A Trip Home, A Trip Through Time

Spending the summer in Toronto, I’ve enjoyed regular sojourns to Prince Edward County, The Ganaraska Forest and a few other spots within a couple hours of Toronto. This past weekend, however, was my first trip to my home town of Ottawa, the nation’s capital. The trip was a bit of a trip back in time, while equally, a glimpse into the future.

Driving to Bloomfield the night before, I completed the second half of the 450km drive to the National Capital Region Saturday morning. Once there, it was a bit of a whirlwind tour.

First stop was to the city’s east end; lunch with Geoff, a friend from my university years. Next stop was around the corner; coffee at Sabina’s home. We met back when I thought I wanted to be a cop. Fed, caffeinated and filled with the joy of spending time with dear old friends, I drove across the river to Quebec and the Gatineau Park. There, I would enjoy one of my most favourite rides. Ninety minutes of steep hills on beautiful pavement riding past beaver ponds surrounded by multi-coloured trees.

Summiting the Champlain Lookout, I had just a few minutes to enjoy the views there and at the Huron Lookout. Needing to be sure I beat the setting sun I went screaming down hill back to the van. It was wonderful, as I always remember it.

Saturday evening was spent with Rob and Martine and their three wonderful daughters. Getting to bed a bit late, I was up at 7am and at my brother’s house by 8am. We were going for an early morning mountain bike ride, something we’ve not enjoyed together for several years.

Wearing several extra layers, it was just below freezing when we hit the dirt with the Winny the family dog chasing behind. Frost lay across the trail making the roots, leaves and wooden bridges very slick. It’s made even more technical as the trail demands riders negotiate their way over giant slabs of granite cut by the receding ice-age glaciers. While I’m a pretty decent technical rider, I got schooled a couple of times by my brother. He has a job, three young boys and very little time to get out and ride. No matter; Ed is a natural athlete, skilled at it all, just one those guys.

The rest of the day was spent with Ed, Ryanna and my nephews Gavin, Oscar and Heath. A project I’d been working on for several weeks, I brought with me my first bicycle. A 1978 English Raleigh RSW 11, it has been repainted, reequipped and resurrected. Now, it was to become Oscar’s first pedal bike. The saddle is about half an inch high, but by the spring, he’ll be riding all over town on that little red bike. To know he will enjoy that bike as I once did, was quite a special feeling.

After taking Gavin to school Monday morning but before driving back to Prince Edward County, I went for breakfast with two more old friends; musician/producer Bryan and my best friend, Brent. As a bonus, I got to meet Brent’s charming daughter, Seraphina.

All weekend the theme of time was present. The history of family and old friends. The future embodied in new children and growing families. Even those two bike rides enjoying the beauty of autumn all around me, that season of transition, kept me considering my place in time. Leaving this morning from where I was raised I was filled with love for those I leave there. Equally, I look forward to where-ever my journey will take me and to the love I shall enjoy along my path. Dwelling not on the past or the future, however, I’ll simply enjoy the journey, one pedal stroke at time.

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