|
Hello Great
Canadian
Bicycle Tours,
We hope you’re having a great summer so far.
July feels
like the heart
of trail
season. The
sun is out,
the trees are
full, and the
G2G is alive
with the
movement of
people like
you: walking,
riding,
rolling, and
reconnecting
with nature.
-
The G2G Rail
Trail Team
|
|
|
|
|
Ross Watson – Vice Chair
 Ross is an avid cyclist and trail user, typically
cycling around
10,000
km a year.
He rides
mostly on the
road now, but
was also
actively
involved in
the mountain
biking
community,
riding,
racing,
coaching, and
trail
building. His
background is
in secondary
school
education,
currently as a
vice
principal, and
before that,
the
agricultural
industry. He
has lived in
different
areas of the
G2G Rail Trail
off and on for
many years and
has ties to
many of the
communities.
Tree planting
is important
to Ross, and
he has
coordinated
the planting
of around 5000
trees at last
count. Ross
considers the
G2G Rail Trail
as an
important
resource that
needs to be
supported and
protected for
the benefit
and pure joy
it brings to
everyone who
uses it.
|
|
|
|
|
 Sarah Brenneman – Treasurer
Sarah is a
Linwood
resident who
loves the G2G!
She believes
in giving back
to the local
community
through active
service on
various
nonprofit and
advisory
boards, where
she enjoys
helping
organizations
grow and
thrive. Her
involvement in
church plays a
central role
in her life,
offering a
meaningful way
to connect
with others
and serve with
purpose. She
also has a
love for
travel and
planning,
often curating
detailed
itineraries to
make the most
of each trip.
As a
numbers-driven
person, Sarah
finds
satisfaction
in organizing,
budgeting, and
bringing
structure to
both her
personal and
professional
pursuits.
|
|
|
|
|
Over 75
community
members
recently
attended the
Guelph
Junction
Railway (GJR)
Annual
Shareholder
Meeting to
show their
strong support
for the Guelph
Gateway Trail.
A vital
project that
will extend
the trail from
Silvercreek
Parkway to
Woodlawn Road,
this
connection
will provide a
safe,
accessible
alternative to
the current
on-road
detour.
The Guelph
Gateway Trail
is a
community-led,
city-supported
initiative
with clear
backing from
local
residents,
trail users,
and Guelph
City Council.
At the
meeting, G2G
delegates
presented to
shareholders
and staff,
encouraging
continued
alignment with
the City
Council’s
direction and
a shared
commitment to
completing
this project.
Speakers
emphasized the
importance of
collaboration,
transparency,
and timely
action. With
strong
community
support behind
it, G2G is
optimistic
about working
with both the
City of Guelph
and GJR to
move this
project
forward and
close the gap
in the trail
network.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thank You For Supporting Trail
Maintenance
|
|
|
|
|
Why
do we cut
grass on the
trail
shoulders?
The G2G Rail
Trail is
created with a
3-metre wide
stone dust
surface with
1-metre grass
shoulders on
each side —
designed for
accessibility,
safety, and
durability.
But without regular
maintenance,
nature starts
to take over.
That's
why you've
seen us
clearing and
trimming the
trail edges.
This work
helps:
- Keep the full 3-metre trail width intact
- Prevent grass and weeds from creeping into the trail
bed
- Reduce future resurfacing needs
- And yes — our volunteer operators say it’s one of the
most
satisfying
parts of the
job!
|
|
|
|
|
Some
Current
Maintenance
Costs Include:
|
|
|
|
|
Flail
Mower Repair:
⟶
Tractor
Rental: ⟶
Insurance
Costs: ⟶
Fuel
Cost: ⟶
Operator
cost: ⟶
|
|
|
|
$742.37
Every other
Year
$1,000.00 Per
Month Premier
Rentals 2025
Sponsor
$200 Per
Month
$2.50 Per
KM (132 KM
Trail)
$0.00
Thanks to Our
Volunteers!
|
|
|
|
|
Why Choose
a Gravel Bike?
|
|
|
|
|
A gravel
bike is one of
the most
versatile
options out
there,
bridging the
gap between a
road bike and
a mountain
bike. Built
for comfort
and
efficiency, it
shines on
mixed
surfaces,
especially
stone dust
trails like
the G2G.
Gravel
bikes combine
the speed and
lightness of a
road bike with
the rugged
capability to
handle roots,
small rocks,
and uneven
ground far
better than a
traditional
road bike. Key
features
include:
- Wider tires for better grip and stability on loose or
uneven terrain
- A relaxed geometry and longer wheelbase for added
comfort over
long rides
- Disc brakes that deliver reliable stopping power in all
weather and
surface
conditions
Whether
you're
cruising the
full length of
the trail or
detouring down
scenic
sideroads, a
gravel bike
offers the
flexibility
and durability
to handle it
all. It’s not
built just for
speed—it’s
built for
adventure.
See one of
our G2G
cycling shop
sponsors here
for more
expert advice
and choices.
(The picture shown above is from a blog written
by Travellingmitch.com. Great praise for the G2G)
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Mapboards have
been installed
at Katherine
St. and
Middlebrook
Road.
|
|
|
|
|
 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.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Why Are There Random Apple Trees Along the
Trail? 🍎
If you’ve ever found yourself dodging apple mush
on the trail
in the fall,
you’re not
alone. But
those
unexpected
apple trees
are a charming
byproduct of a
different era.
Long before
the G2G Rail
Trail became a
destination
for outdoor
adventure, it
was a busy
railway line.
Passengers
snacking on
apples would
toss the cores
out the window
during their
journey. Over
time, some of
those seeds
found fertile
soil and took
root—literally.
Today, these
"volunteer"
apple trees
are living
reminders of
the trail’s
railway
heritage and
the stories of
the people who
travelled it.
While they can
make for a
sticky
situation in
autumn,
they’re also
part of what
makes the G2G
uniquely
beautiful.
|
|
|
|
|
True Snowbirds on The G2G
Spotted
along the G2G
Rail Trail,
these
feathered
travellers are
no strangers
to
long-distance
journeys. Merri
Lee Metzger
captured this
stunning image
of Snow
Buntings on
their
northbound
migration to
Arctic
breeding
grounds.
Snow Buntings
are the most
northerly
breeding land
birds in the
world, nesting
in rock
crevices and
boulder fields
in the tundra.
Their
adaptations to
cold are
remarkable:
dense plumage
that even
covers their
ankles, the
ability to
convert food
into fat
reserves
quickly, and a
unique
tolerance for
cold that
allows them to
lower their
body
temperature
further than
most songbirds
before
hypothermia
becomes a
risk. Some
have even been
seen burying
themselves in
snowdrifts to
stay warm.
These small
but mighty
birds migrate
incredible
distances
between the
high Arctic
and their
wintering
grounds across
southern
Canada and the
northern
U.S.—and yes, they’ve
been spotted
along the G2G.
Unlike us,
they don’t
need a trail
map: they
navigate using
the Earth’s
magnetic
field, even in
darkness.
So, next time
you're out on
the G2G Rail
Trail in early
spring or late
fall, keep
your eyes
peeled—you
just might
witness one of
nature’s most
impressive
long-distance
commuters.
|
|
|
|
|
Great
Canadian
Bicycle Tours,
Ready to Go
Further This
July?
You know
your favourite
stretch of the
G2G, but what
about the
parts you
haven’t
explored yet?
July is your
invitation to
break routine
and experience
a whole new
side of
Southwestern
Ontario. From
the wide-open
views near
Blyth to the
shaded tree
tunnels
through Perth
County or the
riverside
breezes near
Guelph, every
section has
its own charm,
and summer is
the perfect
time to
discover it.
Lately,
I’ve been out
most evenings
near Elmira,
but Linwood is
calling my
name this
month. Maybe
I’ll see you
out there!
Happy
exploring,
Willow
Hall
Executive
Director
G2G Rail Trail
Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
