Out for a rip, are ya bud?

Hello Everyone, One of the oddest sensations of my whole big adventure, after driving through countless cities and towns was actually driving back to Ottawa. I had been away for awhile, and yet everything was so immediately familiar, that it felt like I had not left at all. There was a jarring disconnect in my mind, with all the fresh memories of travel on the one hand, and the instant familiarity of my surroundings on the other. That sensation wears off, but this past weekend, I got another taste of it when I went riding for the first time since my trip. The last bike ride I had done was an epic trail north of Whistler, one that had been on my to do list for a number of years. (The trail is called Comfortably Numb, and a guy at a bike rental shop once warned against doing it, saying it was nicknamed Uncomfortable Bum, which, while very funny, was inaccurate. It's a great trail.) That was in late October, just before driving home across the country. This past weekend, I was able to go riding again for the first time since then. It should be noted that Arthur suffers from some of this as well. He was very confused when we first pulled into the cottage last October, and he wasn't quite sure where he was. But when I started getting my bike ready this past weekend, he was very excited. He had not forgotten that part at all, and was very ready to go. Riding in Ontario, after spending months riding in the Rockies and other mountain ranges, can sometimes be a little disappointing. Lots of rocks and roots, not a lot of fun descents. More mosquitoes, fewer mountains. But there is a short period in the late Spring/early Summer when conditions are pretty special. The bugs aren't out yet, the ground is tacky not dusty, and the wildflowers are out. The forest in Kanata where I go is littered with trilliums (trillia?), which makes for nice scenery. It was, in short, nice to go for a rip. wes Photos 

First, an obligatory forest shot of Arthur and my bike.

Next, an artsy shot of wildflowers. Also obligatory. 

Lastly, a picture from my dog walker of Arthur and his gang about to release the hottest Country/Rock album of the year.