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[theredsonia]

Back in 2010, after visiting #NYC for #LabourDay and getting a messenger’s eye #hiphop tour of the #Bronx from the new homie @dis_is_a_test.radio, I got the crazy idea to go down and mess for a few months to see what it was like. Those were some of the best (and brokest!) times of my life. Coming back to the office just off of #TimesSquare every evening to check in before going home at the end of the day was the best, because @streetkingsnyc would drop jewels for me and anyone else who was there, in his thick, seen-it-all-can’t-tell-me-nothing-cuz-I-been-done-it-all-too Bronx accent. This one was always my favourite. I mean, I was only in NYC messing for 4mos so unfortunately I didn’t have much time to collect iLLKid’isms but the things I learned were invaluable. I didn’t even use a clipboard before I worked for him, but I still have the mess-map of #Manhattan he gave me my first day. I miss you, Street King of Kings! Keep teaching the children! And remember y’all: you don’t never gotta figure nobody out. Just give em enough time and they gon’n show they ass. #messlife #messfam #respectthearchitects (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CprVLoWNmLb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

Back in 2010 after visiting #NYC for Labour Day weekend to get a #hiphop tour of the Bronx from my new mess homie @dis_is_a_test.radio, I got the crazy idea to go down to NYC and mess for a few months to see what it was like. Those were some of the best (and brokest!) times of my life. Coming back to the office just off of #TimesSquare to check in before going home at the end of the day was the best, because @streetkingsnyc would go off, dropping jewels for me and anyone else who was there, in his thick, seen-it-all-can’t-tell-me-nothing-cuz-I-been-done-it-all-too Bronx accent. This particular one here is my favourite. I mean, I was only in NYC messing for 4mos so unfortunately I didn’t have much time to collect iLLKid’isms but the things I learned were invaluable. I didn’t even use a clipboard before I worked for him, but I still have the mess-map of Manhattan he gave me my first day. I miss you, Street King of Kings! Keep teaching the children! And remember y’all: you don’t never gotta figure nobody out. Just give em enough time and they gon’n show they ass. (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CprUtA3NNUY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

The problem with still having a baby tooth that has an old ass filling. On my camping trip my stupid filling broke on a piece of grilled sausage. Bob said I looked like I was gonna lose my shit. I describe it as a slice of bread falling off the loaf. I was about to panic but thank goodness Bob was there to talk me down. I left camping a day early and as soon as I was home started calling around to get it fixed. My usual dentist quit apparently and they were “hoping” one would start and be booking appointments by October. As far as I’m concerned, a broken tooth has a countdown to infection and I’m not trying to give it that long. Seven phone calls later I booked with TPH at Crossways Mall, but yesterday they called to cancel a mere 3 hours before the appointment. If I had done this to a doctor they would charge me a cancel fee. So after some wailing tears, back to the web and phone I went. Thankfully I found a dentist that would accept my paltry insurance and got in today. She numbed me, ripped the tooth apart and plugged me up with a tooth bandaid, and we booked for two weeks from now for a new, tooth-coloured filling. And yes, I did ask if they had gold ;) Tooth issues as an uninsured/underinsured adult are the absolute worst. Thank goodness I was able to get it addressed before it got infected (for now). (at Walk in Dental Clinic) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiNzFatJwq8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

Tired face starts off the selfie dump. The day after my tooth broke, day 5, I decided to FINALLY take a bike tour around and see if I could get any QOMs. I headed doen Hartley - which was how I came up - then across Glenarm which was FAST and fun, and into Fenlon Falls again (after a wrong turn in Albuquerque). I got my ice cream and sat by the locks, then realized I had ANOTHER flat. What?! The new tire was fine but apparently the tube had a flaw. That kind of set me on a glum mindset. I’d had more flats in one week camping than I’ve had in the last year. Then it started to sink in how much work and stress was going to be coming up with my stupid broken sausage tooth and I just couldn’t bring myself to rise above it anymore. I checked the forecast before bed and saw Thursday was supposed to be clear (overnight there were to be storms again and packing up Friday meant packing a wet tent and/or doing it in the rain), so I decided that the next morning I’d head home a day early. As luck would have it, clear for Balsam Lake did not mean clear for the ride in between so yet again I was pissed down rained on for about two hours. There is nothing like flying 55kph down a hill with 12” shoulder, being slammed by heavy rain drops with huge dump trucks passing, that sometimes leave room. Oh well. I made it! In Uxbridge I decided to find the nearest GO station and take the train (which ended up being a bus) to Union. No shame in my game, 120km, 60 or so in the rain, is plenty. I learned my lesson tho, no dirt roads for me, I’ll take my chances with the dump trucks. (at Balsam Lake Provincial Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Chuh85lg6b3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

Day 4 saw one of my besties come through for a visit and take me down to the nearest bike shop in Lindsay for a bike tire so I could make sure to make it home when the time came. On the way back, we stopped ay Fenlon Falls because what’s a trip to the Balsam Lake area without a trip to get ice cream and watch the locks? The Trent Severn Waterway is such an interesting technical achievement and it’s amazing to think it started being built in the late 1800s! We then headed back to the park to take a dip and have some open fire grilled dinner, then the weirdest of weird things happened… I broke a tooth chewing on a sausage! Wtf?! Of all freak occurrences. Why didn’t it happen last week, or the week after? There were a lot of small annoyances and stresses that popped up but they were all easily surmountable, even getting drenched and covered in dirt on the trip up, and a full 18hr day of rain, but not for nothing, the tooth thing really put a damper on my enjoyment. (at Fenelon Falls . Lock 34) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChugigcA2L_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

I ended up meeting a girl who races dirt bikes and has a Cannondale that matches her car! We met on the trails and decided to take a dip in the lake. Also I stumbled upon a talent show, organized by a group of neighbours from Leslieville in Toronto, who all booked adjacent campsites and had a huge group vamping trip. How cool is that? Unfortunately my phone died so I could only catch the beginning of the show. (at Balsam Lake Provincial Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChufWGmg8Ak/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

Blowout flat on the way into the park, just as sun was setting. I was able to get the tent set up and start a fire just as dark was settling in. Day 1 was gorgeous, if ominous clouds were around, but it was a day for a supply run (like 3in1 oil) and setting up camp for the rain. The first two weekend mornings were ROUGH as my site was right by the lookout trailhead, but coffee did the trick. Day 2 was a rainy morning but I made the most of the day clearing out and went for a hike up the famous lookout trail. It was cool how many environments it passed through. Also, poison ivy was EVERYWHERE. I’m glad a hiker pointed it out to me. (at Balsam Lake Provincial Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChueZBBg5ML/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

It was a beautiful ride up to Balsam Lake, until Uxbridge. I stopped for some food and a rest at the Walmart just on 47 there, and the lady on her way into work looked at the clouds to the north and asked if I had my eye on the weather. “I was hoping that was a haze.” “Oh that’s not haze, dear. Those are storms.” CRAP. I ended up with chocolate cake mud on my rear brake caliper due to construction on the Beaver Wetland Trail where it meets Hwy 12. Not the best way to start off a trip but I was determined. (at Uxbridge, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/Chudd8LgDE5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

I spent so much energy focused on that first crit this week I spent the last week trying to catch up to the rest of life. Somehow as soon as I got my first crit under my belt and the kit to go with it, I was smacked with a bunch of bad news. I’ve been trying not to dwell or think myself into a spiralling hole, but it’s hard to deny that cycling is a constant positive aspect of my life and I’m glad I can lean on it. /// Of some of the other photos, anyone ever seen those flying fishes above the windows of the Royal York? I also love starting my day with a Toshiro Mifune samurai movie poster tee. New way to make bad drivers lose their monkey minds: take a selfie after they almost smash you off your bike due to inattention. What kinda piece of crap projects so hard they start foaming at the mouth and take their seatbelt off to fight a girl? It’s interesting to watch a man disintegrate in the face of a woman who will not be dominated. (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgo8zB_gUrF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

The ROM. I think I have a thing for relief carvings and especially gargoyles. (at Royal Ontario Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfaXDb7tmI5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

Random photodump from this week before I delete em and make room on my phone. The first photo is of Toronto’s first free school which served the local poor underclass. Did you know it was almost demolished in the 1960s because it was allowed to fall into disrepair? This city has no respect for it’s architectural heritage at all. If it wasn’t a museum I’m sure some developer would turn it into a condo. (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfK0jstj48E/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

Under the strawberry full moon in Sagittarius. #MyPlayground (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce2bl05NmII/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

The river I step in is not the river I stand in. (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeyYUIggVY5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

Views of #CommerceCourtNorth. My favourite building downtown. The security guard and I started animal spotting in the beautiful brass and stone carvings on the inside lobby. (at Commerce Court North) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeMThRUJD7D/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

UPS finally quit cockblocking my @trashmessengerbags custom Garbage Barge from reaching its new home! It is way prettier than I imagined and, as a seamstress I’m really impressed with how well made it is. I’m also a fan of the hoodie-straps at the bottom - that’s my favourite way to carry my hoodie, by rolling it into a tube and strapping it to the bottom of my bag. I tried it on and already it’s more comfortable than the bag U was using before, and I can keep my life organized with all the pockets. It’s like a whole new world of back comfort has opened up to me. It’s really quite huge when expanded out but compacts down to be a pretty reasonable size. I’m so so excited to use it on the road. Thanks Andy! Great work, as always. (at Parkdale) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd9eDu2tkPc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

City sights on a gorgeous day. 1. So much of the city’s beautiful relief carvings are above street level. Commerce Court is a rare exception but even still, high up above eye level is some stunning carvings. Somehow I caught the building in Scotia Plaza’s glint at just the right time. 2. Betcha didn’t know the tower in Grange park is haunted, ask Bobby Z. 3. View from the top of the world. 4. Condoronto 5. SUPERCOURIER ON STANDBY 6. I’m not fast, I just dress that way. 7. I’m heeeere! (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdZ8ctnAArj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theredsonia]

Random sightings from the ride today. #TorontoMyPlayground #biketo #messlife (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdW1cDpNEqO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=