Oro-Medonte Rail Trail (Barrie to Orillia)

Well we finally made it to the Oro-Medonte Rail trail (commonly known as the 'Barrie Rail trail')   We've been wanting to come up to Barrie to check it out for a couple of years now.  The weather was perfect, not too hot like the weekend before and not too chilly as September sometimes shocks the system!

The Barrie Rail trail runs from Shanty Bay (more or less) to Orillia covering the easiest bike path and most beautiful I might add that you'll ever travel on.  It takes 6 hours out and back, but as I mentioned you're biking on mostly flat crushed gravel with very little elevation.

In 1869 The Toronto, Simcoe and Muskoka Junction railway bought a right-of-way through Oro to link Barrie and Orillia.  To accommodate the railway, Concession line 1 was re-aligned along the north side of the newly built track. 

The bridge constructed to take the Ridge Road over the track was called, Thunder Bridge.  Whenever a car drove over the heavy timbers forming the road-bed on the bridge, they moved a bit in the steel braces, causing a loud rumbling noise.

In 1871: the railway from Toronto to Orillia was completed and a new era dawned in Oro-Medonte.  

For decades the railway station was a community focal point.  Long before the automobile became common, passenger trains took villagers for day-visits to Orillia and Barrie for shopping, doctor appointments, music lessons and high school.  During the summer, extra passenger cars were added to the north-bound trains bringing cottagers and visitors to this area's summer resorts.

Today, any remnants of the train tracks and old lodges where the Section men and yardmen lived at Watt's Crossing are all gone.  What remains is and will always be the history of what once was.

You'll see the occasional cyclists or families on foot walking the trail after lunch.  The area is so quiet and peaceful.  

 I love that they've preserved this land so others can enjoy it for decades to come.

 

Lemoine Point Conservation Area - Belleville

 Nothing beats walking through a forest.  I often find myself with a permanent smile on my face.  You will love a visit to Lemoine Point Conservation Area located in the west end of Kingston, Ontario.  

I would just about be safe enough to guarantee that no matter what route you choose, you will no doubt find wild life.  I have never seen wild turkeys up close so this was a rare treat for me.  Deer crossing across the footpath in the woods is a typical sighting in this hybrid trail (urban/suburban) retreat.  

Ducks and squirrels seems to 'hang out' on the pathways just waiting for a peanut or two or something else yummy to munch on.  
 I've taken an interest and found some joy bringing a bag of shelled peanuts with me when I go for walks up until recently where there's been some controversy about  the intervention of people feeding wildlife.  This makes me sad that I can't do it anymore because I might stand the threat of a by-law enforcement officer to hand out a hefty fine which is what has been going on from time to time.
Lemoine Point Conservation area has a wide variety of terrain other than forested areas.  In over over 350 acres of land mass, there are marshlands, fields and grassy areas for barbeques and picnic tables.  There is also over 2.5 km of shoreline which is perfect for sunsets!

 

Historically, this spot of land was part of over 3400 acres which was granted to a Johan Jost Herkimer (a Loyalist) in the late 1700s for his service to the Crown during the American Revolution.  Jost also received over 2 acres in the village of downtown Kingston.  

The Herkimer family kept the land until they sold it to Captain William Lemoine in 1836 until it passed hands again eventually acquired by the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority.

Today, there is a north and south parking lot when you arrive.  It's quite busy during summer months with visitors looking to soak up a lot of historical landmarks in Kingston/Belleville.  

I loved it here, and know you will too.

 

Happy trails