Day 9, part 2

The trail was well maintained, smooth, and ATV-free till after the Lock.

Then it was rougher, and we were back on the Hastings Heritage Trail.

Rougher gravel, some washboards, etc.

The Lower Trent Trail was smooth, by comparison ...

road crossing, gates, signs 

many spots where it looked like a tunnel 

crossing the Trent River, just before crossing the canal 

looking back, just after crossing the canal swing bridge.

Nice conversation with a guy on an old mtb (his wife pictured)

He said "I finally got the old bikes out, this year. Thinking about ranging further afield."

We told him about our route.

And I swear! he was on the same bike I had, 30 years ago, my first mtb. An old 26" wheel Norco. Memories!

That bike was eventually stolen, in Kingston - the bike theft capital of Canada!! 

North of the Lock, and  back on the rail trail

But the Hastings Heritage Trail 

And back to bigger, rougher gravel

And ATVs, and, of course, washboards

rolling through lotsa nice farmlands 

If yer gonna stop fer snacks, ya better make it at an open, windy spot. The deerflies are ... thick! in this section 

lotta nice marshes 

some straight, flat, smooth sections 

I was a little surprised that the TransCanada Trail was designated along these sections, as they have lots of ATV traffic, which is something they are trying to get away from, these days (for that trail)