Beavermeade to Wallace point

 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. 

                                                         Burton's photos

Airport Rd - Cavan Creek bridge

                                              Crowley Line at Baseline Rd

Coffee break at Dave's

Ken Reid Park to Fenelon Falls

 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. 

                                                  Long Beach Rd - Sturgeon Lake

                                         Pete Gardner & Barry Diceman - Fenelon Falls

         Ken Reid wetland bridge - Bill is riding beside a cyclist who was on a 5 day cycling trip

Ken Reid picnic area overlooking Sturgeon Lk

April 24 2024 - PHTCT ride from Lang to Hastings

 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.

                                                    TCT at Nelson Rd

                                                       Blake crossing Settlers Line

Trent R from the snowmobile bridge

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