Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Yahoo! Photos - Dave, at the Old Port of Montreal

Yes, finally, Dave can proudly say, I made it to the Old Port on my bicycle.

We're proud of you Dave.



Sunday, May 29, 2005

Happy 45th Birthday Uncle Pilo


Happy 45th Birthday Uncle Pilo

Up, Up, and Away the Mont-Royal Way

May 28, 2005 Ride

Pilo and I were probably inspired by the song recorded by The Fifth Dimension entitled "Up, Up, and Away" or was it the song from "The Sound of Music", "Climb Every Mountain" :)

We ignored the weather forecast for the morning hours and the overcast skies (showers was in the forecast), and decided we would go for a ride. Destination: top of Mont-Royal (from 55th Avenue in Lachine). We decided to meet early, actually 9:00 AM, so that, should the weather turned out for the better, we would miss the traffic along the bike path (roller bladers, slow bike riders, etc.) We wanted to test our stamina (and our resolved) for climbing - period. It was not the desire for a self-inflicted torture :)

On regular level roads we easily do over 30 kph on our bike. The average speed going up, by the time we got to the half way point of the mountain, was 10 kph - one pedal stroke at a time. We were both dressed warmly for the cooler temperature early this morning and so I was sweating buckets by the time we reached the top. Took some photos, did not rest for long up there for the media were busy setting up their equipment for the afternoon race, besides the ride going down was a bonus one - clocked as much as 65 kph going down the mountain :)

Here are some photos.

P.S.: We miss you, the Manotick Gang: Marv, Lenny, Tim, Aubrey, Anderson, also: Paul, Trish, Tita Bebot, and our new Montreal recruit, Edmund. Oh yeah, Dave, you too :)




Top of Mont-Royal, near the start and finish line of the Montreal World Cup Cycling Race


Uncle Pilo - CBC and other media team setting up for their coverage of the Montreal World Cup Cycling Race


Uncle Pilo relaxing, coffee stop after coming down the mountain - Le Maison De Cyclistes Montreal on Rachel Street


ahhh, we could sit here for hours, hang out, and the watch the bikers go by :)


here's to you all who love to ride (your bikes), remember to stop and smell (and sip) the coffee


and a small slice of carrot cake to complement the coffee is a good thing


recharged with fresh supply of caffeine and sugar (carrot cake) we are ready to ride some more. btw, convenient spot for a fire hydrant, we needed a stand to put the camera on.

Queen of the mountain - Genevieve Jeanson is once again queen of the mountain.

Report filed by our roving reporter, new biking buddy, Edmund.



Tito Lits,

First of all I would like to congratulate Paul for his new car. Paul, always drive carefully... This afternoon after I finish my part time job I went to Cote De Neiges to watch the Coup Dumonde Montreal and I took some pictures. I wish we're all together to watch the event. I called Pilo but, unfortunately he was not available to join me. By the way, Pilo and myself are going to ride this morning around 7:00 a.m. and we're going to try the Mont-Royal. I wish you can come to join me and Pilo. Take care & God Bless...

Edmund


Photos from the Montreal World Cup road cycling race Saturday courtesy of Edmund.


Montreal World Cup road cycling race Saturday courtesy of Edmund


Montreal World Cup road cycling race - Cote Des Neiges Road, near the Cote Des Neiges Cemetery


All women road bike race


what started out as an overcast, cool morning, turned out to be an ideal day for road bike racing

Friday, May 27, 2005

Walk away the pounds project at church

Wow, attendance was an all time high yesterday.

Too bad there were only two of us 'boys' in the crowd :)

Thanks to T. Nil for getting this exercise program going - a needed ministry at Fairview. What started as a once a week program now is a twice a week event and possibly three times a week if space is available.

Looking forward to the next one. Will try to recruit others, particularly male participants.

Let's stay fit, for the Lord's service.

Thursday, May 26, 2005

PTL- Paul's got a brand new ride

A few weeks ago, on his way home, the 95 Honda Civic (with over 220,000kms) Paul was driving stalled on the Decarie expressway. Thanks be to God, merciful Lord and Faithful Father, there was no other vehicle following him and that traffic was light during that time.

We discussed and prayerfully considered the options available - it was decided to go ahead and replace the older Civic with a new one. Here it is.


Happy driver of a brand new 2005 Honda Civic Coupe SE.
Paul, Tony Cianflone of Excel Honda, Tito Lits


Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours!


Pauly's 2005 Honda Civic SE


getting to know you


looking good


could I drive it home Pauly boy?


Honda family: father(r- 2004 Honda Accord EX-V6 Berline) and son's(l)

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Inspirational of the Day

Trouble Redeemed

By Dr. Robert Schuller

So often trouble is only a part of the painful growing process like a seed buried alive by a seemingly merciless fate under suffocating ground in a windowless grave, until in supreme agony it ruptures into a new life! This death, burial, pain, is not trouble! It is the travail of new birth! "Unless a grain of wheat fall into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain" (John 12:24).

When trouble breaks your heart and makes your knees buckle, and forces penitent tears from eyes sealed in prayer to Almighty God, then trouble may turn out to be the redeeming agony before new birth!

Just what kind of people do you think we would be if we never had any trouble! For we build hard muscles in heart and body when we lift heavy loads. Tough times make calluses that may someday save our hands from bleeding!

One Liner of the Day

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

May 24,2005, Tuesday afternoon ride update

May 24,2005, Tuesday afternoon ride update

Windy, clear skies, overall about 37kms. Pilo, Edmund and Tito Lits.


Bonsecour Market, Old Montreal, Quebec Canada


Pilo and Edmund, Cirque De Soleil Tent - at the Old Port


Tuesday afternoon bumper to bumper traffic at the Old Port of Montreal

One Liner of the Day

Double your drive space. Delete Windows!

What's new today?

God willing, weather permitting, bike ride with Pilo and Edmund this afternoon. Not sure whether Trish and/or Paul could come. Meeting place: 55th Ave.

Update: Dad, Mom, and Rosie made in safely to Las Vegas Sunday night- thanks for the update Wen. See you this coming Sunday Dad, Mom, and Rosie Patosie.

Birthday: Nephew Neil celebrated his 8th birthday yesterday - thanks for the invite. Love Uncle Philip's BBQ recipe and the Thai Chicken Curry. Ging-ging's palabok was also very good. I definitely could use a ride after the celebrations we had this weekend.

Rewind: This past Saturday. Early morning ride with the group (see previous posting). Dinner: at Wena and Mike's; Wena celebrated her birthday and we also celebrated Neil's.

Following day, after church, we headed back to Wena's for lunch, for the left overs :)

Viva Las Vegas: Dad, Mom and Rosie flew to Las Vegas Sunday afternoon. See you this coming Sunday.

Saturday, May 21, 2005

May 21, Saturday Morning Ride

May 21, Saturday Morning Ride

Cloudy sky: cloudy, overcast, 13C, showers sky: showers, 30km winds - what a great day for a group ride.



Departure Gate

Welcome to our group ride- Anderson (between Trish and Tito Lits) and Edmund (to the right of Pilo)

Trish pushing on the pedal - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Grand Prix Circuit, Ile Notre Dame, Montreal, QC)

A couple of laps around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve- Edmund, Pilo, Tito Lits, and Marv.

Another photo opp before heading back to the Lachine Canal bike path.

I am strong, I'm invincible - I love to ride my bike.

Lenny coming in for the pit stop or should I say photo stop.

Group photo with the official EEG Biking Society Montreal background.

With Tito Lits

We wanted to take the train home. Old CP Rail caboose at the Lachine Canal bike path.

With Tito Lits

Thursday, May 19, 2005

Lofty Goals, Lofty Pursuit, Lofty Ambition


Flag of Canada doubles as Wind Speed and Direction Indicator. Tail winds on our way back home.


St. Gabriel Lock. Redpath Lofts in the background. Pilo and I are thinking of investing in one (each); when we wake up in the morning we're right there by the bike path.


Commute by bike or boat to downtown from your Redpath Loft.


Tito Lits' Lofty Goal


Pilo's Lofty Ambition too. No shoveling snow during the winter and cutting grass during the summer :)

Monday, May 16, 2005

Isn't she lovely, isn't she wonderful

Sunday ride, May 15,2005

The day started out to be a cloudy, overcast one. There was a little bit of sprinkling before noon. It did not look like an ideal day for riding the bike, or so I thought.

We went to SCORES for lunch (right after church service). I was in a hurry to go for lunch, not because I wanted to go for a ride later on in the afternoon, but I was hungry (and so was Tita Nil and kids). I thought to myself, surely biking is out for today- we'll just head home after lunch and take an afternoon snooze; which is what I usually do Sunday afternoons (most of the time).

Normally, we'd go to Pavillon Wong Restaurant, one of our favorite Chinese Buffet feeding stations. But, since the day before we were at the newly opened Fu Lam's Chinese Buffet near Cote Vertu, Ville St. Laurent (steps away from Pilo's work), we decided to go to Scores. At Scores my favorite meal is their Bar-b-q quarter chicken leg (comes with bread, rice, sauce) with their famous "all you can eat Salad and Soup Bar", all for $7.95- great deal, as far as I am concerned, I love salad. I was telling Karen that I do not mind giving the chicken away, so long as I get my fill from the Salad Bar.

We all had a great lunch, even split an Ice Cream sundae with Tita Nil for our dessert.

When we stepped out of the restaurant, homeward bound, I noticed the sun was shining bright, the temperature mild, some breeze, but definitely good cycling weather. Not very long afterwards my mobile phone rings. Of course, it was Pilo, checking what the weather looks like at our end of the Island (of Montreal).
Looks good was my answer but I shall get back to you, I said, soon as I checked the forecast on the Internet.

We agreed to meet at 55th Ave, 4:30PM, and decided, for that day, to ride to Ile Notre Dame, where the Grand Prix Circuit and the Montreal Casino are located. We did a couple of laps around the racing circuit, then rode leisurely to the Old Port from Ile Notre Dame, before heading back to the starting point (55th Ave., Lachine). I logged 52.5 kms.


Montreal's tall buildings.

Our usual route is the bike path across the other side of the Canal, yes, where that horse (what horse?) is. Pilo suggested we stop and take some pictures from this side- a different angle from our usual route.


Horse and bikes.

Mont-Royal with its antenna tower, office buildings, cyclists, horse - what a mix.


The Road Less Traveled

We usually take the route across the other side of the Canal whenever we head towards Old Montreal. The silos of the Red Roses Flour company can be seen here. We took this route because we wanted to ride to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Ile Notre Dame.


Montreal Skyline

Isn't she lovely, isn't she wonderful?