Norfolk County - Lynn Valley Trail, Ireland Rd to Silver Lake.

While Nicola and Drew had my place for a family vacation, I stayed at Si and Dan's. One of the lovely things about their place is the location, not only that it is on the river, but, also, that it is on the Lynn Valley Trail. When living in Paris, when the kids were younger, we used to bring our bikes down to Simcoe and ride down to Port Dover. We would have an Arbor Hot Dog and an ice cream cone and ride back (OK, it was bribery, but it worked). I split that ride into two, starting with the section from Ireland Rd to Silver Lake, Port Dover.

The trail is on an old railway line, pretty well flat and straight. On a hot summer day
it is nice and cool with the shade of trees on both sides, some places you are riding
through a green, cool, tunnel.

Periodically there are bridges over the Lynn River. One of the information boards (Oh how I love them)
stated that the bridges are all that remain of the railway.

Looking down at the Lynn River

as it flows gently down to Silver Lake, over the damn and out into Lake Erie flanked by
two lighthouses.

Wildflowers beside the trail.

More, so delicate.

The trail ends at Silver Lake in Port Dover

The lake is bordered on one side by Lions Park with its sports fields, war memorial fountain (another
cooling aspect for hot bicyclists) and the building that houses the Saturday Farmers Market all year.

Since the partial destruction of the damn, the Silver Lake Rowing Club no longer practices
here as the Lake is too shallow.

Instead it is home to herons, ducks, Canada Geese and

one lone swan.

I know I am supposed to hate Purple Loose-strife. Its a "bad", invasive, non-native,
prolific species. I am supposed to rip it out by its roots.
 But, in full bloom, it's very pretty.

Round trip it was a little over 12 kilometres, mostly flat and often in the shade. I passed other cyclists (or was passed), strollers, serious striders, joggers, runners and dog walkers. It is a well used section of trail but on a Tuesday afternoon not so busy as to feel crowded.