Tuesday Nov 3/26 - Trent U Canal Nature Area Hike

 The weather cooperated but only Bill Robertson & Pete met for a hike. We decided to hike the Trent U Canal Nature Area trails on the east side of the canal, parking in the Wildlife Sanctuary parking lot off University Rd. This Nature Area has a large network of trails divided into 2 nain trail systems, The Morton Family Trails form the southern half & The John de Pencier Trails the northern half. Each system has an outside loop with intersecting trails in the middle that shorten the walk. We did the "Long Trails" on both sections for a walk of 4.5 km. The trails leading to the canal are quite hilly & include many cedar groves, deciduous forests & extensive wetlands with boardwalks leading to the canal. The trails are signed  & have the occasional colour marker on tree trunks but they can be quite confusing

                                                       Bill & Pete beside the canal

                                                                      Thompson Bay

Bill on a John dePencier Trail boardwalk

October 28/26 - Bevermeade thru Lakefield to Bridgenorth

Arndt led us on a 41 km ride from Beavermeade. We cycled north on the RGWT to Lakefield where we met Mike Steele, Bob Penny & John Crawford before riding thru the village on Bridge St to the 8th Line for an uphill ride west to Cty Rd 23 then south on a paved shoulder to the 7th Line for a rolling ride west across the Centre Line to the Bridgenorth Trail which was in good shape as we cycled south to Hilliard St for a long ride south into the city to the RGWT at Water St for a return ride back to Beavermeade. 

                                                       RGWT at Lakefield

                                                      Bridgnorth Trail at Hilliard St

Pete's selfie 

October 28/26 - Warsaw Colour Ride

 12 cyclists met in Back Dam Park on Rock Rd just outside of Warsaw for a 35 km rolling ride thru the  Douro-Dummer countryside in sunshine on a frosty morning. The ride starts with a long  median gradient uphill ride on Rock Rd (paved) past Douglas Rd to the Warsaw Caves trail leading to a viewpoint overlooking the Indian R gorge. After the break we cycled east on Cooper Rd (gravel) to the Dummer 4th line for a rolling ride (gravel) south to Centre Rd, also gravel, & a 4 km ride east to the start of the bush trail on the 6th line road allowance for a rough 2 km ride to the 6th Line (gravel) & a rolling ride south to Webster Rd where Steve, Arndt & Dale shortened the ride by cycling west to Cottesloe. We then cycled a loop starting south on the 6th Line to Cty Rd 8 for a 4 km ride on pavement east to the 8th Line (gravel) & a 4 km ride north to Webster Rd where Dave & Bill continued north for a challenging ride on the very rough 8th Line bush trail, while we cycled west on Webster past the 6th Line to Cty Rd 8, paved to Cottesloe for & another rolling ride north on the 4th Line (paved & gravel) to Douglas Rd (paved) then west to Rock Rd & by the time we returned to the park it was much warmer for our picnic lunch beside the Indian R

                Pete's photo from theWarsaw Caves viewpoint overlooking the Indian R gorge

6th Line bush trail 

Dave's photo of the group overlooking the Indian R

Wed October 7 - Beavermeade to Lang

 Rain had been in the forecast as late as yesterday evening but it turned out to be a lovely sunny morning, go figure! 7 cyclists, including Barry, met in Beavermeade for a 30 km ride on the LHTCT into Lang via Nelson Rd & Allandale Rd. After a break beside the river we cycled out to Cty Rd 6 for a gradual uphill ride on a paved bike lane back to the TCT & a return ride into a fairly strong wind. Unfortunately Rob Gardner's bike chain slipped off the front gear at Technology Dr & kept falling off each time we had it back on so Rob foot pushed the bike to Beavermeade standing with one foot on a pedal. It poured rain on my drive home so hope that Dale made it home before the deluge!     

                                        

                                                  Indian River - Lang dam pond 

                                         
                  Keene Station Shade Shelter - sitting: Dale, Bill, Blake, standing: Garry, Rob, Barry

LHTCT fall colours

Garry & Barry on the return ride

Barry's Award

 On Tuesday Oct 6 the LHTCT board hosted an event at Elmhirst to thank all the volunteers who have supported the trail since it's inception in 2012. Barry & Kevin English  were recognized for their many volunteer hours building & maintaining the LHTCT. Myself, Robin Maughan, Pete Gardner & Arndt Kruger attended the clebration

                                   

September 30 - Garden Hill Ride

 12 of us met on a foggy morning in the Garden Hill Conservation Park on Cty Rd 9 for a rolling ride of 45 km thru the scenic Northumberland countryside to Lake Ontario. We cycled east on Cty Rd 9 thru Garden Hill to Grist Mill Rd for a 5 km ride past a 19th century grist mill to the 5th Line, west to Cty Rd 10 & a long descent thru Canton up to the 4th Line. We cycled west on the 4th Line to Deer Park Rd where 4 cyclists continued to cycle west to Cty Rd 65 returning to Garden Hill for about a 30 km ride. The remaining 8 cycled south on Deer Park Rd across Cty Rd 2, over a railway bridge & Hgw 401 to Dickinson R, over another railway bridge to Lakeshore Rd, part of the Waterfront Trail, for a ride west beside Lake Ontario thru Port Britain, where the sun began to emerge, to Wesleyville Rd to start our return ride north over Hgw 401 to Morrish Church Rd  continuing north across Cty Rd 2 back to the 4th Line where we cycled west to Cty Rd 65 for a long ride thru Osaka & 2 large gullies to the 7th Line. The ride east on the 7th has a nasty hill climb before a descent to Mill St & a return to Garden Hill. After the ride Pete, Gordon, Ron, Dan, Rob & Steve enjoyed lunch on the patio at Rhino's overlooking Rice Lk. 

                                                            Grist Mill Rd

         Garry (blue) continuing west on the 4th Line while Rob (yellow) turns onto Deer Park Rd

           Dan on Wesleyville  Rd, enlarge with a left click to view the big stack

Steve & Rob on the 7 th Line "cardiac hill" 

Peter's Oshawa Trails Ride

 A smaller group than usual met at Peter's home for a 50 km ride on trails & city streets. We wound our way on city streets to The Harmony Creek Trail which ends before we crossed over Hgw 401 for a ride on city streets some of which were under construction to Lakeview Pk where we met Blake who joined us for a ride on the Waterfront Trail on a gorgeous but windy day to Ontario Shores Health Facility where we returned on the Waterfront Trail to Lakeview Pk & ride up The Oshawa Creek Tr to Teddy's for lunch before returning on city streets to Peter's home. However on the Oshawa Tr just after cycling under a street bridge there is a Y intersection of 2 trails & I took the worng trail which met I was lost somewhere in the city. However with the help of a few pedestrians I did eventually find my way to Teddy's!! In future I plan to only cycle on the Waterfront Trail avoiding the busy traffic & detours on city streets . 

                                                            Whitby harbour

                                           Teddy's - Bill's strawberry cream pie 

                                                       Intrepid Pk on the Waterfront Tr

Whitby beach