2024 Year In Review- Oh Hell Yeah

 Yes it is well into 2025 and finally doing a look and review of 2024. Later then everyone else I know. Hell Yeah. However I am a firm believer that one should not be doing a year end athletic review till after December 31st. 

Never before midnight New Year's Eve. And now it is well past New Year's Day can do a 2024 year review. And of course means takes longer thanks to memory issues getting in the way.

So with that in mind and knowing that there was a couple of personal little goals that achieved that never said much about as kept them to myself.  As part of that let's refresh the end of 2023 which you can see in the photo the over all time riding.

Now to make things a wee bit more clear. Since started riding again Oct 19th 2022 post major knee surgery. Only focused on time spent riding and not paying attention to what mileage was. Unlike everyone else I knew. 

The goal sort of set for 2024 was to ride 100 hours more then did in 2023. Now it wasn't a it must be met goal or else. It was just thought of and if it happened it would be something achieved. Reality is what was more important was the time just riding. 

2023 rode for 439 hours and 47 minutes

2024 rode for 548 hours and 31 minutes

In the end achieved the goal of riding for 100 hours more in 2024. Sure feel and felt good to have done it was glad to have it done. And while some would say ok now aim for more hours. I have no desire to do that in 2025. I proved a point mostly to myself and rather look at other challenges to do in 2025 now.  

Also achieved two other things in 2024. The first being 731 days of riding since returning to riding from major knee surgery.

731 Day's Of Riding- Arney Mtn Oct 19th 2024

And the second was the calendar years of rides without a break.

2 Calendar Years- Another Quiet Streak- December 31st 2024

So a couple of other goals or maybe challenges achieved in 2025. Though it isn't just about numbers and such. If one is reviewing the year that should include rides that sort of stand out.

The night ride in October in the Backyard Trails where was able to watch the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis from the trails within Kingston Town limits.

Night Ride of Northern Lights- Oct 10th and 11th 2024

My first ever night ascent, night peak/high point bagging then night descent.

Little Blue Mountain Peak Night Bagging Sept 14th 2024

The revisiting the true Blue Mountain of Ontario. 

True and False Peak Peak Bagging and Gan Perimeter Loop-July 18th 2024

The Big Dirty Trenton peak bagging ride

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

And of course the big adventure ride that started in Sharbot Lake using a completely new route to me. And also gave me some ideas for the 29er future parts changes.

Trans Can and Bell Line Rd Loop- Sharbot Lake Sept 30th 2024

In 2024 was a better year as did some fun good rides as well as rode somewhere new as well as bagged a new to me peak while revisiting a few old one's.  And definitely achieved the goal of riding a 100 hours more in 2024 tough as mentioned before have no desire to attempt to do more around that. Feel good about the year overall and look forward to working on different goals and trips in 2025. Especially a couple of adventures haven't completed yet and am working on making happen this year.

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Fat Ass New Year's Day 2025

 

Waking up New Year's Day 2025 would be not only the first ride day of 2025. It would also be a low key and lazy kind of ride to the Backyard Trails. 

Fat Ass New Year's Day Ride 2025

This first ride of 2025 would be slightly different ride after the 2024 ride year as the last year was a year of effort and seeking some quietly set challenges. One which has been completed will be revealed soon in the year end review. While the other was completed the day before.

2 Calendar Years- Another Quiet Streak- December 31st 2024

This ride was more of an easy hack ride in the woods plus was interested in seeing if the Beaver Dam had survived the combination rain and snow melt. 

Well, didn't take long to find that getting near where the Beaver dam was would not be today. The whole approach trail was flooded. the other fork to see if could at least get near the first rapids section which fed the pond near the Dirt Camp.

Was able to get to the first rapids though as can see from the photo definitely can't get further out on the rocks.  Maybe another day can access the trail that goes near where the Beaver Dam is or maybe was.

With it flooded and kind of feeling lazy decided that was it for the woods and time to head out to go somewhere warmer and maybe just read. Because just getting out in the woods like tis is enough.

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2 Calendar Years- Another Quiet Streak- December 31st 2024

 It was a warmer and slightly damp day when headed out for the last ride of 2024. The snow had melted so back to leaves and wearing of knee warmers instead of thermal tights. 

2 Calendar Years of Riding Straight

This would also be another streak quietly achieved. While the earlier one of two years post major surgery of riding every day was a big deal. To be honest that was truly about proving myself and being a bit loud about it as right or wrong I felt as an athlete had so much to prove after being maimed. And the crap had to deal with for 5 plus years.. This one was different.

730 Day's Of Riding- Arney Mtn Oct 19th 2024

I didn't say anything about it. To be honest I just rode everyday and didn't think of it even as a goal. As said above I had already loudly proven myself. This just happened. 

Wile out and riding a section of the Backyard Trails spotted a side trail thanks to the leaves. Hadn't spotted that before though gives some ideas for the future. Maybe return with the hand saw.

After that section back tracked and headed to the trails that take you towards what I call the Dirt Camp. 

At the Dirt Camp it was time to pause and enjoy a beer during the last ride of the year. Some would go on about the little things and so on. Well, after the last 5 years I have more then earned to enjoy doing this.

Still a little too chilly out to use the hammock I have and use in the warmer times of year. Though after almost 5 years of use. While it has been good am thinking that might update with something that is newer and has a bug net. 

OneTigris Kompound Hammck

Today would use the packable Therma rest inflatable seat with the the slowly rotting away log to sit on. Because you know mid ride beer in the woods is the best thing. And the last ride and beer in woods of 2024.

After beer it was time to head out to go by Tim's to warm up a wee bit. Then head home for food and maybe the last weight training session of 2024 before New year's Eve watching of TV and another beverage at midnight.

And later will do a proper year review of 2024. Because you know a true year end review should be done in January after New year's Eve has passed and the year rolled over. Not weeks prior when there is still data to add and adventures to be done.

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22nd Christmas Day Ride- December 25th 2024

I had thought I had done a blog entry or a YouTube video of riding on Christmas Day. The joys of TBI caused memory issues. So this is kind of making up for not doing it till now. 

Since came back to Ontario at the end of November 2007 have done a ride of some kind on Christmas Day. It has become sort of my Christmas Day tradition to do. And have done it in not too bad winter conditions to some pretty challenging ones. Sort of a Appetite Seminar for Christmas Day.

22 Years Of Christmas Day Rides- GPS track

December 2024 would be the 22nd ride on Christmas Day and was a chilly one. Not minus 25 where approaching eye lashes freezing together cold or the face hurting from cold type feeling. Though with it having snowed trails where not an option as it takes certain type of snow to be rideable without being packed down.

This would be a West Side wander of barely plowed side streets, sidewalks, and paths. Of course admit the route was planned to come by the Starbuck's that is open on Christmas Day. 

Christmas Day mid ride treat while reading my collection of Mishun H Sugworth cartoons or sketches. 

After treat was finished resumed the ride and headed back towards Collins Bay And a loop through the Lawrence Park neighborhood  to see how the trail entrance looked there. After looking and seeing it would be a few more days before packed down. headed towards north parking lot at Lemoines Point. . And rode along the Bath "Protected" bike route.

Headed down from the North Lemoines parking lot to the river to my usual picnic table by the river. And to look out over the frozen shore of the river. And of course a wee bit of Antiguan Rum for the near end of ride on a winter day moment.

From there it was home so could thaw out and clean up post Christmas Day Ride number 22. And of course Christmas Dinner feast.

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A Dark and Snow Stormy Night _ December 23rd 2024

 It's Monday night with a snowstorm and decided to go have a wee bit of night snow riding fun. Grabbed the lights and headed out for 52 minutes of snow storm at night riding fun.

At this point in the storm there was just enough snow on the ground that you knew you where riding in snow. However wasn't a grunt to ride.

More can be seen in the YouTube link especially wind as it came of the St Lawrence River.

And there was also the "First Tracks" feature of the night ride. When you are the only one there and being the one to make those first tracks.

Eventually headed for home to eat and warm up post ride. 

Good night ride out in blowing snow and making fresh tracks. Shall see if there is any more fresh tracks in the 2025 half of the 2024/25 winter.

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Ride of The First Snow Storm- December 7th 2024

 

Winter 2024/25 has been weird and unlike past winters. Started with till a few weeks ago with the Backyard Trails creek dry. Of course that changed around the Ride of The First Snow a couple of days ago.

The video of riding in the small snow storm is in the link below and offers more about the ride of the Backyard Trails.

Didn't stay for long at the Dirt Camp as it was chilly and was wanting to see what the Beaver Dam looked like.

Water levels have finally risen and the creek crossing at the rocks is not usable till possibly summer 2025.

And the Beaver Dam gave way just in the middle of it. .

A bonus during the ride was spotting the Blue Heron still hanging out in the area. Hard to see however the Blue Heron was hanging out on a log watching the world.

After had taken that look at the Beaver Dam headed out towards the trailhead and then for home. Chilly ride and needed some food and maybe some tea. 

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Test of The First Snow December 4th 2024

 When I was a young ski racer in the 1980's there was a World Cup DH ski race held every year at Val d'Isere France. It was called by some the Test of The First Snow. And over the last several years while it has been done on a mountain bike have called the first ride in snow the Test of The First Snow.

Think of it as more about having a wee bit of fun with winter while not worrying about how far or how long ridden in the cold and snow.

A lot more can be seen via the YouTube channel. 

End of the day was a nice easy chilly though ride in the first snow of the 2024/25 winter. Especially when is a good idea to go easy while you refresh those snow riding skills that have been dormant since the previous winter.

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