Before 11:00 o’clock this morning I returned from a tricycle ride about the neighbourhood. While I employed the electric feature of the trike sparingly to ascend the uphill streets, escaping the brisk morning air was more difficult. Indeed the only way of avoiding the brittle feature was to reverse the direction of my path with the wind behind me. The outing (3.77 KM) made for smart fingers and frozen kneecaps (I insist upon wearing shorts at the earliest opportunity).

The streets were empty except for the habitual dog walkers who were appropriately bundled in hats, coats and gloves. I saw Art McKay driving his antique Camaro automobile. Otherwise there was no occasion to stop along the way to chat with anyone. The undisturbed ride took about 35 minutes, an average speed of 7 Km/h and Avg. Heart Rate of 91 bmp.

This morning’s adventure is owed to an investigative medicinal desideratum. I first bounded out of bed before 7 o’clock this morning, immediately seating myself at my desk to conduct the matutinal blood pressure examination which is part of an intended one-week project. The numbers continue to be high, evidence that my physician will no doubt employ to prescribe medication of some description. More pills!

But apart from that mission, we haven’t much else to consider today. We have succeeded almost to exhaust our dutiful obligations (medical, income tax, car insurance, residence insurance, web hosting and domain name) all of which have evolved over the years as springtime addresses. The remainder of the calendar contains matters of less immediate attention. We have regained a welcome balance.

Because the weather – though cool and cloudy – was dry, I enjoyed my usual afternoon drive to the car wash and to Renfrew County this afternoon. At noon I took my midday analgesic (Tylenol) to ensure a smooth ride. Having the advantage of clean roadways was an enhancement to the modest adventure in spite of the unusually crowded traffic along the highways in the city. But returning to the country, with the cityscape in the rearview mirror, instantly afforded a softening of the dialogue. And recapturing my upriver view is similarly persuasive. It completes the unrepentantly unassuming scope of my day.