Training Log Archive: wilberto

Training camp for the Lather.Rinse.Repeat. WT team as everyone hadn't even met yet. Base was Jasper's inlaws place on Champlain Road outside Penetanguishene on Georgian Bay. Plan was depart ~1:30 pm, paddle around Beausoleil Island, trek around island, paddle back, then MTB around to Awenda Prov Park, then out to find snowmobile trail S almost back into Penetanguishene, then road/trail back to cottage. Out for the afternoon and into the evening, finishing sometime after midnight.

C • Great Day 2

Paddle from cottage around S of Beausoleil Island, up E side, through Little Dog channel around to TA at Honeymoon Bay. Soon learned that beautiful cedar strip canoe was the favourite and the short red canoe made by Fisher Price was not optimal for anything, especially crossing the big channel. Started Jasper & I in cedar, then switched Ken & I so Amber in front and I in back of red. Main channel on NW side of Beausoleil is the 401 for boats into Honey Harbour, so washing machine effect made for slow going in a slow, unstable canoe. Route

TA off the paddle at Honeymoon Bay. Not our fastest transition, but a beautiful spot and the people relaxing on the beach made it hard to motivate to get moving. Plan to work around the trails on the N part of island. Around Fairy trail, then over to Cambrian. Was going to bushwhack over to far E edge of island, but bugs & thick bush made the trail better option. Around to Massasauga trail (thankfully only saw the trail and not the snake...) and S. Over to Georgian trail and down to lighthouse on W side and out onto to the rocks for snack/bugspray. Back N on Georgian trail, onto Rockview trail, over to Fairy trail. Lost the trail and followed power lines into camp on Goblin Bay then skirted around and back to canoes. Good mix of running on runable trails and hiking. May tow when hiking to take advantage of longer legs. Route

Paddle from Honeymoon Bay back to cottage around the top of Beausoleil Island. Amber & I switched to cedar canoe which was nice, especially coming back across the channel as waves had come up. Jasper & Ken working well in the Fisher Price special, but noticed them getting really low in water, so came along to stabilize them while Jasper bailed a few gallons of water. They asked if we had any water and I said "oh yeah, there must be almost a cup". Next time, we rent another proper canoe. Paddling never our strong suit, but we did okay. Will try to get out for another session, if only to try other combinations in similar boats. Methinks Jasper is the strongest paddler, so him in the back with Amber likely best combination, if he can steer :). Stunning setting sun as we came across. Route

Transition a little slow in the garage at the cottage, but it's hard when it's not a race. Road ride around cottage road into Awenda Prov Park, then onto flowy trail through the park by the campgrounds. Jasper has the new 29er and the legs from racing all season and was FLYING as usual. Ken doing well trailing him and Amber & I working along at our pace. I think Ken realized how much fun riding with lights can be. We'll need to practice using tow when possible and drafting better on roads (have to utilize Jasper's energy) . Ride through the park was great fun, then pick up a snowmobile trail SW over to another trail generally S-SE back to Penetanguishene. Nav was based solely on sketchy trail map from the OFSC website and noone had ridden it or knew what we'd find, but figured we needed some unknowns for training. Some decent trails, then through farmer's fields, including one that apparently uses raw sewage for fertilizer. Passed a dodgy sports bar in the middle of nowhere that Amber decided we wouldn't be stopping at. Knew we had good handrails so picked our way along and looking back later, we did pretty well. Only missed the trail down the final ridge which would have been fun, but we'll find it another time. Back on Champlain Road to head back, before ducking in for one last trail section and fun, fast rocky downhill, and back to the cottage shortly after midnight. Good day out and I think we move well as a team. Felt like we all had something in the tank to keep going. Route

Feeling blah, not sleeping well and awake at 4:37 am. Realized part of it was not getting any real exercise this week for a variety of reasons. Headed out for a loop in the valley and the cool morning made me feel much better.

C • Feeling the same way 3