All I could think last week as I stopped on the side of Fernwood Road to pull on my rain pants was too soon, too soon, TOO SOON! I’m not ready to wear rubber boats and to arrive everywhere with wet hair.
The disbelief over the weather suspended my good judgment, and I rode all week, thunderstorms and all -- even though I have a (possibly unreasonable) fear of being struck by lightning as I pedal along on what is essentially a rolling lightning rod.
So the return to blue skies and sunshine has been welcome -- a reminder to take advantage of these dry days before the rainy season begins and we have to carry four pieces of rain gear, a plastic bag, a towel and a change of clothes everywhere we go.
There are 11 days of summer left, which means 11 days to finish up that seasonal to-do list: Ride to the beach. Have a bike picnic. Hit a farm market. Cruise along Dallas Road. Go bike camping. Inhale the scent of blackberries along the Goose.
But the cycling fun -- and, hopefully, this glorious weather -- doesn’t have to end when summer does, of course.
Celebrate the first day of autumn with Ryder Hesjedal’s Tour de Victoria, which takes over roadways on Sept. 22. The Tour, billed as a mass-participation ride, not a race, offers routes of 140, 100 and 50 kilometres and is still open for registration.
If a shorter jaunt is more your cup of tea, pull out your finest tweed duds and picnic baskets for the 2013 Victoria Tweed Ride on Sept. 28. Riders will assemble at 11 a.m. at St. Ann’s Academy before rolling out at noon for a ride and picnic. Tickets are $10 for adults and free for kids, and available online.
Know of other upcoming rides and events? Let me know!
