August 19/26 - Ennismore Ride #2

11 cyclists met at The Ennismore Curling Club for a ride thru the Ennismore countryside on what turned out to be an ideal day after rain had been in the forecast. We cycled west on Ennis Rd thru Ennismore past Tamarac Golf Club to Boundary Rd for a ride south, east on Yankee Line ( which has been recently paved including a wide shoulder) to McCauley Rd & west to Irish Line north with a short hill climb to Perdue south thru a forest & a subdivision to Clonakilty Line where you can ride south to Gifford Dr or north up a short but steep hill climb to Arnott Dr for a long ride beside Chemung Lk on Gifford Dr to Dalhaven Rd crossing Yankee Line for a ride north on Tara Rd passing the Quarry Golf Club into Ennismore where several cyclists decided to stop after a ride of 25 km. 6 of us cycled east on Ennis Rd to Robinson Rd, north to Listowel Line east to Brick Rd, south to Ennis Rd & east to the Waterfront Pk before returning to the curling club on Ennis Rd after a 38 km ride. 7 of us had lunch at Jessie's Bar & Tavern. This route is a composite of our usual Ennismore ride with Pete Gardner's ABC ride. 

                                                     Pete at Ennismore Waterfront Park

                                             Blake on Irish Rd overlooking Chemung Lk

 Tara Rd beside The Quarry Golf Club

Wed August 12/26 - Bobcaygeon Ride

 On a pleasant day for cycling we met in Bobcaygeon Beach Park for a 44 km ride beside Sturgeon Lk. From the park we cycled west on Cty Rd 24 which has a wide a paved shoulder as you cycle beside Sturgeon Lk to Dunsford. From Dunsford we cycled north on Sturgeon Rd ending in a steep downhill ride to Sturgeon Lake for a long ride beside the lake & a climb up to Gil-Mar Rd then south across Hgw 36 for a return ride on Dunsford Rd into Dunsford. From there we cycled south on Sturgeon Rd (Cty Rd 7) to Log House Rd, east to Cedar Glen Rd for a ride north  on a newly paved surface across Hgw 36 & Cty Rd 24 to the lake & east to Clifford Dr which ends at Cty Rd 24 for a return  ride to Bobcaygeon & a picnic lunch in the upgraded park beside Sturgeon Lk. This is a scenic ride & the main roads have paved shoulders.

                           Sturgeon Rd overlooking Sturgeon Lake - note the paved shoulder

                                                              downtown Dunsford

Cty Rd 24 lakeside park

August 6/26 - Burton's City of Kawartha Lakes Ride

 We met Burton at Riverside Park in Omemee on a beautiful summer day for a 40 km ride thru the City of Kawartha Lakes countryside. From Omemee we cycled on the TCT thru Reaboro to Lindsay for a ride on the Rotary trail beside the Scugog R to King St east to Logie St & south for a ride on the ungroomed Victoria Rail Trail under Hgw 7 to Goldenmile Rd & a short jog over to Halter Rd for a rolling ride south to River Rd, east to Hillhead Rd, south to Confederation Rd, east to Post Rd for a short ride north to Crosswind Rd & east to Heights Rd at the John Deere dealership, across Hgw 7 to Beaver Rd & east to the TCT for a return ride to Omemee & a picnic lunch in the recently renovated Riverside Park overlooking the Pigeon R.  

                                                                       Beaver Rd

                                                                Halter Rd hill climb

                                                      Halter Rd @ River Rd

Confederation Rd

July 29/26 - Newcastle Ride from Bond Head

 13 cyclists met in Bond Head Park at the end of Mill St on the Lake Ontario shoreline. From the park we cycled north on Mill St to Metcalf St which becomes Concession Rd 1 cycling east thru farm country for a  steep climb & a stop at Newtonville Rd before reaching East Townline Rd where we split in to 2 groups at Lakeshore Rd. 7 of us cycled east thru Wesleyville to the big stack before turning around for a ride of 39 km. The others cycled west on Lakeshore Rd for a 28 km ride.  Lakeshore Rd was closed east of Bond Head so we had to cycle north on Stephenson Rd to Concession Rd 1 & a return to Bond Head for a picnic lunch. Lakeshore Rd provides vistas of Lake Ontario & passes by interesting historical sites such as the church in Wesleyville. 

                                                Concession Rd 1 at Newtonville Rd

                                             Peter & Dale at Wesleyville United church

Dave & Dale cycling west from Wesleyville

Wed July 22/26 - Lakefield thru Douro-Dummer

 We met in the Lakefield municipal parking lot behind Tim Hortons to cycle this 42 km rolling route thru the Douro countryside. The ride starts on Strickland St with a long gradual uphill climb before a downhill ride across Hgw 28 continuing 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 to Alec Denys home on the Indian R. Alec cycled with us on the Dummer 3rd Line over the Indian R north to Sawmill Rd & NE to the 4th Line Rd where he left us as we cycled uphill 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 beside Clear Lake past Camp Kawartha to Hgw 28 where we cycled south on the Douro 4th to Cty Rd 6 & a return to Lakefield for a a picnic lunch beside Katchewanooka Lake. 

                                                 McCrackens Landing on Clear Lk

                                                                 Strickland Rd

                                    Alec & friends in his driveway on Cave Rd

Alec leading the pack over the Indian R

           

Wed July 8/26 - Ride from Beavermeade into Douro Twp

 We met at 9:00 in Beavermead for an early start on a hot summer day. From Beavermead we cycled north on the RGWT to Pioneer-Nassau Rd for a ride east to Cty Rd 4. Bill Hardwick, Dave Stevenson, Peter Hamley & Dave Messervery cycled east on Cty Rd 4 thru Douro to the 2nd Line for a ride south to Division Rd then west to Sweeney Line, while we cycled south on the 7th Line crossing Division Rd to Sweeney Line to Old Norwood Rd for a rolling ride west to the Harold Town Conservation Area & break before continuing north across Television Rd to Ashburnham Dr & a return to Beavermead at 11:30 for a picnic lunch. This is a lovely ride thru the rolling Douro countryside. The Douro loop ride was 34 km while the shorter ride starting on the 7th Line was 26 km. 

                                       Dale & Dan crossing Division Rd from the 7th Line

                       Peter, Bill, Dave Stevenson & friends at Nassau Rd & Cty Rd 4

Harold Town shade shelter in front of  the Meade Creek drumlin 

Wed June 23 - Peter Hamley's Waterfront Trail Ride

 On an ideal day for cycling we met Peter at Lakeview Park in Oshawa for a 50 km ride to the Ajax Waterfront Park & back on the gorgeous Waterfront Trail a linear park which for most of the ride overlooks Lake Ontario. After the ride we had a picnic lunch in the park. 

                               Ajax Waterfront Park- flags hanging from a ship's yardarm

                                  Intrepid Park - one of the many access points to the trail

        'The Boat" memorial in Ajax Waterfront Park overlooking Lake Ontario

 

Wed June 17 Beavrmeade to Lang on PHTCT

 7 of us met at Beavermeade for a 30 km ride in sunshine when rain had been in the forecast. We cycled on the TCT to Nelson Rd north to Allandale Rd for a ride into Lang then out to Cty Rd 6 for a ride back to the TCT & a return ride to Beavermeade.  

This section of the trail is in great shape but east of Lang beavers are causing flooding 

                                                           Indian R at Lang 

                                                   Bill identifying wildflowers

Keene Station shade shelter

Wed June 10 - Beavermeade to Lakefield

 Bill, Dave M., Steve, & Dale met at Beavermead. After a brief shower just before 9:30, they rode to Lakefield, went across the bridge & turned right on Clementi St. which took them to Lakefield Park for a cycle on the trail around the park, stopping briefly at a viewing tower overlooking the wetland. Bill said they took their time cycling back, stopping at the gazebo on River Rd. The total was 40 Km. Although it was overcast, there was no rain the whole ride. The photos were taken from the viewing platform.

                                                  

Wed June 3 - Lakefield to Young's Pt thru Smith Twp

On a gorgeous spring day we met in the municipal parking lot off Queen St for a 33 km ride thru the Smith Twp countryside. From the parking lot we cycled on Water St to Queen St, over the bridge to Young's Pt Rd & NE to Preston Rd, continuing north to the 12th Line, Cty Rd 12. Pete Gardner & Blake wanted a shorter route so they cycled east on the 12th to Young's Pt Rd & a ride to the canal before continuing to Lakefield.. The main group cycled west on the 12th to Northey's Rd for an uphill ride to the 14th Line, east to Jopling Line & north to the 15th Line for a ride east to North Schoolhouse Rd & a ride south to Hgw 28 into Young's Pt. From there we cycled south on Hgw 28 over the bridge to the Douro 4th Line where we split into 2 groups, one continuing on Hgw 28 to Lakefield Rd, while the others cycled south on the 4th which has 2 moderate hill climbs to Cy Rd 6 west to Hgw 28 & Lakefield Rd for a return to the cars. After the ride we had a picnic lunch in Isabel Morris Park on the Katchewanooka shoreline.  

                                            Preston Rd, poison ivy roadside

                                                              Young's Pt 

Young's Pt

May 26/26 - Ennismore Ride

On an ideal day for cycling we met at The Ennismore Curling Club for a 27 km ride thru the rolling Ennismore countryside. From the curling club we cycled west on Ennis Rd thru Ennismore for a hill climb before passing by the Tamarac Golf Club on the way to Boundary Rd for a ride north & a short but steep hill climb before cycling down to Pigeon Lk & a ride on Edenderry Rd east to Innascara Rd, north to Kerri Line, east across Tara Rd to Youngs Cove Rd for a ride along the Buckhorn Lk shoreline to Tipperary Rd & south to Edenderry for a ride east to Robinson Rd, south to Listowel Line then east to Brick Rd & south to Ennis Rd where we cycled east to The Ennismore Waterfront Park on Chemung Lk before cycling west on Ennis Rd across Robinson Rd to the curling club. After the ride we had lunch at Jessie's Bar & Grill. 

                                                          downtown Ennismore

                                                 Boundary Rd after the hill climb

                                                                   Chemung Lake

Wed May 20/26 - Christine Bentham Wetlands Trails

 On a gorgeous spring day we met in the Harper Rd parking lot to carpool before driving east on Hgw 7 then north on Hgw 28 to Juniper Pt Rd ( just south of Burleigh Falls) & the small parking lot at the northern entrance to the magnificent Christine Bentham KLT Wetlands. We walked south on the Juniper Pt trail to Michael's Limestone Ridge trail where we started on what I thought was the Wetland trail but turned out not to be a park trail so we returned to the Limestone Ridge trail & continued south to the Kawartha Park trail which takes you to Ruth's Wetland trail & down to the Clear Lk shoreline for a walk beside the lake to a large wetland with several boardwalks as you return to the Limestone Ridge Trail a loop around a high limestone ridge to the Juniper Pt Trail & back to our cars. Pete, Gordon & Blake had lunch in Lakefield at The Canoe & Paddle pub.  

Dale & Bill identifying wild flowers, we saw trilliums, mayapples, columbines, violets & others 

                                          Clear Lake - this property includes 1200 ft of shoreline!

Blake & Bill with a group of trillium between them, believe me!

Wed May 6 - Bethany Victoria Rail hike

7 hikers including Fred Meade met in Bethany for a 6.3 km walk north on the Victoria Rail trail. This section of trail is in good condition & there was evidence of recent maintenance including grading & brush trimming. However as one photo shows there were a few puddles that we had to walk around. We lucked out on the weather as it was sprinkling on the drive to Bethany but cleared during the walk then started to rain as we were driving to Millbrook for lunch at Moodie's Bar & Grill.  We saw  a large swath of marsh marigolds, a few trilliums & the Fleetwood Creek wetland provides a beautiful vista of the rolling countryside.

Recently groomed  section of the trail

Fleetwood Creek wetland

some puddles we had to navigate around

Wed April 29 - South Drumlin hike

 9 hikers met in the Armour Rd parking lot for a 6 km walk starting up the Trent U South Drumlin Trail & down to Thompson Bay thru Waverley Park onto the golf club fairways towards the canal multi-use trail. 7 of us returned on the same route over the drumlin to avoid any wet areas while Bill Hardwick & Pat Towns walked on the trail between the drumlin & the canal & said it was dry. After the ride Pete, George, Gordon & Bill Robertson had lunch at The Railyard. 

Thompson Bay