By Don Taylor
On Sunday May 27th twenty-four CCCTS cyclists made the 4 hour drive west from Ottawa to Cobourg, population 18 500, on the north shore of Lake Ontario. We were set to cycle Northumberland County between Rice Lake, to the south east of Peterborough, and Lake Ontario. We arrived about 12:30 at our accommodation “The Breakers” which is a delightful compound of four buildings right on the beach, a short walk from downtown. We took over most of the site including a small cottage that became party central. The large covered porch and the BBQ, with complimentary briquettes, on the lawn in front of the house became the venue for our brilliant happy hours (organized by Peter and Marg with lots of munchies and even a dish of cheeses) and dinners. Some of us walked in to town once or twice for dinner in the beautiful heritage-designated town centre but most picked up salad makings, steaks, chicken and salmon for group BBQs. It was a spectacular venue that we departed every morning by bike.
After lunch on Sunday we headed out on a 35 km ride to shake out the kinks after the long drive from Ottawa. It was a sunny 20 ºC spring day and we were soon heated up after climbing a few steep hills in the fresh green forests and farmland north of Port Hope, after which we descended into the beautiful old town of Port Hope also right on Lake Ontario. We finished the 13 km east to Cobourg with a slight breeze behind us. After the ride two hardy souls tried the water (a quick dip), and did the same most days. The rest of us were more cautious; it was spring, after all.
The next day three routes, short (51 km), medium (69 km) and long (83), were on tap for the area to the north and east of our hub; the group broke into four, one taking a hybrid short/medium route. The rides were glorious, very up and down, with great views, with the short ride climbing over 400 m and the long, twice that and more – the hardy souls! We returned on the Waterfront Trail (which runs all along the north shore of Lake Ontario), through Port Hope. There was a little rain but not a problem, with the temperature reaching 24 degrees.
On Tuesday 29th , a sunny and warm 24 ºC day, we had a selection of three rides again – 55, 78 and 98 km – to the north and west of Cobourg, through beautiful rolling farmland and forests including the Sylvan Glen Conservation Area and crossing the substantial Ganaraska River, which flows into Lake Ontario, three times. The terrain was a little flatter than the day before but still a good workout with the long ride climbing over 600 metres.
Day four, Wednesday, we did three rides 45, 74 and 87 km, up to and along the south shore of Rice Lake, a 32 km long shallow body of water to the north of Cobourg. These sublime rides were through cottage country in sunny 21 degree temperatures; we had lunch on Rice Lake and climbed between 400 and 800 metres which kept us warm. On the way back from the long ride Paul cut his tire just 5 km from day’s end and Nancy rode to the end to apply road-to-car resuscitation.
On Thursday we had three groups – two really nice rides of 54 km and 80 km to the north of the west end of Rice lake (via Bewdley), hilly again, and a third group of 10 decided to take a rest from the hills and went on an ‘easy’ lakefront ride east from Cobourg to Presqu’ílle Provincial Park, sticking out into Lake Ontario, where we had lunch on the beach. Our easy day ended up at 86 km,half into a west wind, with 400m of climbing overall! But beautiful rides all.
At the happy hour Brian pursued reluctant chain grease on Inge’s calf which led to a funny, erotic skit at the wind up dinner at the local golf course that evening. Nancy Hough was the author and Nancy, Paul and Marg presented the skit in poetic form – just two of the seven verses of ‘To The Rescue’:
With sunlight soap, and on bended knee,
He held the besmirched offending calf,
His pliant fingers he circled round
And round and round and round and round.
The gallant knight was ne’er deterred,
With a flourish he left, and quickly returned
Armed with a warm facecloth, his gaze did not linger, he did not gander,
But returned her sweet calf to it’s former grandeur!
Friday was rained out so our happy and tired group headed back to Ottawa. It was a great group and a lot of fun; all were grateful to Jack Fallis and Ed Weber for finding the accommodation, Geoff Kennedy for selecting the rides, and Marg Hurley and Peter Wood for the special Happy Hours.