Author: gregandrebarrett

I’m married to a wonderful woman, blessed with two bright daughters, retired from a rewarding IT career, who loves cycling (especially bikepacking adventures), being a cycling and refugee advocate (bikeswithoutborders.org, martinluther.ca), and exploring the world and its peoples. I'm also a member of Cyclepath Oakville Race Team.

20210914 ONXL day 12 rest

So today was a well needed and enjoyed rest day with great friends Ricky and Margret. Ricky and I have been friends since High School! Since I arrived last night they have looked after me with great food, doing my laundry, helping me get to a physiotherapist to have my shoulder taped to hopefully reduce … Continue reading 20210914 ONXL day 12 rest →

20210913 ONXL day 11

Wakefield to Ottawa 102k and 1,327m of climbing. Despite being the shortest distance, today's ride was the toughest because: my shoulder was very painful, there was probably the largest portion of rough tough mountain bike trails and there were some really steep and very long climbs on the rough mtb trails (see the photo with … Continue reading 20210913 ONXL day 11 →

20210912 ONXL day 10

Gracefield to Wakefield. 130k and 1,770m of climbing. Some of the steepest longest climbs on this section of the Log Driver's Waltz, which in it's entire 798k has 7,156m. Very glad that with liberal applications of the Voltaren 5% NSAID drug and frequent breaks I was able to manage my shoulder pain. In Gracefield I … Continue reading 20210912 ONXL day 10 →

20210911 ONXL day 9

Left Shawville 10am after sleeping in, having a huge breakfast and buying flip flops as I lost mine two days ago. My goal was Gracefield 128k and sleeping in a tepee at a private campground. Said goodbye to new bikepacking friends Angela and Ian. Last night they triggered their bear spray (as the safety pin … Continue reading 20210911 ONXL day 9 →

20210910 ONXL day 8

The ride today from Calabogie ON to Shawville QC, was only 112k, with 1,114m of climbing. This was because my severe shoulder pain necessitated stopping at a pharmacy in Renfrew for almost three hours to get some prescription strength Diclofenac 5% nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (double the strength of Voltaren extra strength that I had been using). … Continue reading 20210910 ONXL day 8 →

20210909 ONXL day 7

Sharbot Lake to Calabogie was a  beautiful but tough ride of 133k with 1,970m of climbing, climbing and more climbing!!! The toughness was more than compensated by the remote ride through forests and by many lakes. I saw almost no one except for a few ATVs. Luckily when I was almost out of water I … Continue reading 20210909 ONXL day 7 →

20210908 ONXL day 6

We were so lucky to have found near Ormsby a picnic shelter to sleep under last night as it saved us from being washed away in the torrential rain storm that lasted most of the night. Of course I didn't sleep much with the rain pounding on the tim roof! I made coffee in the … Continue reading 20210908 ONXL day 6 →

20210907 ONXL day 5

131k with 1,754m of climbing. Left Maynooth by 8am. For breakfast had a awesome veg omelet at Dave's Place in Bancroft. The Hasty Highlander "optional" loop had lots of very soft sand, with lots of climbs, so it took us a long time. This loop section absolutely needs fat mtb tires. The Old Hasting Road … Continue reading 20210907 ONXL day 5 →

20210906 ONXL day 4

Rained most of the night, as we broke camp and for about two hours of riding. Good lunch at Algonquin Outfitters. Really enjoyed the naturalized Old Railway Bike Trail that starts at Mew Lake Campground. Instead of taking the Hasty Highlander route on rough forest access road from Whitney towards Kennaway (as I'm getting a … Continue reading 20210906 ONXL day 4 →

20210905 ONXL day 3

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/74628279 Today we were on a route called "Hasty Highlander", which I have renamed "Hellishly Hilly Highlander" after today's 2120 metres of climbing in 142k. Started with a good breakfast at Greg and Joy Shikaze's and rode for a couple of hours in light rain. Mostly gravel roads and a few atv trails with water … Continue reading 20210905 ONXL day 3 →