|, The South Marysburgh Mirror Blogs and Blogging The word 'blogging' sounds like it might mean slog- ging around in bogs and muck, but just let me say here that it's actually a lot more fun than that. Not that slog- ging around in swamps isn't fun, especially if you're a mycologist or an entomologist or field naturalist. It certainly is fun and I am one of the afore-mentioned. However, birds and bird-brains aside, did you know that it's very easy to start a blog of your own on the internet? Just go to ‘blogspot.com’ (or google it) and then follow the directions and start one of your own. Why do a blog, you may ask. My purpose was to countdown the days until I retired and began a cycling trip; and until I would receive a monthly cheque from the Canadian government to pay me back for all those years that I paid into the system. Also, I wanted to share my blog with others with the hope that reading my blog would be very enjoyable even for those who never go outdoors. I was so excited about cycling that I thought I could teach others the joys and the benefits, the ease and the wonders of riding a bicycle, especially as a senior. I put a great deal of valuable information and good tips on my blog about cycling as a senior as safely, easily, and as inexpensively as possible. Blogs are like a public diary, and although the public has access to all of them and can leave comments, a commenter's email address is never shown on ‘blogspot’. You can't an- swer their comments directly but you surely can relish in the warmth of the compliments and greetings, and acknowledge it in your next blog. My favourite feature of ‘blogspot is that it's so easy to add pictures. Many blogs have no pictures but my favourite hob- by has long been photography and I added many County pictures over the year of the countdown. My intention, though, was to continue the blog from my 65th birthday up to the bicycle trip I was planning to make and then to blog the trip itself so it became well over 400 days of blogs and thoughts and interesting incidents. ou'd rather, of course, you can go to ‘blogspot and just wel blogs that others have made. Many are really interest- ie was very fortunate. I have two daughters who are com- puter It was very fortunate. I have two daughters who are com- puter literate - very. Josie started my blog in February 2007 which was to be aone year long countdown until my next And Mary Esta added to many a blog by leaving funny and endearing comments. Since I was counting down to a bicycle trip across Can- ada (which shrunk to 1700 km. across the prairies instead), I chose 'cyclekis' as my blog name - kis being my initials - and so 'cyclekis.blogspot.com' became an endearing daily activity. Also, I was still working at that time, and let my lead at work know every day what day it was - 'I'm down to Day 243 today, Diane!' It may have driven my co- workers crazy and many thought I was to try such. a wom ture. You know what they say about people thinki: you're crazy, eh? Gives youa a lot of leeway for behavior. In February 2007, on my 64th birthday, Day 365, I started writing/blogging a little paragraph or two about my impending trip across senior ona bicycle, or just something unrelated to cycling, as a treat for myself for having made it to that wise-old age. How wise it was to head out alone on a bicycle with only a light-weight tent the size of a baby basinet, and four heavily loaded panniers hanging onto the sides of the bicycle, is another issue. My goal was to bike on The Trans-Canada Trail, but when I got out west I discovered that the trail was impossible to cycle on. Time after time people in cafes would tell me that only 4-wheelers can manage it. The gravel was/is thick and loose, and the heavily loaded bike bogged down, skidded, slipped, and was terribly hard to peddle. Continued on page 11 FYI - Continued from page 1 For your information Ihave a website: barbproctor.com I will be posting council agenda items and motions usually specific to South Marysburgh . Thave provided links on my site for your convenience. Please use the email to provide me with your input. For those who do not use online service I will be pub- lishing quarterly updates and distribute to all residents of South Marysburgh. My best wishes for a Safe and Happy Holiday Season Yours sincerely, Barb Proctor.