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rails to trails u winter.12 19
of the Cole Harbour Parks and Trail
Association (CHPTA) in Nova Scotia.
Hers is a familiar refrain. Each vol-
unteer group brings its own vision to its
length of trail. Te pathway takes on the
character of the community it serves and
the people who build it. And when it
comes to character, CHPTA is in a class
by itself.
Based just outside Dartmouth, the
volunteer organization oversees the
6.5-kilometer Salt Marsh Trail and the
2.5-kilometer Heritage Trail. CHPTA has
about 25 trail wardens who patrol and
repair the TCT on a daily basis through-
out the year. Even more impressive, the
group raised the money, bought the land,
developed the trail and built the provin-
cial park through which the TCT runs.
“We do it all,” says Woodill.
Te organization’s current focus is its
Salt Marsh Trail, which utilizes an old
railbed to cut across a large salt marsh on
the Nova Scotia coast. Storm surges from
several recent hurricanes have badly dam-
aged the sides of the trail.
Woodill says her organization raises
funds “any way that’s legal.” Following the
example of the national TCT organization,
CHPTA is selling meters of the trail, but
takes it one step further. “When you buy
a meter of our trail, you get a picture of it
and the GPS coordinates so you can see it
on the map on our website,” says Woodill.
“You can actually go stand on your meter
of the Trans Canada Trail.”
Gerry Donohue is a freelance writer and avid
bicyclist based inWashington, D.C.
ody. On May 6, 2008, Miese
ernmost point on the
ean. By the summer
ide Thunder Bay, Ontario.
year, from May to October. During the rest of the year, he works
though when rest days are factored in, the daily average drops
ays is average.
e there was probably not another person within 100 kilometers
aths with unicyclists and skateboarders.”
ep Ontario wilderness, island-hopped in the Maritime Provinces
e with people out for a day’s recreation.
eople he encounters on his way to the hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk,
s across this country,” he says. “It’s been an amazing journey.”