Great song by Billy Talent. if you haven’t heard it, check it out. My daughter introduced me to Billy Talent a couple of years ago and despite the fact that they’re probably a little heavier than I am used to, I love their music. I tell you when they’re really brilliant: when I am training indoors during the winter. I have them on my headphones loud. You keep pedalling let me tell you.

Oh, and did I mention, they’re Canadian. Rock on!

So yeah, fallen leaves. It’s like the trees don’t seem to realize that it is still summer weather, because riding through Parc Levesque this morning I could not help but notice some yellow leaves on the ground. There was also that slightly damp fall smell. You know the one.

You cannot stop the summer from ending and the autumn from starting.

I happen to love the autumn. As much as I go on about the summer and loving the heat, I am someone who looks forward to and appreciates the four seasons. Fall is a great time to ride outdoors. The heat is less oppressive, but you can still get out in shorts and short sleeved jersey through to mid-October. The air has a coolness to it that takes less out of you on a hard ride. In fact, you can simply ride harder. Heat is exhausting. And the smell: the leaves coming down give off this wonderful smell which is hard to describe but it always makes me feel quite nostalgic.

Welcome to autumn.

I’m glad I got out today because in looking at the forecast for the next couple of days we may be subjected to more rain and wind from Hurricane Isaac. I was on a call today with some colleagues from Toronto and I could hear the rain pounding against the windows of their office. Basic rule of thumb is that we get what they got approximately 24 hrs later. Anyway, as Marie always tells me, “Just get up and look out the window tomorrow morning!“