Registration opens Tuesday, August 25, 2020. Final date to Register is September 18, 2020.
Collingwood's top-rated fall colours and its many attractions, make this region a perfect fall getaway. I cannot guarantee that we will be able to see the fall colours, but generally they are best viewed from early to mid-October. Participants can choose to make this either a two or three day trip. We will have time to hike, cycle, relax, and have fun!
Accommodation
Participants will arrange their own accommodation. There are many affordable options near downtown Collingwood, including The Comfort Inn and The Days Inn. The Comfort Inn will allow us to bring our bikes into our hotel rooms. Currently, if you become a member of Choice hotels (it is free to do so), and book The Comfort Inn Collingwood for two nights, it is $120/night with free cancellation until the day before. Please note, that sometimes these rates and conditions change, so be sure to check when you are booking.
Besides hotels, there is also the option of camping. Craigleigh Provincial Park is on the Georgian Trail about 10 km west of Collingwood. At the time of posting this, there were still a number of sites available, and they were offering a full refund incase someone needs to cancel. Again, please double-check this condition, in case there are any changes.
Transportation
Participants will arrange their own transportation to the Collingwood region. It takes approximately two hours to get from Toronto to downtown Collingwood.
When making your arrangements for accommodation and transportation, please keep in mind that it may be difficult to physically distance if you carpool or share a hotel room with someone. The Medical Officers recommend that when you are in close contact with people (which would be in the case of carpooling and sharing a hotel room), it is best to do so with a member of your household.
Itinerary
All activities are optional, and the trip leader will involve trip participants to see which activities are of most interest. As a result, this itinerary could possibly change. As well, weather might impact the itinerary. Rides will be at the Urban Roller Level, but if I can find another Ride Leader to help, we can offer two different distances/speeds each day.
Friday: Cycle the Georgian trail from Collingwood to Meaford, which is the most scenic waterfront trail in the area. It is approximately 65 km. Click here for further details. More details are also available here.
Saturday: We will hike and explore either Scenic Caves, Blue Mountain, or The Bruce Trail.
Sunday: Cycle a region Southwest of Collingwood. TBN has several interesting Ride with GPS routes in the library which you can find here if you are a member. This route hasn't yet been finalized and I am still exploring the options.
Cancellation
There will be no charge if a participant cancels the registration with TBN. Please note that if the COVID situation worsens, the trip leader may have to cancel the trip. Participants are advised to obtain accommodation with free cancellation to be safe.
Safety & Hotels
In terms of the safety in staying at a hotel, there are a number of interesting articles, but there are still some unknowns and risks. Check out the following articles:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/hotels/2020/07/23/covid-19-hotel-precautions-safe-stay-hotel-right-now/5485744002/
https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/coronavirus-hotel-safety
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/covid-19-hotels-airbnb-safety#Your-level-of-trust
https://www.businessinsider.com/are-hotels-safe-coronavirus
Questions
Please email the trip organizer, Lora Flanagan, weekendtrips@tbn.ca
