A ride to Almonte

This isn't a picture from yesterday's ride, it's from a couple of weeks ago, but I did pass this spot yesterday, without a camera. Most of the snow is gone now. Two weeks ago I had Friday off and rode out to just the other side of my usual commuting destination and back. The picture is looking north on Haanel Drive from Robertson Road, just before I turned around and headed home. The next day was the first Randonneurs Ontario Ottawa populaire - out to Almonte and back. I usually cycle to the ride starts, about 30 km, but given the cold and my lack of fitness and the need to be back home in the afternoon, I drove. I was glad I did, since it turned out quite cold and very windy. It was a good ride but I was quite tired out by the time we finished. Yesterday morning I set out about 7:30 am. I'd hoped to get going earlier, but with the time change I hadn't managed to out of bed on time. I made it as far as the end of the block, where I turned left, went down the hill and discovered my brakes were not working as well as they should be. I didn't notice anything the matter the last time I rode the Marinoni but I've been using the front wheel on my Kuwahara for commuting so perhaps the rim needs cleaning. At any rate, I came home and adjusted the brakes. (Note to self: get inline cable adjusters.) Set out again along the usual route to work - forty-five minutes to the usual turn-off to work, then another forty-five minutes to the Cheshire Cat, start point for many of the Ottawa Chapter's rando rides. I followed the usual route out to Almonte, slowed (and a bit chilled) by a northwest wind. Since I had to be back by noon, I planned to ride until 10 am, then turn around. I arrived at the Tim Horton's in Altmonte at five to ten, had a donut and muffin, then headed back. The ride back was faster, especially on the legs that headed south as the wind seemed to have gone around to the north a bit. A pity I didn't have the camera as there were plenty of potential pictures. Of course, I wouldn't have had time to stop for taking snaps. Arrived home at 12:20. Felt tired but not as tired as after the last ride to Almonte.