there is a love in my life like no other. not the same as, nor equivalent to, the love for another being, which i feel for many in my life. this love is different, more subtle, and more personal. it fuels my passions, enhances my relationships, and connects me with my city.
if you know me, you may think i’m talking about cycling, and you wouldn’t be wrong, but this love is more specific. you see, i’ve fallen in love with a specific part of cycling: with the pathways of ottawa.
when the snow melted away during my first spring in ottawa, my heart grew with every kilometre i wheeled along the wonderful strips of pavement. sights were seen, nature was cherished. first alone, and then in good company. friends were shown the regality of parliament on two wheels. with my dad, we adventured — to aylmer, to gatineau park. to my sister, i showed what was possible by bike, and she discovered a new side of her community.
warm summer evening rolls to mooney’s bay with my partner- turned-fiancée-turned wife, letting the woes of the day slide away, sometimes excitedly chatting, other times just smiling and hand-holding. on the return trip, relishing the romance of sunsets, sand tickling my spokes and my clothes.