Pete Gardner, his brother Tim, George Post & Pete MacLoghlin met Thursday morning for a hike on the Red Trail in J E Chase Memorial Park a magnificent 400 acre KLT property at Gannon's Narrows. The trail was safe for walking with firm footing & the weather was ideal, -4 C, sunshine under clear blue skies.
After a 15 cm snowfall 5 intrepid hikers met at Warsaw caves for a 6 km slog in powder snow on the Caves & Scenic Lookout trail to the Lookout over the Indian R gorge that we reach from Rock Rd on our Warsaw bike ride. From the entrance take the road on your left past the flagpole to the big parking lot, not the road to the boat launch & campsites. The trail starts in the SE corner of the parking lot & was a bit challenging with deep snow covering the uneven terrain, 1st photo, takes you down to the bridge where the river goes underground, 4th photo. From there we had difficulty finding the unmarked trail, head a bit right & follow a narrow path that widens as you approach Cooper Rd. After a 1 km walk you reach a side-trail, K, that takes you to a lower lookout. From there marked L it is another 2 km walk up to the Lookout where we took a break before retracing our steps.
On cold but sunny day we met at Harold Town Park for a 3 km hike up the Meade Creek drumlin. From the parking lot we walked east on a level path where we had to walk around a muddy stretch before starting the climb where there was a difficult detour over wet rocks. From there the trails were dry as we walked up to the "summit" then taking a trail down the east side of the drumlin to the cars after an hours hike. We decided to do a 2nd hike of 4 km in the Robert Johnston Eco Forest Trails on the Douro 5th Line, off County Rd 8 between Hwy 28 & Douro, for an hours walk starting on the Lowland Trail over a large wetland on a boardwalk to the Birdwatching Trail which takes you to the Wildlife Trail & a hike up to a lookout. This is a "hidden gem" that is well worth the effort to explore
On another gorgeous fall day we met in the KLT parking lot on Fire Rd 10 off Northey's Bay Rd. During the walk Bill Hardwick noticed a bracket fungus which Garry Kotelse said was a Turkey Tail mushroom & as we continued Garry was able to identify several other types of mushrooms, plants & trees. This is a rolling walk thru the woods to a hilltop overlooking Stony Lake & the surrounding area including KNSC followed by a long walk down to the Stony Lk shoreline. After a break beside the lake we hiked on a bush road on the recently acquired Jeffrey-Cowan extension property which includes 300 feet of shoreline on Northey's Bay. After the hike we had lunch at Honey's
We met in Beavermeade on a beautiful fall day for a 34 km ride on the TCT instead of the more challenging route on rolling country roads, described in the Sept 27/23 post, cycling east on the TCT past the Keene Station shade shelter to Nelson Rd, north to Allandale Rd & thru Lang to Hope Mill where Dan Volman & Dave Messervey led a tour of the this working water powered sawmill which dates back to 1832! One of the photos shows Pete Gardner loading a board cut at the mill from an ash tree on his property. From the mill we cycled thru Lang to Heritage Line for a 1 km ride on paved bike lanes to the TCT & a return to Beavermeade for a picnic lunch beside Little Lk. Burton's photos (left click to open)
11 cyclists met just outside of Warsaw in Back Dam Park on Rock Rd on a cool fall day for a 35 km rolling ride thru the Douro-Dummer countryside. The ride starts with a long gradual uphill ride on Rock Rd (paved) past Douglas Rd to the viewpoint overlooking the Indian R gorge. After the break we cycled for a short ride east on Cooper Rd (Burton's photos) up to the 4th line for a ride south up then down to Centre Rd, gravel, & a 4 km ride east to the start of the bushtrail on the 6th line road allowance for a 2 km ride thru woods to the 6th Line (gravel) & a ride south across Webster Rd to Cty Rd 8 (Burton's photos) & a 4 km ride on pavement east to the 8th Line (gravel) for a 4 km ride north to Webster Rd. West on Webster & Cty Rd 8, paved, to the 4th Line in Cottesloe & an uphill ride north, Buton's photos, to Douglas Rd (paved) for a ride west starting uphill (Burton's last photos) then downhill to Rock Rd & a return to the park Burton's photos
On a cold dreary fall day with rain in the forecast we did a 20 km ride from Beavermeade cycling south on Ashburnham Dr over Hgw 7 past Neal Dr where it becomes Crowley Line continuing to cycle south across Assumption Rd to Base Line for a rolling ride west across Bensfort Rd to Stewart Hall & a return ride north on Wallace Pt Rd where it started to rain as we approached Bensfort Rd on which we cycled north to Otonabee Dr for a ride to Ashburnham Dr & a return to Beavermeade. After the ride Pete, Barry, Blake & Dan had lunch at the Porch & Pint . Dale Standen joined us for his 1st ride with the Dudes & Blake got lost ending up cycling on Bensfort Rd but fortunately did meet us on Baseline Rd.
This a 35 km route we do every year, cycling north from Beavermeade on the RGWT to Trent, east on Pioneer Rd to Cty Rd 4, a short jog east to Cty Rd 8 & a ride thru Douro to the Douro 2nd Line south to Division Rd west across Hgw 28 to Sweeney Line. south to the Old Norwood Rd east past Harold Town Park to Ashburnham Dr & a return to Beavermeade for a picnic lunch.
We met in Beavermead for this 51 km ride that we last did several years ago, cycling north on the RGWT past Trent to Centre Road (gravel) for a rolling ride to the 3rd Line including 2 significant hill climbs, North on the 3rd to Lynch's Rock Rd then up to the 5th Line for a short ride north to Cty Rd 6 & a ride into Lakefield taking River Rd to Trent & the RGWT back to Beavermead for a picnic lunch
We met at Young's Point in the Trent-Severn parking lot for this new 34 km route that we tired to do last year but was shortened because of a steady downpour. From Young's Pt we cycled west on Youngs Pt Rd past Cty Rd 12 to Miller Rd for a 4 km ride west to Preston Rd & a short ride north To Cty Rd 12 (Centre Line). West on the 12th Line across Buckhorn Rd (Cty Rd 23) to Birch Island Rd & south for a tour of Selwyn Beach Conservation Area on Chemung Lake. The next section of the ride was challenging ending in one long steep monster climb on the 10th Line! From the park we cycled uphill south on Birch Island Rd across the 12th Line to the 11th Line for a rolling ride east to Buckhorn Rd & south to the 10th Line then east up, up, up the Big Hill & down to Youngs Pt Rd for a pleasant cycle beside Katchewanooka Lk to Young's Pt. After the ride we had a leisurely lunch on the deck of Lock 27 Pub overlooking Clear Lk. In the future I would recommend avoiding the long & very steep 10th Line hill climb by returning on either the 12th Line or Selwyn Rd to Preston Rd
17 cyclists turned out for this 43 km ride thru the rolling Otonabee countryside. There are several routes to choose from but after an overnight rain we decided to try to stay on pavement. From Beavermeade we cycled out of the city onto Crowley Line for a rolling ride south to Baseline Rd & a ride west into Stewart Hall where we stopped at the Messervey home for coffee & delicious homemade carrot muffins. From there we cycled south on Wallace Pt Rd over the Otonabee R to Frenchman's Cove Rd, where several cyclists missed the turn & ended up at the traffic circle on Hgw 28, cycling west on gravel to Hgw 28 for an uphill ride on a wide paved shoulder past Baxter Creek Golf Club to the 6th Line & a return into the city via 6th Line, Atchison Rd, Bartlett Rd, Airport Rd, Beardsmere Rd, Johnson Rd, Monaghan Rd, Lock St, Del Crary Pk & over the Otonabee R thru Rogers Cove past the Canoe Museum to Beavermeade. After the ride we had pub-grub at the Porch & Pint in air-conditioned comfort.
We met in the roadside parking area at the park entrance for this 40 km ride on & off the Victoria Rail Trail. We cycled thru the park on the trail over the large wetland for a long gradual uphill climb to Long Beach Rd in Cameron & a downhill ride to Sturgeon Lk for a ride along the shoreline before cycling uphill & a return to the trail for a ride into Fenelon Falls where we stopped at the locks before returning on the trail to Ken Reid Park for a picnic lunch overlooking Sturgeon Lk. The trail in general is in pretty good shape but there were sections with big puddles to negotiate. To reach Ken Reid Park from Peterborough drive west on Hgw 7 around Lindsay to Hgw 35, north on Hgw 35 past the airport & Thunder Bridge Rd (stoplights) for a right turn onto Ken Rei(d) Rd. It is approximately a 40 minute drive.
Today's Route - 33 KM
From Plains Circle take Valley Rd to the Tapley ¼ Line. Ride North on the Seyer Line to Cty Rd 10 where the Seyer continues East after a jog over the 115. Rd East on the Seyer. Cross Hwy 28 to Whitfield Rd and ride East to Atchison Dr. Ride, South on Atchison and as it bends into 6th Line. Cross 28 at the cemetery and continue West` on the Larmer Line. Cross Cty 10, continuing on the Larmer to Valley Rd. A T intersect. Ride uphill Valley Rd to Deer Ave, another T intersection, and the first left is Plains Circle. This undulating route has a few hill climbs, some long uphill gradients & features many great vistas of the Cavan countryside. This route can also be accessed from Ptbo by Airport Rd
On another beautiful day we met in the Lakefield municipal parking lot behind Tim Hortons to cycle this 42 km rolling route thru Douro-Dummer Twp. The ride starts on Strickland St with a long uphill climb to the water tower, then downhill across Hgw 28 to continue east to Lynch's Rock Rd & a 5 Km ride thru farmlands & a large wetland to Cedar Cross Rd & a 4 km ride east to Payne Line Rd for a short jog north to Oke Rd & east to Cty Rd 4. North on Cty Rd 4 to Caves Rd & east where we stopped to have a chat with Alec Denys at his home on the Indian R before cycling north on the 3rd line across the Indian R to Sawmill Rd & NE to the 4th Line Rd for a long uphill ride to Halls Landing on Cty Rd 6 continuing north on Cty Rd 6 to McCrackens Landing Rd & north to Birchview Rd overlooking Clear Lake at McCrackens Landing. East on Birchview which has one short but steep climb as we cycled beside Clear Lake past Camp Kawartha to Hgw 28 where a few cycled south on Hgw 28 to Lakefield Rd while others cycled south on the Douro 4th Line which has a couple of moderate hillclimbs before descending to Cty Rd 6 & a ride west crossing Hgw 28 to Lakefield Rd & a return to the cars. After the ride we had a picnic lunch on the shore of Katchewanooka Lake.
12 cyclists met in Beavermeade on an ideal day for cycling. We cycled north on the RGWT over the Nassau canal bridge to Pioneer Rd for a rolling ride east to the Warsaw Rd (Cty Rd 4) where Bill Hardwick, Mike Steele & Frank Marett left us for a longer ride into Douro. We cycled south on the 7th Line across Division Rd to the Old Norwood for another rolling ride ride west to Harold Town Park continuing west on Old Norwood Rd for a final steep climb before crossing Television Rd & up to Ashburnham St & back to Beavermeade for a ride of 26 km. After the ride 7 of us enjoyed a leisurely lunch at the Railyard.
7 of us met in Lang Pioneer Village on a bleak, cold & blustery day for a challenging 41 km ride on the TCT to Hastings & back when we probably should have stayed home! We cycled out Allandale Rd to Nelson Rd & down to the PHTCT. The sun did eventually shine but the swirling wind still made for a demanding ride. The snowmobile bridge over the Trent R was open & after crossing it we started the return ride to Lang.
