233 TOO/TO/TWO?

All photos taken on August 14, 2022.

On August 9, 2022, when I was getting the bikes out to ride them to the bike shop, I found the back tire on my bike was flat. I quickly pumped it up and rode it to the shop as quickly as possible, where it was again flat. Hmmm, what’s that about?

After 2 days in the shop, we picked our tuned up bikes up on August 11. The tech advised he had found a lot of bolts that needed tightening (not unusual on a new bike and that he had patched my flat. He thinks it was because the tire pressure was too high and he recommended we drop it to about 15 psi for a smoother ride and to minimize future flats. We had only completed one in town bike ride since then.

Today was to be the big test. We were going to head North again on TR 233 and see what we could see. Hopefully, I would not have to walk back……………

Headed East on TR 505 (50th Street)

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We paused to look at the horses and spotted this little foal (likely the one we had seen shortly after its birth). The foal was almost lost in the tall grass and was chowing down with the best of them.

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We turned North on RR 234 until the T intersection with TR 510 (one road we do not like to ride on, due to traffic. We only had a 100 meters to ride West to RR 233.

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Once we were on TR 233, we slowed the pace down to enjoy the rural scenery and the absence of vehicle traffic. This barley crop is ripening early for this part of the country.

The yellow canola blooms are long gone and the seed pods are filling nicely. Fingers crossed for a good crop, to mitigate the cooking oil shortage created by Russia’s invasion of Ukriane.

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The asphalt surface had been renewed on a good portion of 233. The surface was a bit bumpy, but far better than gravel.

I took this selfie while stopped, so not to worry

As it was early Sunday AM, not too many folk were stirring yet, so we had the road to ourselves. Lots of time to stop and look about.

This field of oats was thick with Canada thistle, but again, the seeds were filling nicely.

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We rolled on North on 233…

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…until we passed our previous turn around point and headed into new territory.

We soon came to a level rail crossing, running at a steep angle across the road. Although we were on fat tire bikes, we still needed to be careful to cross the tracks as close to a right angle as possible.

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We came upon this little window in the windbreak showing this pair of barns

and the road still continued North to another farm…

…with another barn.

Shortly after, we came to TR 514, which connected with the busy Ellerslie Road further West. We paused for traffic to clear, before riding on…

…down a tree lined road which seemed to keep narrowing, the further we rode.

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Another farm view with giant round hay bales

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This area seemed relatively unafflicted with acreages. It was nice to see farm life thriving

at long last, we arrived at TR515 and a bend to the East at Country Side Golf Club,

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before passing a few ponds,

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another pretty farmyard…

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…and finding ourselves by Highway 14, near the junction with Anthony Henday Drive. At 19 km. (nearly 12 miles) we were a long way from home….I checked my tire, nervously. If the side road had only gone a bit further, we could have reached Barr Estate Winery Inc. and perhaps had a taste test of some of their fruit wines (raspberry, rhubarb, strawberry/rhubarb and sour cherry). Not today, but maybe there is another route.

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Time to head for home.

Shortly after turning back onto 233, we spotted a pair of raptors. Patty thought they might be eagles, as they were bigger than a red tail hawk. In slide one, you can see a mouse gripped in a talon. Lunch was being served.

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Leaves were starting to turn colour on the roadside poplars

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We paused for a better look at the barn we had seen on the way out.

Here we are back at RR 514…

…and the railroad crossing where I hammed it up.

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Herd of cows? Of course, I’ve heard of cows. The one white face seemed to be challenging me “Who you calling Bossie?”

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These vintage threshing machines rested in the shade of a windbreak

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This farmer had taken a couple of turns around his oat crop, likely turning the green crop into silage/greenfeed.

Back at 510 and a short jog to 234

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At long last back on 505, we were on the homeward stretch and the wind was kicking up. No worries, we had E-bikes.

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Another pause to watch the horses

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A pretty hay crop infiltrated by yellow Sow thistle and purple Canada thistle…

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…and the pea crop close to town. If I had to guess, it has likely been sprayed to kill the green growth, so it can be harvested.

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Clouds and contrails in a bright blue Alberta sky

Speaking of harvest, here is what I managed to pull out of our Garden of Eatin’ when we got back home

The total ride was 38 km (24 miles) and no flat tires. Yay!

Below is the Google route we took. The first slide shows how long it would take by car and the 2nd shows how long it would take by bike. We took 2 hours and 15 minutes including photo stops. Not too shabby.

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