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  The Trail Guy     (also known as   Bob McMullen)

After 33 years in a high school classroom, retirement provided time to work towards completion of tour trail system in Cambridge as a member of Cambridge Trails Advisory Committee from 1993 until 2010.
Cathie and I also to travel in search of new and distant bike trails  
A new website has been created that presents photos and maps of travelled trails: www.bobmcmullen.info

But retirement also allows the opportunity to volunteer in other community activities: Bob the poster guy
A third website is dedicated to local Cambridge municipal issues:   www.bobmcmullen.biz
Much of the content deals with the political bafflegab related to Smart Growth and traffic issues.

Google maps is an  incredible resource ..... try this link for trail maps click on MY MAPS for the list
   
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

ps - as of Oct. 2010 I have a slight medical problem with multiple myeloma that makes cycling a problem - no stamina or strength.
Oncologist says things are under control and we are in remission ... then why do I feel so crappy most of the time?
Probably a result of 7 pills per days + chemo + bone strengthener + bout with shingles = side effects
Have started riding an Electra Townie Euro 24D for needed stability .... as they say, "one step at a time!"


[1] After 13 months of twice weekly and weekly VELCADE infusions, the drug lost its effectiveness.
[2] Started chemo regime in Dec. 2011 using REVLIMID ... thankfully it is a daily pill. Unfortunately,
after one month the side effects are slightly different, but certainly not less: peripheral neuropathy in feet, hands and neck;
digestion issues, tiredness, skin problems, and weakened muscles and low stamina. Part of the side effect problem is
is caused by the daily dose of the steroid Dexamethasone.  Have not yet had blood tests to determine if REVLIMID is working?


If it was not for the wonderful effects of the Well Fit program at the University of Waterloo daily life would be much worse. I cannot
overstate the positive physical and emotional results of the personalized fitness program that staff have prepared for me. Thanks!

 

  This is the Electra Townie ... Euro 24D model .... cannot fall with my shakes and wobbles!
thumbnail photo ... click for enlarged photo
 

**** Walter Bean Trail bridge over the Grand River is finally in place. ( Nov. 2011) *****
 

[1] Osprey nest and birds have returned again to the nest on Fountain St. at Grand River bridge (April 2011)

Amazing Osprey web cam - follow this link  :http://terrapincove.org/main.html   (June 19/11)

For everything you ever wanted to know about Osprey: http://www.bioweb.uncc.edu/Bierregaard/migration11.htm  (May 5//11)
Osprey webcam at Blackwater, MD Reguge: 
http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/camhtm.html    (May 5/11)
Here is another Osprey nest webcam with sound in Scotland:
http://www.thewebbroadcastingcorporation.com/swt/swt.php

[2] One current project involves outlining a cycle route between Elmira and Port Dover. I have now cycled all of the route.
All sections of the route, except through the City of Kitchener and Benjamin Rd in Waterloo, have been constructed and provide a safe cycling experience. 
Details about this 130 km cycle experience will be posted on www.bobmcmullen.info

Brant County has completed the trail from Mt. Pleasant south to county line, and Norfolk County completed the link south to Waterford in 2010.
The abandoned railway bridge in Waterloo has been converted to a
cycle/pedestrian bridge (Oct. 2011)

Not certain how many times I had to wear a tie during 33 years in a high school classroom, however, the ugly guy mowing a forest trail is really a statement of fashion freedom. After all those years of being confined in a classroom with adolescents, I find happiness in working out on the trails and traveling to cycle in new locations.
The 'trail guy' name resulted from numerous people telephoning my home and asking if "the trail guy lived there." So in retirement, it has become an unofficial name.

Photo below left  is from 1998 trail mowing near Blair Road  along our Grand Trunk Trail.

                    

                                          centre photo at Herndon, VA on Old Dominion Trail
                                                                                                right photo on Virginia Creeper trail at Abingdon, Virginia

Come and visit our wonderful trails and natural heritage. Hike, bike, ski, bird watch, canoe, fish: the choice is yours. You can trace some of the earliest history of Cambridge and Waterloo County as you travel along the trails: Mennonite wagon routes, dams, mills, historic electric railway lines and vanished water power mill settlements. Historically, they were here first!
The City of Cambridge website has an interactive trail map:
http://www.cambridge.ca/community_services/trails_and_cycling/cambridge_trail_map

I have also compiled a trail list  of trails that are within a day's drive of Cambridge. In many cases I have cycled the trails and probably have photos and maps in case you are interested. If you want a .jpg of any map, just let me know. Now also have gps files for Garmin ... .gpx or .kmz for google earth format  
Many more trail photos and maps are located at my new photo album website:  www.bobmcmullen.info

    bobmcmu@sympatico.ca                                          [updated   Jan. 16, 2012
    

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Construction of the cycle/pedestrian footbridge over highway #401  began during the fall of 2005. In addition to linking Cambridge and Kitchener, this is the Trans Canada Trail's missing link in southern Ontario. In view of the numerous pedestrian/cycle bridges in other jurisdictions, it still amazes me that we had to argue/lobby so hard for this structure. With all due respect (not much due for sparse vision) to the powers that be and our Cambridge Councillor Millar who voted against funding the bridge - this is MY bridge and Claudette you had no vision.... only built after 6 years of lobbying: pleading, kicking, screaming, begging = advocacy


Official bridge opening ceremony occurred on  October 21, 2007.
Weather was fantastic and crowd totaled more than 500 for the day
An incredible day for advocates of the bridge .... a seven year effort.

http://www.cambridge.ca/community_services/trails_and_cycling/highway_401_pedestrian_bridge

  Oct. 5 photo

gps location: N43 23.521    W80 23.814   or find our TCT pavilion on Fountain St at Blair road, then go .8 km north on Morningside Drive.

 

On a trip through North Dakota we spotted many pedestrian/cycle bridges. And remember that North Dakota has a population of only 640,000, compared to our 450,000 in Waterloo County. The link also has photos of other pedestrian/cycle bridges.