On the Trail

 On the Trail

THE THREE TRAILS CHALLENGE COMPLETED!

 THE THREE TRAILS CHALLENGE COMPLETED!

Sharbot Lake station in more exciting days

I have now completed the Three Trails Challenge, reported in my previous blog entry.

Earlier this month, I finished the last leg of this 316 km circuit of three Eastern Ontario rail trails - the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail northwest from Smiths Falls to Renfrew; the K&P Trail south from Renfrew to Harrowsmith, and the Cataraqui Trail northeast from Harrowsmith back to Smiths Falls.

I did it by bike, in 22 out-and-back trips (i.e. I actually travelled 632 km), over a 22 week period this year. I've created a photo album on Google. The photos, in sequence, will show you why it was worth the effort. The photos were not all taken on this trip, but over the past 9 years, so I could capture the best examples of the route.

Here's the link: The Three Trails Circuit - Google Photos

Apparently, last April, an 'extreme hiker' completed the circuit in just 3 days and 20 hours, and at least one cyclist has raced around the same route in 3 days of hard-core cycling. This way of doing it suited me better.

By interesting coincidence, this latest challenge reminded me a lot of my first end-to-end hike of the Rideau Trail, exactly ten years ago: almost the same distance (roughly 330 km), and completed in 21 stages over 18 weeks.  And for a total of just over 13 km, the Rideau Trail and this rail circuit share the same route, along three different sections of the Cataraqui Trail.

See this report: The Passionate Hiker: The Rideau Trail: Reflections

Now I just need to look for my next major challenge, for when I reach my 80's!!!

THE THREE TRAILS CHALLENGE

 THE THREE TRAILS CHALLENGE

LATE ADD:  SEE MY LATEST BLOG ENTRY FOR THE PHOTO ALBUM OF THIS ROUTE.

Here's the link:

The Passionate Hiker: THE THREE TRAILS CHALLENGE COMPLETED!

The K&P causeway across Calabogie Lake

Here's another Challenge for you.

This 316 km circuit starts in Smiths Falls, following the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail northwards to Renfrew.  There it joins the K&P Trail for the long journey south to Harrowsmith, before picking up the Cataraqui Trail for the return to Smiths Falls.

You can do it as a hike or a bike trip, as one single marathon challenge or as a series of shorter adventures. I have been working away at it this year, and will be finishing off the final section this month.  I have been travelling by bike, as out-and-back day trips.  So when I'm done, I will have travelled the whole circuit twice!

Here's my working map of the full circuit, plus maps of three tricky areas where diversions/connections are needed:  in Smiths Falls, at Calabogie, and at Snow Road Station.  

I have also created a handy trip log, which is available upon request (can't find a way to attach it here).  A sample of page 1 is attached.  Also please contact me for trail conditions, which vary from excellent to waterlogged.

Perhaps someone can create another badge for this latest challenge?

The Passionate Hiker

Sample page of trip log

My working map of the full circuit

Waiting for Spring

Waiting for Spring

Everyone's on the lookout for Spring.

Is it just around the corner?  We shall see.

This picture was captured today beside the Cataraqui Trail south of Wills Road, in minus 7C temperatures and a cold northerly breeze.  No-one seemed to be bothered by my presence.  I suppose they were too busy looking for the weather change, or something to eat under the ice. 

Swanning around

Mon. March 20, 2023

Swanning around

We were hiking along the K&P Trail in Kingston today.  I noticed this swan out on the Cataraqui River, seemingly enjoying a rest on a midstream ice flow.

The Woodpecker

 March 18, 2023

The Woodpecker

Today I was strolling down my street in the small town of Perth when I heard the sound of a woodpecker knocking on a tree.  But it wasn't a tree - it was a high voltage electrical pole, and he was right at the top, surrounded by wires and insulators.

I only had my old cell phone with me, but it captured the scene, albeit a bit fuzzy.

The bird was a large pileated woodpecker.

It was quite a shock to see it up there on the pole - and I hope it didn't become a shock for the bird too!

The Passionate Hiker

Two Bridges (Part 2)

 29 September:  Two Bridges (Part 2)

 

 

The old CN rail bridge across the Ottawa River - view from the Quebec side

It didn’t take us very long to return to the Ottawa River to complete our bridge exploration – just two weeks in fact.  Today’s explorations turned out to be much more than just a visit to the second bridge mentioned in my 15 September blog. 

This old rail bridge crosses the Ottawa River from Morris Island, east of Arnprior, into Quebec.  It seems to be known as the Fitzroy Harbour bridge, despite not being particularly close to that location.

This bridge has a latticed steel superstructure making it a more interesting sight than the Dingo Crossing bridge further upstream.  And it is slightly longer.  We crossed the bridge on our bikes, into Quebec, and then continued along the rail line for a few kilometres as far as Pontiac Station.  Here the line emerges from the gloomy forest, drawing near to the northern shore of the wide Ottawa River.  On the distant southern shore lies the town of Arnprior.

The surface of the track is very rough, and only suited (barely) to mountain bikes, which we both had.  We made surprisingly good, if bumpy, progress, as long as we concentrated on the stony route beneath our tires.

Back at the Morris Island Conservation Area, we now set out on part two of our day’s adventure. 

The long straight pathway leading eastwards through the Conservation Area is actually the railbed of the original Canadian Northern railway, built in 1915.  The route of the line had to be shifted a few hundred metres to the south when the Chat Falls Dam was built in 1928-31.  We found a forest trail leading to that line and turned east for a couple of kilometres to a fine railway bridge over a wide swampy river.  The downstream side of the Chat Dam was partially visible to the north, with the overhead power lines striding southwards across the landscape. 

The rail surface along this section was even more challenging, but we made it all the way back to the parking lot, making the day’s journey just under twenty kilometres – and with no punctures!

I doubt if many cyclists will have done what we did today.  They are missing a good challenge, and a rewarding experience. 

Sudden signs of Fall at the Morris Island Conservation Area

The route heads north to the river

At the bridge

A more interesting bridge than at Dingo Crossing

And a slightly longer bridge

The bridge structure

A sturdy superstructure

Into Quebec on a rocky surface

Baie du Chat, Pontiac, Quebec

Heading back

Deterring unwanted visitors

Ottawa River from the Quebec side of the bridge

Close-up:  Arnprior on the far shore

The original Canadian Northern railbed - now a trail

Another fine bridge not far from Chat Falls Dam

A swampy arm of the river downstream from Chat Dam

This bridge was our easterly point (turned around here)

The first leg: 10.6 km

The second leg: 8.4 km