Suzanne & I took a trial run around the route last week and had a great time. Great roads, blue skies, green grass and shimmering lakes and rivers. It’s going to be fun!!
The name doesn’t lie - there are plenty of switchbacks and shorelines, but it’s where there are both at the same time that it’s really fun. The best shoreline will be at our motel, The Sands on Golden Lake. Remember that there are spa services here, but you need to book them in advance if you want them. Sands on Golden Lake
For those coming in early on Saturday and for the locals who want to come, we’ll meet at The Rare Restaurant Welcome to RARE Restaurant & Bar in Kanata - RARE Restaurant & Bar at 7:30 p.m. for refreshments. If you haven’t yet had supper, they have a good bar menu as well. Please let me know your plans.
Sunday the tour formally begins. We’ll meet at Baker’s Bean BakersBean.com - Bakers Bean Village Cafe where the brew is built better. at 9 a.m. for breakfast, and be on the road by 10. A pit stop in Almonte, if necessary, and a for sure stop in Calabogie – just for washroom & coffee, though. It’s not lunch time yet. The roads out of Almonte gradually begin to rise and fall with a few curves thrown in for good measure, and even more so to Calabogie. This is a favourite run for local bikers. After Calabogie we get into some great curves as we run alongside Black Donald Lake. From here we’re heading over to The Pine Valley Restaurant in Griffith. Standard fast food fare, but they’re doing what they can to accommodate the bunch of us - our own patio service if the weather is co-operating.
A short stretch on Hwys 41 and 28, and we get into some great backroads. We’ll run through Foymount – just to say we’ve been there. This is the highest point in Ontario, and home to an abandoned and somewhat burned out military communications base. The Country Connection Magazine Story: Foymount We’ll also pass by Brudenell – everybody does. There’s not much there anymore – it’s one of Ontario’s ghost towns.
“By the late 1860s, Brudenell had three hotels with taverns, blacksmiths, carpenters, shoemakers, a racetrack, a school and a Roman Catholic church. Brudenell was on the stage line to nearby Eganville, Rockingham and Combermere, and had plenty of offerings for travellers stopping along the way. Its main industries seem to have been gambling, drinking, and sex - not necessarily in that order. The arrival of Jim and Mike Costello from Ireland in the early 1870s did absolutely nothing to enhance Brudenell's unsavoury reputation. It was under their watch that Brudenell became known as the most notorious 'sin-bucket' along the Opeongo.” For more information, see Brudenell Ontario
It’s all downhill from here as we wind our way through more switchbacks, through Killaloe, and around to the Sands Motel with enough time for a refreshment or two and maybe a refreshing dip in Golden Lake before dinner in the Sands dining room overlooking the lake.
Monday for breakfast and at 9 a.m. we’ll be on the road again. Down through Eganville and on to the Bonnechere Caves Bonnechere Caves and at the Fourth Chute Waterfalls of Ontario: Fourth Chute This stop will take an hour or more – but there’s no rush. We’ll make our way through some more twisty roads, past Calabogie again, and end up at the Neat Café for lunch. Home | Neat Food
A short run of about an hour and we’re back and finished the tour. What a weekend!
Tuesday is Canada Day. If you’re staying, the Parliament Hill activities are like no other.
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone –
John & Sue