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Hello Great
Canadian
Bicycle Tours,
The days are getting shorter, the air is
crisp, and the
G2G Rail Trail
is ready to
welcome you to
fall’s
spectacular
show! Trees
are turning
brilliant
shades of red,
orange, and
gold, creating
the perfect
backdrop for a
walk, ride, or
roll!
Whether it’s a
quiet solo
stroll, an
energizing
bike ride, or
a weekend
adventure, the
G2G Rail Trail
is the place
to enjoy
everything
autumn in
Ontario has to
offer.
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Dave
Richmond
captured this
warm sunset
outside
Linwood.
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Thank you for supporting our trail
community —
your
involvement
makes all the
difference!
- The G2G Rail Trail Team
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Ruth McLelland – Secretary
Ruth’s
experience
started when
she and her
husband moved
to Blyth in
2020, and they
volunteered to
do maintenance
on the G2G
trail. At a
subsequent
meeting she
volunteered to
help with
reporting and
mailing. That
was 2021. Here
we are in
2025, and she
has a profound
respect for
the people and
organizations
who have
carved this
trail out of
an abandoned
railbed from
the late
1990's to
today. With a
background in
project
management and
also having
served as a
treasurer in a
registered
charity, Ruth
came onto the
board in
December of
2022, and now
serves as the
Secretary of
the Board. She
believes that
the true
heroes are the
unsung armies
of volunteers
up and down
this trail, as
well as the
incredible
donors who
create all the
improvements
in the
infrastructure
on this trail.
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Rebecca Wilson – Board Member
Rebecca is
passionate
about
community,
connection,
and the great
outdoors. As a
board member,
she brings her
love of
nature,
hiking, and
family
adventure to
her role,
championing
the trail as a
space where
people of all
ages can
gather,
explore, and
recharge. A
mom of four,
an avid
gardener,
personal
trainer and
yogi, Rebecca
believes in
the power of
outdoor spaces
to inspire
healthier
lifestyles,
foster
community
spirit, and
create
meaningful
memories. She
is currently
pursuing a
certificate in
Forest
immersion
therapy to
create further
connections.
Her commitment
to the trail
reflects her
broader
dedication to
preserving
natural spaces
and ensuring
they remain
accessible for
generations to
come.
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John Kuepfer – Board Chair
John is a
passionate
leader who
lives life
with gusto.
He is a
semi-retired
owner of 2
Home Hardware
Stores, but
despite no
longer being
directly
responsible
for daily
operations, he
continues to
be involved in
the company
leadership.
His life has
not been any
less busy as
he currently
serves on the
Mornington
Communications
Board , on the
G2G Rail Trail
Board as
Chair,
volunteer many
hours on the
G2G trail
doing trail
maintenance,
downhill
skiing,
cycling,
hiking,
fishing,
enjoying his 2
daughters and
grandson and
travelling
when there is
time left in
his schedule.
John has
been a part of
his local
community near
Milverton all
his life
except for one
year when he
lived in
Alberta. He
loves our
unique part of
the world and
the incredible
people and
culture that
is almost
unparalleled
anywhere.
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Jeff Cowan – Board Member
Jeff Cowan
joined the
Board in 2024
as a seasonal
resident of
the Goderich
area, just
north of the
G2G trail, for
seven decades.
He and his
spouse are
avid users of
the trail with
recently
upgraded
e-bikes, and
have donated a
bench to greet
hikers who
make it up the
Maitland Trail
climb to join
the G2G near
the Menesetung
bridge. Jeff’s
ultimate goal
is to bike
from Goderich
to Blyth, and
beyond, via a
bridge at
Auburn!
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R. R. Sallows
postcard of
the Menesetung
Bridge in 1907
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As One Bridge Reopens . . .
The
Menesetung
Bridge, which
spans the
Maitland River
in Goderich,
was
constructed
between 1904
and 1907. At
its peak
construction,
nearly 1,000
men and 50
teams of
horses worked
along six
small donkey
work engines
and three
steam shovels.
At the time of
its
completion, in
1907, it was
the longest
railway bridge
in Ontario.
The last
passenger
train crossed
the bridge in
1955, but it
was an active
freight
connection
until the end
of 1988. The
rails were
removed in
1989, and its
future was in
doubt. Local
concern was
raised but the
demolition of
the bridge
seemed
certain. In
1990 Michael
Dawson and
Mayor Eileen
Palmer were
part of the
newly formed
Menesetung
Bridge
Association
that proposed
converting the
bridge to a
pedestrian
walkway.
Local
fundraising
was undertaken
along with a
unique event
of selling
1,400 planks
at $20 and 120
handrails at
$100 which
raised over
$40,000. The
Menesetung
Bridge is now
a key link in
the Goderich
to Guelph
Trail, which
winds its way
through the
132 kilometres
of the old CPR
railway.
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In the
words of David
Yates, “It
took longer to
save the
bridge than it
did to build
it.”
The bridge
has been
closed this
summer and is
slated to open
later this
fall. The
present
repairs have
been estimated
at $990,000
and are
intended to
restore the
tops of its
concrete
piers, which
support the
bridge’s steel
beams. The
engineers are
hoping to have
this bridge
open at the
end of
November.
Thank you
to all who
have donated
to the
restoration
project to
ensure that
this iconic
landmark will
last into the
future for the
G2G.
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The 144-year-old bridge is closed
this fall and
will remain
closed for all
of 2026.
The rehabilitation
project is
extensive and
includes:
Replacing
worn-out wood:
This includes
the roof,
siding, and
floor system.
Removing old
steel support:
The existing
steel trusses
will be
removed to
expose the
original
wooden truss,
which will
become the
main
load-carrying
component.
Strengthening
the structure:
Key parts of
the bridge
foundation
will be
repaired and
strengthened
to protect
against things
like heavy
water and ice
flow.
Adding
features to
prevent
damage:
Height
restriction
bars will be
installed to
stop oversized
or heavy
vehicles from
crossing the
bridge.
The Region of Waterloo has a budget
of
approximately
$12 million
for the
project, which
aims to
preserve the
bridge's
heritage while
ensuring its
safety and
longevity.
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Install and Replace
The G2G is
used by over
350,000 people
each year and
we pride
ourselves on
making the
trail
accessible and
useful to all.
Our signage is
being upgraded
along our
length 132 km
length, as we
install new
mapboards at
kiosks.
Our present
project is to
install and
upgrade 7 new
mapboards like
you see below
at the
Katherine St.
kiosk.
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We are asking for your support in this project.
We need 100 G2G users to donate $100 each to help
us make the
trail more
user-friendly
for new
hikers,
wheelers and
bikers.
Please
contact us if
you would like
to sponsor the
project, and
we will put
your business
or group's
name on the
boards.
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Updated board
needed in
Ariss
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Installation
needed in
Milverton
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The G2G is continually being
improved as we
lay stone dust
on the
existing
trail. The
stone dust is
a byproduct of
local
limestone
quarries and
acts as an
excellent
compacted
surface. The
initial layer
is compacted
by machinery
and then the
rain does the
rest of the
job. Stone
dust provides
good drainage
because it is
permeable and
creates a
trail that is
easy for
walking,
biking, and is
wheelchair
accessible.
Our stone dust is a
layer of 9 cm
thick when
applied
initially.
Because it is
‘self-healing’
to some
degree, normal
weathering
will fix minor
imperfections.
It is cheaper
than asphalt
or concrete
and because of
natural
weathering,
and it has to
be replenished
over time to
maintain the
layer. We have
some sections
of stone dust
that have been
in place for
25-30 years
with minimal
reduction or
movement. The
stone dust we
use is a
by-product of
local
quarries, and
it is more
environmentally
friendly than
other options
and can be
managed with
simple,
readily
available
equipment.
We have laid over
1,250 metric
tonnes of
stone dust
this summer to
help upgrade
over 7 km of
trail.
We could not do this
important work
without the
help of our
volunteers and
community
groups. Thank
you to our
local Steward
Groups,
Service Clubs
and the Trans
Canada Trail.
Your donations
keep the stone
dust coming
and our
volunteers
help lay it
down!
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Never Too Young for the G2G Experience
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I
discovered the
G2G during
COVID. I biked
it from E2E
throughout
2020 doing a
different
portion of the
trail each
time. It was
during one of
those rides
that I met a
mother and son
who had
started early
that morning
in Guelph and
were heading
to Goderich.
That planted a
seed, and in
2021 together
with two
friends, we
biked the
trail from
Goderich to
Guelph in one
day. It was
helpful to
have done the
entire trail
in bits and
pieces the
previous year,
as I was then
familiar with
the detours
and the layout
of the trail.
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When a
friend asked
if I would do
the Goderich
to Guelph
trail again, I
said, "No,"
claiming there
was "no glory
in doing it
twice!" I had
to eat my
words.
Last year,
while biking
with some
friends'
children, I
mentioned my
one-day ride.
Joe, a
friend's son,
said he'd like
to do it, and
his 9-year-old
cousin,
Harvey, chimed
in too. I had
my doubts, as
our rides were
only 25 km,
but they were
determined.
In 2025,
Joe and Harvey
trained by
biking to and
from school,
with Harvey
tackling hilly
terrain. For
the big day,
we started 4
km from
Goderich and
had Joe's
father shuttle
us around the
Maitland River
to avoid a
detour.
Here’s what
the boys said
about their
ride.
From
Joe (age 13)
My cousin and
I heard about
the ride from
a family
friend and
started
training. On
July 11, we
began at 4
a.m. I thought
it would take
forever but I
enjoyed the
trail. My
cousin and I
read the signs
to track our
progress.
Family and
friends
meeting us
along the way
gave us a
boost. The
last 10 km
were the
hardest, but
we reached the
finish line
with our moms
and siblings
waiting. It
was awesome to
achieve our
goal!
From
Harvey (age
10)
On July 11, I
biked the G2G
with my cousin
Joe and our
friend Janet.
We started at
6:15 a.m.
After a long
time, we ate
energy balls
my mom made.
We finished at
5 p.m. It was
tiring but
fun. I want to
do it again.
I was so
impressed by
their
determination.
At one point
Harvey said he
felt like
quitting, but
then quickly
added, "but
I'm not going
to!"
Kudos to
everyone who
maintains the
trail. It was
in excellent
shape, making
it a safe
place for
riders,
especially
younger ones.
And it
turns out,
there is glory
in doing it
twice!
Janet
Hulshof
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From our Facebook Friends
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The what3words
app is a
geocoding
system that
provides a
unique
three-word
address for
every 3-meter
by 3-meter
square on
Earth. It was
developed as
an alternative
to traditional
street
addresses and
complex GPS
coordinates,
which can be
inaccurate,
hard to
remember, or
nonexistent in
many areas.
People use
it to mark and
share precise
meeting spots,
campsites, or
hiking
trailheads.
Emergency
Services can
use it to mark
exacty where
to find you if
you are in
trouble. All
of the G2G
trailhead
signs have the
what3words
location on
them, but you
can pinpoint
your location
exactly with
the app on
your phone.
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This trail
blockage was
pinpointed
using the
what3words app
and cleaned up
quickly by our
amazing
volunteers.
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 Consider a
Monthly
Donation
Your
generous
support helps
us maintain
and enhance
the G2G Rail
Trail,
creating a
safe,
accessible,
and inspiring
recreational
space for all.
Every donation
goes directly
toward:
- Trail surface improvements
- Bridge repairs
- Community engagement projects
- Year-round maintenance
Monthly
donors are the
backbone of
our
operations. A
contribution
of $10 or
$20/month
helps ensure
the G2G Rail
Trail remains
a vibrant
connector of
communities
across
Southwestern
Ontario.
Your
support keeps
the trail
open,
beautiful, and
better every
year.
Become a
monthly donor
today and be
part of every
step forward.
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Some Choose to Glide the G2G
This
Eastern Giant
Swallowtail is
Canada's
largest
butterfly, and
it is a
beauty! Lots
of eggs were
laid this
summer, and
Caterpillars
have hatched
and are eating
happily (Hop
Trees, Gas
Plants,
Prickly Ash,
and Rue are
their host
plants) –
hopefully,
many will
overwinter in
chrysalis, and
show up in the
spring as
gorgeous big
butterflies.
This
floating giant
can reach up
to 19 cm (7.4
inches) for
males and are
graceful
fliers because
of their large
wingspan and
will glide
long distances
with minimal
effort. They
are important
pollinators as
the adult
giant
swallowtails
are attracted
to a wide
variety of
flowers and
play a role in
pollination as
they drink
nectar.
The young
caterpillars
have a mottled
brown and
white pattern
that makes
them look like
bird droppings
which is an
effective
defense
mechanism to
deter birds
and other
animals. When
threatened,
the
caterpillar
can extend a
fleshy,
orange,
Y-shaped organ
called an
osmeterium
from behind
its head. This
organ emits a
foul-smelling
substance that
repels
predators.
This gentle
giant has a
wide range and
is found all
across the
eastern US and
down into
Mexico, Cuba
and Jamaica.
This
flitting
fellow was
captured by
Merri-Lee
Metzger on the
G2G.
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Great
Canadian
Bicycle Tours,
Some of the
most
breathtaking
sunsets in
Canada can be
seen from the
Lake Huron
views in
Goderich. Take
a moment to
soak in the
golden light,
the vibrant
colours, and
the peace that
the trail
offers this
season.
Thank
you
for being part
of our trail
community!
Willow
Hall
Executive
Director
G2G Rail Trail
Inc.
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