Midweek Westport 400K Ride report

Text by Bill Pye

We also have something else to warn you about. BEARS - on Althorpe Road at around 9:30 PM. Two of them to be exact in the middle of the road. They ran into the bush on opposite sides of the street as soon as they saw our lights. When we went by we got to see why they were there. Defecating !!!! We had to watch for the bear poo. Mid-week Ottawa Brevets seemed to have arrived. From two the week before to seven. WOW

We all started at 6:05 AM. Vytas, Bob Choquette, Steve Rheault and Yvon Dionne riding as a group. I hung back watching for Jim Johnson. It was his first 400 and he had only done a 200 before. Anne was somewhere ahead of me. We met up as we came to the first checkpoint in Lanark. I flatted, fixed it and flatted again when I damaged the valve when I was pumping up the tire.

And to think I thought about putting an extra tube or two into my bag before I started. The wheel I had originally intended to ride on was flat when I checked my bike first thing that morning. I had pumped it up just before going to bed. I felt it was an omen. But I forgot to put the extra tubes. Anne hung around and helped me with the flats. Jim finally arrived and said he was not sure he was going to finish the 400. He did not want me checking on him, said he would be fine and he was having already e-mailed me that he did 200 or so and called it a ride.

The other four had finished breakfast and left while I was still working on my flats. After my flats had to readjust the brake.

There should be an asterisk on the cue sheet to not stop at the store at Hwy 38. Last year it was a checkpoint and you had to stop. They were so unfriendly with their signs NO PUBLIC WASHROOMS right at the door then that I thought they would be out of business by now. No such luck.

There they were with the same signs at the door. They could not even direct us to somewhere we could use.

Off to Desert Lake, washrooms and much friendlier people and free maps. The year before it seemed that alot of the road had no yellow lines. Traffic was all over the place with no concern for cyclists. This year, less traffic, yellow lines and what traffic there was gave us lot's of room.

It was by far the nicest weather yet on a mid week brevet. Not too hot but no need for jackets or tights. Some wind that seemed to be in our faces for part of the return 200.

We saw deer, rabbits, raccoons (I think it was a raccoon) and many other life forms darting into the bush so quickly at our approach you could not be sure what they were as it got darker.

Both of us were having to stop occassionally because of foot cramps and hot foot. But we pushed on.

It was the first time I have ridden in the dark with someone else. I highly recommend it. You are bound to be slower in the dark, I think. So there is no need to rush. It is easier to figure out the cue sheets, to deal with how eerie everyday things suddenly appear. I am always thinking I see people when it is only a mail box or something else mundane. Time passes quicker together. Distances seemed shorter. A big thanks to the Mac's in Perth that disregarded policy and let us use the washroom. Recommend it. But like I said avoid the store on Hwy 38.

Steve was waiting for Anne when we got in. My wife and son arrived shortly later. Pretty great of them to come out at 3:30 in the morning. I went home with family. And Steve and Anne started the long trek back to Toronto. I saw your e-mail so I know you made it, Anne. Looking forward to riding with you and some others from Toronto on the Placid 600.