Helmet. While was able to do the Bata Island Recce Ride with the handlebar mounted light. It was not ideal for the trails on the island itself using that alone. With that in mind next project will be creating a mounting that will allow me to mount the helmet light to the Super DH that works with the Bell Super DH Go Pro mount.

The only other thing need to address is doing a better job of having gear sorted and ready so that kit is better set up to just go. Sort of that can you be ready to go in 15 minutes type thing. Looking up gear rooms and such while thinking of ways to manage TBI caused memory issues kind of went down the ready room YouTube rabbit hole.

In the end only three things that can be really improved on that being the Gel Flask thing and the helmet light mount. With the gear prep and ready room type thing for mtb will be a longer term set up idea. And will be worked on over time as figure out each part of it which could be interesting to see what come up with.

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If Not Me Then Who?? Mountain Biking and Mental Illness

 A few weeks ago during an evening road trip up to Ottawa and back visited an Indigo and while checking out the bikes magazines. Found an article in the recent issue of Freehub Magazine about mountain biking and mental illness. 

Acquired it as felt it had some good info that possibly will need to refer too in future.

September is Suicide Prevention Month and flip flopped on sharing this in the blog, However after some thought and reflection I realized that it is critical that this be shared. That there is the potential that this being sharable in future via a blog entry could help one person fighting their own mind.

While the organizations mentioned in the article are based out of the United States. I would much rather share the article and  those links making it easier for someone to connect with these groups may be just enough to aid someone else fighting their own mind. Or just seeing them will possibly aid one person to make a slight change.

The Dirt Therapy Project

Soldiers on Singletrack

For me sharing this is important as potentially this will help someone else. As since 1991 without knowing it was kind of doing on my own what is mentioned in the article. My comments in the video reveal....

And of course there is now  988 available in Canada which is an improvement of our situation in Canada. However am doing this because more needs to done before someone reaches that point.

And if not me who else? It might be a small part that making this article easier to share with others or be found. As said there is a chance this might help that one person a little bit. 

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Bata Island Night Ride Recce September 1st 2024

 After finishing the Big Dirty Trenton Peak Bagging Ride and getting in some food. Plus getting in more fluids and of course the drink of choice of the hard...Dr Pepper. 

Big Dirty Trenton Peak Bagging Ride

I decided to follow through with the original idea of doing ride up to Bata Island to see what was there. Last year had spotted it while doing a ride of the Trent Waterway Trail to Glen Ross and back with my friend. We had talked about potentially riding it another time. And when mentioned was doing this road trip and ride day at Trenton/Batawa she mentioned the island. And if was going to check it out. Well throwing in the handlebar light pouch into the gear bag meant this was a possibility.

By the time was done eating the military grade level Potato Salad- think something like what one would find in a Canadian Army IMP ration kit. And drunk enough fluids. Changed packs to the light weight Wngnut Enduro Pack which haven't used since think 2020 and figured would give it a go with it again. It was sunset time so made sure had the handlebar light pouch in the Wingnut.

Bata Island Night Ride Recce

Rode from the Batawa Ski Hill parking lot and up the Trent Waterway Trail to just past Frankford where the Bata Island trailhead was located. Due to it being so late and needing the handlebar light wasn't able to take any kind of photos or video. 

The Bata Island (Frankford) Trails Review

 So will rely on the 2 Old Guys info to fill in some of the gaps info wise. Bata island does allow mountain bikes on the trails. And it is a beginner friendly trail. Though I would say if was asked what bike to use would say mountain bike. There is a couple of sections with tree roots and believe a mtb would be a better option.

There is no climbs or descents on the Bata island trails. It is all flat and relatively short. If riding from the Batawa Ski Hill parking lot to Bata island and back it is roughly 13.09 KM. Based on what found even though it was night. It would be a good ride with one's friend or friends with the option of wandering around Batawa ski hills mtb trails if one desired.

This would make for a good easy road trip to take someone less experienced mountain biking. park at the Batawa Skill hill and ride up to Bata Island and back. With a few easy options to add onto  if one likes.

In future trips to ride Batawa will keep this in spot in mind for a spot to ride to for an easy bit of more riding. And chilling beside the river after playing on the Batawa Trails. 

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Big Dirty Trenton Peak Bagging Ride- 7 Peaks September 1st 2024

 In 2022 was scheduled for major knee surgery in July. July 28th to be exact and in the handful of weeks prior did a few challenges before that day. And knowing that potentially would be stuck in bed healing for a few months decided to set out to do a few personal challenges.

One of those came up with was to do what I coined for myself the Trenton/Batawa 5 Summits Epic. In 2022 I just took photos and wrote a blog entry.

Trenton/Batawa 5 Summits Epic Ride July 16th 2022

It is 2 years on from major surgery and at this point in both recovery from it. Am also am at a certain point of moving on past all these traumatic events. Let us keep in mind that Dr Bardana my knee surgeon stated to me that major knee surgery and the required post surgery recovery is a traumatic event. With that in mind the idea came to me two years on to revisit this ride.

The big difference this year would be me doing the best I could to video the ride not just photos and a blog entry like in 2022. Do the best could with video using a modified chest rig and a cell phone mount to video with cell phone. Best I can do with a limited budget.

The YouTube video has more details though ,

Compared to 2022 it did go a bit better ride wise. Though kept in mind was tired and was technically riding the DH Runs blind in the Batawa DH sections so took it a bit easier on those. Rather finish the ride intact. Can always come back to Batawa to do an easier shorter ride and hit those sections better.

Big Dirty Trenton Peak Bagging Ride- 7 High Points Sept 1st 2024

After all was said and done the end results where..

42.46km

3 hours and 34 minutes riding time

2 Pr's achieved

7 high points bagged

Of course post Big Dirty Don Rats style ride had to eat a bit. Experimented with something a bit different than the usual Insta Ramen type copies aka Mr Noodles. Found some pre made type Potato Salad.

Found at the Dollarama though got the idea from watching a veteran YouTube channel and suggestions for packable food. 

Though to be fair it definitely looked like something found in some CAF IMP Menu Number whatever. It was edible and seemed to cause no digestive surprises. Though definitely believe it probably came out of the same factory as the IMP rations just a different door with different packaging.

Also discovered later once home and looking at the Strava track earned two PR's without any real effort to go fast. 

Have some kit observations and things should have done better. That will write out later in the coming days.

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A Gravel Roadie and MTBer Gravel Ride For Ice Cream August 16th 2024

 Last September 2023 a friend asked me to join them in riding a section of the Cataraqui Trail from Perth Rd to Chaffey's Locks. A ride had done myself like 10 years prior on a Monstercross bike had built up. Though back then it was a straight out and back with less social and fun. 

Riding with a friend this time makes it far more fun and less about head down. Grinding away till the turn around and return just isn't the same as riding with someone else and not worrying about speed and time.

Riding For Ice Cream is Better Then Racing 2023

Last year's ride was done a year after major knee surgery and to be honest it was more about just getting out for a ride. At least for me. My friend who had taken up riding a gravel bike had wanted to do this section but was nervous due to that a large portion of this section of the Cat Trail has limited cell service. We did it, ate ice cream, and most importantly had a good ride. Though there would be a surprise this go which will be shared later.

This year we went again. Same starting point, same route and distance, and same end point. Only difference for me was 2 years out from major knee surgery. So while didn't think of it before hand this would kind of be a test of where was at 2 years on from major knee surgery.

A Gravel Roadie and MTBer Gravel meet for a Ride- Ice Cream Still Better Than Racing

This year saw a wee challenge added to the ride with a section being slightly flooded. Nothing like a wee bit of fording flooded sections for a small bit of a challenge. 

Though 2024 would add a wee bit more excitement closer to Chaffey's Locks with a Porcupine deciding to chill out for a wee bit at the side of the trails. He started ambling into the underbrush before fully stopped and got to take a photo. There was no blind corner and nearly T-Boning a Porcupine type of excitement this time round.

Got to Chaffey's and like last year did the chill out and enjoy ice cream under the shade of an sun umbrella. 

On the return trip to Perth Rd spotted some more wildlife. A family of Swans nesting on the far side of a swamp. If one watched carefully you could spot the movement of little Cygnets as they sat in the nest besides mom.

After checking out the Swans it was back to riding and the last few KM's to the trail head parking lot at Perth Rd. Up the little climb before crossing Opinicon Rd and then it was the the last stretch to Perth Rd Trailhead and the parking lot. And once crossed Perth Rd we where done. 

Remember I mentioned there was a surprise earlier? Well later on that evening at home looked at the ride GPS track on Strava and had a surprise. We rode the ride about 10-15 minutes faster then last year. Looking back did nothing special riding and training wise beyond riding everyday. No planned interval days nor sessions. Just lots of riding especially on the trails. 

End result after a good ride with a friend was that we both ended up improving our riding over the last year. Guess there is something about just riding your bike and enjoying and having fun while doing it does help improve one's riding.

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