Christmas Eve

24 Dec 2005: Rideau Trail kilometres 200.1-207.3 & 208.8-210.0

I took advantage of a narrow window of opportunity, plenty of snow fell in recent days and snow clearing would be on reduced holiday schedule. Therefore, I decided to tackle some more urban segments of the trail.

I first drove 65 minutes to Wood Road in Montague township and parked where the Rideau Trail emerges from the Long Bush. I then completed the 1100 metres on Wood Road and back to the car. This segment of the trail will now complete a continuous 60.9k stretch from the visitors centre at the Hersheys chocolate factory in Smiths Falls (kilometre 200.1) to the park in the village of Richmond (kilometre 261.0).


Just to the south, a freight train took the main line from Toronto to Montreal on the CPR Winchester subdivision. The rail cars can just be made out through the trees across the field.

From Wood Road I drove the short distance in to Smiths Falls and parked beside the CPR's rail welding plant. I beat the snow plow to Matheson Drive but the plow beat me to Rosedale Road. The 4.8k journey left me with very soggy shoes. Therefore, at the turn around point, I carried the snow shoes back, allowing my shoes to dry somewhat.

Fortunately, on both my passes of his home, Toby was reluctant to cross the pavement to bite me. This lengthy stretch of the hiking trail is on a paved road with no shoulder. Today was a rare opportunity to cover that segment of the trail with snow cover and very little traffic.

Two hours later, back at the car, I surveyed the possibility of continuing in to Smith Falls using the CPR underpass which carries five sets of tracks: the two main lines (east and west) of the Winchester subdivision and the tracks serving the yards. The triangular flash directs the trail user to travel under the bridge. However, fifty yards of this route have never seen a flake of snow and the pigeon guano was not yet deep enough to protect my snow shoes from the cement surface.


The pedestrian steps down to the underpass had been closed for many years. I considered trespassing. From the top of the underpass, the Smiths Falls VIA Rail station can be seen in the distance.


Following the trail flashes, I journeyed another mile in to the streets of Smiths Falls proper. Fortunately, most home owners had better things to do with their Christmas Eve morning then to shovel their walks. Nevertheless, by the time I got to the visitors' centre at the Hershey factory, I had crossed too much pavement lacking snow cover and called it quits for the day.

Merry Christmas!


total kilometres completed = 150.3