The Georgian Trail is a great way to take a leisurely cycling trip from Meaford to Collingwood, with stops along the way (It’s also popular for strolls, walking the dog, or cross-country skiing and snow shoeing in winter.)

Fall colours on the Georgian Trail (from www.meaford.com)

Starting in Meaford at the bridge by the harbour, ride the trail through Meaford, past homes and the Knights of Meaford hardwood factory. Then it’s an easy grade (trains couldn’t handle too steep a hill), out of time between stands of trees. At the first road crossing as you leave town, you could venture off the trail for a quick look at the beautiful 1860s home known as Swarthmore Farm, built by Cyrus Richmond Sing, who was Reeve of St. Vincent Council at the time the rail line was built, and served as a Director of the North Grey Railway Company. Down an adjacent tree-shaded road lies Meaford’s scenic Lakeview Cemetery.

Back on the trail, you’ll parallel the highway, with opportunities to detour for refreshments at Grandma Lambe’s or Almond’s Fruit Stand. As you enter a small section of County Forest, you’ll pass over the steep banks of Workman’s Creek, named for Captain Workman, a pioneer who settled with his family at its mouth in the 1800s, followed soon thereafter by a gate which leads to the site of an old brick factory high atop Meaford’s clay banks (private property today).

Some seven kilometres into your ride, you’ll cross Christie Beach Road. If you’d like a dip in the waters of Georgian Bay at this sandy beach, cruise down the hill and jump in. Remember, you need to climb back up the hill when you’re done!

A couple more kilometres brings you to a sharp left in the trail. This detour was created during the construction of Lora Bay, an exceptional golf club and residential community with dramatic views of Georgian Bay. A stop at the Clubhouse might be in order to wet your whistle. But if you don’t stop here, Thornbury is a mere four kilometres down the trail, with numerous restaurants (and at least two ice cream vendors right near the trail.) On the way, you’ll pass the impressive 15th tee on your left, a par three to a green sitting 200 feet below, with a beautiful view of the sweep of Georgian Bay cradled in the trees.

After winding through Thornbury, you’ll emerge at a highway crossing. Cross carefully and continue on, or ride along the highway for a short bit to visit Peasemarsh, a secluded public beach. The trail continues past Georgian Peaks and past Craigleith Provincial Park, a small camping park on the shore, and Northwinds Beach, reputed to be one of the birthplaces of windsurfing.

Soon after, you’ll cross Blue Mountain Road. If you like, venture up into the resort area to see the sights and visit the Village. Or simply stay on the trail and continue on to Collingwood. The trail enters a fragrant lilac grove at the old train station at Blue Mountain Road, where you can stop to visit the Craigleith Heritage Depot’s exhibit. Beyond the lilacs, the trail cuts away from the highway through woodlands; past streams where beavers work to create their own little ponds; through stands of cedars; and past Cranberry Resort Golf Course before reaching the trailhead near Harbourview Park.

Rest awhile here, and head back the same way, take a different route along backcountry roads, or call up that friend who’s coming to pick you up to take you home.

Trail map from www.georgiantrail.ca

Check out these images of the trial:
www.meaford.com/town/georgiantrail.htm
Click “next” on the page to see more photos.

www.georgiantrail.ca/photogallery.html

At about 7 p.m. on November 14, 1872, the first locomotive rolled into Meaford along the newly-laid rail line between Collingwood and Meaford – built by the North Grey Railway Company. Until then, the village had shipped and received goods via ships and along the primitive roads of the time, and while various interests petitioned for a railway, it looked unlikely. According to Charles Cooper’s Railway Pages, it was Gooderham & Worts, the Toronto distillery, which may have finally spurred the development of the line.

The Northern Railway, which operated in Simcoe County, wasn’t convinced of the value in extending a line along the southern shore of Georgian Bay. But Gooderham & Worts had recently underwritten the construction of the Toronto Grey and Bruce Railway – arrowing northwest to Owen Sound to bring back the distillery’s primary supplies: firewood and wheat. To compete, the Northern gave authority to North Grey Railway, formed by politicians and business interests from Meaford, Collingwood and nearby communities, to build the line – with the ultimate goal of extending it to Owen Sound.

The train station at Meaford harbour

The first station stood on the west side of Sykes Street, near the top of “Station Hill”. (A small parkette now fronts the road here, with the rail yard long gone and a subdivision taking its place.) By the turn of the century, a new spur line to the harbour and a new station allowed more efficient access to industry and shipping. For years the railway served Meaford’s economy, brought in holiday visitors, and carried soldiers from the Meaford base overseas to the war in Europe, welcoming those that returned. But regular passenger service ended in 1960, and by then freight service had dropped to a train a day. The old station fell to the wrecker’s ball in 1965.

For two decades the line was essentially abandoned, but in a time when a growing “rail to trail” movement was converting abandoned rail lines across Ontario and North America, local residents showed considerable interest in turning the 32-kilometre line into something that could continue to benefit the towns along the way. The Georgian Trail would offer hiking, jogging, cycling, cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing to residents and visitors alike, whether they were touring a local leg or venturing the length of the trail. But the Georgian Cycle and Ski Trail Association had its work cut out for it. The rail line passed through two counties, two townships and three municipalities, and creating the trail would require considerable fund raising and volunteer time. But the group persevered, and within a mere three years the Georgian Trail officially opened. (As with the original North Grey Railway line, the section down to Meaford harbour took a little longer to complete – when your faithful blogger arrived in town back in 1992, you needed to venture up St. Vincent Street to access the trail across from Knights of Meaford.)

Next up, a tour of the trail.

If the Centurion Canada video got you interested in joining in, it’s time to start training. This 80-kilometre route starts and ends in Meaford, and offers a lot of great scenery and a lot of climbing (and downhills, too!) Portions of this route are featured in the 50 and 100 mile events in Centurion Canada.

Starting in downtown Meaford, head east to Grey Road 7 (the lights at the east end of town), and turn right. And the hills begin. In the 30-kilometre stretch from Meaford to Eugenia along Grey Roads 7 and 13, you first climb the one kilometre hill out of town, drop and ascend more shorter, steeper climbs (as well as some false flats), and then after descending into the Beaver Valley and through Kimberley, you begin the long multi-stage climb up the other side again. By the time you hit Kimberley, you’ve earned your refreshment at the Beaver River Grill or the Flying Chestnut Kitchen.

(Now, there’s an idea – leave a car in Kimberley first time ’round, and you can end your ride here. Nothing wrong with easing into it!)

Up for the return route? After recharging, you can return to Meaford via the same stretch, or once you’ve gone through Kimberley on your return, continue on Grey Road 13 as it winds and dips along the Beaver Valley toward Thornbury. You’ll pass through the hamlet of Heathcote on the way, where the bakery will entice you with the smell of delicious treats, and soon thereafter you’ll arrive in Clarksburg, with its gallery-lined main street – then on past the old heritage homes into Thornbury. From here, it’s a mere 13 kilometres back to Meaford along the Georgian Trail, or if you haven’t filled your climbing quota, work your way west to Sideroad 33, and ascend one more good-sized hill before turning north on Meaford’s Third Line and following it back to the Highway and into town. Don’t miss the terrific view as the Third Line crests above Meaford.

Click on the map to get the route. If it doesn't work at first, try a second time, or paste http://bit.ly/nK1Mte into your browser.

Of course, you don’t have to be a “centurion” to enjoy the riding around Meaford. If you’re into an easier pace, the rolling hills around Meaford offer an endless variety of less strenuous rides. (Let the sights take your breath away instead!) And if you prefer something that’s definitely more leisurely than laborious, try out the Georgian Trail. The mostly flat rail-to-trail begins at Meaford Harbour and follows the old Northern Rail line along the curve of Georgian Bay to Collingwood, offering stops at Christie Beach, Lora Bay, Thornbury and Blue Mountain.

(If mountain biking’s your thing, you’ve definitely come to the right place. More on that soon.)

To begin exploring cycling routes in Meaford start at Jolley’s Alternative Wheels and checking out the database of rides.

On your drive on one of the many scenic roads into Meaford, you’re bound to notice groups of cyclists in colourful Lycra jerseys, attacking hills that can take your breath away (literally). And if you’re into the harder rides, there’s plenty of those to be found.

When cyclist Ken Petersen arrived in Meaford after getting serious about riding in Vancouver and the Coastal Mountains, he found it a cyclist’s paradise. “Meaford is better than Vancouver or B.C., because there’s lots of flat areas, so for those people who don’t want to encounter a lot of hills when they’re out riding, it’s great. And for insane people like me who’ll ride 30 kilometres so I can ride 15 kilometres up a mountain, there’s still lots of challenging hills.” (Road bike enthusiasts are surprised – and pleased – to discover just how many of the back country roads in the area are well-paved.)

As you explore the routes, you’ll understand why this area attracted Centurion Cycling to stage an event here. After its successful inaugural run last year, Centurion Canada is back on September 16 to 18, offering 25-mile, 50-mile and 100-mile (yes, mile) rides.

Centurion Canada from Michael Clarke on Vimeo.

(Don’t miss the riders at 3:46!)

Tomorrow, we’ll explore a solid ride out of Meaford.