We finished the week with a truly spectacular day.  It wasn’t just the route, but the weather, the general mood of the group and I believe, the friendships that were solidified.  The route took us on some familiar roads with some new options introduced.  A short visit to Williams Beach, a tour through Seal Bay, and a little coffee at the Comox Grind.  S’s knee was causing him some grief, so he was on beer and snack duty for the end of the ride festivities.  An honorable and important role to be in.  He Continue reading →

Thursday was Day 4 and we had options.  We always have options but we decided that we would give everyone a chance to do a distance that suited them.  So we had an early group who did an add-on loop to Cumberland and another group that rode pretty much directly to Fanny Bay.  As it happens, another option appeared so that K and J joined Gord to Ships Point for a few extra kms.  As they explored, S found a nice bench in the sun and caught a 12min nap.  You see – everyone got Continue reading →

Hump Day.

Usually the middle of any week can seem a bit of a drag.  Not today however.  The LiveSplendidly Cycle, Hike and Kayak Tour managed to check all of the boxes.

Part of the group went hiking in the woods or in the mountains and part of the group did a little sea-kayaking.  Everyone had a great day and we all met for a delicious dinner at Atlas Cafe to rehash the day.

I can only speak directly to the kayaking but by all accounts, the hikers had a terrific day, checking their own boxes.  Continue reading →

Sometimes days are like that.  Calm then chaos, then calm again.

The morning started with the usual quiet calm, followed by a flurry of activity and chaos, followed by the calming effect of two wheels.  I marvel at how there always seems to be a rush to get out the door on time when just minutes before, one sipped coffee and chatted at the breakfast table.

I spent the night fussing about where to buy new brake pads for my bike.  Mechanical issues when all local bike stores are closed on Monday’s leaves one to fret at Continue reading →

Day 1, Group 2 – double trouble.

So. to be clear – things actually got started last night but today was the first ride of the week.  There were 4 veterans of this tour, and 4 newcomers.  Two of whom, were unknowns.  Within seconds of meeting – we had a group of 10. I thought – we will indeed, have a good week!

We awoke to grey skies and looming wetness.  No one blinked.  No one asked – should we ride?  We just got organized, pumped tires, re-layerd and got out of the parking Continue reading →

Day 3.  And what a day it was.  After yesterday’s rainy skies we awoke to clear blue this morning.  Albeit a little chilly.  We drove to Comox Lake to meet our guide from Comox Valley Kayak and Canoes, Brenda – for a little paddle on the lake.  The winds were calm to start, so we were very comfortable paddling along the shore, exploring the lake from the kayaks. Brenda filled us in on the details of the area including some local lore about how the Comox Glacier came to be.  She guided us into Continue reading →

The long awaited 2021 LiveSplendidly! cycle tours in Comox, BC are officially underway.  There have been a multitude of adjustments over the past several months, with the entire world as well as in our own miniscule world.  I don’t have to say that COVID has made for a rather unpredictable bed-fellow.

The Comox Valley is as beautiful as I remember.  Perhaps a little busier than last year with business as usual in many ways.  We arrived with the sky blue and the sun shining.  The weather this week will bring some much needed rain after Continue reading →

So, Saturday August 7th was the long-anticipated date for the Badlands Gran Fondo 2021.  I think that it was officially but unofficially the 2020 event – postponed due to COVID.   A few fewer participants arrived, than were registered BUT the turnout was really good – and very COVID safe for those inquiring minds. Thanks so much to the BLGF group.  They were challenged with fewer-than-usual volunteers but managed to pull off another excellent event.  The whole set-up from breakfast to lunch and aid stations to post event showers (after massage or whatever) – for one’s Continue reading →