A few weeks ago while texting back and forth about gravel type rides could do in future. My friend shared a route that was on Ride With GPS that started in Sharbot Lake. And said wanted to do it.
C. Old Frontenac Road GF - Gravel 92%
After a bit of planning and looking at maps waited till the opportunity came up that could go and do it. Monday it did weather wise and heading north in the Ute we went. Up early and on the road north...well 0900 hrs for me is early. After an hour got to Railway Heritage Park where would park as well as start and finish the ride at. Unloaded, got organized, and headed out for Arden via the Trans Canada Trail heading west.
It would be about 22km to Arden and the mid ride stop at the C4 Country Convenience. The Trans Canada from Sharbot Lake to Arden was the usual rail type trail. Gravel in various forms dry, some looser gravel, and of course the sections where they added material to fix whatever the issue was.
On the way we spotted 4-5 Blue Heron's hunting in the lakes and swamps near the trail. One spotted maybe 5 m away from the side of the trail. Very cool moment. Unfortunately the Heron took off a second after stopped so no photo.
And for this ride I did remember to bring back the old 2003 ultra endurance secret. That being a gel flask filled with standard issue Maple Syrup with salt added. From the time before energy gels became more prevalent and before some one made disposable tubes doing it.
After 22km arrived at Arden and the C4 Country Convenience for a mid ride treat and rest for a wee bit.
A few times during the ride I was thinking of a future handlebar swap for next year. As was thinking of a set up that has my interest. Which as the ride progressed a few times was thinking of it. More on that later.
And yes there was cake. Later after got home found out that the lady owner of C4 Country Convenience is the mother of a Canadian Soldier. Cake was good.
After the snack and bit of a break it was off for the next part of the route. Price Rd all the way to Mountain Grove Rd.
At the junction of Price Rd and Mountain Grove Rd was the nearby junction with Highway 7. Here because the nearby Swamp Rd which in theory was passable reality is it is not. It is overgrown and sections are flooded. And since ATV's use it one never knows how deep the water could be.
So took the gravel shoulder heading east on Highway 7 to Frontenac Rd 2 km away. We did ok for the 2 km despite it not being level like a gravel road or rail trail. After 2 km we arrived at Frontenac Rd and headed on Bell Line Rd.
Bell Line Rd while starting off gradual was only teasing and revealed itself. Revealed that the road was predominantly lots of up and down. Or at least seemed to be as this road had almost all of the climbing it seemed for the loop.
After crossing Road 509 continued along for a bit longer till reached the junction of Bell Line Rd and the K&P trail. Which meant the end of the ups and downs of the Bell Line Rd section and back to the flatter riding of the rail trail. With of course the periodic challenge of trail dust and loose gravel
Though can say that the materiel used on these north sections of the K&P trail is far better than the stuff the City of Kingston Public Works uses on their sections of the K&P.
At Highway 7 the trail goes under it via a tunnel. Which was kind of cool to ride through. Glad they did this as it makes using the trail much easier and obviously safer.
After a bit more riding we returned to the Railway Heritage Park and the Ute. With the route done and within the rough estimate time thought it would take. Guesstimated it would take 4 hours. It took 3 hours and 19 minutes to ride roughly 52.74 km. Which by the way would make this the longest ride have done since major knee surgery July 28th 2022.
After finishing and usual post ride recovery bit of a rest to get in some fluids. Always a good idea to relax for a wee bit before driving anywhere after a good ride. Then got the bikes and gear packed into the Ute to head for a wee bit of food at the Kick and Push Brewery.
Bacon Cheeseburger and a Beer hanging out post ride is definitely a change from the usual post ride eating and hanging out. Usual being tail gate style in some gravel parking lot.
So overall good day and adventure with a friend riding something new. That also was pushing a wee bit the physical side of things since surgery and was after two years. The first long ride past 50k since that day.
Trans Can and Bell Line Rd Loop
Gear...
Chromag Rootdown
Original Free Range Tool Roll
Coast Mountain Waist Pack with custom mods
Giant Enduro Helmet
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