The day went well with the weather forecasting thundershowers and rain and all we had was blue skies and 28 C temperatures.
Despite the ride being a 5 on our difficulty scale, we still had a favourable turnout with 9 ATV’s and 11 riders.
Along the way we found the carcass of a moose, a probable victim of brain worm. Could this be the result of more deer in the area which carry the tick that causes this disease?
We all noticed how dry the bush is with all the water holes along the trail being dry. On a positive side we could see the trail ahead and maneuver around all obstacles.
Many of the riders had not been on this ride before. It gave them the opportunity of seeing how it could be incorporated into many of the other rides in the Field/ Marten River area.
All were happy to get back to the parking area, tired and looking forward to a cold drink.
Thanks to all who participated and made the day an enjoyable one.
Here’s a recent article from CBC News that highlights as a reminder why you should bring the good old paper maps with you while hiking. It is equally important to bring these when you are ATVing too….maybe more so as the bouncing up and down on trails could render your GPS less than useful!
The Thistle Lake Ride was the fifth ride of the season for the West Nipissing ATV Club.
There were 16 ATVs and 3 Side-by-Sides with a total of 21 riders in attendance for the ride. We lift River valley at 6pm following the road to the trail and down the trail to a pine plantation for a break, then down the trail to a logging road for break two down the road to a trail where we went around a beaver dam.
Next we went to a lake for a break and then on to the tower for the last break before dark.
We left the Tower 8.45 pm as it started to get dark with all lights on for the ride back to the parking lot.
This is to notify all that the ride on Saturday, July 27th has been cancelled.
Yesterday Marcel Lafreniere, Art Constantineau and myself went out to scout the Tilden Lake Alterative ride leaving from the Sandy Falls Road. 7 kms. Into the ride we met with a 1 km. section that was very rough and we had to reclassify the ride to a 4 on our difficulty scale. Then 1 km. before Riding Stable Road the trail was blocked by a water barrier. Marcel mistakenly with his Commander side by side started across and just made it to the other side with water over his seat. He decided to return through the same water hole and we have a picture of him doing so. In one spot the bike was floating.
There was no alternative route and realizing that this was not a canoe trip we decided that this ride was impossible.
The night ride on August 10th has been scouted and is a go. Until then take care
Holdridge Creek ride started off with 13 riders on 12 bikes. The forecast of thunderstorms might have scared some members off. The ride to the Rock Pine restaurant was pleasant except for the exceptional number of deer flies along the pole line.
Because it was members day, each rider, (2 members met us there by motorcycle), received a credit of $16.67 towards their meal. Thanks for the good service by Yvette and Gary of the Rock Pine Restaurant.
On the way back, yes, we hit the thundershowers and everyone got soaking wet. Fortunately, the rain was warm and spirits high.
On a positive note, some riders saw a young moose on the trail, a cow moose and calf in a swamp, a bear crossing the trail, a marsh hawk, a rabbit, and partridges.
Well, lets start off with some fun facts about blueberries:
Blueberries are perennial flowering plants that have either blue– or purple–colored berries when matured. They are in the same class as cranberries, bilberries, huckleberries and Madeira blueberries. There are generally two types of blueberry bushes; the wild (‘lowbush’) and cultivated (‘highbush’) blueberries and all are found in North America.
Blueberries usually grow close to that ground, with a woody stem system, and a plant can vary in size from 10 centimeters to 4 meters in height.
The leaves can be either deciduous or evergreen, and 1–8 cm long and 0.5–3.5 cm broad. The flowers are bell-shaped, white, pale pink or red, sometimes tinged greenish. The fruit is a berry 5–16 mm in diameter with a flared crown at the end; they are pale greenish at first, then reddish-purple, and finally dark purple when ripe. They have a sweet taste when mature, with variable acidity. Blueberry bushes typically bear fruit (and are fruit for the bear!) in the middle of the growing season: fruiting times are affected by local conditions such as altitude and latitude, so the peak of the crop, in the northern hemisphere, can vary from May to August.
Getting Some:
Blueberries are one of the easiest berries to find. July to August is typically blueberry season, but that can vary based on the weather. According to Northern Ontario Tourism, when hunting for your perfect spot, look in high, sunny areas. Check barren areas, rocks and cliffs, trails and hills, and if you find some crunchy, dried out moss, there’s likely blueberries nearby.
But remember, picking wild, lowbush blueberries is hard work. According to the team at Northern Ontario Tourism, bringing some key gear along makes for better picking. Be sure to bring:
Long pants
Hat
Sunscreen (blueberries like high, sunny spots)
Insect repellant (blueberry season is also mosquito season!)
Water
Bucket/basket for berries (bags can damage your haul)
Great Eating:
And of course the best part is eating the blueberries! Whether you eat them raw (I have a hard time filling my container, because I eat faster than I pick!), or in your favorite pie, the blueberries are delicious.
Here is some nutrition info:
Top seven health benefits of blueberries:
High in Antioxidants
Help Fight Cancer
Amp Up Weight Loss
Boost Brain Health
Alleviate Inflammation
Support Digestion
Promote Heart Health
A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of raw blueberries has:
Calories: 57
Water: 84%
Protein: 0.7 grams
Carbs: 14.5 grams
Sugar: 10 grams
Fiber: 2.4 grams
Fat: 0.3 grams
And finally, here are 10 delicious blueberry recipes from Northern Ontario Travel (just click the link):
Here is an article from CBC, this July, which discusses the possible future regulatory impacts on the ATV community related to ATV rollovers and possible mandatory safety devices.
What do you think? Are rollovers really only due to irresponsible riders? Should such safety devices be mandated? Or, should the devices simply be an add-on option available to riders?
Some interesting material for discussion on our rides!
Summer is hot, and so is the ATV season! In addtion to our WNATV Club rides, there are other ATV events planned through the summer. Here a listing of events from the www.northernontario.travel website. Please ensure you verify the event is still on by checking with their particular website before travelling!
If for some reason you are not going to our own Club ride, Tilden Lake, on July 27th, but find yourself south of West Nipissing, I would recommend the July 27th event in Kearney. I have had the opportunity to ride some of the trails in this area, and it is a beautiful place. This is put on the the West Algonquin ATV Club. They are just south of us, and some of their members have joined us in the WNATV Club for rides.
Join the Central Ontario ATV Club on our annual road trip to Mattawa, Ontario on July 5-6-7, 2019. Spend the weekend in a cottage and ride from there on the Voyageur Multi Use Trail System, OFATV passes are required.
Registration: You must pre-register ASAP as we have limited space available, and we sell out every year. Cost is $220 per person (2 per room) for the cottage rental and all meals from Friday dinner to lunch Sunday. A $50 non-refundable deposit is required ASAP.
To participate please contact: Rhonda Broderick, rhonda@coatv.ca, or call her at 705-429-3822
6, KATVA Five Points Ride, Kinmount, ON
A beginner to intermediate level ride. Meet at 9:30 am at the Superior Propane Parking Lot, County Road 121. Ride leaves at 10 am sharp.
Registration: Click here to register. Non-members will be able to purchase their trail permit upon arriving for the event ride.
13-23, KATVA Camping and Ride, Stonecliffe, ON
An intermediate level ride starting from the Morning Mist Resort in Stonecliffe. Space may be limited so people need to contact the resort, www.MorningMistResort.ca for information.
Registration: Click here to register. Non-members will be able to purchase their trail permit upon arriving for the event ride.
20, COATVC Saturday Fun Ride, Wasaga Beach, ON
Central Ontario ATV Club, is having a Saturday fun ride from the clubhouse to the Anten Mills/Phelpston Trail. Meet at the COATV clubhouse in the Wasaga Beach Sports Park, 1888 Klondike Park Road, Wasaga Beach. Drive in and turn left to parking area by the clubhouse.
Registration: $20 event permit for those who don’t have an OFATV annual pass will be available before the ride.
20, 21, TIATVC Demo Daze 2019, Lansdowne, ON
Our annual Demo Daze is held in conjunction with the Lansdowne Fair. Come out and try new ATVs and Side X Sides from various manufacturers on our 3-kilometre trail.
27, AWATVC Trail Ride, Kearney, ON
All Algonquin West ATV Club rides leave the Kearney Legion ball diamonds at 9 am sharp.
Lunch provided with a permit. Day passes will be available for purchase on the morning of the ride. Ride dates and times subject to change, updates will be posted in advance as much as reasonably possible.
Registration: If you could please reply to customerservice@algonquinwestatv.com to verify registration.
August 2019 ATV Events
3, 4, Opeongo ATV Trail Fest, Barry’s Bay, ON
Our annual Loggers Loop and Opeongo ATV Trail Fest will be held August 3 and August 4. Leaving from the Paul J Yakabuski Arena. Lunch provided at Spectacle Lake Lodge – hamburger, salad, dessert, drink. Supper: back at the Arena after the Saturday ride. Accommodations available: overflow dry camping will be available at the Paul J Yakabuski Arena.
Registration: Cost is $40 for the weekend (includes Saturday lunch & supper, and door prizes). Registration begins at 8 am at the Paul J Yakabuski Arena on Saturday morning.
4, Sunday Fun Ride, Wasaga Beach, ON
Central Ontario ATV Club, is having a fun ride from the clubhouse to the Anten Mills/Phelpston Trail. Meet at the COATV clubhouse in the Wasaga Beach Sports Park, 1888 Klondike Park Road, Wasaga Beach. Drive in and turn left to parking area by the clubhouse.
Registration: $20 event permit for those who don’t have an OFATV annual pass will be available before the ride.
10, KATVA Pot Luck BBQ & Ride, Fenelon Falls, ON
Hosted at Log Chateau Park, 1691 Cty Rd 121, Fenelon Falls. Call 705-887-3960 to reserve your campsite. Riding from park at 10 am. BBQ roasts and pop provided. Everyone to bring a side dish, salad or dessert.
Registration: Click here to register. KATVA permit required. Non-members will be able to purchase their trail permit upon arriving for the event ride.
11, DGATV Sunday Fun Ride, Markdale, ON
A Sunday fun ride leaving from Markdale trail parking lot, 199-151 Grey County Rd 12, Markdale, ON.
Registration: Starts at 9:30 am. Ride leaves at 10 am. OFATV pass required or day passes for $20 available at registration.
17, Offroad I Like Dirt Roads, Elliot Lake, ON
The Elliot Lake ATV Club and Royal LePage will be hosting a charity ATV run to raise money for the Elliot Lake St. Joseph’s General Hospital CT Scanner and the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation.
17, Lunch by the Lake, Lansdowne, ON
Travel the Thousand Islands ATV Club trails to Charleston Lake for a barbecue, go for a swim or just put your feet in the lake.
Registration: Cost of the ride is $15/machine and $5 for additional riders. OFATV Trail Pass or Day pass required and can be purchased the day of the ride.
17, KATVA Five Points Ride, Kinmount, ON
Meet at Superior Propane, Cty Rd 121 at 9 am. Bring a lunch.
Registration: Click here to register. KATVA permit required. Non-members will be able to purchase their trail permit upon arriving for the event ride.
18, 7th Annual Trip to Kearney, Emsdale, ON
Join the Central Ontario ATV Club for the 7th annual ride on Algonquin West ATV Club trails in beautiful Kearney area. Bring your lunch to eat on the trail.
Registration: A $15 day pass is required and will be available on site. Meet at 8:30 am and park across from Rickward’s Polaris Small Motors, 1914 Hwy 518 E, Kearney.
18, Adam Wicks Memorial Ride, South Mountain, ON
The Nation Valley ATV Club will host the Adam Wicks Memorial Ride again this year. Location, timings and lunch details will be provided closer to the event date.
24, Goats Trail Ride, TBA, ON
All riders must pre-register. Limited to 20 expert riders. No 2-up riders. SxS allowed only if rules change. Riders will be notified by email of where and when to meet.
Registration: Click here to register.
The WNATV Club held a ride on June 22nd in the Silver Lake and Deschamps Lake area. There was practically no dust on the 805 and mosquitoes were not a problem on that amazing sunny day.
There were thirteen signatures on the attendance sheet.
We stopped at many lakes including Silver Lake, Tee Lake, the Spiank Stream and Deschamps Lake. This region is rich in history in the lumber, mining and fishing industries. The group was very dynamic and the riders were quite receptive and interested in learning about the area’s historical facts. In the photos, people are smiling a lot, which is a good sign.
The WNATV Club provided a surprise treat of pie and beverage at the pavilion of the private Club de chasse et pêche de Verner at Brightwater Lake.
Thank you to Club de chasse et pêche members, Yves and Serge, for the warm reception. I also wish to thank Jacques Lachance and Art Constantineau for helping me make this ride a memorable one.
The Silver Lake ride was sponsored by TGP Power Sports. Thank you, Rock Gagné.
