hurricane Irene fringe benefits

Hurricane Irene was trouble for the east coast, but at least it generated a little wind inland.  A cold Sunday afternoon with NNE winds so I chose Grandview road to get the best fetch.  Sailed 5.2 & 4.2 on the 85L quatro.  Sailed in a shorty for a couple of hours with a long sleeve rash guard underneath but eventually I got pretty cold.  The water was really choppy with some mini ramps here and there and it was also a lot warmer than the air.

still another late afternoon solo ride - Kanata Lakes

This was a nice ride - dry with beautiful weather.  Didn't see a soul on the trails except for critters...so many chipmunks - they must be preparing for the fall.  It's really a beautiful trail and you have to stop now and then to take it in.  I know there are owls in there, and I think I found an owl pellet (what's left over from a meal that can't be digested) right on the trail.  It looked like it had been run over or torn apart so I'm not totally sure what it was.

exploded owl pellet?

Mallorytown Landing - personal windsurfing day)

I get one personal day to take off every year so I decided to use it today to drive down to Mallorytown Landing to see if the wind would produce something.  The wind was a little disappointing but I had about 2 hours on my 5.7 which is not bad - just not what I had hoped for.  Joel, his friend Thomas, Tim, John and some locals were there.  Had to wear the shorty today - at least it fits. Oh, also found the local geocache and spied a couple of Osprey.  Lots of cormorants too, and actually a tern was following me for a stretch while a sailed.  Saw some other bird that I didn't recognize, but it looked like a flying penguin from below??

another late afternoon solo ride - Kanata Lakes

A wet muddy ride, but the rain held off until I finished.  Rear tire lost some air pressure along the way (I didn't bring a pump) so I think I was riding on less than 20psi in the back.  Had a couple of wipeouts along the way too, but just the tuck and roll kind.  Had the 'park' all to my self.

he's got some jewelry on his leg

 Saw this red tail hawk on the way there and back on richardson side road.

late afternoon solo ride - Kanata Lakes

Although I'm disgusted by the Terry Fox drive extension through some of my favorites trails, it's now open and gets me to the new trailhead at second line fairly quick.  Only saw one rider on the trails today- like I had it all to myself.  The Ottawa mountain bike club has posted numbered signs at each significant landmark on the trails and is requesting public suggestions for their names.  If the signs remained, it would help a lot to navigate.  I'm still not sure how I manage to find my way through there.