MORE Fall Trail Riding

I did some long-needed repairs to the PURPLE KARATE MONKEY yesterday and went out for a ride.

PURPLE KARATE MONKEY! Back in action

Looks a bit overcast, but it's really mostly smoke from a forest fire hundreds of kilometres to the north east. 

Sandhill Cranes. There are massive flocks of hundreds of them gathering south of the city, prepraing to head south to warmer climes for the winter. Couldn't really get a good view of them, as they mostly seemed to be on the other side of the river - but I could HEAR them! 

A few more of the closer cranes. 

In the distance you can see a small portion of one of the larger flocks of cranes. 

Fall Trail Ride

It's been pretty smokey the last few days. I'd hoped we were DONE with that!? Still got out for a ride. Hit a few trails... 

Bike-Art-Tober

 October seems to have become the month of daily drawing challenges. I think it started with Inktober, but now there are many different ones - some with themes, others, not-so-much. I've decided to get in on it again this year - and trying to stick to bicucle related themes. You can find all my pics over on my Art Blog or on Istagram. 

Here are a few of the drawings I've done so far this year... 

My old Cannondale Super-V (800?) in the back alley behind the Bike Doctor.

From a photo c2004 - when I sold it. I barely rode the thing. Only full-suspension bike I ever owned. In fact, it was the last suspension bike I ever owned. 

This little piggy went for a gravel ride. 

Cheetah (in the sprinter's jersey, of course) rides past the Arc de Triomphe on the last stage of the Tour. 

Portrait of The Artist as a Turtle Making His Morning Smoothie with the "Kitchen Ninja" Blender. 

Okay this might be stretching the bicycle theme - it's a drawing of a cyclist!?  Wearing cycling socks!? preparing for his morning ride!?

I plan to post a new drawing, every day, all month. I may not post them all here - so check out the  Art Blog or my Istagram page! 

Fall Colours

 I saw the first leaves turning yellow at the end of August. I thought through September I'd try to catalogue the changing colours of the trees and other vegetation through the month - ideally by finding particular vistas or really big, beautiful trees and then take pictures of said view each week to chronicle the change... but there are just SO MANY beautiful vistas... 

Looking at the Chief Mistawasis bridge from the dog park directly south of the bridge. 

A very fuzzy caterpillar. A friend identified it when I posted it on Facebook... but I forget what it was now... I think it's a moth caterpillar...? 

View from the Chief Mistawasis bridge - looking south towards the dog park (and downtown - which isn't visible) 

Also looking south from the Chief Mistawasis Bridge.

Heron near the Chief Mistawasis Bridge. 

Crazy clouds near Dutch Growers Greenhouses. 

More of the same. 

View from Chief Mistawasis Bridge again.

Another view from Chief Mistawasis Bridge... again....

YET Another view from Chief Mistawasis Bridge again. Looking at how shallow the river is. The river level has been very low all year! 

Downtown and University Bridge. 

Snuck through this section of the MVA Trail expansion - it's a section of Spadina Cres. that was closed to cards and being remade into a multi-use pathway. There have been signs up about the plan for some time. In small print on the bottom it mentioned that timeline for the project was uncertain and "subject to funding". Well I guess the funding came through because the section of road/path has been closed for most of the month! Hopefully it is done and open before the snow flies!

Norther Flicker. 

My Street. 

I saw this while out for a ride and was a bit perplexed by it. It's a refreshing change from all the campaign signs on lawns... But "Libertad"...? I know it's Spanish for Liberty... but... without context I have no idea what the sign-maker is wanting liberty from. We are in the midst of both an Election and a Pandemic. It COULD refer to either... or something completely different? Liberty from a federal Liberal government? Or an inept Provincial one? Liberty from the "Tyranny" of having to wear a mask? Or did they just spell "Libtard" wrong with hilarious consequences...? All seem equally likely.

Heron at the South Train Bridge.

Amanda

Amanda and Keiran

Keiran on their way to the first Irish Dance class of the (school) year. 

View from the Broadway Bridge - looking north towards University Bridge. 

Keiran on the Broadway Bridge

Tree full of crows.

I was reminded of William Kurlek's "A Prairie Boy's Summer" and "A Prairie Boy's Winter" books, where he mentions the gathering of crows in trees being a harbinger of the end of summer and imminent arrival of winter. (and also the first crow of the year, for him, being the first true sign of spring)

Looking downtown from switchbacks on the south east end of University Bridge. 

View from Chief Mistawasis Bridge again.

North Rail Bridge. 

These last few are from today, Saturday, 2 October 2021. 

View from the west end of the Chief Mistawasis Bridge.

That's all for now. 

Hopefully it will be a long, not-too-hot/not-too-cold fall and I'll have lots more pictures to post of rides before it starts snowing!