Doug Cerson and Paul VanderMolen were on the trail to promote the Guelph to Goderich Rail Initiative on Oct. 21.
Over the past two years a steering committee formed to develop the Guelph to Goderich trail by Cerson, a Wellington-Waterloo based business consultant and advisor to multiple trail organizations; Doug Coda, a North Perth bike shop owner and creator of Cycle Ontario and VanderMolen; owner of an Huron County-based landscaping business and member of the Maitland Valley Trail Association.
Their goal is to illustrate to the townships, counties, stakeholders and potential stewardship groups the full potential of the Guelph to Goderich Rail Trail and to have the 80 plus kilometers of undeveloped trail from Linwood to Auburn officially open in the spring 2013.
The 10-hour journey on Oct. 21 began at Mile marker zero, as it is called, at the Kissing Bridge Trailway.
Cerson and VanderMolen were behind the wheel of a CanAm Commander UTV, on loan from Two Wheel Motor Sports in Guelph, fully loaded with a mounted HD videocamera and GPS.
The first 45 km of the trail, already fully developed as the Kissing Bridge Trailway, proved to be a scenic and serene morning ride for the two.
Once they passed Linwood on the trail, things start to deteriorate. “Despite all obstacles, overgrowth, downed trees, creeks and wandering cows, the rail bed is in great shape.” says Cerson. He added that about 90% of the trail is passable by hikers and cyclists.
The ride ended just outside of Goderich after 150 km of travel, 10 hours of video footage, and 175 photographs.
For more information about the initiative visit www.visitperth.ca.
