An Ontario Adventure

Day 12: Blyth to Linwood 72km
Friday, June 26. 2015
Sunny with a few clouds. East wind. 22C
At 8 o’clock we were seated for breakfast at the Station House B&B. The proprietors also run a Bistro in Blyth so of course the food was delicious.

After a slice of freshly baked rhubarb pie for dessert we were all fueled up for our departure. As it turns out we needed every one of those calories because the trail was in rough shape. We switched over to the road, but had 13km of dirt roads before we saw pavement.

What made matters even worse, was that the road had fresh gravel on top.

The wind had changed direction too and was blowing from the east, precisely the direction we were heading. We kept are heads down, looking up only to check our mirrors and to peek at the passing scenery.

We passed countless farms and fields. Countless trucks and cars passed us. Some of the highlights were cows…

And tractors.

In Millbank, after 60km we made a picnic with some of the food we were carrying including fresh, local strawberries.

The Kissing Bridge trail starts in Millbank and we figured that the trail would be a welcome change from the busy #72. It started out fine, but after the first bridge the trail turned to grass.

The ground was soft and the pedaling was tough. Just what we needed after toiling into the wind all day. Eventually the trail returned to a more rideable surface and after an hour we were in Linwood. We found the B&B and then walked to the small grocery store to fill out our pantry. Tonight will be our last supper of this road trip and we enjoyed another super salad.

Now we have a few stray items from the bakery in Blyth and the one in Millbank to take care of. Tomorrow we should arrive back in Kitchener.

An Ontario Adventure

Day 11: Goderich to Blyth 42km
Thursday, June 25. 2015
Clouds clearing, sunny and humid. 23C

We took our strawberries and yogurt with us when we checked out this morning. After stopping in at the bakery for their renowned cream puffs we made our way over to see the Huron County Gaol. We weren’t in a rush to go anywhere – today would be a short ride – so we decided to take a tour of the old jail.

It was fascinating and a little haunting touring the jail and the Governor’s house, especially on an empty stomach. When we finished there we were very near the trailhead of the Goderich – Auburn Rail Trail (GART). We stopped to look at the map of the trail and struck up conversation with another cyclist. As it turns out Rod is the unofficial Trail Master and gave us information about the detours we could expect along the way to Blyth.

Having heard the news about the Goderich to Guelph (G2G) trail opening officially next week we didn’t want to advertise the fact that we were going to give it a test run. Rod seemed to think that it is rideable now except for a few parts where the bridges are missing. So off we went on the trail.

At noon we finally had our breakfast and then started our ride. The trail was in good shape all the way through Mcgraw until we had to detour around the missing bridge. Then the trail got tough.

Rough, muddy and buggy.

By the time we got out to the road and followed it around to Balls Bridge it was time for lunch.

We rode a little further on the road until we picked up the trail again and unfortunately the trail seemed to get worse. It would cut out at different property lines including at this pile of burning garbage.

It was so rough in spots that we had the odd unplanned dismount.

We persevered, but when we came to another creek with no practical way across we took matters into our own hands.

We ended up fording the creek and used it as an opportunity to cool off and rinse some of the mud off of the bikes.

So we kept on bumping along the trail, but when the trail started to look like an off road obstacle course we finally relented and headed for the highway.

The last few kilometers were smoother but highway 25 the Blyth Road has no shoulder to ride on and a speed limit of 90km/h. Fortunately it wasn’t that busy and before we knew it we had arrived in Blyth.

The B&B we are staying at used to be the train station in Blyth and we thought that was very fitting for our rail trail adventure.

And we thought today would be a short and easy ride. Today’s motto was “Short on distance, long on adventure”.

An Ontario Adventure

Day 10: Kincardine to Goderich 60km
Wednesday, June 24. 2015
Sunny with a south west wind. 21C

Kincardine has several tributaries flowing out to the lake and we found a route through one of the ravines this morning.

After reaching the waterfront we stopped to eat our breakfast and then take a few pictures.

We followed Lake Range Rd as far south as we could before we began pedaling along the busy highway 21 towards Goderich. There was a slight headwind that seemed to slowly sap our energy. We took several roadside breaks to keep our strength up, including this one under the shade of some silver aspen trees.

Just before we reached Goderich we picked up the rail trail and followed that into town. It was a nice change from the narrow shoulders of highway 21.

By the time we found our motel it seemed quite hot outside and we were glad to be off the road. We dropped off our luggage and then had a leisurely ride to the bakery and then the grocery store.

There was an airshow happening this afternoon and our dinner was punctuated by fighter jets from time to time.

After dinner we mustered up the strength to go watch the sunset. There were a lot of clouds in the sky by this time, but we had a nice view of the harbour.

We dragged ourselves back to our room and enjoyed a late dessert of local strawberries.

An Ontario Adventure

Day 9: Port Elgin to Kincardine 49km
Tuesday, June 23. 2015
Morning sun then cloudy then sunny. 18C

After eating all of our supplies last night our pantry was pretty depleted this morning. Giant Tiger doesn’t offer the best selection of food so we opted for a hot breakfast at Maybel’s.

Our route this morning had us on the back roads heading out of town, keeping us off of the busy highway 21. The weather was cold with a west wind and even a brief spattering of rain. If we had had more clothes with us we would have been wearing them.

Stopping for a small snack at this sheltered park gave us some energy to keep on trucking. Shortly after our break we came across a sign for Philosophers Wool. We were intrigued and stopped in the farmhouse/log cabin to investigate. We met the proprietors, heard their life story and had a look at their wares. It was time to get going.

As we got closer to Kincardine we could hear the surf building on the lake. When we came to a pathway to the beach we went a had a look.

Not long after that we arrived in Kincardine and found our way to the information centre downtown. The first two motels we looked at were full so we rode back across town and checked in at another one. Then we walked back downtown to check it out and to see the iconic light house.

When we were finished sightseeing we walked back to the motel to plan our supper. We rode our bikes to the new part of town where the grocery stores are and because of the cool weather, settled on soup. We spiced it up a bit with lentils and sweet potato and were just in time for the baseball game.

We have been investigating options for the last leg of our trip and hopefully everything will work itself out.

An Ontario Adventure

Day 8: Owen Sound to Port Elgin 59km
Monday, June 22. 2015
Cloudy then sunny. Cloudy with showers. 24C

The motel had breakfast for us this morning and we ate more than we might have otherwise. Once we were on the bikes the road led us down to the harbor where we picked up the trail heading out of town.

The Georgian Bluffs trail heads west out of Owen Sound with a gentle ascent. Once we were out of town the trail turns into our favourite kind of surface, two dirt tracks with a bit of grass in between.

We followed the trail as far as Shallow Lake and then took a side road west for 30km until a hazy Lake Huron was in sight. There were a few residential roads that kept us off the busy highway and into Southampton where we finally had lunch.

Our shady bench by the beach was in full sun before long and it was time to keep moving.

Port Elgin was only a few more kilometers so decided to go there. The trail was paved and twisty…

And followed along the shoreline.

We arrived at the marina and then made our way into town to look for a place to stay. We found a nice spot with a full kitchen and several of our favourite shops right across the road.

Just before dinner it started to rain and has kept on through most of the evening. Hopefully we will witness a sunset or two during our time by Lake Huron.

An Ontario Adventure

Day 7: Collingwood to Owen Sound 71km
Sunday, June 21. 2015
Clouds, light rain then sun. 24C

Today we got our earliest start yet. We were on the road just after 8 o’clock and after pedaling 7km into downtown Collingwood we stopped at the grocery store to pickup our breakfast. Then we navigated our way to the start of the Georgian Trail on the edge of town.

We ate our breakfast there and did some maintenance on our bikes before setting off towards Meaford. The trail goes past Blue Mountain although clouds shrouded our view. In Thornbury we stopped for a short break and caught a glimpse of the bay.

The ride was mostly downhill coming into Meaford and we found another grocery store where we got our lunch. We ate at a bench on the main street and watched the world go by. The sun had worked it’s way out by this time and the temperature instantly got warmer.

We decided to take the most direct route to Owen Sound instead of the Tom Thomson Trail. Highway 26 was more direct, but it also had us climbing several hills on the way. This is often
the view I see when I’m climbing…

When I get to the top and have a chance to look around, it looks like this…

All those hills allows us to eat like this…

We had been planning that salad since late lastnight. Shrimp, mango salsa, peppers, avocado, cucumber and greek yogurt.

After eating we relaxed in our room and saw our first real sunset of the trip. From Owen Sound we will keep heading west towards Lake Huron where we should be celebrating sunsets nightly.

An Ontario Adventure

Day 6: Midland to Collingwood 50km
Saturday, June 20. 2015
Sunny and humid. 28C

We were on the road just before 9 o’clock this morning and after a quick stop at the Foodland we were good to go. The road turned into hwy 25 and we continued to climb out of Midland. At the top of the hill we could see water in the distance. It was the eastern shore of Georgian Bay and it was all downhill to get there.

The route today was quite easy to follow. When we reached the water we turned left on Tiny Beaches Rd and headed for Wasaga Beach. Before we got that far we stopped for a break and to check out the beach. The water was cold, but that didn’t stop us from getting our feet wet.

The pedaling today seemed easy. There was lots to look at and Wasaga Beach seemed bustling. We stopped for lunch in a park, at a picnic table dappled with shade from pine trees.

After lunch and back on the road, we were actually farther along than we thought. By the time we figured out where we actually were Wasaga was long behind us and we were well on our way to Collingwood. 

Following the Lakeside Trail kept us off of the main road which was pretty busy by this time. The trail connects quiet residential streets with lovely pathways through parks. Often we had views of the beach.

Eventually we poked back out to the highway to see where we were and it turns out that our motel was just a little farther down the road. The sun was beating down by this point in the day so it was nice to be checking in.

We had a couple of hours to kill before our planned visit with Karon. She arrived right on time and we were all hungry.

Karon took us to a fish and chips restaurant that was off the beaten track and then we took our supper down by the water for a picnic. We all had a great visit and chatted for another hour or two after we got back to the motel.

An Ontario Adventure

Day 5: Orillia to Midland 62km
Friday, June 19. 2015
Sunny with the odd whispy cloud. 20C

Coming into Orillia yesterday we asked a runner for directions and we chatted for a moment. He asked if we were riding for a cause? Mom replied “just for fun” and I said “because life is short”.

At one of the bakeries yesterday we placed a custom order for a cranberry, maple, walnut chelsea cake. We picked it up at 9am this morning.  Today, this is our cause.

We ate oatmeal at the motel and after stopping at the bakery we rode through Orillia’s beautiful water front.

The trail we took was paved and went through a shady forest. Eventually the paved trail finished so we rejoined the Uhthoff Trail heading for Coldwater.

The weather was perfect for riding today with next to no humidity. Passing under the 400 highway again we spotted a double rainbow.

The last 18km of the trail into Midland were paved which was nice. We followed a directional arrow pointing bicycles this way and ended up in the woods. Far down below we could see the paved trail hugging the waters edge. We kept on and our trail petered out into almost nothing with a locked gate at the end. After hoisting our bikes over the gate we saw a sign with a map on it. We had actually found the street that our motel is on. Too bad it is all uphill.

Turns out there are a lot of hills in Midland. There are also a lot of impatient drivers. Maybe because it was Friday afternoon, but every time we needed to cross a street another car would appear so we’d have to wait.

Once we were checked in we rode our bikes back down the hill to the laundromat. While the clothes were washing we retraced our steps and pedaled the waterfront trail that we missed earlier.

While downtown we spotted a grocery store and the beerstore. After the laundry was clean we shopped and made one last push back up the hill to our motel.

We hung the clothes on the line and then prepped another tasty meal. We haven’t left our room since and even though it’s Friday night we probably won’t.

An Ontario Adventure

Day 4: Cookstown to Orillia 72km
Thursday, June 18. 2015
Mostly sunny and humid. 25C

The motel we stayed at last night does not provide breakfast so we packed up and pedalled the 5km into downtown Cookstown to the grocery store. Then we went to the Trailhead of the Cookstown – Thornton Rail Trail and ate.

After breakfast we crossed the highway and picked up the trail again and instead of crushed gravel, the trail was grass.

The grassy section didn’t last long and it was smooth sailing all the way to Thornton. After that we tried to follow the snowmobile trail, but all we could see were railway tracks.

At this point we took the road and found our way through Barrie. On the other side of the downtown we stopped for lunch at Nelson Square and sat at a picnic table in the shade. The temperature was getting warmer as the day went on and the humidity was building too.

The final 28km to Orillia was a struggle. We stopped frequently for water breaks and little snacks here and there. Clouds were building behind us and we would have welcomed showers, but they never materialized. When we finally arrived in Orillia we found our motel, dropped off the bikes and went out in search of the grocery store.

On the way we found several bakeries  and a bike shop.  Other than that it was just window shopping. We walked back to our room and started to prep supper.

We had both been craving a juicy fruit salad, so we had cantaloupe, mango, grapes and strawberries. Here is the salad before we ate…

And after…

What can I say, riding all day works up an appetite!

An Ontario Adventure

Day 3: Albion Hills to Cookstown 47km
Wednesday, June 17. 2015
Sunny with a south wind. 22C

The B&B that we stayed at was actually quite nice. Breakfast was good and our hosts, including this fake baby, were very friendly.

The Caledon Trailway was in really good shape and we followed it right past the Pan-Am Equestrian Center. When we arrived in Tottenham the trail came to an end. After asking around in town we concluded that we would have to ride on the road for the rest of the way to Cookstown. Unfortunately this means hills…

All those hills works up an appetite. After two roadside snacks we stopped for a full-on picnic. We had eaten most of the food by the time I thought to take this picture.

The rest of our route to Cookstown involved zigging and zagging, trying to find the least busy and least hilly roads. We did pretty well navigating and shortly after we passed the Pan-Am Shooting Center we found the Motel 400.

It was nice to be finished pedaling before 3pm and we put our feet up to relax. When it was time for supper we walked over to the nearby burger joint and got some take out.

We walked back to the motel and ate in bed. Now we are trying to stay awake at least until bedtime.

An Ontario Adventure

Day Two: Fergus to Albion Hills 82km
Tuesday, June 16. 2015
Sunny and warm with a nice breeze. 24C

After a tasty and filling breakfast we hopped on our bikes and left the St. George B&B. Unfortunately, it turns out that I left my favourite T shirt there too.

We continued along the Elora-Cataract Trail which took us right past the Shand Dam which regulates the flow of water from Lake Belwood into the Grand River.

It was feeling hotter as the day went on and we considered swimming at this shady spot.

Our picnic lunch today was just outside of Hillsburgh. We were looking for a nice spot in the shade, with a breeze and we found that and more. There was a picnic table, a small lake and a porta-poty.

After lunch we carried on to Erin where we went into town to grocery shop. We also stopped at the Bakery there for our dessert. At the bike shop in Erin we inquired about linking from the Elora-Cataract Trail to the Caledon Trailway. We received pretty good advice, so shortly after that we found ourselves riding on the road.

We followed Winston Churchill Blvd part way down the escarpment. The road was rough, but mostly downhill and led us right to the other trail.

The final 15km were pretty tough. We were simply running out of energy. After a couple of short breaks, we found Humber Station Rd ultimately our accommodation for the night.

The place looks great and it looks like we’ll be swimming after all!

Across the Rockies in 28 Days

Day 29:
Richmond to Vancouver Int’l: 4.5km
On to Toronto Pearson.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014.
Cloudy in Richmond. 19C.

Awoke to light rain this morning. The breakfast at the hotel was skimpy as usual, at least when you are used to fresh fruit and granola. Having gotten organized before bed last night, we were right on schedule when we left for the airport.

The route was straightforward and we had been out and back to the airport a few times already.

Pedaling up to the departure doors is always a pretty special feeling.

Once inside we retrieved our bike boxes and then got busy disassembling the bikes. We had plenty of time, so we took our time.

Both boxes weighed in at just over 50lbs. After we checked our boxes and cleared security we enjoyed our yogurt and granola in a quiet boarding lounge.

We have a window seat on the plane and once we cleared the cloud cover of the west coast we were able to follow our progress over the mountains again.

Flying east made the sun set even faster and it was dark by the time we landed in Toronto.

We watched the bike boxes get unloaded from the plane and they looked like they were still intact.

Our ride was on time and we were back in Ajax in no time. Mom is whipping up some pancakes for dinner. It’s nice to be back.

The May Four Trip: Day One

Uxbridge to Lindsay: 51km
Monday, May 12, 2014
Sunny with building clouds. 25C

We are all very excited for this trip to the Green Cottage in Haliburton. My Mom, brother Rick, sister Vicki and myself have never pedaled together so this trip is extra special.

After getting organized in the morning we loaded the bikes into the utility trailer. Dad drove us from Ajax to Uxbridge where we unloaded at the trailhead. We said goodbye and set off for Lindsay on the TransCanada Trail. One of our first sites on our route was a “Trail Closed” sign. The bridge is still barricaded, but we are able to roll our bikes over the toppled chain link fence. The trail was a little rough at first, but soon opened up to a wide crushed gravel highway. We stopped for our first break after riding almost 20km.

A light lunch and then back on the bikes as rain clouds were building in the distance behind us. With four of us on the trail we are able to ride side by side at times and we got to switch back and forth with each other, sharing conversation as we ride.

Rick’s chain came off suddenly and him and I stopped to take a look. Vicki and Mom were out of site in no time. The chain was stuck and it took us a few minutes to get it back on. I sent a text to Vicki to let them know that we would be catching up and soon enough we had.

We pushed hard towards Lindsay and arrived in town a little after 5pm. We went straight to our preferred motel only to see the dreaded sign “No Vacancy”.

For no particular reason the motel is full. Plan B is to head to our other preferred location and we arrived there with light rain starting to fall. We decide to stay. We unload our things and freshen up before walking back into town to see what is for supper.

Rick and Vicki found a nice spot called The Grand and we all enjoyed our meals. Despite being full we shared dessert too.

It seemed like a long walk back to the motel, but it probably helped to settle our stomachs. All of us were eager to put our feet up in bed and watch the hockey game. One by one we drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow is a new day.

Easter Ride: 39km

Sunday, April 20
Sunny, south west wind. 16C

I enjoyed a day off from my Sunday afternoon at Cafe Pyrus and did some yard work at Mrs King’s. It was such a beautiful afternoon I decided to go for a ride.

With the wind coming from the south west at a pretty good clip I figured it would be best to head into the wind first. I headed out King Street and onto Old King Street over the Grand River towards Sportsworld. Before reaching the 401 I was reminded of the new pedestrian bridge over the Grand River.

Last summer I had meant to get out and see the bridge, but never got out that way. So I pedalled off the main road in search of it and found myself riding through a deserted golf course. I circled the course but could not see a bridge in sight. There were some excellent views of the river.

After climbing the road up and out of the golf course, I continued my search. I rode through a relatively new subdivision and saw signs for the Grand River Trail. After investigating the remains of an old farmhouse I could see the Pioneer Tower in the distance.

I knew I was getting close after I picked up the Trail and saw an approaching cyclist. I asked her if there was a bridge up ahead and she confirmed, saying to just keep going. After a couple of short portages over some deep sand left behind from some flooding, the trail led me to the bridge.

Finally I had found it. I took my time crossing, stopping for a few photos at the mid point.

After the bridge, the trail meanders through another golf course, eventually leading to the pedestrian bridge over hwy 401.

This is another bridge I have never ridden across, only having seen it from the highway. I kept riding to Blair Road and then back to Shantz Hill where I climbed up the hill back into Kitchener. I retraced my route crossing over the Grand River For the third time. I took River Road to Krug Street for a little down time from the traffic and was back home just as the sun was going down.

Day 16: Mission to Florida Complete

Dania Beach to Fort Lauderdale Airport
Tuesday, April 15.
Partly cloudy, 28C

I didn’t set an alarm to get up and see the Lunar eclipse at 3:45am but was awake enough to sit up in bed and pull the curtain back. The Moon was high in the sky, right out our window, so I took my camera outside for a better look. I used the air conditioner as a make shift tripod and caught this picture between passing clouds.

Mom woke up too and got a nice look at the moon too. Then it was back to bed for a few more hours of sleep. Our alarms went off a little after 7am and we got up and finished packing. We took a short walk down the road before returning to our room for our yogurt and granola.

After we were organized we called Raul, our Haitian Angel and he said he’d be there to pick us up in 20 minutes. We got chatting with Maria, a neighbor of ours, while waiting for Raul and then right on time he arrived to pick us up.

It only took a few minutes to get to the airport and we checked in without any problems. We spent half an hour reassembling our bike boxes and then cleared security with flying colours.

Now we are waiting,

like you do in airports for our call to board.

Finally it was our turn and we shuffled onto the plane. We are seated beside the woman who we were chatting with in line and shared a few laughs together.

Lift off and we are away. Should be on
the ground in Toronto in two and a half hours and rumor has it that there is snow today. We shall see.

Bikes have arrived safely and our ride had perfect timing for our pick up. We are having dinner cooked for us tonight, but we get to make the salad.

Haliburton Thanksgiving 2013

Monday, October 14, 2013.
Around the lake: 17km.
Sunny by noon, 16C.

Afternoon sun

After a great Thanksgiving weekend at the Green Cottage in Haliburton my Mom and I are ready to start the ride home. We warmed up this afternoon by cycling around the lake.

Fall colours

We went for a short hike afterwards and then spent an hour in the canoe just before the sunset. There are still plenty of leftovers here and we did our best to finish them off.

Supper time

A 9am departure in the morning should allow us enough time to poke around in Haliburton before we stop in at Beth’s office where the painting of the Green Cottage hangs. Stay tuned as the adventure unfolds…