June 22 - Oshawa Ride to Newcastle

On a warm summer day 13 cyclists met Peter Hamley in Lakeview Park for a 60 km ride ride on the Waterfront Trail to Newcastle. The route combines paved roads, most with bike lanes, between parklands such as Darlington Provincial Pk & the Wilmot Creek Conservation Area thru a variety of landscapes such as wetlands, wood lots & the lakeshore. The new paved section between Darlington & Bowmanville has moderately long hill climbs both ways compensated by great views of the lake. Unlike the trail towards Whitby most of this section is a bit inland but we still felt a welcome breeze from the lake. The route is well signed, on the return ride after a ride thru a heavy downpour Peter led us on a few shortcuts back to Lakeview Pk. From the farmhouse Bob Penny, Bill, John & Frank left us for Boston cream pie at Teddys!

Directions: from Peterborough drive down Hgw 115 to the 401. In Oshawa, take the Ritson R & Simcoe St exit  & drive south on Ritson Rd, turn left onto Simcoe St (at the Bobby Orr school) & drive south to Lakeview Park Ave, right on to Kluane Ave & west to the parking lot. 

                                                    Peter's grandparents farmhouse

                                                   Waterfront Trail - Newcastle

                                        Jon describing his whitewater canoeing adventures!

Oct 27 2021 - Bewdley to Camborne & Beyond

12 cyclists met in the Bewdley municipal parking lot on another gorgeous fall day. From the parking lot we cycled east on Cavan Rd crossing Cty Rd 9 to Plainsville, a 6 km gradual but steady uphill ride. Then south on Cty Rd 18 for a continuous long but moderate hill climb to Upper Coldsprings followed by the reward of a a long downhill ride thru Lower Coldsprings to Camborne where we split in to groups. From Camborne Pete led one group on Kennedy Rd  which has a couple of short but steep climbs on the way uphill to Vimy Ridge Rd. West on Vimy Ridge thru a couple of small dips to Little Rd which has a final steep climb to a panoramic view of Rice Lk before continuing downhill to Cavan Rd & a return into Bewdley, a 30 km route. The other group continued their ride downhill thru Camborne to Dale Rd then west to McClelland Rd for a challenging uphill ride north to Bethel Grove Rd followed by more climbs cycling west to Vic Lightle Rd, north to Vimy Ridge & a short jog over to Little Rd for a return to Bewdley, a 40 km route. After the ride we enjoyed a picnic lunch in the Bewdley lakeshore park. This scenic route is the most difficult ride we do with long moderate climbs interspersed with steeper climbs that demand respect requiring frequent short rest breaks, especially for our "elder statesmen" like me! For many years we only did the Camborne loop with everyone turning on to Kennedy Rd.

                             

                                                  Cty Rd 18 - 1/2 way up to Upper Coldsprings

                                                      View of Rice Lake from Little Rd

View of Vimy Ridge Rd area from Kennedy Rd

Barry's Note re Donations to P-HTCT Association

Fellow ‘Dudes’

Peterborough-Hastings Trans Canada Trail Assoc. Inc. is the manager for the Lang Hastings Trail.  In the past, the group has been very supportive of the trail and I thank everyone for that. Now that we have charitable status, any donation over $20 will receive a tax receipt.

Donations can be made on the trail web site http://langhastingstrail.ca through Canada Helps  

or by direct donation by cheque payable to P-HTCTAssoc., which you can give to me.  

Thank you.

Barry,      Pres. P-HTCTAssoc.

  

                                                 Keene Station Shelter - a recent project

Suggestions for Safe Cycling

Robin recently sent me an email suggesting ways we could make our rides safer. We decided to recommend these safe practices . #1- limit the group size to 10 when cycling on roads which prevents a long strung out line of riders. #2 Do not stop at the top of a hill for eg select a driveway where we can safely take a break. This applies to any stops for eg at intersections. #3 ride single file giving cars space to pass. #4 - Make sure that we take short breaks at reasonable intervals to hydrate & "catch our breath". #5 Sweep & Leader use cellphones to connect when there is a delay. #6 maintain a safe space between bikes. 

                                      

November 4th - Beavermeade to Lang

 20 cyclists met at Beavermeade for a 35 km ride thru Otonabee Twp on a spectacular late fall day after having the ride cancelled last week because of a snowfall! From Beavermeade we cycled to the Lang-Hastings Trail (TCT), across the Keene Rd to Dillon Rd then east for a final short but steep climb up to Drummond Line. Drummond has a few big time "rollers" one measuring 9 % near the top on the ride south towards the TCT. As we cycled towards Lang on the trail we came to a fallen tree which Barry cut up with his folding hand saw! Left the trail taking the bike lane to cycle north on Heritage Line (Cty Rd 34) 7 to Lang Rd for a ride into Lang then on to Hope Mill then cycled back to Lang & out to Nelson Rd, south to the TCT for a return ride to Beavermeade.

                                         

                                            Rest break on Drummond Line before the hill climbs

                                                         Lang Grist Mill beside the Indian R

                                                         Barry sawing the tree branches

Sept 16 - Robin's Cobourg ride

 14 cyclists met Robin Maughan in the Cobourg Conservation Park for a scenic 45 km ride between Cobourg & Port Hope. Take the Burnham St exit off Hgw 401, turn left onto Elgin St (2nd stoplights) & the "hidden"park entrance is on your right at the bottom of a small dip in the road. We cycled east on Elgin St to Ontario St for a gradual uphill ride north over Hgw 401where Robin led us on a picturesque 10 km new route thru the countryside. East on Danforth, north on Castle Hill Rd to Dale Rd, east to Race Track, north to Ferguson Rd & Ball Rd, west to Cornish Hollow Rd & north to Smylie Rd for a ride west to Cty Rd 18 & south to Dale Rd for a long ride west on a paved shoulder to Hamilton Rd (Port Hope) then south to Telephone Rd & east to Theatre Rd, south to Cty Rd 2, east to New Amherst Rd, south to Carlisle St, east to a bike lane, south to Kerr St, east to Westwood Dr to Burnham St, south to Monk St, east to Tremaine Terrace, east on Clyde St, south on Ontario St for a ride on the boardwalk to Cobourg Harbour then east thru Victoria Pk & Bay St to D'Arcy St, south to Lakeshore, east to Cloverdale, north to Hamilton, west thru Foote Cr to Brook, north to University, west to D'Arcy, north to Elgin St & west to the conservation park where we had lunch.  .

                                   

                                                                        Cobourg Harbour

                                                                  

 Dale Rd - note paved shoulder

Robin's Ride from Baxter Creek

12 cyclists met Robin at the Baxter Creek Golf Club for a 9:00 start to this ride he described as "in & out of Millbrook X 2". From the golf club we cycled west on Cedar Valley Rd to Hutchison Dr, south to Cty Rd 21 for a 2 km gradual uphill ride before descending into Millbrook then continuing west on Cty Rd 21 out of Millbrook & a 3 km uphill ride to Tapley 1/4 Line for a rest before cycling down & up thru a gully to Glenmorgan Rd where we split into 2 groups. One group cycled south to Zion Line for a 34 km ride while Robin led the others for a 44 km ride over Hgw 115 to Pontypool Rd, downhill past Black Diamond golf club to Porter Rd (Cty Rd 32), across 115 to Farmers Rd & east to Zion for a rolling ride to Carveth Dr & a return to Millbrook. From Millbrook we cycled west on Cty Rd 10 for yet another uphill climb to Larmer Line, east to Cty Rd 28 & a return to Baxter Creek where we had lunch on the patio. This is a scenic ride thru the rolling Cavan countryside with the rides out of Millbrook being the most challenging!

                                     

Cty Rd 10 view towards Millbrook

                                                 Cty Rd 21 view west towards Glenmorgan Rd 

 

Steve Guerin & friends at Cty Rd 21 & Tapley