We rose to overcast skies but no rain . . . until after breakfast when we were getting ready to push off. So finally we donned our rain jackets. But it was a light rain. So light that people were walking around without umbrellas . . . but I did see one or two. No matter, we would be moving a bit faster than a walking pace, and one thing I really can't stand is to be pelted with raindrops at 12-15 mph.
The day started a bit wet . . . the bike after breakfast.
But we didn't have to worry about that either, as it stopped within three miles of our start. By then, we were out of town and on County Road 2 headed for Port Hope, where we spent some time at the tribute to Farley Mowat, a local town hero of sorts and well-known author of "The Farfarers" and many other books.
The tribute to Farley Mowat in Port Hope. Mowat authored "The Farfarers," a story of far-traveling seal hunters and how they survived the severe winters in the Arctic. Conjecture includes stone houses with their boats turned upside down as a roof.
From there, we had an arduous climb up Augusta Street and through the pass to the plateaus behind. Once up there, it was nice but hilly riding . . . all the way to Port Granby, where we had another nice little climb after descending to, and almost touching, Lake Ontario. Along the way we passed the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI), which is a project by the Government of Canada to clean up historic low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) in Port Hope and Clarington. It was a huge pile of dirt for sure.
Along the way, we crossed the railroad more times than I could remember, mostly at grade, but one crossing was on an old rickety bridge that was posted for 4 tons. Later, on the map, I think I counted eleven crossings! That's a lot for one day. And most looked safer than this one.
We must have crossed the railroad a dozen times. This was a rickety old bridge over a second set of tracks with a timber deck that was skewed oddly. Still standing out of habit, no doubt.
Finally, after passing through Bond Head, we were actually able to pick up a real trail for a bit near Wilmot Creek. It passed through a heavily wooded section but eventually reached a plateau and then followed a power line right-of-way for a while. Then in Bowmanville we picked up another natural surface trail that followed a power line . . . and then a third that was actually on the power-generating property. That trail was actually paved and fun to ride after all the rough courses.
The beginning of the trail through Wilmot Creek. It was in mostly good condition except for the downhill descents, which were heavily rutted due to rain runoff.
The trail was also unpaved and was more an access road than a bike facility. But it became paved after a while . . . when it was no longer under the power lines.
And there were construction projects going on everywhere, it seemed, so several detours were necessary. But finally we made it to Darlington Provincial Park, our gateway to Oshawa.
One of the several construction projects we passed through . . . or around, as some required detours.
The ride into Oshawa was not inspiring, but once we arrived at the city core, it picked up a bit. But there are way too many one-way streets. That usually means large traffic volumes and excessive speed. But we're only here for one night. Tomorrow, Toronto!
Today's ride: 44 miles (71 km) Total: 626 miles (1,007 km)
