Hello All
With some hesitation I’m posting this long overdue newsletter for all you bike riders who use my site on a regular basis. You may have noticed not much change in the last 2 years and with good reason.
The OBT website after 13 years has matured and covers most all of the important bike trails in the province. Sure there’s the odd one I don’t know of and maybe even some new ones now. Still it covers the bulk of what’s out there and it is still relevant. Good thing because…
I Got Sick
There’s been a lot happening in my life, some good, some not so pleasant. I’ve done maintenance updates periodically on the site but my health was failing and I could not focus on doing much more than that.
While I was writing my third book, 3 years ago, I started experiencing some painful episodes sitting on my bicycle saddle and even at my desk. Doctors were telling me I had an old man prostate issue. But actually nobody really knew what my symptoms meant and they got worse, much worse.
At the beginning of this year I had a successful bladder/prostate operation to rid myself of cancer. So far I’m back on my feet, feel almost like new and on the bike again! Whoo hoo!
I Moved
I’ve always planned to move out of Toronto where I had lived my entire life, when my wife and I retired. And so I have, to a wonderful place in the country with a view across the valley, clean air, friendly folk and a Rail Trail a minute away. My wandering ways in search of new sights and bicycle routes has taken me to the Annapolis Valley here in Nova Scotia. A peaceful, traffic free life to recuperate. The whole house fixing up, selling, buying, moving and then updating the new home was an enormous undertaking. How did I manage?
Where there’s a hill, there’s a way.
So not being a resident in the province anymore, I’m finding it a little awkward to update trails and add new ones. Sure I’ll be back in the province to visit but that’s not going to be enough. So I’m asking all of you to help out and add some local reviews to the site to keep it fresh. Or contact me with any updates/new developments, photos about the trails.
Where do I go from here? Well I’ve had thoughts of maybe selling the site. If you are interested, reach out, let’s talk. Or have riders on the ground in Ontario posting their own reviews. Or leave it as is…
In the meantime I’m going to be fixing some broken links on the site and updating what I can remotely. I’m not sure about ever publishing new editions of my existing books or even working on a new bike trail guide here for Nova Scotia.
I’ve been given a new lease on life and I’m taking it easy for now. A bit of gardening, some trail building in the forest behind the house, music making, travel…
Bike Loop
And just this week I found a new Rail Trail in the valley I would like to share, (if you are ever out here.) With my new cycling friend (and bike mechanic) Doug we did a 31 km loop from Middleton up the Nictaux River to the reservoir then back on the canal and down a crazy steep road. Good fun, great weather, no bugs or traffic. Here are a few pix and a map to entice you.
Everyone have a great summer, enjoy the trails and keep crank’n – Dan Roitner
