Archive for the ‘Gallery’ Category

Le P’tit Train du Nord

Posted on: August 11th, 2009

The P’tit Train du Nord is a rail trail in Quebec which is part of the “Route Verte” bicycle trail network. It’s 200 km in length and extends through the Laurentian Mountains from Mont Laurier, through Mont Tremblant, to St. Jerome, just north of Montreal. The Route Verte is probably the most extensively developed cycling system in Canada.

We took the early morning shuttle from St. Jerome to Mont Laurier, then cycled all the way back over 3 days, spending 2 nights in B&B’s, or gites or auberges as they’re known in Quebec.

This trail has many facilities along the way — more than anything I’ve seen in Canada. I think Quebec is doing an outstanding job on bicycle trail development with the Route Verte, approaching the quality of Europe.

This is a ride that has many luxuries along the way; good for beginners, but can also challenge you because of the distances, rolling landscape, and gravel surface on the southern half (translates to sore butt!). I say luxurious, because being a person who keeps track of my all time 10 best dinners, can mark one up for the dinner we had at the Auberge Chez Ignace in Nominingue. Many of the B&B’s along the trail offer a fine dinner for an extra price.

We’ll definitely be riding this trail again in the near future. Please click below for the photo album.

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SMCS Duke of Edinburgh 2009 Tour

Posted on: July 6th, 2009

This is a bike tour I was hired to lead in June, 2009, for a group of students of St. Michael’s College School in Toronto. This trip counted towards Duke of Edinburgh credits for these lads. This was a self-supporting biking/camping trip from Toronto to Niagara Falls, where we carried everything ourselves.

I have to say that I was honored to lead this trip. I say lead, but they really did all the work— from planning to cooking! We had heavy traffic, a big rain storm, and a raccoon invasion, but they were real troopers, and certainly deserved any credits they get.

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Staff of Black Creek Village 2009

Posted on: July 2nd, 2009

This year, I’m the photographer for Black Creek Village. This is the first batch of photos, mostly of the interpretation staff.

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Quebec, August 2007

Posted on: July 2nd, 2009

Here’s a little trip we did in summer, 2007. These photos are on Picasa.

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Cycling the Donauradweg, Sept 2008

Posted on: June 30th, 2009

After getting addicted to cycling in Europe on our German trip in 2005, we returned this year to cycle the Donauradweg (Danube cycle way). This is a system of trails and marked cycle routes that extend along the entire Danube River.

We completed about half (750 km) of the route, from Passau, Germany to Budapest, Hungary on a 3 week trip, with several day stops in Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Munich. 650 km was completed by bike, and the rest by hydrofoil and train.

We flew from Toronto to Munich, rented the “trekkingbikes” and hopped directly on a train to Passau, where we spent the first night in Europe. Next morning we were off on the adventure of our lifetimes! When we finished our stay in Budapest, we took the train back to Munich, where we rested for a couple of days, and “re-hydrated”!

We hope you enjoy this photo album.

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Summer Vacation, August 2006

Posted on: June 30th, 2009

This vacation had a little bit of everything. We stayed in Quebec City for a few days, then up to the Charlevoix area as far as Tadoussac. Then we ferried across the river to Riviere du Loup, and stayed in LaPocatiere for a few days.

On the way back, we camped in Prince Edward County, where we met up with the Montreal bunch. See Montreal 2006 for history. Although not technically a cycling trip, we logged about 300 km, which ain’t that bad.

I put a few shots from our Labour Day trip to Collingwood with the High Park Bike Club

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Prince Edward County, Summer 2006

Posted on: June 30th, 2009

We’ve been cycling in Prince Edward County for about 10 years, and I thought this year I should finally get some snaps before it gets totally overrun with tourists. It is one of the most tranquil places I know of, and I hope these photos show a little of that. Even the cars are more bike friendly, which is rare in Ontario, where they think that cyclists don’t pay taxes.

We’re going camping here again in August, so maybe I’ll have a few more shots to add. But its more of a party bunch, so the photos may show not tranquility, but cigar smokin’, moonin’, drinkers.

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Cycling weekend in Montreal, June 2006

Posted on: June 30th, 2009

I’ve cycled in Montreal many times, and it just about my favourite big city to cycle in. There are bikes everywhere, bike lanes separated from auto traffic (like the photo below), and even the car drivers are more bike friendly.

Add the great food, the nightlife, the French ambiance, the fabulous B&B (Chez Francois), and a bunch of cycling buddies, and you have one of the best weekends of the year. I think I’m going again next June.

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