Witless Bay

Rode out to Witless Bay today. Here's the map. I've done this as an overnight tour from St. John's, but today it was out and back with a short stop for photos and to breathe in the sea air. At the end of Gallows Cove Road on the south side of the bay there's a beautiful cobble beach with flat, grassy fields at the far end, which are ideal for camping (see photo at left). You can set up your tent so that you have a view of the islands just offshore. On one occasion Deborah and I woke in the morning to find seals swimming nearby. Today I saw only a couple of whale spouts but they weren't breaching.

And here's some pictures of the bicycle I've been using for most of the rides described here. This is the third year I've had this steel Marinoni. It has a carbon fork, and the Shimano 105 triple groupo. Last year we completed a Super Randonneur series together (a first for both of us)! The compact gearing on the front along with the granny gear makes this a real wimp's bike, but hey, it gets me back up the Witless Bay Hill with ease, and the ride really is as smooth as silk!

Circle the City

What happened to the annual Canada Day Ride? Till now it was a regular feature on the Bicycle Newfoundland and Labrador calendar, and it usually had a big turnout. We'd do a loop of the Northeast Avalon - to Pouch Cove via St. Thomas' Line and return via Marine Drive. It was the closest thing to Halifax's Joseph Howe Century Ride that St. John's ever had, and I'm not alone in thinking it a disgrace that it wasn't held this year! Oh well - on to other things.

Recommended Ride: I call this the Circle the City ride, because it`s just one big loop that skirts our fair metropolis. Tuesday evening conditions were beautiful for this. Wind was practically zero and it was warm even by the water. I managed 51 kilometres at an average speed of 25.3 kmh which for me is fast, especially when travelling alone. It`s best to leave this one till later in the evening, because it involves negotiating one of the off-ramps at the old overpass, and you don`t want to deal with it when traffic is at peak. Click here for the map. If you do it without taking a break I give you permission to finish up with a piece of fresh cake and a coffee at Gracie Joe's. Clomp your pedal cleats and keep your helmet on till the server clues in that you rode up on your bike - sometimes they give you a 10 % discount - imagine!!

Marine Drive Hills

Recommended ride: Finally - a ride that didn't require extra clothes! I even got a bit of a sunburn on my upper arms. I went out to Fort Amherst then back along Harbour Drive to warm up. I got delayed a bit by the Canada Day parade, but soon got up to speed and headed out to Middle Cove via The Gut and White Hills Road. Several small groups in full kit passed me going the other way. The climb out of Outer Cove was hot, but it went well. I crawled up Signal Hill in my granny gear at the end. There was a small pod of five humpbacks cavorting off Cuckold's Cove Head and tons of people up on the Hill watching them. Click here for the map.

Trinity Bight

I spent the long weekend in Trinity East on the Bonavista Peninsula, but  didn't take my bike along this time around. 

  

I've been having trouble cinching down the strap-on rack I bought. No matter how hard I try, one of the two lower clips continues to pop out of place and threatens to send the entire mechanism flying off onto the pavement!  If anyone out there can think of a better solution, I'd love to hear it!

Looking out from Trinity East towards Trinity.

Recommendation: If you're heading off the Avalon towards Trinity area, and have a trail bike,  I highly recommend taking it with you and giving the old rail bed a try.  A few years ago you could ride from Trinity all the way to Port Rexton without ever having to get off your bike. Today however, damage from Hurricane Igor has rendered the route from Trinity to Trinity East impassable by bicycle alone.  You can still ride the trail from the Trinity East waterfall to Port Rexton though, and once you get there - it's an easy transfer to pavement for a short run to Fox Island Head, Champneys or even English Harbour.  If you're at all moved by deep blue seascapes framed in gorgeous wildflowers, I'm sure you'll find this run just as enjoyable as I do.  

Why not finish your day with a late lunch at the  Two Whales Coffee Shop in Port Rexton.  

Petty Harbour Loop

Today's recommendation: it's the famous Petty Harbour Loop. Most cyclists in the St. John's area cut their teeth on this one, or a variation of it. The version I rode last Tuesday evening goes out the Waterford Valley to Heavy Tree Road, then takes the Robert E. Howlett to Bay Bulls Big Pond. From there its back in through Goulds, a right turn onto Petty Harbour Road, and over "The Brow" via Petty Harbour and Maddox Cove. I tacked on Fort Amherst as a bit of a cool down after the climb; a good decision because the humpbacks were breaching just off Freshwater Bay and I caught two or three spectacular leaps! For some extra climbing (and some lovely views) this is sometimes extended to include Cape Spear.

St. John's - Recovery Ride

Yesterday was another recovery day so I chose an easy route here in St. John's that totalled 40 kilometres.  I began on the South Side road and followed the relatively flat terrain past the Waterford Valley  and on to Commonwealth Avenue. It was a good way to loosen up the tight muscles in my legs.

Recommendation:  Most of my rides have been confined to the St. John's area lately. Today's recommendation gets you out of town for awhile.  It's a ride I did earlier this spring that took me from  St.  John's to Harbour Grace.  It follows the old Conception Bay Highway all the way out, and contains a few steep hills (but nothing too long). The views along the way are excellent, especially this time of the year!

St. John's - Torbay - Portugal Cove - St. John's

Winds were light easterlies this morning.  It was a bit cool by the water but sunny and very pleasant going.

I rode up Signal Hill, then to The Gut, Logy Bay, Middle and Outer Coves, and Torbay. Followed Bauline Line to the extension, then across to Portugal Cove Road, Old Broad Cove and Bennet Roads, then home via Thorbourne, Larkhall, etcetera.

Met John Outerbridge and another guy on Old Broad Cove, and rode back home with John.

Here's the map of today's route. I highly recommend it! It's scenic with very low traffic mostly. The terrain is rolling so it can be a challenge if you want to push.

About 65 kilometres total, with a couple of side trips.