Ridout-Bigwind Muddy Rugged Ramble plus

Thanks to Bert Schuh (who lives in Muskoka) for recommending this route to me, while we were out mountain biking together. Bert explored this route, which was then documented and published by Paulo Laberge here > https://bikepacking.com/routes/ridout-bigwind-rugged-ramble/. Following is my August 24th trip report of riding this 74 km route “plus” 36 km to/from Spring … Continue reading Ridout-Bigwind Muddy Rugged Ramble plus →

20210918 ONXL day 16 and home!

Today was home stretch, as I decided to not continue the ride and head home, as my shoulder pain wasn't getting better and my throat infection (due to a saliva gland stone) was getting worse. I broke the ride into Aurora to Palgrave (following the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail (ORMT)) and then south to Toronto … Continue reading 20210918 ONXL day 16 and home! →

20210917 ONXL day 15

Bewdley to Aurora was going to be following the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail and be about 140k. But the trail was such soft sand with constant steep climbs and careful descents, that it took me about four hours to do the first 34k to hwy 35. Much of the time I was ploughing rim deep … Continue reading 20210917 ONXL day 15 →

20210916 ONXL day 14

So I can get home on Saturday I decided to do a long 178k ride from Sharbot Lake to a glamping airbnb near Bewsley (east end of Rice Lake). I took the shortest route possible, which was Trans Canada Trail from Sharbot Lake to Tweed and then road to Campbellford and then to Bewsley. I … Continue reading 20210916 ONXL day 14 →

20210914 ONXL day 12 rest

So today was a well needed and enjoyed rest day with great friends Ricky and Margret. Ricky and I have been friends since High School! Since I arrived last night they have looked after me with great food, doing my laundry, helping me get to a physiotherapist to have my shoulder taped to hopefully reduce … Continue reading 20210914 ONXL day 12 rest →

20210913 ONXL day 11

Wakefield to Ottawa 102k and 1,327m of climbing. Despite being the shortest distance, today's ride was the toughest because: my shoulder was very painful, there was probably the largest portion of rough tough mountain bike trails and there were some really steep and very long climbs on the rough mtb trails (see the photo with … Continue reading 20210913 ONXL day 11 →

20210912 ONXL day 10

Gracefield to Wakefield. 130k and 1,770m of climbing. Some of the steepest longest climbs on this section of the Log Driver's Waltz, which in it's entire 798k has 7,156m. Very glad that with liberal applications of the Voltaren 5% NSAID drug and frequent breaks I was able to manage my shoulder pain. In Gracefield I … Continue reading 20210912 ONXL day 10 →

20210911 ONXL day 9

Left Shawville 10am after sleeping in, having a huge breakfast and buying flip flops as I lost mine two days ago. My goal was Gracefield 128k and sleeping in a tepee at a private campground. Said goodbye to new bikepacking friends Angela and Ian. Last night they triggered their bear spray (as the safety pin … Continue reading 20210911 ONXL day 9 →

20210910 ONXL day 8

The ride today from Calabogie ON to Shawville QC, was only 112k, with 1,114m of climbing. This was because my severe shoulder pain necessitated stopping at a pharmacy in Renfrew for almost three hours to get some prescription strength Diclofenac 5% nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (double the strength of Voltaren extra strength that I had been using). … Continue reading 20210910 ONXL day 8 →

20210909 ONXL day 7

Sharbot Lake to Calabogie was a beautiful but tough ride of 133k with 1,970m of climbing, climbing and more climbing!!! The toughness was more than compensated by the remote ride through forests and by many lakes. I saw almost no one except for a few ATVs. Luckily when I was almost out of water I … Continue reading 20210909 ONXL day 7 →