Category Archives: News

Unfortunately due to the COVID regulations limiting the number of persons that can gather, all rides for the rest of the season are cancelled.

Hopefully we can meet next Spring and start a fresh schedule!.

Sept 12,2020
Ride Lead: Greg Stephens
Tail: Rob Mineault
Total of 22 participants
15 ATVs
4 side by sides

It was a cool start to the morning overcast, approximately 10 degrees Celsius. Started the ride
at 09h30, down the rail bed which because of the recent rain was a nice smooth dustless ride.
Our first stop was around 10h30, everyone seemed to be happy to take in the lake views and
socialize a little – everyone commented throughout the ride how nice it was to get out, as with
the ongoing pandemic, our rides were few and far between and everyone enjoyed the fresh air.
It started to warm up around 10h30, the sun was poking itself in and out of the clouds, after the
first break we did a little road riding to change up the pace a bit, then went back into the trail
system to get over to the lunch area which had to be bypassed as was occupied by a couple
camping, so we made our way up the trail another 10 minutes and took a much needed break
for lunch.
At around 13h30 we started to notice a little rain coming down, which certainly started to pick
up around 14h00 – so we had a quick stop on the trail to enable people to put on their rain
wear. We made our way to the railway bridge through the trail system which certainly had
pooled a little water all along the way with all the rain we have been experiencing over the past
several weeks.
After the railway bridge visit we made our way through the old Kukagami road, which Art and
Greg had worked hard to clear, this area way greatly appreciated by all as it provided a little
challenge with all the mud holes.
Everyone made it back to their vehicles for approximately 16h15 – to call it a great ride would
not be an under statement.

It was another beautiful day in the Crystal Falls area. We had a great turn out for this ride as it
is quite common to just get a few riders. 9 ATVs showed up, 7 members and 2 visitors.

The ride was a great mix of meandering though the forest on smooth trails to rock climbing and mud pools. All the gentleman on the ride got a bit of riding teaching from the lady on the ride as she insisted on climbing one of the hills which we all avoided, well she made it up with very little problems.

Lunch at the camp was leisurely and enjoyable.

We completed the ride by 15h30.

Ride Leaders:  Rob Mineault and Greg Stephens

Well it was a beautiful warm day and you could see that members were looking forward to getting out from the Covid-19 restrictions to go ATV’ing. 30 bikes showed up …10 side by sides and 20 ATV’s. In all 36 people were there of which 6 were visitors who saw our ride advertised online.

The ride was a leisurely one through bush trails, no roads and no dust. We only had to cut a few trees that had blown down after scouting three weeks ago. Lunch on Finlayson Lake with a cool breeze was so enjoyable that one of the riders went in for a swim.

We all got back to the parking area by 3:30 and appreciated the fine day of riding. It was a good feeling to socialize.

Barry Beauchamp… ride leader and Marcel Lafreniere….tail

Well, here we are, definitely in the middle of the Dog Days of Summer.

But, what really is meant by the Dog Days of Summer?  The dog days of summer are the hot, sultry days of summer. They were historically the period following the heliacal rising of the star system Sirius, which Greek and Roman and Roman astrology, connected with heat, drought, and sudden thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, mad dogs and bad luck.

(I certainly can relate to the heat and lethargy!)

They are now taken to be the hottest, most uncomfortable part of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

Although Sirius is the brightest proper star in the night sky, it is 8.7 light-years (8.23×10¹³ km) away from Earth and has no effect whatsoever on the planet’s weather or temperature.  Although the star continues to return to the night sky in late summer, its position continues to gradually shift relative to the Sun and will rise in the middle of winter in about 10,000 years.

For more information about this summer period click on Dog Days.

The white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) is the official flower and emblem of Ontario, our province. It is an official symbol of the Government of Ontario. (The large white trillium is also the official wildflower of Ohio).

The beautiful trilliums start to appear in early spring, and is noted for it’s three-prong white flower.  It is a delicate flower, so please be careful with it.  It takes 2 years to germinate!

There is a “legend” that the RCMP or OPP will arrest you for picking the Trillium.  This is not true — at this time — but because it is a special flower that takes a long time to come back, please consider leaving it in the forest.

Although not against the law there was a bill proposed, Bill 184, Ontario Trillium Protection Act, introduced in 2009 which read:

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

   1.  The Floral Emblem Act is amended by adding the following section:

Prohibition

   2.  (1)  No person shall pick, cut down, dig, pull up, injure or destroy, in whole or in part, whether in blossom or not, the plant that produces the trillium grandiflorum or white trillium.   

Non-application of subs. (1)

   (2)  Subsection (1) does not apply to any person engaged in,

  (a)  the lawful carrying out of any public work or of the person’s occupation; or

  (b)  the carrying out of necessary work on property owned or lawfully occupied by the person. 

Offence and penalty

   (3)  Any person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $500.

However, the status of the bill was only at first reading, and has not been enacted.  (https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-39/session-1/bill-184)

For some more information on the trillium read further here:  11 Interesting Facts about the Trillium .

Ontario:  A Place to Grow!

The Board has decided to cancel the  Annual General Meeting at this time, due to the precautions being taken surrounding the COVID-19 situation.  It will be rescheduled at a later date.  Take care, wash your hands often, and stay healthy!

On Thursday night/Friday morning we had a snow/wind storm at the Marten River area dumping 30 cm. of snow. After consultation it was decided to continue with the ride on Saturday.

First of all that morning highway 64 was not plowed. Then going to the parking area, a 100 meters from the highway the first two vehicles got stuck and had to be towed back to the highway. Once tracks were made all 11 vehicles got to the parking area safely. The 13 riders were set to ride.

Next stage was a 5 km. trip to the Holdridge Creek bridge a 15 minute trip. Not this time. The snow laden trees with the wind had blown over numerous trees and out came the chainsaws. It took 1 hour to get to the bridge. The snow was wet and so were we.

A decision was made to cancel the planned ride and make up another sticking to those trails that were more open. Yes, there were some trees down but we managed to plow through the snow and get to the beach at Pike Lake, make a fire, have lunch and laugh and joke at the experience. We came back a shorter way following the pole line.

And again with the light drizzle and the snow on the trees there must have been at least 50 balsam fir trees bent over the last 5 km. of the trail that we had cleared in the morning. Out came the chainsaws.

Once at the parking area we all found the experience great but maybe not to be repeated in a long time. Lots of comradery, joking and sore backs. Those ATV riders are brave and resourceful people.

Barry Beauchamp…ride leader                   Marcel Lafreniere….tail