Wed Nov 27 - Harold Town Trails hike

 On cold but sunny day we met at Harold Town Park for a 3 km hike up the Meade Creek drumlin. From the parking lot we walked east on a level path where we had to walk around a  muddy stretch before starting the climb where there was a difficult detour over wet rocks. From there the trails were dry as we walked up to the "summit" then taking a trail down the east side of the drumlin to the cars after an hours hike. We decided to do a 2nd hike of 4 km in the Robert Johnston Eco Forest Trails on the Douro 5th Line, off County Rd 8 between Hwy 28 & Douro, for an hours walk starting on the Lowland  Trail over a large wetland on a boardwalk to the Birdwatching Trail which takes you to the Wildlife Trail & a hike up to a lookout. This is a "hidden gem" that is well worth the effort to explore

Harold Town hike - from the left, Gordon Powell, Alan Ingram, Bill Robertson, Dave Meservey George Post, Garry Koteles, Frank Marret

                                                   Harold Town - view to the east

                                                     Robert Johnston lookout

                                                 Robert Johnston Wildlife Trail at the lookout

Wednesday Nov 6 - Jeffrey-Cowan hike

On another gorgeous fall day we met in the KLT parking lot on Fire Rd 10 off Northey's Bay Rd. During the walk Bill Hardwick noticed a bracket fungus which Garry Kotelse said was a Turkey Tail mushroom & as we continued Garry was able to identify several other types of mushrooms, plants & trees. This is a rolling walk thru the woods to a hilltop overlooking Stony Lake & the surrounding area including KNSC followed by a long walk down to the Stony Lk shoreline. After a break beside the lake we hiked on a bush road on the recently acquired Jeffrey-Cowan extension property which includes 300 feet of shoreline on Northey's Bay. After the hike we had lunch at Honey's 

                                                 Garry identifying a mushroom

                                         hilltop water pump used in the past for irrigation

                                               Garry & Dave - KLT shoreline

Bill & Gordon Boschink Narrows 

Jeffrey-Cowan dock with the KLT owned island behind

 

October 9 2024 - Beavermeade to Stewart Hall

 On a cold dreary fall day with rain in the forecast we did a 20 km ride from Beavermeade cycling south on Ashburnham Dr over Hgw 7 past Neal Dr where it becomes Crowley Line continuing to cycle south across Assumption Rd to Base Line for a rolling ride west across Bensfort Rd to Stewart Hall & a return ride north on Wallace Pt Rd where it started to rain as we approached Bensfort Rd on which we cycled north to Otonabee Dr for a ride to Ashburnham Dr & a return to Beavermeade. After the ride Pete, Barry, Blake & Dan had lunch at the Porch & Pint . Dale Standen joined us for his 1st ride with the Dudes & Blake got lost ending up cycling on Bensfort Rd but fortunately did meet us on Baseline Rd.  

                                    Crowley Line across from The 100 Acre Brewery

                                      Crowley Line looking back towards the city

                                            Burton & Bill facing Base Line 

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