Park to Park - Killbear to Algonquin

For the better part of a year, the discussion was on about riding Park to Park, from Killbear to Algonquin along the Seguin Trail.  This journey would take us a planned 3 days to ride, allowing us time to stop, take photos, camp, have a beer at a pub, and just enjoy the ride.  The four of us, Mark, Bernie, Craig and I were the ones planning on taking this tour, which we did this past weekend (June 8-10, 2018).

Our journey started Thursday with the drive up to Ahmic Harbour to prepare and be closer to the start on Friday morning.  This gave everyone the last chance to look at the map, get their bearings and prepare with the odd beer.  As always, the one beer turns to another, and before you know it, bam, midnight.

Bern thinking of the fun to come.  

Friday morning wake up and time for a good breakfast and loading up the cars with our gear.  You know that feeling you get when you have everything packed, but in your gut youre missing something, but you just can't put your fingers on it.  And you think and think and think, but, in your mind you know you put everything aside in bags.  Well for me that feeling was reality.  I somehow forgot one of my dry bags at home.... At least it only had my tent, sleeping bag, and some clothes in it.  It could have been worse let me tell you!!!  So with a short drive into Parry Sound to pick up some new supplies we were off to our starting point just outside of Killbear Provincial Park.  This would be the beginning of our journey.

Enjoying a nice Epic North coffee before we set off. 

A little proof of my purchases!!!

We unload our bikes on a beautiful sunny day, and start packing them back up.  Putting our bags on courtesy of Revelate Designs.  This as always becomes a game of how do you pack a bike without stuff falling off, at the same time being somewhat balanced so that the steering isn't too terrible.  As we continued to pack our gear, you always have to be mindful of where you put your snacks.  It's a great thing to have easy access to some M&M's or any quick energy.

You always have to be prepared with some M&M's!

The Four of us as we head out on our 3 day adventure. 

With the map in hand, thanks to Park to Park (http://www.parktoparktrail.org/) we headed out, towards Noble and Parry Sound.  At this point the happiness of what we are about to see and do takes over, and everyone is full of energy.  As we get to the end of our first paved road, we realize we took a wrong turn, and biked 3km out of the way.  So as we turned around, the happiness was still there.   We crossed the railway bridge, and did a short road section through the town of Noble and into Parry Sound.  Needless to say, when people see a few bikes fully loaded with camping gear, you get looks.

We made a quick stop at Trestle Brewery to have a nice chat with Chris there, who pointed us in the direction of Glen Burney Lodge (https://www.glennburneylodge.ca/patio) for a stop of beer and food.  Luckily it wasn't too far off the trail, which for us is perfect!!!  What we didn't realize is that on Friday they opened at 3pm, which was a few hours after we arrived.  Luckily for us, they accommodated us for a couple of drinks before we made our way back to the trail.

Loaded up ready to go. 

At this point we were finally on the Seguin Recreation Trail or the Park to Park Trail.  Pretty much what you are thinking, a nice family friendly rail trail to start.  There were benches on the side of the trail, nice little ponds, and the typical rock formations you would expect to see in the Parry Sound area.  As we continued to ride, the trail slowly became less traveled by foot and more traveled by ATV.  We were getting closer to Hwy 400 and a place where we could actually grab something to eat.  It was roughly a 20km ride from Glen Burney to the Service Centre off the highway where we were able to grab a good ole Lick's Burger.  It hit the spot, and surprisingly it wasn't too busy!!


We checked out the map at this point trying to determine where our end goal would be.  Talking to some folks, everyone recommended the Orrville Bakery, so Orrville was our destination.    As we continued our way towards Orrville, the trail became a little tougher, with some soft soil sections, and per the below photos, some water over the trail. Nothing too bad, at this point, but just enough to get you off your bike.  Now the problem with these areas were not so much the mosquitos, but the horse and deer flies.   When you slowed down they found you!

As we trudged along, we came across a couple of gentleman on ATV's (Pete and Gavin from Park to Park) who were out cleaning the trail for the upcoming Ride for Dad.  They confirmed that Orrville was the place to stop, and even guided us to a camping spot that was on Diamond Lake, and we would not be disappointed.  A short while later, with some more watering holes, we came across the 518 and the town of Orrville.  We made a hard dash to the bakery, which had closed 10min before we got there.  I guess we should have rode a little faster... oh well we had other things to get.  We found the General Store where we could pick up our dinner for the night, and a few beers to have around the campfire, and back on the trail we went to find Diamond Lake.   I must say on these kind of trips, it is always good to just stop and talk to people.  The little gems you can find on the side of the trail make these kinds of trips much more enjoyable.    Diamond Lake was one of these gems.  Just off the trail, it was a perfect spot to set up camp for the night.  Beautiful lake and scenery to look at for the night, and just enough of a breeze to keep the mosquitoes at bay!

With Bernie and his cooking gear, we were able to get a good pasta and red sauce dinner into us.  If only we grabbed Parmesan cheese, that would have topped the whole meal off.  We sat around the campfire, and just had a great time chatting and chilling out.

We woke up to a bit of an overcast day, which after the sun we had the day before, was actually quite pleasant.  We were still getting the excellent bike tan lines.  After a morning coffee in us, and some oatmeal, we loaded up for day 2 of the ride.  We didn't really have an end destination, cause A. we didn't know what the trail would be like coming, and B. we still wanted to have a fun day.

We set off, with our first stop planning to be at Sprucedale for a bite of lunch, and this is where the girls were going to meet us.  Saturday was going to be a tough day for us on the bikes, a lot tougher than we expected.  I've ridden some hard rides, and some not so favorable surfaces, but mentally you had to prepare for long sections of hard riding.

We came across some of the old foundations of the bridges, and figured it was a great place to take a break.  Not too far into our ride, but far enough for us to start thinking how the soft gravel and sand was taking its toll on the leg energy.

As we trudged along, the water crossings just kept coming.  Like the ones below.  They weren't that deep, and there were ways you could walk on the side of the bank so you didn't get too wet.
But then you start to get a little cocky and think, "it doesn't look that deep", then all of a sudden your foot is soaked.

It's just a mere puddle. 

Craig ringing out his socks in Sprucedale

After what felt like hours on the bike (it was around 2.5hr) we finally made it to Sprucedale where we would be having some pub grub.  The section of trail between Orrville and Sprucedale was a lot of Sandy, watery areas.  It was the perfect distance to regroup, refresh, and decide where we wanted to make it to.

We kinda took over the patio area... slightly. 

We checked out the maps again, and decided the best place for us to stop would be the town of Kearney.  Mainly because they would have groceries, and again a pub for us to stop at.  We talked with a few folks on ATV's and they said to head to the Legion in Kearney and they would help us find a spot to camp for the night.  So we were set!!!  Good food in our stomaches, and a plan.  Now we just had to get there, and needles to say, the trail didn't get better for us going forward.  I should make the disclaimer at some point, that the trail itself is really nice!  Just on bikes that weight in excess of 60-70lbs, riding through sandy / gravel sections, it takes a lot of energy out of your legs.  Every pedal stroke feels like 2 or 3.    And did I mention water crossings.  Again, they were all rideable, but you had to pick and choose where you rode that's for sure.

The trail for km's and km's

Mark hitting the water crossing. 

Bernie getting a tad wet. 

With a good bike of km's behind us, we finally were able to hit some pavement and ride to the town of Kearney.  We made it in perfect time!!!  We found a place to eat call the Sud's on Main (http://sudsonmain.com/) and funny enough they had beer as well!  I'm not going to lie, our trip was mainly biking, and finding beer.

Prime parking for the Marin

After some food and beer, we were directed up to the Legion to find out about a place to sleep for the night.  Upon our arrival to the Legion, we were greated nicely by the couple that were working there and decided we could have a couple more drinks before it got dark and we had to set up our tents.  

And wouldn't you know it, they had Labatt's 50.  Now everyone out there is reminiscing about drinking it, the first time they had it, stories of back in the day etc etc.  Well our story now is, the plan was to set the tents up in the light.  Apparently we missed that chance, and had to set them up in the dark.  Amazing how time flies! 

Not as scenic as our camping site before, but never the less, it was a campsite! 

We packed up for our final day, luckily for us a shorter day to Algonquin Park. 

Part way through the day we would be finishing on the rail trail, and taking gravel roads and ATV trails.  We were warned that there was going to be some hills, and people weren't lying!!  Now the ATV trail climbs were fun, there were rocks and stepups and drops, all great stuff if you are on your normal skinny tire bike, not loaded with gear.  But we made the best of it, and everyone was still smiling and having fun.  And yes more water crossings!!!  

The below video is one of these crossing, probably the deepest one we came across. 

After 142km or riding, we finally made it from Killbear to Algonquin park. Our final 11km stretch was on a gravel road, which we came across a moose having some food in one of the lakes we passed.  This gravel section felt amazing after some of the stuff we rode on.  Would I change any of it, nope!

Would I recommend others try the ride.  100%!  How else can you see parts of the province if you done ride by them slowly.  The people you meet along the way, the jokes and stories you have, and the memories you will never forget.  All of that is what makes a bike trip worth it.

I personally have to thank Marin Bikes for the Pine Mountain Plus bike to use on the trip, never tried a plus bike before, but for bike packing, that is the way to go for sure!

Also have to thank Em Karin, Liesje, Mary, and Rob, for either putting up with us, or putting us up in the cabin.
And thank you to Bernie Craig and Mark for taking the trip across with me.




Below is the Garmin Route we took.