schwiiz.org

This last month I’ve been learning how to develop software for the iPhone.  It’s been a lot of fun but stressful at the same time.  I’m close to finishing my first application, which is a tool to update maps from the road on MapMyTour.com.  I have the basic features working, and I’m now looking for beta testers.  If you have an iPhone and would like to help, then please write me an e-mail and I’ll get back to you.

On previous bike tours I’ve wanted to keep friends and family informed on my progress by updating a Google Map. It’s an easy thing to do, but updates only happen as often as I have internet access. The silly thing is, my mobile phone has a web browser, but I don’t know of any website for updating a map that is compatible with a mobile phone. That is, until now.

Map My Tour is the name of a new website that I’ve created. Updating a map is as simple as visiting the add waypoint page with your phone (see picture), copying the coordinates from your GPS, and submitting. The map is immediately updated. Have a look at a sample map from a bike ride last week, and feel free to create an account.

This will be a fun way to keep people updated on the progress of my tours. It now looks certain that I’ll get the extra leave from work so that I can go cycling through France this June. It’s time to start relearning French!

The weekend started on Friday morning when I arrived in Airolo with my bike. The sun was out, the air was warm, and I put on my shorts. From here I cycled along the #3 North-South route towards Biasca, but made a small detour according to a mountain bike trail that I found on GPS-Tracks.com. The route was great, but I had to turn back due to the wet snow at the higher altitudes. From then on I rode on a parallel road about 1000m above the valley. Absolutely spectacular! The downhill was fantastic and the rest of the ride to Biasca was uneventful.

That night I camped with friends near Biasca. We had a delicious BBQ salmon dinner and drank a few deserving beer. The next morning three of us rode to Losone (near Locarno) where we camped the second and third nights. En route we stopped near Gudo where I tried to locate the old home of a great-aunt. We had limited information and unfortunately no success.

The next day I did a solo ride, “Mountain bike tour Casone” up the Luera. The accent was strenuous but manageable; it was the ride down that killed me. The path was steep, full of rocks hidden under leaves, and had a steep decline down one side. I had a few close calls that resulted in small rock slides. The path went through Rasa, which is a little village in the mountains only accessible by cable-car. Where do people get the incentive to move to these places? I had to carry the bike for another 700m until I finally hit a ridable path. Frustrated, I almost snapped at a hiker for calling me a “Velo-wanderer”. I calmed once I got to the road that took me back to camp. I should have paid closer attention to the difficulty rating and the comments left about this route before attempting it. It was still fun, nonetheless.

The last day was uneventful except for the ride to Bellinzona where I caught the train home. In all it was a fantastic weekend and I could easily see this becoming an annual tradition. Some photos are online and I put together a Google Map that plots where I rode over the four days. Enjoy!

Last weekend I made a quick trip to New Jersey to visit a good friend. The flights were cheap and flew direct so it was an easy decision to make. Although the trip was only for four days, we managed to pack a lot into that time. We visited The MET, the New Jersey shore, the Broadway production of ‘Chicago’, a jazz club, and a comedy club. Fantastic! All of it!

I bought the Trek 520 touring bike that I that wrote about earlier. Fortunately the size was correct and the test ride immediately impressed me. The bike is now leaning against a wall in my living room, and is slowly being modified and fitted for touring. I added a mount for a GPS receiver and fitted the Ortlieb touring bags for the rear carrier. Soon I’ll get a front carrier and bags and downsize the crank. I definitely need a smaller crank for the mountains around here, but it’s open whether I downsize just the lowest chain ring or the entire thing. The difference in price is not subtle.

Next weekend is Easter and I wish to use the four-day weekend to test the bike with a short tour. I hope to bike in Tessin, but this depends on the weather and if I get the chain ring modified in time. If not, I’ll just need to find a flatter place to bike.

It was a fun week in the New York City area. The weather has been extremely mild for December, which has allowed me to enjoy the city and cool air on foot. Yesterday I did a walking tour from Penn Station through Greenwich Village, Little Italy, Chinatown, and down to the Brooklyn Bridge. I found Little Italy and Chinatown fascinating. I saw many Italian and American flags sharing a flag post, but nothing similar in Chinatown. I walked along the market on Mott Street and was overwhelmed by the smell of fish. I couldn’t believe how many people there were. At the Seaport Historic District I made a nice panorama photograph of the Brooklyn Bridge and then later crossed it by foot. The view back on Manhattan was gorgeous. I never realized by how much the Empire State Building dwarfed its neighbouring buildings.

Earlier in the week I was shown around Central Park and taken to the Martin Short musical Fame Becomes Me. The story was loosely based on Short’s life and was full of laughs, fun, and original music. We also saw Bodies: The Exhibit, which is literally a museum of the human body. The exhibit was much easier to stomach than I expected but I wouldn’t necessarily go again. A very emotional moment was the visit to the World Trade Center and seeing the wide open space where so many people needlessly lost their lives. In the Christmas spirit I enjoyed the windows at Macy’s and the tree at the Rockefeller Center.

Tomorrow is the end of my visit and I’ll be boarding a flight to Toronto. From there I will catch a ride to Sudbury where I will spend Christmas with my parents. I’m looking forward to the visit since it’s been many years since I was there for Christmas. Unfortunately I still have all my shopping to do!

It was almost two years ago when I switched jobs at my company. The new position was a welcomed change since I would no longer be required to travel for work. I don’t mind visiting customers and sometimes I really enjoy it. What I don’t enjoy is the personal preparation time and everything between leaving my apartment and arriving at the customer’s front door. It’s also difficult to maintain a healthier lifestyle when on the road and there’s usually not enough time to tour the city. I’m not really complaining: My job has great perks and I accept that travel is a part of it . Heck, it was the promise of traveling that enticed me to apply for the job in the first place!

So after almost two years I’m back on the road. I’m on the early flight to London tomorrow and will be staying for two nights. London is a great city but I don’t anticipate any free time to do anything fun. I’d love to see a musical or the British Museum. Perhaps another time.

I’m overdue for a trip home and so last week I booked a flight to Canada. I’ll be staying in Toronto for a few days before continuing to Sudbury. In Toronto I hope to see a Leafs game, hang out with friends at the Madison Avenue Pub, and do some shopping at MEC. In Sudbury will be a reunion with the immediate family. We were all together last in 2000 and this time a new member of the family -my niece from South Africa- will be joining us. The vacation will coincide with Thanksgiving and the lovely autumn colours. I’m becoming nostalgic just thinking about it.