Eastern Canada - Kanata to Almonte

I'm hoping to take up touring, I think, and I thought an overnight from home to my cottage near Almonte might be a good introduction. So can anyone suggest a nice, quiet and safe backroads route? I'm thinking Ottawa-Carleton Trailway to Ashton Station, then back roads from there. Anyone?...

I'm hoping to take up touring, I think, and I thought an overnight from home to my cottage near Almonte might be a good introduction. So can anyone suggest a nice, quiet and safe backroads route? I'm thinking Ottawa-Carleton Trailway to Ashton Station, then back roads from there. Anyone?...

No one eh?

I don't have anything for you but a visit to gobiking.ca is always good. You can e-mail the fellow as well. Post up any advice he has please ;).

No one eh?

I don't have anything for you but a visit to gobiking.ca is always good. You can e-mail the fellow as well. Post up any advice he has please ;).

Quiet in here sometimes, isn't it? ;)
Michael at gobiking was encouraging but didn't have any specific advice. I have checked out one possible route: Rail trail to Ashton Station, Ashton Station Road/Golden Line to Old Almonte Road, and on into town. There's virtually no traffic and reasonably OK pavement on these roads, and a few km of gravel that would be uncomfortable on a road bike but no problem on mine. I might find a better way, but that would work.

I thought the Almonte Bike Club might have some maps for you, but the ones on their website http://www.magma.ca/~abc/index.html are all west or north of Almonte. You might want to email them and see if they have any ideas.
You might want to try driving backroads to the cottage, but viewing them from a cycling perspective. Check the hills, traffic and pavement conditions and pick your route.

try mapmyride.com

It seems only 30km? I would probably avoid the trans-canada. IF it's a touristy area, don't go during friday night or sunday afternoon.. avoid rush hours. etc

Good luck

try mapmyride.com

It seems only 30km? I would probably avoid the trans-canada. IF it's a touristy area, don't go during friday night or sunday afternoon.. avoid rush hours. etc

Good luck

Hi, electrik and pinerider. Sorry about the tardy reply. I've found a potential route and tried it out by car. It's about 50 km from my house to the cottage, half on a rail trail, a quarter on pavement and a quarter on decently smooth gravel. No main highways or busy local roads. Now if it would only stop raining...

Hi, electrik and pinerider. Sorry about the tardy reply. I've found a potential route and tried it out by car. It's about 50 km from my house to the cottage, half on a rail trail, a quarter on pavement and a quarter on decently smooth gravel. No main highways or busy local roads. Now if it would only stop raining...

It will only stop raining once you get all your rain-gear on...

[QUOTE=marmot;11373945]I'm hoping to take up touring, I think, and I thought an overnight from home to my cottage near Almonte might be a good introduction. So can anyone suggest a nice, quiet and safe backroads route? I'm thinking Ottawa-Carleton Trailway to Ashton Station, then back roads from there. Anyone?...[/QUO

This is probably too late but here goes. No idea what part of Ottawa you're in so this is from the west end.
NCC path to Moodie and Corkstown, Corkstown to March Road. March Road to Old Carp Road. Old Carp to end at March Road. Crossing March Road onto Donald B Munro. Donald B into Carp and continue through until Panmure Road. Panmure Road will bring you west of Almonte at Blakeney Road. Close enough?

[QUOTE=marmot;11373945]I'm hoping to take up touring, I think, and I thought an overnight from home to my cottage near Almonte might be a good introduction. So can anyone suggest a nice, quiet and safe backroads route? I'm thinking Ottawa-Carleton Trailway to Ashton Station, then back roads from there. Anyone?...[/QUO

This is probably too late but here goes. No idea what part of Ottawa you're in so this is from the west end.
NCC path to Moodie and Corkstown, Corkstown to March Road. March Road to Old Carp Road. Old Carp to end at March Road. Crossing March Road onto Donald B Munro. Donald B into Carp and continue through until Panmure Road. Panmure Road will bring you west of Almonte at Blakeney Road. Close enough?

Not too late at all. The unrelenting rain in September, plus some personal complications, have put things off. I like this route, since my destination is just past Blakeney. For the most part, these are nice, quiet roads. Thanks for the suggestion.