POWASSAN — 250 Clark has come up with a new way to promote local shopping.
On Saturday, 250 Clark is inviting cyclists to join the Great Powassan & Area Farmstand Tour, created to support local farmers.
The 50-km ride will stop at 14 farms, but only six are needed to complete a passport for the prize entry. Passports, stamps and water will be available for cyclists at each farm.
Kelsey Ellis and four other cyclists were approached by Kathie Hogan, event coordinator at 250 Clark, to do a trial run of the route. Ellis jumped at the opportunity.
“Because everything got cancelled this year, we were looking for new, creative ways to keep doing (social) things,” Ellis explains.
Social distancing is possible during the ride, which offers a great opportunity to explore Powassan, she says.
Ellis says they started at Bella Hill Maple Syrup and worked their way around to seven of the 14 farm stands on their trial run.
“Even if we followed that same route, we probably could have hit a few more without having to go off course too much,” she says.
It took them roughly three-and-half hours to complete the route. Ellis considers herself still relevantly new to cycling and calls the route a great accomplishment for her.
And even if you can’t carry all the items, Ellis says it’s a great opportunity to check out the different farm stands and what they have to offer.
Connie Hergott has completed many cycling events, such as fundraisers and photography scavenger hunts, but says the farm tour will be a first for her.
Hergott will ride on Saturday with a group of friends. She says she’s not looking for anything in particular.
“Just anything we can fit in our saddle bags.”
She said she’s even looking for a bike trailer to attach to one of her group’s bikes to haul more items.
Hergott says she shops locally all the time, but wanted to try a new way to pick up fresh produce.
Ellis, however, admits the ride was harder than she anticipated. Her advice to cyclists on Saturday is to bring lots of water, be prepared for hills and to plan a route ahead of time.
Registration begins from 7 to 9 a.m. and the tour finishes at noon.
Participants are required to pay $12 online or $10 cash at 250 Clark to be entered in the draw.
Prize winners will be announced on Monday.
Free parking is available at 250 Clark St. in Powassan. Rain date is Aug. 8 and will be announced the day of the event if the weather changes.
For more information, visit 250clark.ca
- Mackenzie Casalino, Local Journalism Initiative, North Bay Nugget
