iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Had a great ride through shubie park today. Love the twists and turns, uphills and downhills and nice crusher dust. Makes me wonder if there are any other similar places in HRM or the province?

A cyclist crossing a wooden bridge as part of a gravel trail with beautiful fall foliage all around.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

A year before she died V called him "a keeper" and I couldn't agree more. We love to celebrate anniversaries and special days with bike rides (and coffee) whenever we can.

A selfie of two people who are riding their bikes. Both people are smiling and wearing bike helmets. There are trees in the background.

A cyclist in a yellow helmet and a blue sweater. He is riding on a gravel trail with trees on either side..some of the trees are bright red.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Today marks 8 years since V was killed while cycling outside of Truro. A preventable accident that took away an amazing woman, mother and about to be Grandma. This past weekend her two grandchildren (who call her Oma) moved to Canada from Australia. She would have been as thrilled! ❤️

An older male sitting on a bench with two children whose faces have been blurred. A placard on the bench reads "in memory of Veronica, 'V', McMillan. Play, Run, Swim, Have fun, inspired others!"

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

We biked there from Halifax. 82km mostly on the trail but there a few sections between Timberlea and Hubley that were fully closed. The trail conditions from Tantallon to Chester were great! Spotted two porcupines and a fox!

A trail blockage. The sign reads Trail Closed to All Users

A fox walking on a wooden platform admidst the trees.

A large porcupine resting high in a small tree.

A cyclist biking over a wooden bridge on a gravel trail.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

A birthday celebration with a gang of cyclists on Tancook Island. Couldn't ask for a better way to start a new decade.

A group of cyclists including two adults and five kids bike on a gravel road on a sunny day

Multiple bikes in front of a sign for Big Tancook Island.

Sunrise over a cove. A yellow deck chair is in the foreground.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

This winter has been very stressful and this is how we've been dealing with it. The Railyard in Victoria Park is truly magical. Today's conversation... Do we have room in the shed for two more bikes..

The handlebars on a bike are in the foreground with a snow covered trail in the background. The trail is bordered by trees.

A cyclist on a trail passing through a snowy field. It is dusk.

Two fatbikes leaning against a bike rack and a post. There is a table and chairs to the right and the background is full of snow and trees.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Victoria Park on repeat lately. Best way to forget about life's stresses.

A woman in a yellow jacket cross country skiing in a snowy forest.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Another epic winter day in Victoria Park. A special place truly loved by V. The conditions were so nice that we did both a snowshoe and a ski! #victoriapark #truro

A woman in a yellow coat snowshoeing on a trail. There is a small black dog behind her.

A wide snowy trail with snow covered trees on both sides. There is a person skiing in the distance.

A person skiing through deep snow on a trail with snow covered trees on both sides.

A bike rack that has "Veronica McMillan July 2018" engraved in the end.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Squeezed in one more bike trip before the snow comes. Two days, two very different rides. But a nice dry accommodation in Hubbards. Lots of waterfalls along the trail today. Fueled/warmed by The 5k Cafe, the Bike and Bean and The Gratto.

A cyclist in an orange vest on a gravel trail through the forest. The sun is shining brightly.

A cyclist in an orange vest on a gravel trail with puddles. The sky is grey and an inlet can be seen on the right.

A dome accommodation in the forest. There are bushes and Adirondack chairs out front.

View from the inside of the dome of the white piping structure. You can see the Adirondack chairs. There are a lot of raindrops on the windows.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Worst part was the 2km on the gravel shoulder of Hwy 7 connecting the two trails. Google maps did show a trail option so we tried it on the way back. We succeeded but don't recommend it. Good potential though 🤞

A narrow trail through the forest. There is a cyclist in the distance.

A crumbling railway bridge surrounded by colourful trees.

A cyclist standing with a bike on top of a concrete wall. There is a ladder to her right and colourful trees all around.

A cyclist on a narrow grassy trail in the woods.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Beautiful ride along the Gaetz Brook Greenway and the Musquodobit Trailway today! Pleasantly surprised by 5km of fresh hard packed gravel on the latter.

A cyclist on a gravel trail on an autumn day. There is a bright red tree on the right.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

We recently went to Shediac for a weekend with family. Threw our bikes on the car and we were pleasantly surprised by some bike trails and slow streets. There is honestly no better way to explore. Also: the chocolatines at Adorable Chocolat are better than most we had in Europe 🤯

Cyclist on a wooden bridge passing through a first with coloured leaves.

Chocolatines and coffee from Adorable Chocolat

Bikes at a red bike rack with a lobster design.

A two way bike path on the side of a road next to the ocean.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

We rode 180km in 3 days on the Confederation trail, in PEI National Park and on quiet roads. We sought out coffee shops for pastries and dairy bars for ice cream. We sometimes rode fast to work out stress and catch sunsets. We also rode slow with some little friends who biked 20km! Such joy! 2/2

A cyclist crossing a wooden bridge over a river with beach and forest in the background.

A cyclist on a paved separated bike lane with a white centre line. There are views of cliffs on the right hand side and a black truck on the road next to the bike lane.

An adult cycling riding behind two young cyclists . They are on a gravel trail in the woods.

Two kids on swings while wearing helmets. There is a view of the Northumberland Straight. To the left, there are two adults sitting in adirondack chairs with bikes scattered throughout.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

V had anxiety and being active was one way she managed it. She passed that on to me. My chest pain and shallow breathing showed up last week for the first time in years. Likely due to anger about bike lanes, a woods ban, climate anxiety, etc. So we went to PEI to ride our bikes in the woods! 1/2

A cyclist in a yellow vest biking through purple wooden barriers on a gravel trail.

A cyclist in a yellow vest biking on a paved road with large rocks on the right and lobster traps and colourful buildings on the left. There are no vehicles on the road.

Two people sitting in red adirondack chairs watching the sunset. They are wearing helmets and there are bikes leaning against the railings.

A cyclist in a yellow vest biking on a gravel road through a field with cylindrical hay bails scattered throughout.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Yesterday we rode the Salt Marsh Trail in memory of V, exactly 7 years after she was hit by a car while biking near Truro, NS. It has become an annual tradition to ride the final route she ever completed. We chat, we ride, we toast, and some swim. It is always a special day! Wish she could join us.

A group of about 25 people posing for a photo on a boardwalk with a beach in the background. The words "Salt Marsh 2025" are at the top of the photo in block letters.

A lineup of a red drink in small glasses with a beach in the background.

Four cyclists on a trail in the forest. There are two children and two adults.

Two cyclists (V's daughters) riding on a gravel trail with grass and water on each side.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

Great ride out to Lawrencetown last night. We've never seen so little wind on this trail. We got a little lost in the twists and turns of Cole Harbour, but found a nice alternative to Pleasant Dr. for getting to the Salt Marsh Trail. Downloadable GPS: www.komoot.com/tour/2362383...

A gravel trail with boulders and water on each side. There is a cyclist in the distance. The sky has white and pinkish tones and the water is so still that it is acting like a mirror.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

We brought one bike from Canada. Flying with a bike added some stress, esp. with a missed connection, but it was only $100 and so nice to have our own bike. Travelling with bikes on trains was convenient but harder than we expected - small or no elevators & crowded trains. 5/6

A large blue suitcase and a cardboard box with a bike in it on an airport luggage trolley.

Two bikes handing on a train. There is another bike on the left that is not hanging.

Two bikes and two people squeezed onto a small elevator.

A smiling man in a sea of bikes on a train.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

We mostly camped, but our tent leaked, and then a brand new tent also leaked, so we sought out many different kinds of accommodation. Cheap roofed options were plentiful in France, we did a Warm Showers stay in Switzerland, one AirBnB and two nights with friends and family. 4/6

An elevated canvas tent with a steep set of stairs leading to the opening. There are clothes hanging on the lower level.

Two bikes in front of a large canvas tent. Another tent and a trailer can be seen in the background.

A small green tent is on the left and a picnic table covered in a tarp is on the right.

A gray tent is in the foreground and in the background there is a long roofed area that has many things hanging off it.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

We fueled our bodies with daily pastries and coffees, several kilos of local cheese and saucisson, local produce, and plenty of ice cream. Cafes and markets were everywhere, even in the middle of the Swiss alps! 3/6

A coffee and a pain au chocolat sitting on a table.

Two smiling people eating ice cream bars.

A fromagerie called Le Sapalet. There are images of goats and cows on the building and two bikes leaning on it. On the window there is text indicating "en self service" and the sign out front indicates that it is open 24/7.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

We spent 21 days cycle touring in France, Switzerland and Germany! It was challenging, beautiful, stressful and incredible! We did 1240km by bike and many more by train. We will provide more details on the blog over the next few weeks because we definitely learned A LOT! 1/6

A cyclist in a yellow vest standing on a road with lush green mountains in the background. The sky is gray with thick clouds.

A row of colourful half-timbered houses along a canal in Colmar, France. A reflection of the houses can be seen in the water of the canal.

Two bikes leaning along a railing in Lucene, Switzerland. The chapel bridge and downtown areas can be seen in the background.

Two people wearing yellow vests and helmets smiling in front of two cows that appear to be looking at the camera.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

And then this happened... Thunder and lightning at the same time, flooded roads and a leaking roof. But still grateful for the roof. Now drying out in the library.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

We went from downtown to St Helens island, then walked around for a bit and then picked up another bixi and rode the formula one track on Ile de la Nôtre Dame

Cyclist riding on a two way bike lane through on a tree lined street

A cyclist riding across a bridge on a bike lane on a foggy day.

A cyclist riding on a wide road with grandstands on either side. There could be flames out the back of his bike because he was riding so fast past me.

A wide gravel trail through the forest with benches on one side.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

I think it was Argyle St. There was also one on Smythe St. Both connected two segments of the cross town connector (a multiuse path).

A street map of downtown Fredericton showing a coloured path

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

This was the only annoying thing... Cars still had priority at all intersections.

A stop sign on a trail that explicitly says bikes and pedestrians stop for cars.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Then today we were blown away in Fredericton, literally and figuratively. Great bike infrastructure for a small town. Paths along the river, new cross town connector trails, a car free bridge, good signage and great pitstops for fuel. Strong headwinds, some mud and a few flaws, but so enjoyable. 4/5

A cyclist riding along a gravel path next to a wide river. If you look closely you can see whitecaps indicating that it was windy!

A cyclist riding through a muddy narrow trail. Of 64km there was less than 2km of challenging terrain like this.

An old railroad bridge converted to a pedestrian and bike bridge. The picture shows only one cyclist but it was busy all four times we crossed.

A new two-way cords town bike path on a residential street..

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

The road to Point Wolfe Campground in Fundy National Park was also closed so we enjoyed another hilly car-free ride on Day 2. We were pleasantly surprised by a covered bridge and gorge views! Then there was a a gap in the rain so we did a 10km ride along the Sussex Nature Walkway. 3/5

A cyclist in the middle of the road on an overcast day. A steep hill looms ahead of them.

View of a cliff along the Bay of Fundy from the top of a hill.

A cyclist riding through a red covered bridge.

A cyclist stopped on a car free bridge as part of the Sussex Nature Walkway

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

The Fundy Trail Parkway is a 30km road along the Bay of Fundy. It offers spectacular views and challenging hills! It is closed to cars in the winter, but we were told by staff that we could bike or hike at our own risk. The quiet and remoteness made us anxious at first, but what an experience! 2/5

A cyclist on the other side of a gate saying CLOSED. The road is wide and there are trees on both sides.

A cyclist in the middle of the road at the top of a hill. There is a view of some cliffs and the muddy Bay of Fundy in the distance

A sign showing a car and a trailer going downhill. THe sign indicates a 16% grade in 300m.

A cyclist doing switchbacks up a hill that has a 16% grade

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

An amazing weekend cycling in New Brunswick. A hilly car free ride on the Fundy Trail Parkway for phenomenal views, a car free ride in Fundy National Park to a covered bridge, a short jaunt in Sussex, and 63km all on trails and bike paths in Fredericton. We were challenged but loved it! 1/5

View of several cliffs along the Bay of Fundy.

A red covered bridge with cliffs and a river to the left.

A gravel path in a Birch forest. A cyclist in a yellow vest is riding on the path.

A cyclist in a yellow vest riding on a paved path next to a river. There is a bridge in the distance.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

First touring ride of the year. A hilly ride through Grand Pré, Avonport and Gaspereau. Mostly quiet country roads, a foggy fossil beach, views of Blomidon and an unexpected brewery with live Irish music. Our rusty winter bikes held up better than expected!

Cyclist in a yellow vest biking on a dirt road.

Two bikes leaning against a rock with a yellow field in the background. Blomidon can be seen in the distance.

A sign saying Beer Garden Horton Ridge with a bike rack and two bikes in front of it.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

This was as much fun as we expected. Great trails in Victoria Park in #Truro and easy bike rentals from Bike Monkey.

A cyclist wearing a bright orange coat standing over top of a fat bike on the side of a groomed trail.

A cyclist on the side of a trail covered in snow on a sunny day.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 13/10/2024

We said goodbye to Bauer this weekend after a short illness. It was heartbreaking to see Dad lose his companion who has literally been with him through everything. Life doesn't seem fair sometimes. But being active and sharing laughs is the best medicine. And Wentworth in the fall is beautiful.

Three people laughing in front of a waterfall.

Two men walking on a narrow trail through a forest with green, yellow and red colours.

A man wearing sunglasses carrying a brown and gray dog. They are on a trail with vibrant fall colours and the background.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 30/09/2024

Adventuring with friends and catching a sunrise and a sunset. Pure magic.

The silhouette of a person standing on a rock watching a sunset. The person is perfectly blocking the sun.

A pink sunrise over a Cove with large rocks on either side.

A coastal view of a rocky shoreline. The bushes are green with some red leaves showing through.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 27/08/2024

Keji is always magical, but sharing it with friends big and small makes the place even better. The calm weather with no bugs was literal perfection. All our past rainy / windy trips made us appreciate it that much more.

The tip of a canoe on a perfectly calm lake. The trees and rocks in the background are mirrored in the water.

A lake with a few islands on a calm day. The image looks symmetrical with a perfect reflection in the water.

The silhouette of a canoe with four people in it.

A sandy beach with a large fallen tree. There is a person sitting in a chair looking out at the view. There are big fluffy clouds in the sky.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 06/08/2024

Fun weekend biking the Rum Runners trail to a friend's camp near Mahone Bay. We took two days staying overnight at Graves Island. The biggest challenges were trail construction and racoons stealing our breakfast. I hope they enjoyed the homemade muffins and sourdough!

Two bikes loaded with saddle bags and additional gear on the rack.

A cyclist in an orange shirt biking along a smooth trail. The sun is shining and a lake is on the left.

A person in an orange shirt walking his bike through large rocks on a trail.

Reflection of trees and a bridge in a perfectly calm lake.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 29/07/2024

Two weeks ago we had our annual memorial ride on the Salt Marsh Trail with V's friends. It was the last ride she completed six years ago. We spent a few hours riding, chatting and toasting the amazing person she was.

A group of 17 people sitting on the steps.of a boardwalk with the beach in a background.

V's daughters, husband and friend smiling with the beach in the background.

V's husband giving a toast while three people look at him.

A man and a boy cycling on a trail. The man is pulling a bike trailer.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 29/07/2024

Honoured V with a sunrise ride this morning. Rolling hills and beautiful views. She would have loved it. She's been gone for six years and we still think about her everyday.

A red sun rising between the trees in a thin band. The rest of the sky is cloudy.

A cyclist rising on a straight road with a red cliff in the background. The top of the cliff is covered in fog.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 26/07/2024

The short version is that we managed to squeak out a great trip with 250km of biking despite being in a car-centric region. Having a car and buses that transport bikes made this trip possible. The highlight was Acadia National Park. The beauty and peacefulness of the carriage roads was 👌.

A gravel road passing under a stone bridge in the forest.

A cyclist passing through a stone gate. The sun is shining through the trees.

A bike resting on big boulders in the foreground with a turquoise inlet in the background.

A cycling riding on a wide gravel road through the forest on a sunny day..

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 07/07/2024

Spent a rainy weekend working on the blog from our recent trip. It's not done yet, but here are some bike signs we saw: 1. A multi-use path on Martha's Vineyard adopted by Sam's Sidekicks 2. A closed bike ferry 😪 3. Bikes were priority in Provincetown 4. Acadia National Park carriage roads

A mutli-use path next to a road beside the ocean. A sign reads "Adopt a Bike Path: Sam's Sidekicks"

A sign pointing the direction to "Menemsha Bike Ferry". Below the main sign, there is a smaller sign that reads "Bike Ferry Closed"

A sign that reads "Go Slow. ONLY pedestrians and pedal bikes can travel both ways. ALL motorized and electric vehicles must go one way"

A tall wooden post with two extensions pointing in two directions. Going left it reads "Bar Harbour, Duck Brook, Paradise Hill". Going right it reads "Eagle Lake, Witches Hole"

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 15/06/2024

Highlights: Gingerbread houses on Martha's Vineyard, the vibe and bike trail on the dunes in Provincetown, 55km on Carriage Roads in Acadia National Park. Challenges: car battery problems, terrible bike racks everywhere, traffic in Boston and general dependence on cars whereever we went.

Gingerbread houses in Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard

Man reading a sign with sand dunes in the background

A stone bridge on a carriage road in Acadia National Park

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 15/06/2024

Still in denial that vacation is coming to an end. We crammed three separate destinations in 7 days. It might take the rest of the summer to update the blog, but here is a preview: Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod and Acadia National Park. 1/2

Cyclist rising along a road next to a sand dune (Martha's Vineyard)

Bike trail through the dunes in Provincetown.

Man looking out over a lake and the ocean with rolling hills.

Cyclist on a carriage road next to a lake in Acadia National Park.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 11/06/2024

We saw a lot of beautiful things yesterday but nothing more beautiful than this saddle bag sitting atop a bench at a bus stop an hour after we forgot it. We were day tripping and it had our valuables. The extra 12km to back track to find it might have been a personal best for me.

A gray saddle bag sitting vertically on top of a stone bench beside a green garbage bin.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 09/06/2024

Bike packing isn't always glamourous! Hoping the rain passes as the forecast predicts and our trip gets a bit easier from now on.

Man with his hood up, sitting on a wooden boardwalk eating lunch. Two bicycles with many saddle bags are leaning against a railing behind him.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 03/06/2024

We are spending #WorldBicycleDay getting ready for a trip that involves work, cycling and camping. It makes packing hard! Cycling is by far our favourite way to travel and we are excited to explore some new places!

A pile of gear for a bike camping trip. Sleeping bags, tent, saddle bags and miscellaneous items are packed in a tote and piles on a foot rest.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 28/04/2024

And final count: we were passed by 4 bikes, 2 dirt bikes and 33 ATVs. So lots of dust.

Three ATVs on a trail with dust behind them.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 27/04/2024

Forgot to mention that we started our day on Kings Transit. $4 each for a 60km ride on two buses with a flawless connection!

A man in a yellow vest unloading a bike from the rack on the front of a bus.

View from inside the bus. Looks just like a city bus with hard seats on either side.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 27/04/2024

A long hard day averaging only 14km/hr but we were happy to be out enjoying the sunshine. Might not do this trail again for awhile though. So much potential but just too difficult. Stopped in at Union Street in Berwick on the way home because they have great food and even better decor

Wall sign at Union Street. It says "Food" with the two O's replaced with a bike.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 27/04/2024

In Middleton, we tried to hop on the train but it didn't work. So we continued the bumpy path back to Kingston enjoying the final 100m paved section.

Two cyclists in yellow vests standing with their bikes in front of a black steam engine train.

Cyclist wearing a yellow vest on a paved path with a cow statue on the left.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 27/04/2024

Well the sand continued but was more mixed with potholey sections. We took some detours on the pavement to refuel.

Two beer on a table that says Lunn Mills Beer company.

A green and a brown ice cream with a view of several picnic tables In a grassy field. The winding Annapolis River is in the background.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 27/04/2024

Taking this sunny day to bike some new sections of the Harvest Moon Trail. So far from Annapolis Royal to Bridgetown it's been like biking at the beach. The views are nice but the sand is not! Wish us luck for the rest of the way to Kingston.

Cyclist wearing a yellow vest biking on a wide gravel trail next to a dark blue river. The trail consists of very soft sand.

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 23/04/2024

Why are fatalities and injuries normalized by 100k of population? So just because our population is increasing it is okay to have more people hurt? Plus I would argue that is not a downward "trend". Looks more flat to me.

Graph of fatal and injury collisions per 100k population vs time. The baseline for 2018 and 2019 data is at 185.2, then the line has a low point in 2020 at 143.1, before jumping back up to 162.1, 163.8 and 157.5 in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively.

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