Toronto Star 2002 End-to-End Itinerary-594 km

1. Councillor Mark Holland at Petticoat Creek Conservation Area, Pickering

We begin at the Rouge River and ride east to Petticoat Creek where we meet Councillor Mark Holland.

2. Petticoat Creek Pedestrian Bridge

Pickering has been investing very heavily in its waterfront. One of the new additions is this spectacular bridge over Petticoat Creek.

3. Sculpture by Ron Baird, Millennium Square

After a ride through pleasant residential streets, we enter Bruce Hanscombe Memorial Park and then on to the new Millennium Trail (part of the Waterfront Trail) where we take in this sculpture. Pickering's arts community is committed to making Pickering's Waterfront Trail distinctive for its artwork.

4. Millennium Square is a great family spot.

The trail features great family spots like Millennium Square Park, with its beach and splashpad.

5. Sculptor Dorsey James, showing us Kijimba Kind

The Trail leads us through Beachfront Park to Alex Robertson Park, home of Home Place. Dorsey James explains that Kijimba Kind are sculptures created with the help of students using recycled hydro poles.

6. Duffins Marsh

Riding out of Home Place, we pass the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station and follow off-road trail into Duffins Marsh, and cross Duffins Creek Bridge-another terrific bridge built with help of the local Rotary Clubs.

7. Honouring the soldiers of Ajax

In Ajax, we travel "Lake Ontario's longest undeveloped waterfront in the GTA" through Rotary Park and Harwood Point Historic Gardens, where soldiers are honoured.

8. Ajax's fantastic waterfront and bluffs.

The town's 400 foot setback rule has maintained lots of beautiful open space along the waterfront lands.

9. The trail up and around Carruthers Creek

Passing Ajax Waterfront Park and Pickering Beach, we go up and around Carruthers Creek on this trail. Steve Parrish, mayor of Ajax, discusses future connections and links in Ajax. All of Ajax's trail will eventually be off road. Moving one section off the road is one of the projects in the Trust's SuperBuild program.

10. Heading into Whitby

We take extra care on the road's soft shoulder, pictured here: the connection between Ajax and Whitby along Bayly Rd is for seasoned cyclists, and one must have a hybrid tire.

11. Lynde Marsh, with Bob Short

We stop at the Lynde Shores Conservation Area in Whitby. The Marsh has an excellent boardwalk, and there are exciting plans that include the creation of trails on the properties purchased by the Lynde Marsh Alliance to create a natural buffer around the Marsh.

12. Port Whitby Harbour

We go south along the Whitby Shores Greenway and through the beautiful grounds of the Whitby Mental Health Hospital; then north to Rowe House, a cultural heritage site and SuperBuild project.

13. Rotary Sunrise Lake Park

From the Lake we head into Heydenshore Park

14. Catwalk bridge over Corbett Creek

We bike towards Intrepid Park, where the Camp X Historical Society plans to establish a spy museum and year-round interpretive centre.

15. The Pumphouse Marsh Wildlife Reserve

From here we go to Henry House at the Oshawa Community Museum at Lakeview Park, to enjoy a well-deserved picnic lunch

16. Rural Countryside of Clarington

Clarington's Trail is set in a very remote, quiet and natural environment with few amenities. Samuel Wilmot Creek, trail through Darlington Nuclear Generating Station are very scenic. Be sure to bring your own water and food because you'll have to hit Port of Newcastle to buy a beverage!

17. Still over 20 kms to go!

When we reach the Port of Newcastle, it's 5:30 and time for dinner at the Brigg. After much-needed nourishment, we travel through Hope Township through 22 kms of beautiful rolling countryside.

18. Day's end!

After a full 100 kms, our first day ends in Port Hope. It's been exhausting -to recreational cyclists rolling countryside translates into hills and more hills and more hills-but you can't beat the setting!

1. Breakfast at the Manor on Walton B&B

Smarting from yesterday's arduous workout, we seek local wisdom on the challenges offered by today's route from Port Hope Mayor Rick Austin, Eugene Todd and Cobourg Mayor Peter Delanty.

2. Charming, downtown Port Hope

From here we make our way to Port Hope Marina along the trail that follows the western bank of Ganaraska River.

3. Port Hope Marina

This is the site of one of three bridges submitted for SuperBuild funding. The bridge will cross over the Ganaraska River and connect the centre pier to the Waterfront Trail.

4. The Fish Cleaning station

From here we head east along the Port Hope's quiet beaches and along the forest paths of Gages Creek.

5. Cobourg's beautiful harbour

Located just a couple minutes south of the historic downtown and its terrific shops and eateries, Cobourg's harbour is a very popular spot for boaters.

6. Victoria Park in Cobourg

Hard to believe the expanse of this incredible white beach. Victoria Park has much to offer visitors and it is home to one the waterfront's most successful music festivals!

7. Spencer Barrett, University of Toronto botany professor

Spencer spots what just may be the oldest tree on the Waterfront Trail! The Ecology Garden is another highlight. Thanks to the Dutch Oven for the great lunches!

8. Lovely country roads into Alnwick/Haldimand

Once we leave Cobourg we pass through another very quiet and remote section of waterfront.

9. Nawautin Nature Sanctuary

Haldimand Township is wonderfully scenic, as is the Sanctuary. Mayor Findlay, Councillors Walter Broegelmann and Ray Benns meet us, as well as other Association members. The Sanctuary is the brainchild of Bob Marshall the developer who had the vision to create a publicly accessible nature sanctuary within a residential development.

10. Stone beaches and rural landscape

Along the beaches you can hear the birds and the happy sounds of the occasional swimmers and picnickers. It's all very relaxing; out here you really feel you've escaped the city!