I suppose this isn’t a surprise for anyone who knows me. I have decided to join Acceleware Corp, in Calgary to pursue new challenges. As new frontiers in computational platforms are conjured up by the magicians of computer engineering, folks like me flock to solve problems faster and better. At least that’s what I hope to do. Leaving Boulder has not been an easy choice to make. It is the place where I was home. I made friends and acquaintances, from social networks to the casual acquaintances with the clerks in the nearby Starbucks, who knew what my regular drink was. I learned to love long mountain climbs, although I wasn’t good by Boulder standards. Left Hand Canyon Dr, Lee Hill Drive, NCAR and the Morgul-Bismarck loop became as familiar and favorites as my beloved equations of fast multipole methods. Towns like Dacano, Keenesburg, Ft. Lupton and Masonville became the backyard. Fought battles with the lying manager of the home owner’s association and won; and that was fun too.But it was time to go. So, I am sitting here typing these words from the fifth floor of the Best Western Village Park Inn in Calgary, after my first longer ride in the city! It was a perfect autumn day, with the temperature hovering in the mid 20s (yes, it is in Celcius), I went out to explore the city’s trail system. What a wonderful trail system they have! I did over 46 miles all on trails! Mostly flat, these trails follow the Bow river and meander through some of the most beautiful meadows I have ever seen. Met a cyclist, named Matt, who is exactly half my age, and we rode together for several miles, talking just cycling:)A couple of days ago, I also rode up a short climb near Edgeworth park. Climbs about 300 feet in about half a mile. A good early season training climb.Before leaving Boulder, I did three major rides.

  • Sandia Mountains, Albuquerque, New Mexico: Did this on August 5th while visiting Carol. This has been in my list ever since my first visit to ABQ. A great climb.
  • Trail Ridge Road from Lyons: I have wanted to ride to the Alpine visitor center of the Rocky Mountain National park on the Trail Ridge road, starting from Boulder, for a long time. This year, I felt that I was in good shape to do this. But instead of starting from Boulder, I started from Lyons and made it to the top. Perhaps the hardest ride of the season! But it was worth every calorie!
  • Sunshine Canyon, Boulder: This was just a few days before leaving Boulder. I went out with my colleague Jared, convincing him that this must be an easy climb (I had no data to say that!!!)! It turned out to be the steepest of all climbs I have done this season, having sections with 20% or more (according to my Garmin Edge 205) grades!! Fantastic ride. What a way to say farewell to Boulder!!!

But Boulder is Boulder and Calgary is Calgary. I am sure I will find new hills to climb. I have already begun to like Calgary.Signing off for the time being from land where a few loonies here and a few twonies there pretty soon adding up to a million:)