106km In the early morning we rode in silence, awed by the quiet and stillness of the woodlands and lakes on the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation. In the afternoon we rode in silence because we were too tired to speak. South of Maniwaki, the orange T-shirts and handprints on the path brought home the … Continue reading Day 53 – Maniwaki to Wakefield, QC →

55km A road cycling day with a fair amount of climb. Done by lunchtime, which didn’t stop us having two lunches. We climbed out of Mt Laurier in the familiar cold and mist, but this was on the Trans Canada Highway, with not much visibility. The drivers were generally considerate and moved as far away … Continue reading Day 52: Mont Laurier to Maniwaki, QC →

118km A long day behind bars. But the first hour-and-a-half were lovely. Chilly and misty, starting at around 5 degrees riding through Quebec’s lake and cottage country on a gravel trail that had prime real estate along the lake shore. Although we sometimes struggled to see through fogged glasses in those early hours, the trail … Continue reading Day 51. Mont Tremblant to Mont Laurier, QC →

105kmWhat an incredible trail from a surface and logistics point of view. The P’tit Train du Nord which winds through the Laurentians is immaculate in every way. We’ve never had such a great surface - even the 30km gravel section from Saint Jerome had none of the corrugations or sandy sections we’ve come to dread … Continue reading Day 50 (we’re not counting yesterday) Montreal (Sainte Therese) – Mont Tremblant →

Montreal, Quebec Steve Rouleau is a magician. The owner and bike mechanic supreme at Mecano Cycles fixed Bron’s bike which had suffered travel in-flight damage as well as a potentially trip-ruining pannier rack bolt sheared off inside the bike frame. Oh, and a puncture thanks to a shifting blackberry thorn that came with us from … Continue reading Trans Canada Trail Day 1 of 2023 →

Two years since our last Trans Canada Trail ride and we’re bike packing again …Heading to Montreal later this week to ride back to Ottawa - the long way. We’ll follow the Petit Tren du Nord via Mont Tremblant and Mont Laurier - just squeezing in 550km this year.We missed 2022 on the trail as … Continue reading Bike packing again →

Four summers on this trail behind us, and we reached the heart of the continent.  And what a wonderful city Winnipeg is. Its history stories are well integrated, recognizing the important roles of Métis, First Nations and newcomers. Its outdoor spaces are fantastic and it is home to the incredible Canadian Museum of Human Rights. … Continue reading That’s it for 2021 →

186km. Let’s say that again - 186km on the ninth straight day on the bikes. With a tail wind today and forecasts of a strong cross-head wind tomorrow we decided after about 60km that we should ride our luck - and the wind - and push on for Winnipeg today, even if it meant riding … Continue reading Day 49 (and 50): Neepawa MB to Winnipeg MB →

Glorious trail for the first 60km made for a fun, relaxed ride that was even improved by the find of the Iris Cafe in Erickson.  We spent the whole day on the Rossburn Trail - an old railway line that is still peppered with pins and hooks and other bits of railway ironworks. Given the … Continue reading Day 48: Sandy Lake, MB to Neepawa, MB  →

Some days are just better forgotten. We were so excited to be back on a trail and reconnected with the Trail itself.  We should have heeded the flags being whipped up by a southerly wind before dawn. Or the red skies at sunrise.  No major disasters (unless you count nowhere to eat dinner), but the … Continue reading Day 47: Russell, MB to Sandy Lake, MB →