Lost In The Forest
Our series of trail experiences, where we ride, and how we spend a day on the trail. We will talk about our opinion of a location, the culture, any cafe or ice cream joints we like, bike shops and even if the place has potential for wild edibles. We are always on the hunt for quiet lunch eating spots or an area to dip your feet in a clear stream without picking up a Tick!
Episodes
The Hydrocut trail system is consistently ranked as one of the top mountain bike destinations in Ontario and is recognized across Canada for its 35km of continuous singletrack that see nearly 100,000 visitors per year. The trails are open and free to the public. They feature board walks and bridges, switchbacks and “armoured” walls, with fast lines and technical features to challenge the most skilled of riders.
We re-visited Queenston Heights to make a loop, we have spent a long time in this area on and off and never managed to put a 100% rideable loop together until today, it does require a road section but the history of the area and the quiet road makes it a worthwhile adventure. We also bought the Niagara Parks permit to park in the actual park, a game changer for a fun experience. We found an old railway walking trail and Milkweed th...
We made a trip to Hockley Valley Resort to ride some trails. we had a great day all things considered. If you are going to ride here listen to this first. Golf and bikes really don't mix.
Hockley Resort is worth the trip, if you go in the week the fact it is quiet is so lovely. No dog walkers or ramblers, the signs are clear bike trails only.
They also have a spa at the hotel, golf and a large hire fleet.
Also a bit of discussion abou...
Garlic Scapes, Wild Bergamot and Sickner Mushrooms all at 12 Mile Creek and Short Hills. Keeping it local this week.
On the hunt for the Chantrelle mushrooms and a good cone and we managed a good ride 3 out of 3 almost. We nearly got the perfect cone, shroom find and ride but one was not up to snuff. We did the North West part of Turkey Point today. Best part yet so far.
Spiky suckers Gooseberries are. Riding in the Waterloo area, make a day of it, Hydro Cut, Vista Hills and Laurel Creek area, great places to ride, they are quiet and easy to get to.
Jessica talks about the Gooseberry and why you should risk a spike in the hand.
We did some loops on the trails today. we covered:
- Thorny Side
- Laura Secord Ruins
- Middle Earth
- Pines Mid Shelf
- Jacksons Flats
- Very Berry
- Driftwood (Closed)
- Easy Meat
- Pumptrack
- Two Bridges
- Humpty Dumpty
- Fence Line
- Tight and Twisty
I was parked off of the Decew Road down from the falls.
Video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bBAy21c090&t=22s
This is a short hop from the Hydrocut, Look on a map and it is a forest in a housing estate. It has 3 car parks but you want the last one on Sundew Drive and after a short ride on the tarmac you take Donkeys Trail and hang a right. Jess talks about Clover on this one and how she loved those downhills. Also on our Youtube, there is a short video.
Returned to Short Hills near Niagara, and loved the start but sadly a thunder and lightning finish to our ride and sadly a big cleanup. The mud here when sun-baked ends up like an Ice Rink.
We did find Snow White, Npplewort and a few other things but know mushrooms.
Not even the best ride.
Check out the store.
Iroquoia Heights is on the Bruce Trail and part of the Hamilton Conservation area.
You get to see the Turkey Vultures doing laps on the thermals looking for road kill or dead mountain bikers. Despite a very unpleasant man in the car park stealing laces and trying to run bikes over it was a great place to ride and something different. Unlike many other places we ride, people are not on the trails. Jessica gave a tip or two on Pheasan...
The Friendship Trail is a tarmac old railroad that runs from Port Colborne to Fort Erie
https://www.trailforks.com/trails/friendship-recreation-trail/
https://lostintheforest.world/recipes/f/spruce-tip-pancakes
This is one of those little gems that you might overlook.
This is a trail for the person who wants to forage or ride with the whole family, Look out for the road crossings and the Turkey Vultures.
This is an exceptional pay-to-ride trail system. If you're going more than three times a year then best just join. The Pines is a cool place with real directional trails that uses the small bit of elevation to its full advantage. We did find Catnip and had a great time. There is only one car park but it is easy to find and keep an eye out for model planes.
We talk about navigation and the use of Trailforks, we try to explain our process of finding our way around new places and what we do if we take other people out for a ride. Jessica talks about wild ginger, stingers and our yard. We also explore spring being sprung.
In this episode, we chat about wild things, cleaning Ginger roots in the bath, travelling Walnuts and our delightful trip to a secret location with Peter from Pucks Plenty in search of wild things you can eat. If you get a chance check out Puck's Plenty. Peter is knowledgeable and gives great information and facts to help you on your foraging journey. I get disappointed about shopping carts in the local riding spot.
We are back out on The Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve building trails. The second full day and we made real progress, Jessica found wild edible food, a tree did fall in the woods and it did make a noise. Turned out to be a great day and at least when we run the open day we will have something to ride. Also looking for help on bug spray.
The start of the Bruce Trail, (Brucie Baby) Nice to see you Nice, Growing up in England you can't avoid a comedian presenter called Bruce Forsyth and we nick named the Bruce Trail Brucie Baby and it kind of stuck. Anyway back to business.
This section of the Bruce seems very happy to accommodate bikes and even with it being very busy everyone seems happy to see you and say hi. Some people are even pro mountain bikes.
This is a Green...
Mud Lake is a lake full of Mud from the 4th Welland Canal. This is one of the few times where something we do as humans has a positive outcome. This is now a marsh area great for wildlife. Mud Lake trails I do think are a great place to try a mountain bike off-road. Just remember that they are shared trails. Keep an eye out for animals. According to a guy we met, Green Winged Teal is here too. We went on to Wianfleet Bog, created f...
May the 1st is the registration day for this program on the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve.
The mission is to build trails and get those who want to out in the woods riding bikes and building trails. If things progress well we will run some bike park trips.
Check out manypaths.ca and drop us a line if you would like to be involved.
Today was just about figuring things out.
They say this bike is made for
DOWNHILL TRAILS
LIGHT DIRT JUMP
ENDURO
The San Quentin is for the aggressive hardtail trail rider looking for a blend between singletrack capabilities and extended air time. This is the 2021 model on 27.5 wheels check out the 29er Wheels on the 2024 model, although I do love the red.
Key upgrades over the San Quentin 2:
- RockShox Revelation RC fork
- Shimano Deore 6100 wide-range 12-speed drivetrain
- Shiman...
Syd the cat joins us on this one if you listen.
We re-visited Turkey Point today, we have been here recently but that was a winter ride on fat bikes today was a normal ish ride on the normal bikes. It was even mild no coat required.
We also cover the Kernel Peanut shop, Salmon breeding and watercress.
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