Well, besides the day to day training always with a rucksack, yesterday was another significant endurance test. We covered 90km along the Elora Cataract Trailway (http://www.trailway.org/) in south-central Ontario. 45km by foot, and 45 km back by bike. Not difficult terrain in terms of climbs or descents, or the surface which is a gravel path - just very long ! The trail was originally the route of the Credit Valley Railway.

Another great long weekend in the outdoors, this time kayaking along the Saugeen River over the Canada Day long weekend (http://www.svca.on.ca/outdoor.htm). We camped at the Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area close to Paisley in Ontario. Three days of kayaking upstream and downstream of the camp site with a total of 17 hours kayaking, and approximately 80km, over the three days. The river was spectacular with some minor rapids but lots of gentle paddling and drifting with the flow of the river.

After the hours of paddling, a blazing sun with hot temperatures and little wind, lying on the beach at Southampton made for a great end to the long weekend. A pity we then had to join the long trail of traffic heading back into the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) !

Two more shorter adventure races completed (http://www.adventureracingcanada.com/). Opportunities to build fitness and strength for the extreme marathon in October, but also a great way to experience new outdoor areas of southern Ontario. The adventure races are also a great way to cross-train and give the legs a break from the hours and hours of pounding on roads and trails. The first was in mid-June in the Kelso Conservation Area, in winter an area with small ski slopes, and close to the Greater Toronto Area. The second in early July was in Bracebridge further north. Both these races have only been my 2nd and 3rd time canoeing, but with each race our duo improves dramatically. The mountain biking is extremely challenging !

The weekend away in Bracebridge also gave an opportunity to briefly explore a new area for me of Georgian Bay. Since arriving in Canada last year April, much of last year was all work and no play. At least this year I have managed a better balance and getting to experience many new areas of southern Ontario. The province on its own is massive, almost as big as the whole of South Africa. An unusual experience was the sandy beaches in places along Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. Something I never associated with the Great Lakes growing up in southern Africa, and never remember seeing the beaches in any of the tourist brochures, web sites or "coffee-table" photographic books.