July 26 - Ride from Baxter Creek Golf club

 14 cyclists met in the upper parking lot of the Baxter Creek golf Club on a hot, muggy summer day. We ended up cycling a 26 km route avoiding more hill climbs & the heat. From the club we cycled west on Cedar Valley Rd which has a few rollers as you cross Baxter Creek to Hutchison Dr. & long gradual uphill ride north to Larmer Line for a short but steep climb before continuing  to cycle west over Hgw 115 to Tapley 1/4 Line where we decided to shorten the ride by cycling north to Syer  Line for a ride east on rolling terrain to Cty Rd 10 & an uphill jog over Hgw 115 to Syer then east to Hutchison Dr, south to Cedar Valley Rd & a return to the the Golf club. Unfortunately John Higgisson suffered a serious head injury caused by his front wheel being caught in loose gravel as he cycled down a steep gradient on Syer. The rapid response of the emergency services was impressive & John had been admitted to Sunnybrook Hospital within an hour of his injury. After the ride a few us decompressed by having lunch on the golf club patio where we were joined by Bob Hawker from Port Perry who has cycled & skied with us. We had a report from John's wife Joan that he had been admitted to ICU for treatment. I will send further updates on John's condition by email. 

                     

                                                      Syer Line hill - site of the accident

                                                           Syer Line west of Cty Rd 10

                                                   Cedar Valley Rd at Hutchison Dr

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