Stittsville

| Sarah Simpkin

[ This is part two of a two-part ride to Hazeldean and Stittsville branches. ]

After spending the morning riding to Hazeldean with Barb and Kevin, I bid them adieu and continued down the rail trail toward Stittsville, or as my uncle likes to call it, St. Ittsville. It was a straight line into the centre of town, with the pathway running alongside Abbott Street as I rode in.

There were several nods to the history of the rail trail, including Stittsville Station here in the Village Square Park. I was very glad to find a water fountain, too.

While this is mostly a bike and library blog, I can’t help but let you know that a driving force behind my impromptu trip to Stittsville was Quitters Coffee and the Redd’s Ice Cream trailer behind it.

BLT, iced tea and a cherry ice cream finale. Thank you, Stittsville!

After a very tasty lunch, I continued south on Stittsville Main Street to find the library.

The Stittsville library shares space with a fire station, in a fun combination of quiet places versus loud ones.

After taking my requisite photos, I headed back to the trail, continuing along the pavement on Abbott Street before dipping back onto the Trans Canada Trail to ride back to Kanata.

Abbott Street runs alongside the Trans Canada Trail, which efficiently connects Kanata and Stittsville.

I retraced my route back to Bells Corners, where I opted to come off the trail and take an alternate route home. I rode down Robertson Road, then turned into a residential neighbourhood to cross the 416 near Bell High School.

Entrance to Bells Corners near the Trans Canada Trail crossing.

I’d intended to retrace the same route home as my ride to Centennial branch, winding around Bruce Pit before re-emerging in Nepean. But then I didn’t (let’s blame the GPS). I unintentionally did some off-roading best suited to a mountain bike but did eventually emerge in a workable spot.

Do as I say, not as I do.

When I emerged from the brush near Banner Road, I realized that I was close to Greenbank Road and could ride home past Sir Robert Borden High School, through Centrepointe and finally City View. I reached my front door just as sprinkles of rain started to fall, signalling the beginning of a summer rain shower.

Views of Nepean, including a bonus library.

Twenty branches down, 13 to go.