Dec 3/25 - Millbrook Valley Trails hike

 On a brisk overcast wintery day we met at the Millbrook Mill Pond for a hike on the linear 3.0 km Baxter Creek Trail & the 1.4 km Grand Trunk pathway. The Baxter Creek trail starts at the edge of the woods on the SE corner of the pond park. The trail had a cover of hard-packed snow as it winds it's way thru deciduous & cedar woods, wetlands & beside the creek eventually crossing the 4th Line to The Grand Trunk pathway that leads to the 1865 GTR bridge. On our return we walked around the small pond to the path on the eastern side of the fishing pond thru the parking lot & across the 4th Line to the Baxter Creek Trail & a return to Millbrook for lunch at Moody's. In the wetland areas there are many boardwalks & 2 bridges over the creek. We recommend walking thru the parking lot to access the trails south of the 4th Liner rather than the continuation of the Baxter Creek trail

 Peter Hamley, Barry Diceman,George Post, Frank Marett, Dave Messervey, Gordon Powell

                                                                      Baxter Creek

Railway bridge over Baxter Creek

Thursday Nov 27/25 - South Drumlin walk

 Pete MacLoghlin, Barry Diceman, Dave Messervey & Blake Frazer did a 5 km hike on the Trent U South Drumlin Trail. The weather cooperated until a light snow squall struck on our return walk beside the canal. The trail begins at the bend of the Rotary trail from Nassau Rd & after a 100 metres starts to climb gradually up to a ridge overlooking the canal that takes you eventually thru an old orchard down to the Thompson Creek dam & south to a city park. At the NE corner of the park there is a rough trail that leads to a peninsula on the east shore of Thompson Bay. From there we walked to the SE corner of the park onto the 13th green of the Peterborough Golf Club. On our return we walked on the trail between the canal & the drumlin which ends after passing under the Nassau bridge at a wide gravel path that goes to Nassau Rd. If the weather had allowed we might have continued walking south on the golf course to the gravel path on the west shore of the canal that ends at Parkhill Rd 

                                     

                                                 Thompson Bay from the peninsula trail

                                            

                                                                 golf course 

                                          

Swans on the Thompson Bay shoreline

Thursday Nov 20/25 - Christine Bentham Hike

We decided to take advantage of another gorgeous fall day by exploring the trails of the 137 acre KLT Christine Bentham nature preserve just south of Burleigh Falls featuring a mature deciduous forest, 1200 feet of shoreline on Clear Lk & large limestone ridges. Starting from the parking lot on Juniper Pt Rd we walked the 0.7 km Juniper Point Trail to the 2 km circular Michael's Limestone Ridge Trail where we walked on the eastern section down to the Kawartha Park Trail for a short hike to the 1.5 km Ruth's Wetland Explorer Trail which takes you to the Clear Lake shoreline & wetlands before returning to the Kawartha Park Trail for a return to the Limestone Ridge Trail where walked on the western section to the Juniper Pt trail & a return to the cars for a walk of 5.0 km.  After the hike we had lunch at the Canoe & Paddle pub in Lakefield. The trails are well marked & maintained with boardwalks & bridges over the wet sections. These trails can also be accessed from Kawartha Park Road. Roger's Trail is another path from Kawartha Park Rd that goes to Clear Lk & continues along the shoreline to Sandy Point. 

                

               Blake Frazer, Alan Ingram, Barry Diceman , Pete MacLoghlin on the Clear Lk shoreline

        Barry, Blake, Alan, Frank Marett at the Juniper Pt & Limestone Ridge trails junction 

Clear Lake inlet on Ruth's Wetland Trail

Wed Nov 19/25 - Sylvan Glen Ganaraska Trail Hike

 We met John Ambler at the Sylvan Glen Conservation Area on Sylvan Glen Rd off of Dale Rd. The Ganaraska Trail starts over the bridge on the other side of the Ganaraska R from the conservation parking lot. This a well maintained trail with benches, boardwalks & bridges on private property but maintained by Ganaraska Trail volunteers. The trails pssses thru a forest of huge cedar trees as you wind your way down to the river & eventually passes thru a meadowlike area. After walking this section we walked on the conservation trail which is along the south side of the river & is not as well maintained with difficult gullies to cross. A few of us then drove to Richardson's Lookout which is west of Garden Hill off Cty Rd 9 that has panoramic views of the Oakridge Moraine & south towards Lake Ontario where we could see the Wesleyville stack.  

                                      Richardson's Lookout view south towards Lake Ontario 

  Richardson's Lookout - view north towards the Oakridge Moraine

                  From the left: Blake Frazer, Geoge Post, Barry Diceman, Pete MacLoghlin

                                        Ganaraska River with our shadows on the shoreline

                                

Hikers on a Ganaraska Trail bridge

October 29/25 - Barry's ride from Beavermeade

 On a sunny but cool fall day Barry led 8 cyclists on a 26 km rolling ride thru Otonabee Twp. From Beavermeade we cycled east on Ashburnham Dr across Landsdowne St, over Hgw 7 & on to Crowley Line past 100 Acres Brewery, across Assumption Rd to Base Line which has a few challenging hill climbs as we cycled east across Keene Rd then beside Pinecrest Golf Club to a drumlin with the steepest climb before reaching Drummond Line where after a break we continued cycling east to a private bush lane which took us north to the TCT & a return ride to Beavermeade.  

                                                Arndt & Barry on Assumption Line

                                                  Base Line at Crowley Line

Dale approaching Drummond Line

Wed Oct 22/25 - The 3B's Ride from Beavermeade

Hi Pete: Here is a description  of our ride today. Bill, Barry & Burton met at Beavermead in cool but dry conditions. We rode north on the trail to Trent U., through the university grounds , & west on Woodland Dr. to Hilliard St. From there we rode north to 5th line, & west across Chemong Rd. to Fife's Bay Rd. Turning south, we cycled all the way down Ackison & Brealey, turning left past Stenson's farm to ride through the newer subdivision , across Sherbrooke St. where Burton & Barry turned off for home, having ridden to Beavermead to start the ride. Bill continued down Brealey & Airport Rd. to Fisher Dr, crossing SSF Dr & continuing along Crawford Dr & back home for a total of 40 km. The rain held off nicely for us. A good workout as there are several good sized hills. See you next week (I think!).Bill  

Oct 15/25 - Ride from the Airport

 Barry led us on a 45 km ride thru the rolling Cavan-Monaghan countryside. It was cold, cloudy & breezy when we arrived at the airport but it did warm up when the sun came out to highlight the fall colours. From the airport parking lot we cycled on Mervin Line to Airport Rd over Cavan Creek to Bartlett Rd & south to Whitfield Rd for a short ride down to Whitfield Landing on the Otonabee R before returning to Atchison Rd for a ride to the 6th Line & Hyw 28 & a short ride south on a paved shoulder past Baxter Creek Golf Club to Cedar Valley Rd then west to Hutchison Dr & north to Larmer Rd, west for a short but steep hill climb, followed by a 6 km ride over Hgw 115 to Tapley 1/4 Line & north to Syer Line for a ride west with a jog up & over Hgw 115 to continue west across Hgw 28 to Whitfield Rd to Bartlett Rd, Airport Rd & a return to the airport terminal for lunch at The Good Baker YPQ restaurant  

                                           Otonabee R @ Whitfield Landing

                           Peter Hamley on the Larmer Rd hill climb from Hutchison Dr

 Cty Rd 10 at Syer Line

October 8 -Lang to Hastings on TCT

 On a cool but gorgeous fall day Barry led us on a ride of 42 km on the TCT from the soccer fields in Lang to the Hastings swing bridge & back. We cycled out of Lang on Allendale Rd to Nelson Rd & south to the PHTCT. The trail winds thru farmlands, drumlins, woodlots & wetlands until it reaches the Trent R. where it overlooks the water before crossing the river on the swing bridge. After the ride we had lunch at Muddy's Pit BBQ in Keene, a classic roadhouse.

                                                  TCT at Settlers Line

                                                      TCT at Birdsall Line

                                              Trent R swing bridge at Hastings

Dave Messervey at Birdsall Station with the Cty Rd 2 underpass behind him

Oct 1/26 - Garden Hill Ride

We met in Garden Hill at the Conservation Park for this 45 km rolling ride thru the Northumberland countryside, cycling east on Cty Rd 9 thru Garden Hill to Grist Mill Rd for a ride south to the 5th Line & a short ride west to Cty Rd 10 & a welcome long descent thru Canton up to the 4th Line where we found the old Midland -Port Hope Railway bed (which became part of the Grand Trunk Railway then CNR)  on Kellogg Rd. This is the sane raikway that built the stone bridge south of Millbrook that we se hiking the Baxter Creek Trails south of Zion Line. From Kellogg Rd we continued west on the 4th line to Deer Park Rd for a ride south across Cty Rd 2, over Hgw 401 to Donaldson Rd & south to Lakeshore Rd for a ride west on the Waterfront Trail beside Lake Ontario thru Port Britain to the Wesleyville stack. From there we cycled north on Morrish Church Rd for a long uphill ride over Hgw 401, across Cty Rd 2, to the 4th Line & west to Cty Rd 65 & a ride north thru Osaka then 2 big gullies to the 7th line for a ride east to the infamous steep climb followed by a downhill ride to Mill St & north thru Garden Hill for a picnic lunch in the park. Arndt & Dale rode 34 km by cycling west on the 4th Line past Deer Pk Rd to County Rd 65, bypassing the ride down to Lake Ontario.  

                                                          Deer Park Rd

                                           Barry on Grist Mill Rd at Cty Rd 9

                                        Morrish Church Rd view towards the Oakridge Moraine

7th Line hill summit 

Warsaw colour ride

 We met in Back Dam Park on Rock Rd just outside of Warsaw for a 35 km ride thru the Dummer countryside.The ride starts with a long gradual uphill ride on Rock Rd (paved) past Douglas Rd to the Warsaw Caves trail leading to the 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 bushtrail on the 6th line road allowance for a 2 km ride thru the woods to the 6th Line (gravel) & a rolling ride south across Webster Rd 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. West on Webster to Cty Rd 8, paved to the 4th Line in Cottelsloe & an uphill ride north (paved & gravel) to Douglas Rd (paved) to Rock Rd & a return to the park for a picnic lunch beside the Indian R. 

                                                   Indian R gorge lookout

                                                               Dummer 4th Line

                                        Cottlelsole - Cty Rd 8  &  4th Line intersection

Dan & Dale on the 6th Line bush trail

September 17/25 - Lakefield loop thru the Douro-Dummer countryside

On an ideal for cycling day we met in the Lakefield municipal parking lot behind Tim Hortons to cycle this 42 km rolling route. 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 past Warsaw Caves & Alec's home on the Indian R to the Dummer 3rd Line north to Sawmill Rd & NE to the 4th Line Rd for a long gradual uphill ride to Halls Glen on Cty Rd 6 continuing north on Cty Rd 6 to McCrackens Landing Rd & north to Birchview Rd overlooking Clear Lake. East on Birchview which has one short but steep climb as we cycled beside Clear Lake past Camp Kawartha to Hgw 28 where we cycled south on Hgw 28 to Lakefield Rd & a return to Lakefield for a a picnic lunch in the shade shelter overlooking Katchewanooka Lake.

                                             canoe & kayak dock at Isobel Morris Park

                                                                 4th Line break

Halls Glen

Birchview hill climb

Sept 10/25 - Rice Lake ride

From the Bewdley municipal parking lot we cycled up Cavan Rd  to Cty Rd 9 for a challenging 3 km uphill ride to Lander Rd which has panoramic views of Rice Lk before a welcome descent to the lake at Gore's Landing. From there we cycled east on Rice Lake Scenic Dr into Harwood filling our water bottles from the aquifer tap before a break at the Harwood Dock park. Then we cycled south on Cty Rd 15 for a long gradual uphill ride across Cty Rd 9 to Beavermeadow Rd W, west to Cty Rd 18 & a short ride north to Plainsville & Cavan Rd for a return ride thru farmlands beside the Oakridge Moraine to Bewdley & lunch at Rhino's. We had an ideal day for this scenic undulating route on & above the Rice Lake shoreline followed by a ride thru the hills of the Northumberland countryside . 

                                 Bill & Arndt on Lander Rd with Rice Lake in the background

 Lander Rd view of the final section of the Cty Rd 9 climb 

Sept 3 - Barry's ride from Omemee

Barry led us a new longer route thru the City of Kawartha Lakes eastern countryside, 55 km vs 40 km. From Omemee we cycled on the TCT to Reaboro but instead of continuing on the TCT we cycled north on Settlers Rd (paved), west on Slanted Rd (paved) to Post Rd (paved) & north across Cty Rd 17 past the red barn to Cheese Factory Rd (paved) east to Height's Rd for a short ride north to Kings Wharf Rd (paved )& a 6 km ride east across Cty Rd 7 to Centreline Rd (Cty Rd 10) (paved) for a ride south thru Amish farmlands across Cty Rd 17 to St Lukes Rd (paved) & east to Downeyville on Cty Rd 7, From there we had 2 options, shorter south on Cty Rd 7 into Omemee or as we did continuing east on St Lukes Rd to Esker Rd (gravel) for a long ride south across Tracey's Hill Rd to Beaver Rd (gravel ) & a short ride east to Sibley Ave, south to the TCT for a return to Omemee & a picnic lunch in Riverside Pk. Starting on St Lukes Rd the route passes thru rolling countryside & combined with a strong winds & length made for a challenging ride especially on regular bikes! This is another lovely route mainly on paved roads that could possibly be combined with the TCT into 2 rides, one from Omemee & another from Reaboro.

Beaver Rd

                                         King's Wharf Rd bridge over the Emily Creek wetlands

Post Rd

Dan's 2014 sunrise photo of the red barn on Post Rd 

August 28/25 - Barry's Ride thru Cambray

On an ideal day for cycling Barry led us on this 47.5 km ride thru the western part of The City of Kawartha Lakes countryside. From the parking area on Ken Reid Rd we cycled west up to Angeline St then south to Thunderbridge Rd for a ride west across Hgw 35 to Cty Rd 18 & north to Cambray, west  thru Cambray on Cambray Rd continuing west on The Glen Rd Rd to Cty Rd 6, north to Cty Rd 9 (Woodville Rd), east to Cambray Rd south then east thru Cambray, to Cty Rd 21(Killarney Bay Rd), north to Chamber's Rd, east to Cty Rd 34 & south into Cameron for a short jog north on Hgw 35 to Long Beach Rd & east to the Victoria Rail Trail for a return to Ken Reid Pk & a picnic lunch overlooking Sturgeon Lk. This a lovely ride on paved roads up & down the occasional gentle rollers.  

                                                                          Cambray

                                                                     Cambray Rd

Chamber's Rd at Cty Rd 21

 

Wed August 20/25 - Oshawa Trails ride

 We met at Peter Hamley's home for this 50 km ride, cycling on side streets to access The Harmony Creek Trail a beautiful city linear park that took us south to Hgw 401 which we crossed over to Farewell St for a ride south to Harbour Rd & west thru a new park to Simcoe St & south to Lakeview Park & the Waterfront Trail cycling west around Whitby Harbour to the Ontario Shores Mental Health complex where we started the return ride on the trail to Lakeview Pk. From there we cycled north on The Oshawa Creek Trail, another intercity green oasis, for lunch at Teddy's. From Teddy's we cycled on streets & thru parks back to Peter's home. It had rained overnight & was drizzling on the drive from Peterborough but fortunately we had no rain on the ride however it was quite windy forming interesting wave & cloud formations on the lake. 

                                             Waterfront Trail in Lakeview Pk

                                   Peter in Lakeview Park with the waves in the background

Intrepid Park from the Waterfront Trail