Author: Ruth Louden

Career counsellor, education consultant, employment coach, technology addict, cyclist, homebuilder

8 more days to book your Ottawa U. accommodation!

July 2, 2018

There are still 8 days remaining for you to lock in residence accommodation at our group rate and join us in Ottawa August 10-12. Come make some memories with us – like the ones from the last time we visited Ottawa together in 2013.

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Our organizers extraordinaire have put together for you a 2-day exploration of our National Capital Region on scenic bike paths. As our world traveller Richard puts it, this is not your typical bike tour where we just put in the clicks and keep pace with the peleton (or peletite)!

You’ll enjoy beautiful scenery, some fine Canadian architecture and a glimpse into the political power elite that resides in one of Canada’s greatest cities.

London, Paris and our National Capital Region (NCR) should be on everyone’s bucket list. Of the three, the NCR is the only one you can do on a bike. Join your friends for this fun-filled weekend.

Marshall and Richard have created a wonderful tour for you, overviewed on our main page. And if you’d like to book at Ottawa U, make a comment or email Marshall so he can send you the password to our residence booking page where you can also see who is joining us (21 participants as of July 2). Not interested in staying at Ottawa U? Let Marshall know anyway if you plan to join us so we can add you to the email list and make sure you receive any important updates. Remember too that friends and family members are welcome – they’ll just need to sign a waiver and pay a small fee if they plan to ride.

See you in Ottawa.

Cycling from Millbrook – Tuesday, July 3

June 30, 2018

Liz and Bob are hosting Tuesday’s ride from Millbrook.

We’ll start from the Millbrook arena behind the Pastry Pedlar at 10 and follow the Bethany Hills route which has 50- and 33-kilometre options.Tentative arrangements have been made at the Pastry Peddler for lunch.

Liz will plan to drive the route Monday to make sure the route doesn’t have any gravel. Hey teachers, maybe we’ll see you there to kick off your summer vacation.

Riding from Cobourg – Friday, June 22

June 18, 2018

Marianne is our host for this Friday’s ride from her home in South Cobourg. Her invitation is below.

Note: Please enter through my back door or garage NOT my front door. I have baby robins on my porch that I would not like to scare!

There is lots of parking along the North side of my and Franco’s properties.

Google Maps does not give correct directions. Here are the right ones:

  • Get to Brook Road North.
  • Just south of the train tracks, enter the subdivision using gravel entrance (left after train tracks if you’re traveling South from Elgin, right if you’re traveling North from Highway 2).
  • Turn left (North) onto Lonsberry and park anywhere along the long stretch opposite the apartment buildings.

And again, enter through my back door or go around to my garage.

We have 3 route options:

  • a hilly 53 km that takes us up to Cavan and Little
  • a hilly 38 km
  • a flatter 34 km option through Cornish Hollow

All start from our place and begin by climbing up to Baltimore. The routes split up in Baltimore, but come back together at Williamson Road, heading back home down Ontario Street through Cobourg.

Click on the image above for the downloadable map. We will also have written instructions for each route printed out for Friday.

Potluck will follow!

Riding from Carolyn Street Rink in Port Hope – June 19

June 14, 2018

Jennifer and Andy are our hosts for Tuesday’s ride that will start from the Caroline Street Rink’s parking lot at 40 Caroline Street in Port Hope (see map below). We’ll follow the 50-kilometre Tour de Cobourg route.

Lunch will be at a new Port Hope diner, the Local 90 Bar and Kitchen In Port Hope. Apparently, Jennifer twisted their arm to open up just for the Freewheelers, so plan to join us.

Join us this August in Ottawa!

June 14, 2018

Our tour weekend this year will be to Ottawa from Friday August 10 to Sunday, August 12, 2018. Visit our tour page for all the details. We’re aiming for this page (located on our main menu now) to be communication central, so if you decide to join us or have questions, make sure to comment on that page and keep visiting it for any updates.

Marshall and Richard have cooked up some awesome routes for both days. And Sue has arranged a group rate with a University of Ottawa residence from which both days’ rides will start. For something more fancy, there are of course many fine accommodation possibilities within walking distance to the residence.

Note that the residence booking page is password protected – to receive the password, you’ll need to email Marshall and request it.

 

Riding from Cobourg behind Dutch Oven – Friday, June 15

June 12, 2018

This is our first default ride of the season without a host!

Join us on Friday to ride the 52-kilometre (or shorter) Shelter Valley Road route from the parking lot behind the Dutch Oven in Cobourg (not the Cobourg Marina as mentioned in the map.

Those interested in riding (and dining afterwards), let us know in the comments and suggest a dining option.

 

Riding from the Mill in Cobourg – Tuesday, June 12

June 7, 2018

Vivian is our host for Tuesday’s ride beginning at 10 from the Mill in Cobourg.

Print out the Hilly 55er map, don your climbing legs and get ready for the views. Or take the shorter 42 kilometer route that has fewer hills! Please make sure you come to the Mill to start the ride, NOT to Donegan Park as suggested on the map (which will shave off a couple kilometers).

Lunch will follow at the Mill.