2200 km on 22x

Had a flat on Friday, didn't get to do the 16 KM or so that would have made sure I hit 2200km on the Bragg Creek Ride. So this morning, having slept too late for church, I headed out 22x knowing I'd hit 2200 KM at a point with a good view of the mountains. Met a fellow cyclist named Mike, who's also a PedalHead guy. Felt a bit of discomfort after yesterday's ride, but still made good time. Mostly cause I was trying to keep up with Mike, who was going slow for him to talk.

- Peace

To Bragg Creek and Back

View To Brag Creek in a larger map
When I first started getting back into biking, when my goal for the year was a 1000 KM; I was told of a woman who was a hard core biker. She'd ride out to Bragg Creek and back, 80 KMs just for fun. I was new in Calgary, didn't even know where Bragg Creek was. Of course soon I learned that there was good mountain biking out past Bragg Creek. And would drive past all the roadies riding to Bragg Creek and think they're nuts.

Almost ten years later, I've ridden to Bragg Creek and back, with the support of friends. I'm not sure I'm at the just for fun point yet. Got passed by a ton of roadies. But I made it, with encouragement from my friends. Thanks, Calvin, Kevin, Sameer, Ken and Andy. The BBQ after was fun :)

For the record it's 83 KM round trip from my place, 568 meters of elevation gain on the way there, 320 meters on the way back. Data was captured using My Tracks.

Kia Soul at 2100 KM

2100 KM had me right at our front door. So Kim's new Kia Soul seemed like a good idea. Obviously I need more work with the low light function on the new camera. Was hoping to hit 2200 KM tomorrow as I have a 88 KM ride planned. Was going out to do 16 KM when I found I had a flat, a puncture in the rear tire. So no riding tonight, and will need to rush to MEC first thing in the morning to get some tires. Need to have a spare on hand.

- Peace

Welcome Olivia

It was wonderful to meet Olivia the other night. She has very cute parents :)

- Peace

Our New Way to Roll

This or That Kia Soul Ad

The manual for our 94 Toyota Carolla said it would last 15 years. It's been 16, has almost 300,000 km. It's been good, but it's time has come. We're going with a KIA Soul, great head room, leg room and good on gas. Was also very impressed with how good the bluetooth integration with my Nexus One was. Not that I'll be driving it that much, this car is for Kim. We're picking it up tomorrow.

- Peace

2000 km, finally.

July has been slow km wise. Weather and life have a way of getting in the way. Currently two days behind my 2008 pace. I have some serious biking to do.

- Peace

Toy Story 3D

Loved the number of references to the original movie. Strong plot, tons of humor. Thematically it revisits mostly familiar ideas from Toy Story 2. The 3d was well done, and not over done. Better than Toy Story 2, not quite as good as the first but time well spent.

- Peace

Three Bikers

Catching up on some photography I did in the spring. Ken, Calvin and Sameer came out and did some riding while I shot from the back of the Element. Kim did the driving. Posting to a set called Three Bikers.

- Peace

Tony, Julie and Liam

Had the honor of doing a family photo shoot with Tony, Julie and Liam when they were in town. Will be adding more over the next few days.

- Peace

The Other Hitchens on Q

Peter Hitchens was on Q on Friday. Enjoyed the interview. Adding his book to my to read list. "The Rage Against God". Part-memoir, part-polemic, the book traces his personal journey from atheism to faith and challenges some of the atheist arguments in his brother Christopher's best-seller, "God Is Not Great."

- Peace

Now working for Blackboard.

Elluminate is being acquired by Blackboard. We're all just finding out what that means.

- Peace

1900 KM: A Slow Start

A slow start to July. Hit the 1900 KM mark, where my original schedule had me for the end of June. At the start of June I was 140 KM short and that put me four days behind. At the start of July I was 100 KM behind and I've take six days to do that. On the upside I'm seven days ahead of my 2008 pace.

- Peace

Megatunes is Closing

Looks like Calgary is loosing it's coolest music store. Megatunes is closing. The staff confirmed it. Nothing about it on their web page though.

Update CBC has a story on the closing.

- Peace

Melissa and Phil Expecting

Couple of weeks ago I had the honor of doing a shoot with Melissa and Phil. Melissa is very pregnant and is just a week or so from her due date. It was a joy to share in this time of expecting.

- Peace

1800 KM and a Plan Update

Hit the 1800 KM mark last night. That's over the original 700 KM goal for June but under the 840 KM goal that would have cleared my 140 KM debt from May. Will take me two or three days to get to the 1900 KM mark as originally planned for the end of June. Going to set July and August's goals at 700 KM each. That would leave me with less than a 1000 KM to do in the fall to reach 4500 KM.

Going to try and even out the pace, doing almost 300 KM in the last week was intense.

- Peace