Donald Teuma-Castelletti
SHAWVILLE Aug. 25, 2018
Cyclists revved up their bike chains and hit the PPJ on Saturday night, cruising from Shawville through to Bristol for the Jamboree PPJ’s second event of the season.
Around 10 riders took part in the Sunset and Full Moon Ride, equipped with headlamps as they travelled together.
Hitting the trail just after 8 p.m., the group rode away from the impending heavy clouds.
Travelling to the welcome sign in Bristol, their pursuers soon let loose their weight as rain followed the group.
While the group consisted mostly of participants who have joined previous rides highlighting the trail, there was at least one new rider to the group. Mike Armitage, up from Gatineau, was looking forward to riding the PPJ, as it was his first time doing so.
Armitage explained that his wife was the one who had actually heard of the evening ride and encouraged him to come out. As he is an avid cyclist, the organizing group was excited to have the Gatineau resident join them.
This ride is a follow-up to the Jamboree PPJ’s three-day tour of the Pontiac via the bike trail that ran July 27-29, starting in Bristol and taking participants up to Allumettes Island.
In early August 2017, a similar ride was organized by the group, albeit in the opposite direction. Riders left from Shawville and travelled to Campbell’s Bay, also riding under the guise of a cloudy evening.
The organized rides are meant to highlight the bike trail that is available for everyone to use, running right through the Pontiac.
The group seeks to expand awareness of the beauty of the trail, as well as its accessibility to residents and guests.
