Mending Fences

There's something happening around Spruce Grove that you might not be aware of...

Spruce Up Spruce!

Spruce Up Spruce is a project started and organized by Spruce Grove's Mayor, Stuart Houston. I first learned of it during the planning stages for La Tour De Spruce when we met for the pre-Tour route ride. In case you happen to be around Spruce Grove, This is what Mayor Houston looks like: 

Yup, he is usually smiling and out doing something interesting for Spruce Grove. So, Spruce Up Spruce... This project includes painting the street facing fences around Spruce Grove. When Stuart first mentioned the project back in May, they volunteer painters were painting their way West on Grove Drive. The next time you head down Grove Drive, have a look at the fences. You'll note that they are freshly painted. Now, what many people aren't aware of, is that the fence painting - including the street facing side - is actually the home owners' responsibility. When a new building project takes place, the builder puts on the initial coat of paint but the home owner who buys the house is then responsible for the upkeep of the paint job on BOTH sides of the fence.

So why is the Mayor of Spruce Grove out painting fences? Well, first to bring awareness to the need to keep up with the fence painting but more importantly, to build a community. He doesn't simply send out a letter and say "Hey, You, homeowner, you need to paint your fence". Instead, he let's you know that you are responsible for painting your fence AND if you need a hand, there are both paint and willing painters to help you out (disclaimer - I've never seen any of the letters that go out but have heard they offer painting assistance & paint). 

I've always enjoyed volunteering especially when you can see your work in action or the results of that work. Don't get me wrong, charities need money but it is such a rewarding feeling to do something and see the results. I was hooked and started making plans to join the crew (by "crew" I mean the volunteers who show up to paint - not a set group of people but whoever is available at the time). With my training schedule from May to August, I'm almost embarrassed to admit that it took me all the way to August 17th to finally get out to paint but I did get out and here is what happened that day:

The fence featured in this tale is on the south side of Longview Drive, between Linkside Court & Calahoo - in case you want to drive by and admire it. :D Above is the before picture - quite weathered and ready for paint. A crew of 10 (including home owners who live on the other side of the fence) was on hand and 16 sections of fence awaited our brushes. Note: there are official colors, you can check Home Hardware to find out what they are. 

Several of us started with the light grey of main fence: 

 

While others came behind us with the blue:

 

The entire project took about 2-3 hours - several gallons of paint (2 coats of each color) & Tim's coffee (thank you to the volunteer who brought the java) -  and many hellos from curious passer-bys who stopped to check out what was going on.

At the end of the day we left behind a "new" fence, thankful homeowners (one in particular was ill and unable to paint the fence themselves but joined us with the loan of his weed whacker and in conversation), and a few more Spruce Grovers who know that they don't live in a city but in a community.

I can't wait for next year's Spruce Up Spruce weekends - stay tuned, I'll post the dates here so you can join us too! For now, some pics of the day:

La Tour Prep

With La Tour De Spruce only a day away, I figured I would nail down the "stop & regroup" points of the ride. I'd done a bit of drawing on the paper map, comparing it with the ride from Wednesday night, and came up with a stop every 4 - 5 km. Looked good on paper so I hopped on the bike this morning to map it out with the Map My Ride app but not before gearing Sadie out with a borrowed GoPro to compliment her existing Nike cell pocket. Such a leap forward in technology!And when I say "Hopped on the bike" I mean, threw it in the back of the Dingo and drove over to the start to hop on.

I arrived at the Superstore parking lot in Spruce Grove to find barely a soul stirring at 9am. This bodes well for Sunday as I've since driven through the lot in the afternoon and the top (south) end is still fairly empty. Plenty of room for cyclists tomorrow! Starting my app, off I went. I found the trails, that we had ridden Wednesday, fairly easily so anyone who is worried about getting lost, just stick with me or Mayor Stu. We both know where the heck we are going.

Although there was a race or fun run going on this morning, I saw few runners and, for the most part, had the trails to myself. The first spot that I planned for a stop was 4km in. Not a bad distance and plenty of room for bikes to congregate. Off to the next planned stop - not bad, falls in somewhere around the 8 km mark. Hmmmm, and makes sense to stop here as there is a bit of a "hidden" path to find. That will work! Off again towards the next stop. This one is dear to Mayor Stu's heart. We'll call it the secret park and I think you are all going to love it too. I never even knew it was there. This stop takes place at the 12 km mark. Heading east towards the next stop, I made it to Jubilee Park and something didn't feel right. Hopping off the bike, I heard it - PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Yup, a flat.

 

My rear tire was leaking loudly and was flat, flat, and flat. The thoughts running through my head went something like: "Huh! Now how on earth did that happen? What am I going to do? DRAT! My Dingo is all the way back across town at Superstore (my house is MUCH closer to Jubilee than Superstore is). MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!! WHAT am I going to do?  ERRRRR, I guess I can try to change it. I do have a spare tube & levers and I did get a lesson from United Cycle last year when they hosted the Enbridge Rider to Conquer Cancer riders for bike night. Can I do that? Well, why not? Okay, I'm going to change my tire!"

And so I plunked down on the grass and started to disassemble Sadie's rear axel and remove the wheel. 

I have to say, I am quite pleased with myself. I remembered everything that nice young bike mechanic showed us and even checked for the source of the flat by running my fingers around the inside of the tire - all the time holding my breath that I wasn't going to impale my finger on something stuck in the tire. I didn't! :) It was a bit more of a project than I had counted on when the pump kept taking off the nib on the end of the tube spout and I kept having to blow up the tire again. Fortunately, in the end, I got enough air in to finish the ride and head back to Superstore to retrieve my Dingo and make a pit stop at Mud Sweat & Gears for a review of my work. THANK YOU GUYS!!!

I tracked the ride at just over 20 km (maybe 21) and now that the flat is out of the way, tomorrow should be a fantastic day! Don't forget to fill out your draw slip before we head out of the parking lot. I've got some great prizes for after the ride. :)

Sunday May 25th

Superstore Parking lot - Spruce Grove

110 Jennifer Heil Way

11:45 am meet time - 12:00 pm start time

Ride: La Tour De Spruce

20-25 km at an easy pace - suitable for kids

POPSICLES!! 

We will be met by the NOW! Radio Trucksicle after the ride for free popsicles

La Tour De Spruce

What: A 2 hour guided bike tour through pristine forests, spacious parks, & trails - intermingled with Modern Urban Development in the City of Spruce Grove - lead by Spruce Grove's Mayor Stuart Houston.

Date: Sunday May 25th

Time: Meet at 11:45am - Ride until 2:00pm

Where: Meet at the South end of Superstore Parking Lot - Spruce Grove.
             End at the South end of Tri-Leisure Center Parking Lot - Spruce Grove

What to bring: Yourself, your bike, your family & friends (please remember to bring your safety gear/helmet)

Why:  1. Biking is fun!
           2. Learn about the amazing Spruce Grove Trail System - you really MUST see it!
           3. Support a local Spruce Grovian in her Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer.
           4. Everybody loves popsicles!

Fun extra: We will be met by the NOW! Radio Trucksicle at the end of the ride for popsicles! 

Spruce Grove Cycling Event

Join me on Sunday, May 25th, 2014 from Noon - 2:00pm for a bike tour of the Spruce Grove Heritage Trails led by Mayor Stuart Houston.

Start at the parking lot of Second Cup, Superstore, etc in Spruce Grove - be there at 11:45am. 

It all started on Twitter  - you can follow the conversation here.

Join the event via Facebook here.

Dust off your bike and come out on Sunday, May 25th from Noon to 2:00 for a bike tour of the Spruce Grove Heritage Trail in support of Tammie MacDearmid Garcia's Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer fundraiser!

Tour will be lead by Mayor Stuart Houston who has promised a donation towards the ride and Frozen Yogurt after the ride. Who doesn't love frozen yogurt! :)

Info on the Enbridge Ride & Fund Raiser can be found here.

Bring your bike, yourself, and your friends & let's make this a fantastic day on the trails!

A Tale of 2 Cities

This tale begins on Twitter. Didn't know that Twitter could tell a tale, did you? :)

It started here - keep in mind that I am a brat and I just can't help myself when a challenge seems imminent. 

William Choy is Mayor of Stony Plain. His tweet on April 21st made note of the trail system in Stony and the fact that (his opinion) it is #alwaysbetterinstony. WELL! Being a Spruce Grovian myself, I could not let that pass. :D I quickly responded that the Spruce Grove Heritage trail wasn't half bad and that perhaps a side by side comparison was in order. @wchoy74 responded that he was happy that Spruce Grove was so nice but that it is #alwaysbetterinstony. Hmmmmm, out came my thinking cap and I offered a challenge - Donate to my ride and I would come over to Stony, ride the trails, and write it up (Fits in with "I'll do (almost) Anything for a Donation").

Would you believe it? William Choy did donate to my fundraiser! And true to my word I rode the trails of Stony Plain and here is my tale:

Tuesday, April 29th, 5pm. I'm not familiar with the trail system in Stony Plain and so I've asked a friend to point me in the right direction. His recommendation is that I enter the St. Andrews Neighborhood and access the trail system there, across from the baseball diamonds. I knew the general area and after some conferring whilst standing outside the office building, I felt confident that I could find the start that I was looking for. Bike loaded, gear on (always wear a helmet, kids!), and water bottle filled, I headed South/West into Stony. Locating the trail head, I was pleased that it was situated directly next to a park, complete with small dirt parking area. Bonus! In Spruce I ride out of my front door and so have no need for parking so it was a pleasant surprise to find it so readily available in Stony and right were I needed it. I unloaded the bike and hit the trail (see below)

And so it begins...

While I live in Spruce, I work in Stony but have had little opportunity to explore the town. Today was my chance. I headed South on the trail, noticing straight off how very friendly everyone was. The trails were busy on this beautiful day and everyone, young and older than young, had a pleasant smile and "hello" for me as I zipped by. :D I was enjoying this already!

Things I noticed along the way;

1. The trials run along a water way and while it may be only a "ditch" for spring run off, I do love the sound of running water. There were also several interesting bridges crossing this water at intervals and painted in various colors. Very picturesque.

2. The trail crossed a few too many roadways for my liking. That being said, I was riding "blind" without knowing where the trail may lead and in all fairness, not really sure where I was going. I'll be heading back to Stony for future rides & will be armed with a map of the trials.

3. I got lost - or rather, I lost the trial. I was riding to see where I could go but when I got to the school (St. John Paul) at the south end of town, I simply lost the trial. It was gone, vanished in a parking lot. I rode around a bit to the west, thought I picked up the trail again, and then found myself coming around to the Multicultural Center. At least I knew were I was at that point and headed back the way I had come, all the way back to start - or nearly so.

4. My tires are not made for off roading. While zipping along a narrow offshoot of the trail, close to the golf course, I slipped off the track and scared the bazeebees out of myself. No fault of Stony Plain, just an early spring ride and my own inexperience with road slicks on slippery leaves. :) Onward!

5. Once I did locate the trail south of Stony (South/East of the aforementioned school), the ride was B-E-A-U-tiful! I stuck to the green lined track so as not to get lost but later realized I didn't have anything to worry about - the track that wasn't green lined just dipped in and out of neighborhoods. The ride through the wood was wonderful. My favorite type of ride, away from traffic (cars) and through nature. Popping out onto 628 I road past the prettiest part of my ride (I have a thing for trees, stone walls, etc):

Conclusion: I enjoyed my ride and will be back to Stony Plain to ride again as I don't believe that I have seen it all and am not yet armed to make a fair comparison of the 2 trail systems. Lucky you, there will be future reports!

Stay tuned and in the meantime, enjoy the map of my ride - 23 km! The loop to the left of 779 is where I was while I was lost. ;)