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!!!