Are YOU like most people and make excuses why you can't do things.
I am 58 with bad knees, back and overweight by 30 pounds.
Even with these handicaps I can keep up with people half my age. Note: Start slow – It took six months at the YMCA to get up to speed.
2009 Tours I Did
Ontario Canada
Cambridge - Tour de Grand - June
We did the 160km tour. I would rate this tour a 5 out of 10.
Pluses
Good roads - first half does have hills - inexpensive
Minuses
Route markings were misleading, No solid food at the end of the ride for the 100 and 160km tours.
We would like this tour if they fixed some of the major problems. Many people who had never done this tour got lost on the second have of the route. The first half the sighs were in places that were easy to see. The second half the signs were in odd locations. Also, all the solid food was eaten by the people from shorter tours. They were even closing the facilities as the 160km were coming back. Many people were quite upset.
If we go back we will buy a detailed local map and mark the trail on it or buy a GPS.
Delhi - Le Tour de Norfolk - July
We did the 160km tour the first day and the 100km the second day. I would rate this tour a 10 out of 10.
Pluses
Good roads and road markings, good food, well organized
Minuses
Route is quite flat - this could be a plus - cost is a little more than other tours
This tour was quite enjoyable. We were not used to a flat tour and found we had to stand often to get circulation moving. Le Tour de Norfolk was quite a joy after doing the Cambridge tour.
11 day tour across cental Ontario
This was a test for longer tours to see how my body would handle the stain. I would then work on any problems over the winter. This was supposed to be a 12 day tour. Four days to go from Owen Sound to south of Ottawa on the Redeau Canal and eight days to work my way home along Lake Ontario and the up the Trent Canal. On the fourth day my arms gave out and the weather forecast was for rain on day 6 and 7. I made a decision to stop at Smiths Falls on day four and go to Kingston on day five to sit out the rain.
We had booked a B&B in Orillia - estimated distance 140km
This was my first day ever with Panniers
. My goal was to average 20km per hour. I had
a crosswind in my favor which help a lot. The average speed was just under 20km per hour.
The route did have large hills close to Owen Sound and Orillia. The road was OK but there is on section I will never do again. Highway 26 from Stayner to Barrie. The traffic was extremely heavy with may trucks, some with wide loads.
I left at 8am and got to Orillia at 4pm. The distance was 150km. I think I missed a turn close to Orillia.
We stayed at the Cranberry House B&B. The facility is well appointed, the owners are nice and the breakfast was very good.
We had booked a B&B in Peterborough - estimated distance 130km
My goal was to average 20km per hour. I had
a crosswind in my favor which help a lot. The average speed was just under 20km per hour.
The route did not have many large hills and the roads were good except for parts of highway 7 from 12 to Peterborough. The newer parts of #7 are quite good but the old sections are narrow. Past Lindsay we did get off 7 because the traffic was annoying. I will try to bypass #7 if I go this way again.
I left at 8:30am and got to Peterborough at 4:30pm. The distance was 140km.
Highway #7 was a good road to ride on once we got away from Peterborough.
We have some problems. It rained in the morning but cleared around 9am. The owners of the BnB told us the section of #7 is quite desolate from 80 to 200km from Peterborough. They were right. The motels were boarded up. At 80km we had to make a decision whether to stop or push on to Shabot Lake Provincial Park (160km). Estimated arrival time was 8:30pm, sunset was around 8:10, we got there at 8:20 and had to put the tent up in the dark.
First mistake, I did not eat enough for supper ... this will have a big effect on day 4
I should have had an easy time to get south of Ottawa. The problem was that my arms gave out. This was quite unexpected. The amount of pain I was in caused me to fined the Redeau Canal farther south of Ottawa at Smiths Falls. Part of the problem was that I did not have a big supper or breakfast. I will never make that mistake again. The road was good but the new road to Smiths Falls did NOT have ANY outside
margine. I have never seen a new road so narrow. What a PAIN!!!
We stayed at the Victoria Park, Rideau Canal Campground. This is a real nice location in town.
We had a decision to make. Continue on to Ottawa or turn towards Kingston. Day 6 and 7 looked like rain so we went to Kingston. This also gave me more time for sightseeing
Rain: This will be my rest day and catch up on my customers web site updates. It rained until 3pm. We then went on a very nice bike tour around the city
We stayed at probably the most inexpensive, small, clean motel in Kingston. Hilltop Motel 2287 Princess Street, Kingston, ON 613-542-3846
We had a slight headwind and the road is real good. Whe TV weather station said there would not be rain. We only got rained on twice. I stopped at Napanee only because one of my favorit sing artists "Avril Lavigne" came form there.
We had booked a resort close to Lakefield over the Internet "The Irwin Inn, Resort, Cottages or B&B" (Real Nice)
Traveling up the Trent Canal from Trenton was quite enjoyable. Then we got into the Trent Hills and a strong block headwind. It was OK going up the hills but there was no rest as we had to pedal down the hills. The winds got better as the day went on.
We were within three days of home so we took our time and did a little more sightseeing. Destination is Fenelon Falls. Note: Fenelon Falls Inn is OK but over priced.
The decision was made to get to Wasaga Beach. This meant no sightseeing as it will be a good ride with large hills before Wasaga Beach. The hills by Moonstone Ski Resort were a real good climb. I took my time and did not have any problems. NOTE: I did not go back on highway #26!!!
We stayed at Gateway Camping, Family Campground - Closest campground to Beach 1
