Hi All,
The rides this Sunday are in a region which is beautiful, but seldom visited by those of us from the KW area. There are lots of newly paved roads, so don’t let RWGPS deceive you. The only route which has gravel is the “Extra long” route – and that is 2km of good gravel, which, trust me, is worth it, since that is the access to Belfountain.
All routes have the same first 28km – you can find your riding group, and see how adventurous you feel on the day. Routes diverge at Limehouse. At the 18km mark, hwy 25 is a bit busy, but it’s only a 1km stretch, and there are traffic lights to turn left off it.
Short. Food at Acton (35km). Couple of pubs after you turn onto the main street. If you prefer pizza or Timmies, then turn right instead of left onto the main street.
Medium. You can eat either before or after you do the cute little loop which goes past all the Sheridan nursery greenhouses. The loop can also be done in either direction, but beware – Prince St. has a vicious hill, possibly best tackled by going DOWNHILL, with good brakes, as I have routed it. In Glen Williams, “The Copper Kettle” has outdoor dining, as does Kits Little Kitchen. And for those who can’t do without Icecream, there’s “The Ice cream shack in the Glen”.
Long. There is one eating spot at Terra Cotta – The Terra Cotta Inn, but you have more choice to eat a little earlier, at Glen Williams (see above). Or you could take a picnic lunch and find lots of nice spots to sit in the Silver Creek Conservation Area. The road surface through Silver Creek conservation area is rough, but paved, (again, don’t be fooled by RWGPS pictures) and the scenery is beautiful, with so much shade, especially appreciated on a hot day.
Extra Long. It’s likely to be busy and a little nerve wracking at the Cheltenham Badlands (km 51). However, traffic and vehicle parking is well controlled. If you need a break, then stop at the badlands and view the surreal terrain before continuing on. You can eat either early (at Glen William, or Ingleside), or late, at Belfountain – there are so many food choices on this route. McLaren road is a necessary evil – but it’s very good gravel, only 2km, and crosses a pretty little river. The hairpin bend just before Belfountain is mercifully short, and is preceeded by spectacular scenery, although the road can get busy. There is a good shoulder. As with the “Long route”, the surface through Silver Creek conservation area is rough, but paved, and the scenery is beautiful.
Looking forward to seeing many of you on Sunday
Rosie Chong