Sutton Zephyr Rail Trail - Scary people on an eerie trail

I wanted to ride and film on the Sutton-Zephyr Rail Trail so that I could share with you, the reasons why it is so under rated and if this opinion is fair.
I had a wonderful ride on the trail, and encountered some weird and creepy happenings. To find out if I recommend it you will have to watch to the end!!

[@DL-iq5zo]

4:19 my sentiments exactly but I was already thinking those individuals were up to something questionable when you first saw them in the distance. Ride safe.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Yeah they were definitely up to no good. I surmised that just by the way the two people on foot jumped back into the van so quickly when they saw me coming.

[@rickzalewski2728]

Great segue video to Halloween season. 🎃

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Thanks Rick!!! Yeah it definitely had that vibe.

[@kristidubois8400]

Someone local needs to "adopt" this rail trail and advocate for better maintenance of it. It looks like it would be a great place for local folks to go walking or bicycling.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

It would still be a little short, that is the only issue.

[@marleyorange]

another entertaining episode- thanks for posting

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

I am so pleased you enjoyed it.

[@rodmilankov8966]

Thank you for introducing a new rail trail in Ontario!

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

It is always my pleasure Rod.

[@kevinweppler6530]

There's a small section S of the missing bridge (~2 km?) which ends in the Zephyr Tract at Holborn Rd & Concession Rd 1 - only accessible from the south end.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

That bottom section gets really over grown, the nearer to the (non) crossing that you get!!

[@jeffturner8927]

Well I got drawn in by the title. Yes, sometimes you see things and you don’t really know what’s going on. It could be something completely innocent or maybe not! It then just stays in your mind. It was quite eerie though. A very moody atmosphere. Great video.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

You are absolutely right....and thank you so much Jeff.

[@stephensaines7100]

That view over the Black River was superb!

[@OldLostGuy]

Liked your video and story. Reminds me of the weirdest thing that happened to me on a trail. I had recently moved to Ottawa and was on a trail to do some photography. It was very early Morning. Sun was about to come up. I am about to take a pic of a huge dew shimmering spiderweb, when I hear a noise behind me, like wood being dragged on gravel. I turn around and there is this woman with a huge beach towel over her left shoulder. Wearing flipflops. In her right hand is a full size baseball bat. And she kind of moves the huge towel to partially cover the bat. I say hello to her. She just keeps looking straight ahead and says nothing. I am spooked and figure I will just go on with my business and not aggravate this person. I turn for less than 10 seconds to take the spiderweb shot. I look up expecting to see this weird lady walking down the trail. But when I turn back around she is gone. I could see up and down the trail for 100 yards. Nothing. I headed back to my car looking over my shoulder. I told my wife what I had experienced and she looked up online some old news stories about the trail. Seems a woman was killed 3 years earlier on that trail by her husband. Beat her with a baseball bat. I have been on that trail again many times. The lady has not reappeared to me.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Oh wow, yep that would be really creepy!!!

[@stephensaines7100]

All bats are off on that one...

[@stephensaines7100]

Creepy/cringeworthy or not, one has to ask when cycling alone: "What if I have an accident?". When I've done the Peterborough to Uxbridge trail (three times now over two decades) it was typical to not meet a soul for 30km stretches, and even then it was bozos on dirt bikes. Even with a cell-phone, it could be an hour or more until EMS could arrive to help you, and if you've been whizzing along (and the surface was very good in years past) you could hit a rut that produces a a bone protruding through flesh, and a large loss of blood. Those 'ruts'? Dirt biker burnout produced in many cases. I'm now mid 70s, and still able to do that distance given the right day and circumstance, but I wouldn't do it alone. In the case of the Sutton Trail now (it used to be a lot better kept decades ago), I'd also not do it alone. Ditto for a number of trails. The Cottontail Trail also comes to mind, albeit help would be a lot closer. Cardiac was absolutely right to raise the point.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

I hope my channel encourages people to explore and seek their own little piece of adventure.

[@BrianthatiscalledBrian]

Thanks, Andrew. Glad you weren't abducted by aliens on this one.👽👽👍😜

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

I dodged a bullet there!!!

[@DejanOfRadic]

I'm guessing water quality in Lake Ontario was pretty abysmal during Victorian times

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

I have to admit, that was definitely my first thought as well. I was then thinking, when it is used in those 19th century ice boxes, I don't think it comes into contact with the food. I think it just touches the box. So I'm just not sure.

[@stephensaines7100]

Lake Ontario is a 'deep' lake, (mean depth about 86m) and doesn't freeze as readily as a shallow one like Simcoe. (mean depth, 16m) Also there's a pronounced current that flows westward along Ontario's shoreline on the north side. That's the reason ice-fishing happens on Simcoe and not Ontario.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

@@stephensaines7100 Good information.

[@chrisconnors7418]

Definitely were going to dump something. And it could have been a body. My friend used to live at the end of a gravel road near King City. She tells me someone drove up to the end of the road and dumped a body on the other side of the berm just across from where their long driveway connected to the gravel road.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Oh wow!! I suspect these folks were probably just dumping construction materials...but still!!!

[@surfskate3]

Simcoe is a small lake lake ontario you can not safety walk out onto in the winter time.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Thanks

[@teeterboy3]

You’re right, it’s the trail length for me. The distance and time it would take to get there would mean I would want a bit longer of a ride. Plus looks a little under maintained. Would make a nice segment of a race course I would think though.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

I was going to recommend to people that they maybe start at Willow Beach. Then you can ride along the Lakeshore, before connecting with the trail, HOWEVER!!! There does not appear to be any legal free parking there and the pay parking is $10 per hour!!! So all round, it doesn't really make sense.... but you know John, my job is to go to these places so others don't have to HAHAH!! :)

[@teeterboy3]

@@cardiaccyclist7477 new tag line: “Going places so you don’t have

[@stephensaines7100]

This is a real shortcoming with many Ontario trails. I sent away for a free map of New York State's Empire State Trail a week ago, it came yesterday, they paid the US$3.86 postage for it....they're so pleased and progressive as to entice persons to share their facilities. And it's not just NY State, the US Feds sponsor/host national networks too, with overnight facilities for those wishing to camp/shower doing days-long trips. I'm also familiar with the UK National Cycling Network in the UK. Many nations do this, but alas....Quebec is about as close as we'll get to that. I'm in incredible envy. Btw: The Empire State Trail? You can cycle from Buffalo to NYC! Or to Montreal if you head north on the Hudson at Green City. Why can't we Ontarians have nice things too? KZbin threads like this one and a handful of others can only help promote the cause. One of the missing links from Toronto is going to be the trail replacing the Orangeville-to-Brampton Rwy. Ironically more trails intersect in the eastern part of our province, no thanks to Queen's Park though.

[@randyhale4181]

I could be wrong but I don't think Lake Ontario freezes over but I know Lake Simcoe does, because I'm from that area.

[@dennismicallef9350]

That makes sense. Lake Ontario does not freeze. The water is probably moving too fast.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

I think this is essentially right. Although Lake Ontario definitely freezes in parts, I don't think it can be relied upon to freeze. Also, because it is perhaps more active and deeper than Lake Simcoe, I think you can't guarantee it will freeze as smoothly and from the photographs I have found, having a smooth surface appears to be crucial.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

I have lived by the lake, and it definitely froze by the shore, but it often looked more like a mountain range than an ice rink!! not ideal for harvesting.

[@lorneanderson7424]

Mike Barry’s Sr. Hell and back

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Was the trail part of his Hell and Back route?

[@davidcoomber4050]

Vivid imagination , reality you saw a car on the track and two people

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Yes you are correct. What a very dull life it would be without a bit of imagination, creativity and story telling.

[@robiam506]

My guess is that it’s some newbie 4X4 enthusiasts thinking they had just found a great off-road route for their vehicle.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

When I first saw the lights, that was my thought exactly. When I got closer I realized it was a Dodge Caravan.....essentially the quintessential family transport!!

[@robiam506]

Hahaha! A Dodge Caravan isn’t much of an off road vehicle!

[@theepimountainbiker6551]

Maybe they had to pee 🤷‍♂️. Not uncommon to stop on a bush trail to go

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Maybe. Just a little strange that two of them were walking in front of the moving car. Maybe a group pee!!!