Hiking Trails of Ottawa, the National Capital Region, and Beyond

"Grab your hiking boots, water bottle, and a healthy snack, and hit the trail! Collected here, for the first time, are the best hiking routes in the National Capital Region, including Gatineau Park, Ottawa's Greenbelt, brand new trails at Manitou Mountain, and Eastern Ontario's most outstanding provincial parks (Frontenac, Charleston, and Murphy's Point), as well as gems hidden in the neighbouring Canadian Shield and Laurentian Highlands."

For a list of trails - check out the OTC website.

WiserEarth: Connecting You to Communities of Action

WiserEarth: Connecting You to Communities of Action: "Conservation Ontario represents 36 Conservation Authorities of Ontario, community-based environmental organizations dedicated to conserving, restoring, developing and managing natural resources on a watershed basis."

For a full listing of trails in green spaces and more - economic development and sustainable employment trails see: http?;//ontariotrails.on.ca

Brule might not have used the Carrying Place Trail | www.kingsentinel.com | King Township Sentinel

"Did famed explorer Etienne Brule actually used the Toronto Carrying Place Trail?

History records that he did, but there’s question as to how reliable those references really are."

Health Promotion Minister Celebrates Athletes of All Ages

"Sports will take centre stage in Ontario for four exciting days this week, with the Ontario Summer Games taking place from August 10-13, and the Senior Summer Games, also known as Actifest, taking place from August 10-12.

The City of Sudbury will welcome more than 3,300 young athletes as they compete in 32 sports including rugby, soccer, basketball, and cycling during the Ontario Summer Games."

Make cycling helmets mandatory: Study - thestar.com

"A new study is calling on provincial governments to pass laws that force cyclists to wear helmets.

The study, by researchers at the University of Manitoba and the University of Ottawa, says cyclists are much more likely to wear helmets and avoid injuries if they live in a province with a mandatory helmet law."

Firefighters win canoe races again - Haliburton Echo - Ontario, CA

"The Dysart et al firefighters defended their possession of the Rotary Voyageur Cup with a time of 6:38, followed by Emmerson Lumber 6:58 and Team Holland at 7:17."

Free learn to cycle event - Aug 14 | Toronto Bicycling Network - TBN

"Join us for a fun, informative, and interactive workshop to learn how to ride a bicycle safely in Toronto. You’ll gain knowledge on:

* Rules of the road * Your rights and responsibilities * Locking your bicycle * Cycling in different seasons * Bringing bicycles onto transit systems * Bicycle paths in Toronto * Community and legal resources

There will be hands-on demonstrations, audio/video, and Q&A’s.

Cost: FREE"

Via Rail Bike Trail now open between Toronto and Muskoka | Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance

"Check out this neat story from today’s Toronto Star about VIA Rail bike trains now being operational between Toronto and Muskoka. Why not grab your bike, hop on the train, and cycle your way through the flavours of Muskoka’s many culinary tourism experiences?

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/845644–cyclists-can-now-take-bike-train-from-toronto-to-lake-muskoka"

TCAT in the News: City Plans on Adding 30km of Trails | Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation

"This fall, Toronto will add approximately 30 km to the Finch and Gatineau hydro corridors and the Don Valley Trails. This is one of the largest expansions of Toronto's trail system in one year. When it's completed it will almost be possible to ride around the entire city on an off-road trail."

Mattagami River Canoeing - Canoe Trips & Canoe Camping at Mattagami River, Ontario

"Each Mattagami River canoe camping trip found here links to a more detailed trip information page in addition to including a link to the supplier's website. Begin your search for Mattagami River canoeing trips by studying the following list of Mattagami River canoeing, Mattagami River canoe trips, or canoe camping at Mattagami River, narrowing your selection to 2 or 3, and contacting the respective canoeing outfitters for more detailed information."

$2.4 million in OTF grants for eastern Ontario | The Review

"The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) announced the awarding of $2.47 million in community grants to 51 not-for-profit and charitable organizations in eastern Ontario's Champlain region on Tuesday, July 27."

Paddling in Paradise: Woodland Caribou Provincial Park | Northland Outdoors | Fargo, ND

"On our 10th anniversary trip to Woodland Caribou Provincial Park in northwestern Ontario, we got celebratory and splurged a bit. We paid the money and had our canoe tied to the side of Canada’s own bush plane, a beautifully restored 1944 Norseman that departed from Red Lake, Ont., and got dropped off in the wilderness.

It was a spot that would have taken us many days to reach with the paddle. Now, we had a stretch of time to simply canoe, fish and camp with an overriding current that favored our direction of travel. Boiled down, it was the fruit of a 14-day trip reduced to the best five days.

An airplane can do that for you, and during the course of our trip, we paddled about 45 miles, perhaps nine or 10 miles a day."

TRCA: News Story

"Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) is helping families have eco-friendly outings this summer with many outdoor and educational activities right outside their doorsteps. TRCA encourages residents to be kind to Mother Earth this season by being green, travelling locally, and visiting one of their eco-friendly hot spots to learn, splash, play, and explore."

Bixi Toronto | Biking Toronto

"About Bixi:
Bixi is a public bicycle rental system that originated in Montreal. It is based on the popular “Velib” bicycle rental system in Paris, France. Since launching in Montreal it has expanded (or has plans to expand) to London, Melbourne, Minneapolis, Boston and Toronto.

Bixi’s initial launch in Toronto is scheduled for May 2011. It will launch in the downtown core of the city, bordered roughly by Bloor, Jarvis, Lakeshore and Spadina. It will launch with 1,000 bicycles at 80 Bixi stations spread around the downtown core, approximately 300 metres apart."

Cycling Events This Week: Aug 9 – 15 | Biking Toronto

"This week’s Wednesday Wheelie is a 71 or 86 km ride from Courtice through the Durham Drumlins to Bowmanville for lunch. Meet for an 8:30 a.m. departure at the Community Centre in Courtice. To get to Courtice, exit Hwy 401 eastbound at interchange 425, (C.R. 34/Courtice Rd.) Drive north just past Hwy 2 and turn left into the Courtice Community Centre. For more information call Bill Hannaford 416-482-2125."

CYCLING SKILLS (Safe Cycling) Part 5 – Handling Skills – Braun's Bicycle Blog

"Signalling
Making signals requires being able to ride with only one hand on the handlebars. Because it is very easy to go off course when riding one-handed, practise signalling while riding along a straight line. Keep both hands on the handlebars while actually turning. It’s also important to practice shoulder checking before signalling to make turns."

Gearing Up: News and Tips about Cycling, Gear, Rides and the RONA MS Bike Tours in Ontario: A&W Cruisin' for a Cause Day

"Thursday August 26th marks the second annual A&W Cruisin’ for a Cause Day, where $1 from the sale of every Teen Burger is donated to support the mission of the MS Society of Canada.

As an added bonus, A&W will also donate 50 cents for every Facebook RSVP we receive on the official A&W Cruisin’ for a Cause Day event page , up to $20,000!

RSVP today by clicking on I’m Attending, and help us move one step closer to ending MS."

Metro - New routes added to Ont. Bike Train

Metro - New routes added to Ont. Bike Train: "The Bike Train network in Ontario is expanding, with three new weekend routes from Toronto added for this summer and fall.

Originally launched in partnership with Via Rail between Toronto and Niagara in 2007, the Bike Trains now take cyclists to recreational trails and road routes across the province."

For the more than 1700 trails adjoining or near your home, bus or train station be sure to check out http://ontariotrails.on.ca

Curbside Cycle – Sneak Preview: Earn (and win) your stripes!

"We’ve been bouncing the idea of a custom painted Batavus for quite a while – we just needed an excuse. The World Cup was our first idea, but with only one Dutch person on staff it felt a little too partisan (plus, lets face it, the Dutch never win the World Cup). Luckily, Yvonne from the Toronto Cyclist Union approached us with a great excuse, the TCU is just about to sign up their 1000th member, so why not celebrate with a stylish bike that anyone can easily ride? We donated a bike on the spot."

Eclectic crew biking from Troy to Toronto - The Saratogian News: Serving the Saratoga Springs, N.Y. region (Saratogian.com)

"With their bicycles loaded up with sleeping bags, energy bars, water and even a worn acoustic guitar, a group of cyclists left Troy this morning to journey to a festival for international bike enthusiast in Toronto.

Like a modern spin on a gypsy caravan, the crew is carrying almost all of its necessities on two wheels and will be stopping to camp and couch-surf along the way. Their bicycles are decorated with ceramic skulls, feathers and colorful paint, creating a ramshackle parade to draw attention to transportation alternatives that are not dependent on fossil fuels."