On November 8th 2023, a group of UTOC cyclists met up at 7:15 a.m. outside Robarts Library with the goal to ride with everything we would need for a two-day bike-packing trip to Hart House Farm and back.
It was my first time planning and running a 2-day bikepacking trip, let alone one with 18 people! After distributing the food we needed for the trip, we set off towards Bloor St to begin our bike trip.
My partner, Jesse led the group while I swept the ride (Riding sweep = staying at the back of a group bicycle ride, to make sure no one is left behind and to be there to help in case of any problems).
About 20-km in, we stopped at a Timmies to warm up our extremities. Everyone on the trip ended up being the hardiest bikers I know - especially one of them who rode the entire journey with an aircast on one leg!
We biked along the Etobicoke Trail. It started to rain as we approached the Mt Pleasant GO station. We were supposed to meet up with two other bikers but I underestimated the time it would take a large group to bike 30-km in frigid temperatures. They waited over an hour for us and decided to embark on their own little adventure to find the farm themselves using the map I had shared with everyone prior to the trip. As it started to rain, we decided to boost morale by taking shelter and having a bite to eat while waiting the rain out.
As we finished our meals, the rain was still lingering in a drizzle. We finished our meals, packed up and got back out to continue our journey. The remainder of the ride was in a straight line to the farm. Caledon is known for its rolling hills and we soon had firsthand (or technically first foot) experience pedalling our way up and down them.
The rain turned into hail as we turned onto Creditview Road. Steve, the farmhouse caretaker offered people the option to throw their bikes into the back of his pickup truck as the hail came pelting down.
The farmhouse was warmed up by smiles and laughter as we de layered and basked in the cycling feat we had just accomplished. Someone told me that they usually have their bike stowed away for the winter by October and here we were on a cold November day having cycled 60-km from U of T to a farmhouse in the Ontario countryside. I was so proud of this group of UTOC cyclists for joining me on this reading week trip!
A few of us headed down to the ponds to get the wood-burning sauna ready. Soon after, the others hiked down to join us while a few people who wanted to stay indoors that evening got started on dinner. We exchanged stories about our adventures and experiences while heating up in the sauna. We eventually built up the courage to go for a polar bear dip in the pond before warming up in the sauna again.
After a few rounds of being hot and cold, we bundled up and headed back to the farm house for pasta, salad and garlic bread for dinner.
Once we were all seated, we got a call from one more biker who on a cold and dark night was determined to make the trip after completing an assignment. He said that he did it so that he would have a great story to share with his grandchildren one day and indeed I think we will all enjoy telling people about this bike trip!
We enjoyed good conversation and fun games while roasting marshmallows carefully in the overhead oven since it was still rainy out. We ended the night with a game of Fish Bowl (sort of like charades) before turning in on our bunk beds for the night.
Breakfast was served around 8 a.m. the next morning. On the menu was apples caramelized with maple syrup, oatmeal and toast. We dug into the stash of jams and condiments left behind by other farm-goers in the fridge. After breakfast, we tidied up the house before a short hike around the 150-acre property.
After the hike, we gathered our things and headed out for our ride home to Toronto.
On our way out of Caledon, I had promised people that we would pass by the Cheltenham Badlands. Known for its martian like rolling hills, the geologist of the group gave us a crash course on the terra cotta dirt.
We continued along the empty country roads, this time with the warm sunshine on our backs. Almost half of the group continued after the GO stop at Mt Pleasant Station and made it back to Robarts Library entire on their own two-wheels. I was very impressed with everyone who took part in this trip and I enjoyed getting to know more UTOC members on and off the bike :)
Photos contributed by everyone on the trip.