Travelling during a pandemic - Cycling trip to Prince Edward County
“Cycling in Prince Edward County provides a safe, socially distant activity close to Toronto and Montreal with plenty of places to eat and drink after your ride. ”
It’s been a scary few months, as the COVID-19 has caused suffering around the world. As some countries, including Canada, appear to have “flattened” the curve for the moment, Canadian travel destinations are opening up to domestic tourism. At first, I was hesitant to travel, but since March I’ve been saying it’s not the right time to travel. That said, I recently posted my return to travel framework and although international travel is out of the question for the near future, domestic travel is an important stimulus for small-town economies IF social distancing is prioritized and opening continues to be done safely. Earlier in July, I spent a weekend at the Best Western Belleville as my first travel since the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. This post is a wrap of what it was like to travel during the pandemic and how I planned events around socially distant activities.
Why Belleville
Two of my friends and myself wanted to get away from the city and spend some time in the country. As we are all cyclists, we thought this was a perfect opportunity to spend some time outdoors in a responsible manner. As this was right when parts of Ontario moved to stage two, we knew we would be able to responsibly keep our distance in Belleville as all of our activities would be outside.
Belleville is a perfect option for those looking for more affordable stays in Prince Edward County. Furthermore, for those of you looking to cycle Prince Edward County, it's an easy few kilometre ride into the County from Belleville and from there the county opens up to you.
Cycling in Prince Edward County
On our first day, we went East towards Picton, stopping off for a coffee at Beacon Bike and Brew at about KM 40 before continuing on around the Lake on the Mountain to add a bit of altitude to our ride. We looped back through Picton and had lunch at Parsons Brewing Company. The facility was perfectly set up for social distancing, with tables well spaced out and outdoor areas to pick up food and beverage. The food was delicious and the beer was refreshing. They even had a water bottle refill station, perfect for cyclists! My only advice, get more than just the nacho salad if you’re planning on cycling!
We took a few backroads up towards Napanee and then looped through the traditional Tyendinaga Mohawk territory. I don’t recommend this route back, as it was about 20km of open road against the wind heading back to Belleville. It left us winded at the end of our 120km ride, and for some of us who didn’t eat enough, bonked out.
The next day, we planned an approach that took advantage of the late day wind. We headed out a bit later due to the morning rain, but we went right to Wellington from Belleville. As it was a grey day, we didn’t have to wait long for a table at Midtown Brewing Company, which had an ideal outdoor set up for us that included calorie-heavy food for our trip.
We stopped by Ideal Bike Shop in Wellington (they were awesome, highly recommended for your Prince Edward County cycling trips!) and they mentioned the Millenium Trail, which was a perfect addition to our trip, and road cycling friendly. We returned to Belleville via Highway 1 with the wind at our backs, flying at 40 km/hr.
A bit better finish
Post Cycling Eating in Belleville
Belleville is a cute little town with a few options for food, although restaurants closed early compared to city options. Our first night we ordered pizza from the local favourite, Bourbon Street Pizza Co. I had eaten there before during our last trip to the county, and I highly recommend it for no-fuss takeout dinner in the hotel.
After our first ride, we had dinner at Signal Brewery. Although the menu was limited as they had just opened, the food and vibe was fantastic at this converted distillery, I highly recommend Signal Brewery, even if you’re just looking to stop on the highway for lunch!
We spent our last evening at The Pier Patio Bar and Grill. While it was nice to be out by the water, it wasn’t the best food by any means, as the food tasted no better than Applebees.
Just before our departure on our last morning, we had dinner at Birdy’s Fine Dining, which has modified their service by moving tables in their backyard. The food was good, the price point right, and the service was friendly.
The Point.
Overall, Belleville may not be a city with any Michelin star restaurants, but it’s a great stepping off point for Prince Edward County, at a reasonable price point. If you’re looking for a place to start your cycling tour, consider staying in Belleville. As I now believe that Canada has done a fantastic job of flattening the curve, I’m seriously considering taking my first flight and long term stay in the coming days to go on another socially distant trip.
