Route
In 2022, Jen (she/her) and Eric (he/him) bikepacked almost 8800 km including the Grand Departs on the Tour Divide (33 d) and the Log Driver’s Waltz (3.5 d), and a “pairs” time trial on the North of Seven 770 (5 d). In 2019, they were amongst the first few riders to complete the BT 700 in Southern Ontario, which they did on a whim in lieu of their annual wilderness canoe trip. That trip was their first time following a curated bikepacking route, and the experience of being taken to bits of road, trail, and track that generally only locals know about piqued their interest in the sport.
On the drive home to Ottawa, they realized that Lanark Highlands of Ontario and the Outaouais Region of Quebec, areas they know well from cycling, canoeing, skiing, and family ties, were bikepacking destinations waiting to be discovered. They set about creating the Log Driver’s Waltz with the goals of showcasing the region, contributing to the growing bikepacking community in Ontario, injecting a few tourist dollars, creating connections between locals and riders all the while providing a challenging and scenic route that Ontario, Quebec and New England riders could access without extensive airline travel. As the Log Driver’s Waltz gained popularity, they have mapped out and curated almost a dozen routes of 2-5 days duration, which can be found on their website. Their goal is to get people out exploring.
