Happy Labour Day! This unofficial end of summer seems like a good time to reflect on our very first season. It started off with a bang in June when an enthusiastic group tackled the Haliburton Pedal, Pints, and Pubs (PPP) tour head-on. The three day tour started off with a fairly gentle ride on Day 1, with, admittedly, a couple of “slopes” that provided a nice challenge to kick things off. The group rode hard and caroused even harder for three days, enjoying beer tastings and great food, and providing Humdinger with a fantastic, formal launch.
PPP ran again in July, and despite persistent pleas to the Universe for fair weather, Day 1 came with heavy rain. We had a number of indoor back-up plans in place, but this game group of women wanted to ride, and ride they did. Rain threatened for days 2 and 3 as well, but between an adapted schedule and a bit of luck, we were able to stay dry, get in some great riding, and enjoy the sites. While flexing the schedule, we discovered some new attractions, including the lovely Ritchie Falls, which may be featured in future PPPs…
In July we also ran a pilot test of Humdinger’s signature Georgian Bay-Muskoka (GBM) 6 Day tour, which allowed us to make some tweaks ahead of the August trip. Jeff and Adele (aka Madame) accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Humdinger for a few days of riding and dining, as well as a fine meal with friends to celebrate a couple of 25th wedding anniversaries 🙂
As it turns out, the August edition of the 6 Day GBM was superb! We started off in Parry Sound with a cruise and then a short warm-up ride to Nobel and along the shores of Georgian Bay. Days 2 and 3 took us to Muskoka, and included the very hilly Lake Rousseau loop. A stop of the Cottage Law Bakery in Rosseau provided excellent coffee and delicious baked goods to get us through to Port Carling. Day 4 was a long day – 120 km were scheduled, and one hearty guest did the full ride. The remaining gang (also hearty!) completed a very respectable 100 km – A metric century. There was a lot to see along the route, including the Port Stanton swing bridge and the very cool Big Chute marine railway. The day ended in Port Severn, where guests took advantage of the water view and the excellent dinner menu. Thanks to guest guides Jeff and Madame for assisting with this big day. On Day 5 we were back in the saddle to continue along the shores of Georgian Bay via the Tay Shore Trail and Tiny Beaches Road, joined on this scenic ride by Dawn and Other Jeff. Day 6 had us on the Niagara Escarpment, riding from Pretty River to Thornbury. We had an outstanding week, and we are confident that our lovely guests did too.
And, with that, the 2018 season is a wrap. We cannot thank everyone enough for helping to make our first season a great success
What’s in store for 2019?
Based on much positive feedback, the Haliburton Pedal, Pints, and Pubs 3-Day Tour and the 6-Day Georgian Bay -Muskoka 6-Day Tour will be back next year. We will be making some small adjustments to make them even better – stay tuned for more information later in the fall.
We will also be adding a new Pedal, Pints, and Pubs in a different region – we are currently exploring a couple of options, and will get the details out as soon as possible. For those who are not familiar with Pedal, Pints, and Pubs, they are designed for novice/intermediate riders. We cycle about 25-30 kilometres per day, with a break after about 10-15 kilometres. There is more emphasis on site-seeing than in the longer tours, with, as the name implies, some stops at craft breweries along the way.
A new intermediate/advanced tour in Huntsville/Haliburton is being planned. This will follow the format of the Georgian Bay-Muskoka tour, with cycling distances in the 60-80 kilometres per day range, with one or two more challenging rides. As usual, the emphasis will be on picturesque low-traffic routes, pleasant lakeside accommodations, and great food.
There are also some epic Humdinger Day Tours in the works for next year. And, if you want to hire a support vehicle for a private ride, contact us! We will make your ride smooth and worry-free.
