Grand River 200K Ride Report: August 3, 2003
Better Than Expected
A last minute supply check, family responsibilities, and breakfast filled my early morning thoughts. The weather never entered my mind - not until I ventured outside where the fog was moist and heavy. With all the other stuff going with my daily routine, I had totally forgotten about the forecasted fog. Upon leaving at 5:30 AM, visibility wasn't the worst, but the arrival of the morning sky made the thick blanket of mist that hung in the air harder to see through. Concerns filled my head about being late, along with the idea that Phil may think I wasn't coming. Luckily, poor driving conditions didn't cause much of a delay, and Phil was exactly where he said he'd be. I certainly welcomed the sight of him. Quickly, we loaded his bike and headed to the start point in Erin Mills.
Arriving at Tim Horton's with plenty of time to spare before the 8:00 AM departure, we had a quick snack and I was introduced to some of the riders I hadn't met before. We all wheeled out together, and headed west toward Oakville. After a short while, the faster riders notched up the pace and quickly disappeared from view. Travelling gravel roads isn't a new experience for me, but the climbs and descents on gravel were a new challenge. My attention didn't deviate once from the road surface, and I prayed continuously that no cars to show up while I was on this road. My prayers were answered, for which I was sincerely thankful.
Before I knew it, we rolled into Timmy's in Ancaster, exchanged a few words with the faster guys (who were already rolling out) before breaking for a snack and some interesting conversation. Then we, too, were back to more pedal action. The town of Ancaster is lined with beautiful homes with the most spectacular gardens. (These folks must have personal gardeners, or spend incredible amounts of time tending to their yards.) Also impressive was the lane specifically designated for bicycle enthusiasts. It sure would be nice to see more lanes like these throughout Ontario, as it might actually help our vastly growing inactive population to consider the bicycle as a viable form of transportation.
by Karen Scaife
It wasn't long before we were travelling a stretch of road following the banks of the Grand River, which was similar to a small Niagara Parkway. The river was wider than I'd expected, and quite fast moving. The bridge we crossed was as grand as the river itself!
Clearer weather allowed us to eat outside at our next control in Cayuga, where the pizza wasn't as "chewy" as the place's name ("Chewbacca's Chewy Pizza") would have one think. Lunch was fun, the company and conversation was even better than before.
After our lunch stop, time seemed to fly by and so did the kilometers. Soon, we had a chance to help a rider we'd passed earlier. Phil kindly pumped up this rather tall fellow's front tire, and we all exchanged a few comments with him regarding his destination and the type of boots he was wearing. I made a foolish comment about the guy's bike, mistaking it for a mountain bike when it wasn't. Everyone had a good laugh and I did too. To our good fortune, no rain appeared in any great amounts and we continued on into what I thought was Hamilton (instead, it was Dundas) to yes, another Timmy's, for a final break before completing our journey back to the Erin Mills start. We rode many scenic streets and climbed some long, slow hills up the Niagara Escarpment, which I was told is the easy way up. Sydenham Road is evidently the preferred route for this climb, but construction has made it inaccessible. Maybe next year I'll have the opportunity to test my climbing ability on this steep road.
I must say that a day that was supposed to have been damp and dismal turned out to be a fine one, with temperatures that weren't intolerable. The scenery was spectacular and the camaraderie most welcome. I met some interesting, warm, and friendly people, with whom I hope to have many more riding experiences with in the future. In my opinion, this is what randonneuring is all about.
Thanks to Phil, Alan, Cary, Marilyn, Carlene and Bill. I thoroughly enjoyed your company.
