Rain Day

Normally, on a September Sunday morning, we'd be off to Christie Lake. However today, it was pouring rain. In our family, that means one thing: Joyride!

The Joyride bike park is the brainchild of two great friends of ours: Mark Summers and Scott Bentley. It is an amazing indoor riding facility that includes everything from a teaching square, to pump tracks to a foam pit. On Sunday mornings, it's packed with kids. Here's a handy link: http://www.joyride150.com/

The front door

The City of Markham has embraced the concept and you can see how the community has adopted the park if you make the trip. It's a very safe and progressive environment to learn to ride a bike and develop the bike handling skills that lead to competence and mastery. Throughout the winter, we usually make a huge day of it and combine a morning at the park with a big dim sum lunch and a trip to the Ontario Science Centre.

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention my involvement in the project. I did a lot of the CAD work in the development of the cross-country loop, the street park and the pump tracks. Beyond that, Kim and I spent the better part of a month wrapping the columns in the building with protective foam. 

Though our volunteer hours were considerable, they were really just a drop in the bucket. Riders from all around the GTA pitched in to make this dream a reality. Like the tree planting we did yesterday, you do it because it matters and you feel great as a result.

Beginner area

Non-beginner area

I had to leave the park a little early so I could make it back to Dundas in time for the People's Platform forum at the Parkside campus of Dundas Valley SS and I'll discuss that event in a later post.

All that left me with very little time to throw together some form of dinner. Fortunately, I had something very simple planned: a roast chicken!

How To Roast A Chicken

Step 1: Set the oven to 450F.

Step 2: Massage a good amount of olive oil all around the outside of the bird.

Step 3: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and add a rack. 

Step 4: Place chicken on rack and throw in some coarsely cut veggies, also coated in olive oil.

Step 5: Season liberally.

Step 6: Throw it all in the oven and roast for about 20 minutes per pound. Use a meat thermometer for best results.

Step 7: Enjoy with a nice dry Riesling!

After dinner, be sure to strip the remaining meat from the carcass and use it for stock!