Introducing .. Lesley

We've known Lesley for a few years but are only just now getting to know her well. This trip to Florida is the first leg of a much longer ride she is treating herself to after her recent retirement. My Allie feels kind of proud to have been a cycle tour role model but Lesley is going way beyond my Allie's comfort zone. In June of this year we joined her on a 900 klm trip around Lake Ontario. Kind of a dry run for her big adventure. My Allie and I did that ride a few years ago. That was when she realized that I was always running with her, and always will as long as she needs me, just out of sight beyond the first row of trees, just the way it was when we skied and ran through the forest years ago. Don't ask me why I keep just out of sight. It's a Husky thing I guess. On the ride last June, Lesley was dragging a trailer. It was a learning experience.  Although very convenient for carrying bike gear, clothes plus camping and cooking gear and food, the trailer was hard, hard work. It slowed her down and made hill climbing, well, torture. My Allie and I were quietly entertained by her herculean efforts to drag that orange beast (trailer had a custom made, bright orange cover) around the lake.

But the combination of the trailer, the heat and the endless hills had us concerned about her ability to finish the ride.

     As you will see in future pictures, Lesley has switched to panniers, front and back, just like my Allie.

My Allie and Me

We've been doing stuff together for a dogs age and then some. Cross country skiing used to be our favourite.  It still is in our dreams but these days we do a lot of cycling. Some of you know me from previous trips that my Allie blogged. We've been to Germany, Halifax and around Lake Ontario, twice.

She talks as if I'm just there as a bit of fun, a cute mascot. Well, other than a few four letter words like "walk" and "food", I've never payed much attention to what people say. But I can see her heart in her eyes and I know that I'm here to do what I've always done; show her how to live each day with unbridled exuberance and joy. 

Here is a picture of my Allie for those new to our blogs.

She likes the colours purple, fuchsia ... Get used to it.

“Dogs die. But dogs live, too. Right up until they die, they live. They live brave, beautiful lives. And love us. And make our lives a little brighter. And they don't waste time being afraid of tomorrow.”

Nahani

I’m Nahani. That’s me in the pic. To be honest, that's not really me anymore but my Allie still sees me like that. We are riding from Richmond Virginia to Key West with our friend Lesley. Normally my Allie writes the blog but this time I am. It is still a bike trip blog. Kind of. But while my Allie is all about how many klm each day, I am about the journey, the sights, smells, how many rabbits were chased. “People love dogs. You can never go wrong adding a dog to the story.”