It was my god-daughters birthday this weekend so I made a trip up to the Bruce to spend some time with her and her folks.
My plan this weekend was up to highway #10 through Orangeville (B), then west on Wellington Road 109 (highway #9) through Arthur (C), then Harriston (D), through the Fultons (E) and on into Belmore (F), my destination for the weekend.
Saturday was hot, 30 degrees in the city and the ride home Sunday was even hotter … and humid!
Fields of gold through Wellington County (just after B):
The Grand River (between B and C):
Now entering Bruce County (between E and F):
Same intersection, just a different angle (between E and F):
This is a shot of the ring around Orangeville (B):
Now entering the Escarpment (olde Baseline Road – between highway #10 and Mississauga Rd):
The Bad Lands – In the Escarpment:
While resting, I bumped into this really cool couple riding a hip Johnny Pag Chopper … this is a great looking little bike and you would never guess that it is only 300CC’s:
Still resting ….
That was my weekend. 350 KM round trip, 1 night stay over, good times with good friends, and a BBQ to remember.
You probably couldn’t ask for better weather this weekend … or at least this summer anyway.
The destination this weekend was to Chandos Lake in the Kawartha’s, just north of Apsley, Ontario. The route started out at Port Credit (A) and went along highway #427 north to highway #401 east, up through highway #115/35, merging onto highway #7 east, then turning northbound onto highway #28 into the town of Apsley (B), the final destination.
Below is a snap shot of Burleigh Falls, on route to Apsley (B):
Windy roads through the Kawartha’s between Perterborough and Apsley – Northbound on highway #28:
Arrived at the town of Apsley (3.5 hrs from point A) – Still on highway #28:
Side road to cottage, now on the north side of Apsley:
Entrance to the main road (the only road really) leading to the cottage:
The cottage … :
An evening sunset on the dock:
Early morning mist off Lake Chandos:
A glimpse up to the cottage from the dock:
The walkway up to the cottage from the dock (that’s about a 300 calorie climb up these steps):
Alvin (the chipmunk) spotted me, then darted after me, I didn’t know what to do … :
… friendly little guy:
Some tall trees (Alvin’s up there…):
Out for a spin on the lake:
Strange fish sighting while swimming in the lake … :
Tell me this doesn’t represent Cottage Country, Northern Ontario:
Well … at this point the weekend is almost over and it’s time to start heading home.
The route home went down through Peterborough, then west along highway #7/7A, all the way back into Toronto through points C, D, E and F.
Below is the pond along the back road on route to highway #28 – back to the city :
This is very scenic, the river runs up along side the road down to Burleigh Falls – Southbound on highway #28 (i think that’s a bear on the other side of that wooden bridge ):
Picnic area and boat launch in the town of Omemee – Westbound on highway #7:
A snap shot of the country side between Omemee and Lindsay … spectacular isn’t it – Westbound on highway #7:
Taking a rest in the shade .. the town of Lindsay – Westbound on highway #7:
Main street, Port Perry – Westbound on highway #7A:
From here the route continued west along highway #7 through the town of Brooklin, into Unionville, over to highway #404/Don Valley Pkwy, down through the bottom of Toronto, along the Q.E.W into Missisauga and finally into Port Credit.
I’ve been driving up and down the Q.E.W. Niagara for many years, but never really strayed to far from the beaten path .. once or twice to Niagara-on-the-lake, and I’ve even switched it up between the Queenston-Lewiston bridge and the Rainbow bridge in Niagara Falls while on shopping excursions over on the States side.
Then one evening my step-father brought over a bottle of this fantastic Ontario wine by Marynissan Estate, it was a Cabernet-Merlot blend and the year was 2002.
A few Sunday’s back while I was on one of those State side shopping excursions, I made it a point to stray off and find the Marynissan Estate Winery, and wow, was I amazed!
It was absolutely stunning .. the scenery was so lush, rich and bursting with flavor. In fact, everywhere I turned, I saw cherry trees, pear trees and not to mention the miles and miles of vineyards filled with young grapes. It was here when I started to plan the ‘wine route‘ through the Niagara Escarpment (above).
So I did some research, put together a plan and grabbed my good buddy Sheet’s and our day started out along the Lakeshore where we headed west into Oakville and then on to Burlington…
Harly-Davidson Fat Boy @ coffee shop in Oakville on Lakeshore:
Brant & Lakeshore @ downtown Burlington (B):
We’re finally out of the city and on our way to the wine route:
This looks like it could be fun @ Grimsby (C):
Wait! Is that me on that windy road?
These are some steep hills .. check out the video, it’s just a glimpse of the wine route @ Beamsville (C & D):
A snap of the side roads – this is just beautiful .. I have vineyards on my left @ Beamsville (C & D):
… and I have pear trees on my right @ Beamsville (C & D):
Roadside fruit stand @ Beamsville (C & D):
On route to Balls Falls (Jordan), nothing but Rural roads around here (almost to D):
I bet you thought the other windy roads were cool .. that was just the beginning @ Balls Falls (almost to D):
Move over, I’m coming through @ Balls Falls (almost to D):
Balls Falls at last @ Jordan (4 clicks to D):
Its all up hill around that bend @ Jordan (D):
… Parked in the town of Jordan @ Jordan (D):
Not sure if they’re important, but their car is cool @ Jordan (D):
LOOK! an old BSA motorcycle .. @ Jordan (D):
Okay, we’ve left Jordan and are now on route to St. Catharines:
so real you can touch them .. :
Still on route to St. Catharine’s with a pit stop in Decew Falls:
Imagine that you can still purchase flour form the Mountain Mill:
and here it is .. the power behind the Mountain Mill .. Decew falls:
Finally … St. Catharine’s. More importantly it is the food destination @ St. Catharine’s (E):
It’s hot out here ..
Man am I stuffed … now we’re on route to Queenston but first we have to get across the Welland Canal @ St. Catharines (E):
Imagine … all the way from Panama:
… from here we road all the way to Niagara-on-the-lake via Queenston along the Niagara Pkwy .. on route to (F):
…we’re now in Niagara-on-the-lake – at the mouth of the Niagara River. This is on major river, I can see why Niagara falls is the seventh wonder of the world @ Niagara-on-the-lake (F):
go figure .. a wine bar in wine country …:
I thought that guys car was cool … but he’s giving me the thumb’s up, so I am thinking that maybe I’m cool .. :
Mississauga beach @ Niagara-on-the-lake (F):
on the road again … on route to Pt. Weller (that’s Sheet’s trying to catch up ) @ Port Weller (G):
I have two pictures to show of the ride over to Pt. Weller … I think they say it all:
… but before you move on to the next picture … did you notice the ‘Toronto’ skyline between those rows of grapes above?
Canadian Coast Guard going through the locks on route to Lake Ontario @ Port Weller (G):
… we’re on route to Port Dalhousie now … the second last destination @ Port Dalhousie (H):
Our bikes are parked in there somewhere…:
… and we left our bikes in care of …:
This town is a Party Town @ Port Dalhousie (H):
… but there’s also a quiet side to this town:
… tell me that’s not a sunset:
We’re now on route to our final destination .. Lakeshore Road .. a three concession road that runs along Lake Ontario between Port Dalhousie and Grimsby. But first, a quick stop at the old ’ship wreak’ at the Becon restaurant:
… here we are … Lakeshore Road. Note that this road is not fit for domestic vehicles. This is Sheets’ bike:
my bike:
… just look at that view, what a perfect way to end a day.
:
:
:
and the theme