Easy Bicycle Adventure #2
With help from an LC Wheels van with a bike rack.
Here is a second bicycle adventure that can be made possible by a Lunenburg County Wheels van with a bike rack. It’s a short ride along the Bull Run rail trail that takes you through woods and beside Fancy Lake, with a very gentle downhill slope to Bridgewater.
LC Wheels will drop you at The Blarney Stone restaurant, at #16339, Hwy 103 in Hebbs Cross. At the south edge of the large parking lot, there’s an unmarked lane that joins the trail. Walk instead of ride along this wide path (used by ATVs), as there are some fair-sized rocks. It might take 1 minute walk down to the Bull Run Trail. Before turning left (and north)
on the Trail toward Bridgewater, you could turn right for a short (0.7 km) pleasant side-trip ride to a small picnic park, accessible only by the trail, complete with bench, picnic table and rocky shoreline with a beautiful of the Lake.
After riding back to the the trail starting point and continuing to ride north another 0.9 km you will pass the Hebbville sign.
The next point of interest is the curious artistic toadstools and miniature houses that decorate the sides of the trail from 2.8 km to 3.2 km. How many can you see?
At 4.2 km the Bull Run Trail Association offers a covered bridge over a small river that flows into Fancy Lake.
There is also a covered picnic table shelter with a large map showing the trail system Across the road is Tastee Freeze, providing burgers and ice cream, etc., in the 1950’s style (except not the prices).
If you want a cycling challenge, take the side road up to Indian Garden Farm Market and Greenhouses. It’s a .5 km uphill ride but the view is wonderful. You might see and hear red-tailed hawks soaring. There’s a small corral with very cute goats. And coasting back down the hill is fun. Make sure your brakes are in good working order!
At 7.6 km in Wileville the trail crosses William Wile Road. The next short section of the trail has a washboard-type surface in places, also known as rolling pot-holes. Be careful unless your bicycle has top quality suspension!
There’s a sign indicating the Wileville stretch of the Bull Run Trail at 9.3 km.
And a sign for the Centennial Trail at 10.2 km shows you’re back in Bridgewater.
Take a look at Whitman’s Pond and depending on the time of year, look for the lily pads, or the beaver.
After 10.5 km of easy bicycling, you’ve arrived at civic address #289 Victoria Road (just west of High St.) which is a parking lot for users of the Trails. Congratulations on completing a bike trail ride of over 10 km!
(The Centennial Trail continues through residential areas, past the LCLC and down to the LaHave River. Unfortunately, the high trail trestle bridge over the river is closed due to a fire and necessary repairs.)
This post is based on a trip made August 11, 2024.
