3 days in Orillia - Tuesday Aug 11 to Thursday Aug 13
Contact: Dave Mader, program-x@tbn.ca
On Tuesday there is an 11 AM start to allow time to drive to Orillia. Wednesday and Thursday have a 9 AM start.
The routes below are considered suitable for Urban Roller and Tourist level riders. Click here and scroll down to see what these levels mean.
Registration: Everyone must register to join this event. If it turns out that you are unable to attend, please cancel your registration. (If you do not have a regular TBN membership, you can purchase a 30-Day-Trial membership for $10 - click here).
Start location: Rotary Place, West Orillia Sports Complex
Tuesday - Day 1
Start time 11:00 AM
Routes: Day1
These routes visit the Stephen Leacock Museum and the Gordon Lightfoot sculpture garden in Orillia, a bit of the trail systems, and countryside around Bass Lake. There are shorter and longer variants. All of the routes stop at Hewitts Farm Market and Bakery for lunch.
Tuesday dinner reservation: TBD.
Wednesday (Day 2) and Thursday (Day 3)
Meet around 8:30 for a 9:00 AM departure from Rotary Place.
Day2 routes
On Wednesday we ride to Big Chute, where we will see the Marine Railway in action if we are lucky. The 108 km route starts at Rotary Place. The 88 km route starts at Hewitts Fun Farm, beside Hewitts Farm Market and Bakery. The 68 km route starts at Baxter Ward Community Centre. Meet at Rotary Place around 8:30 AM. Those going on the remote starts - have your bikes loaded in your cars, ready to drive to the remote start locations. Gather at the remote start locations and leave in a group.
Wednesday dinner reservation: TBD.
Day3 routes
Meet at Rotary Place around 8:30 AM to get organized.
- A ride through Orillia and along Lake Simcoe on trails and roads
- Remote-start tour on the paved Tay Shore Trail.
- Countryside north of Orillia.
Wild card routes
The above routes have been popular since 2023. However, if you wish to explore other terrain, check out these routes.
Contact: Dave Mader, program-x@tbn.ca
Accommodation: is up to you.
Suggestions:
- The student residence at Lakehead University, Orillia Campus is available. This is next door to Rotary Place. This may be a good choice if you can arrange to share a suite with another participant. A suite for two people consists of two separate bedrooms and a shared bathroom (2025 price: $317 incl tax for 2 nights). Suites can be booked online here when they are posted by the university. Or, you can phone the front desk team at 705-330-4012. If you are sharing with a suite-mate, decide which one of you is in charge of booking, checking in, and checking out.
- There are several motels/hotels in Orillia, also camping at Bass Lake Provincial Park.
Food: Last year, breakfast was available in the cafeteria at the university. It may be again this year. Even if you are not staying at the residence you can have breakfast at the cafeteria, but you should park at Rotary Place Arena.
Breakfast in the cafeteria - plan the day - buy snacks
After the ride there are attractions in the area. The Leacock Museum could be visited after the ride on Wednesday or Thursday (open 10AM to 4PM). Near Bass Lake, there is the George Langman Wildlife Sanctuary. In Orillia, we have Couchiching Beach Park along the downtown lakeshore. The Maraposa Market is a great place to eat and/or shop (open 7AM to 7PM). A cold one and hot nachos can be had on the patio at Studabakers near the waterfront.
The residence at Lakehead University, Orillia campus
Gordon Lightfoot sculpture "Golden Leaves"
Leacock Museum - National Historic Site
Big Chute Marine Railway
