Being ACTIVE and being safe.

Nice area. I'm based in NJ USA, but visit family up in the Orleans section of Eastern Ottawa - when we can. It's been over a year now, and likely to be longer the way things are going. I ride more on that side, but did some poking around Brittannia Beach area in the last summer (2019) we were up there. Wanted to expand my trails repertoire.

All of the general advice about physical security is good above. While I talk about my home locale, or places I go to, I never pre-announce, and I never publish GPS traces that include my home for those rides when I start or finish there (even apps' "privacy zone" settings I don't rely on, I just don't publish). I post about big trips, such as my Canada adventures, after I return. And critical info never gets shared. All good. But also, sharing common goals, sites, experiences is part of the beneficial community/social aspect, as long as you remember the old poet's advice (Frost?): "Good fences make good neighbors." LOL.

I break security occasionally to physically meet people I've communicated with online, but I follow the same strict guidelines I laid down for my kids. I've not had any problems doing this, have met some wonderful people I stay in touch with (and wish the rest a good life, far, far, away, LOL). But then again, I'm in a different place than others might be relative to this activity, and recognize that risk acceptance is different for different people.

* * * * *

About masks: I'm in a couple of higher-risk categories, so I've been following fairly strict protocols on contact, distancing, mask, etc., while pursuing my riding. Riding is a core component of my fitness journey, as befits this website. As I am now fully vaccinated, I've feel good enough to use a buff rather than mask, while riding where proximity encounters to other trail users is a factor, and also carry an accessible substantial mask for any meeting or non-social distancing occasions. And yes, I know buffs are not of the standard; I carry full N95 "duckbill" and a couple of KN95 in my kit for those situations. I don't usually touch anything I don't need to, use gloves when I can, eat and drink only what I have brought and carry sufficient PPE and cleansers that I regularly resort to using a multicompartment rack trunk where a saddlebag (for tools) previously sufficed.

"Multicompartment" is critical, as I keep "clean" and "exposed" items separate. In this regard, it helps being married to a nurse who lives the strict protocols day in and day out. Since part of my riding involves a volunteer assistive role on the trails, I have had to evolve good practices for actual trail user engagement. For instance, the other day, I helped someone use a trailside repair kiosk. This meant gearing up in PPE in the same manner as if I were a First Responder in a first aid situation. Then transitioning back to my own riding setup after cleanup. Plus of course the home-arrival shower-and-laundry cycle. I can discuss about covid fatigue sometime because of this, LOL.

Picture: Sandy Hook National Recreation Area, NJ USA, and my multicompartment rack trunk.

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