Fast Forward to 2006

Up until this time all my exploring of existing railways, abandoned railway lines and other railway infrastructure was done by car, truck or train...very minimal walking or running was needed.  Oh, sure there was the dash to the head end of the train to snap a portrait of the power, the sprint back to an open vestibule to re-board my ready to depart train or the climb up a steep hill to gain elevation for a more pleasing shot of a train, those few times when my heart started to work were few and far between.

I have to this point in my life, been blessed with good health in spite of my poor eating habits and other self inflicted punishments I subjected my body to.  With the help of Larry (see photo on page 1) and my good doctor, Alsoon Brine, I was able to quit smoking.  Dr. Bryne was not quite satisfied with my quitting smoking, she wanted more. She wanted exercise in order to keep my high sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure in check.   I pleaded with her that I walk miles each day at work but she wanted something to make me sweat and increase my heart rate.  She thought cross-country skiing or biking would help if I wasn't keen on joining a gym.

I thought if I was going to exercise it would be with purpose not just working out in a room with others sentenced to the same fate as I for treating our bodies so poorly in our younger days.  No, I decided to bike, to go places, to see new sights, to learn new things while  at the same time helping my body out.

The first thing that I had to do after I decided to take up biking was simple...go out and buy a bike.  Now bikes have changed quite a bit since the days of my new 3 speed CCM.  18, 21, 24 speeds are now common, frames are stronger and lighter but not necessarily built out of steel, who would have ever thought "disk brakes" on a bike! Yes, lots has changed with bikes over the years including the prices!

My choice was the Sedona LX in blue.

The new wheels were great and I loved the disk brakes. As a result of my purchase being so late in the season I did not get out too much before the first snows hit Ottawa and forced me parked my bike for the winter, sigh! The late fall is a good time to buy accessories for a bike as the cost of the item(s) generally greatly reduced in price. Also after purchasing these parts, one has all winter to install them. All that remains then is to wait for spring's arrival.