Welland Canal

Speedy and Jeff before the session

Speedy after the trail

Speedys 40 km/h adrenaline rush

Speedy goes for the pillow at 25km/h

Welland Canal tar snakes

The Welland Canal is a preferred location for the titans to skate for speed and endurance.

Currently

Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 10:17 am, 86 km were done in the next 4 hours and 28 minutes. Average speed was 19.5 km/h with normal peak at 25 km/h and higher speeds passing the 40's.

Requirements

Any one planing to skate the full Welland Canal, which means 43 km each way, should have the following in mind:

• 100 mm wheels or bigger
• Able to keep and maintain an average above 20 km/h for 15 km or more in distance
• Skate 40 km once a while prior to attempt the full length of the trail on inline skates

Advisable

• Select a day when the weather forecast does not predict strong winds.
• Due to heat and trail length, the full trail should be done early in the morning during spring and summer time.

Backpack with some items such as:

• Small first aid kit (just in case because it was already useful)
• Energy bars. Some sugar of sorts. (no one will be carrying anyone)
• $50 bucks in cash just in case you need to return on different wheels (uber, train, bus, etc)
• At least 1 liter of water or energy drink with electrolytes. (There is only one fountain along the way)
• PPE: Yes really. Wrist guards and knee pads are highly recommended

Full 360 video

currently being edited

Parking

Free parking on location at Charles Ansell Park · 320 Lakeshore Rd, St. Catharines, ON

Water fountains

There is this one along the way located here in Thorold

Restaurants

If you don't care about stats and decide to stop along the way:

• George's Greek Village 535 Queenston St, St. Catharines, ON
• Flagship Fries 1244 Welland Canals Parkway, St. Catharines, ON
• Taris on the Water 25 W Main St, Welland, ON
• Sophia’s Sweets & Café 27 Main St W, Port Colborne, ON

After Sophia’s, there are plenty of other places.

Hazards

Along the way there are some hazards to be mindful.

Tar snakes

• Close to the 15 km mark, tar snakes start to show up until the 19 km mark
• Near the 21 km mark they return. This time being a lot more for the next 3 km

Railroad tracks

• The Trillium Railway was discontinued in 2019
• Going south, there are 10 rail tracks along the trail.
• The 4 first ones are made of wood. The next 2, plastic, the next 3 are asphalt and the last one plastic
• While half of the rail tracks can be rolled over with 100 mm wheels, provided that enough speed is given, none should attempted with smaller wheels.

Locations

1. Welland Canals Trail, Thorold ON (wood)
2. Welland Canals Trail, Thorold ON (wood)
3. Welland Canals Trail, Thorold ON (wood)
4. Near the 406 (wood)
5. Welland, ON (plastic)
6. 34-60 Colborne St, Welland, ON (plastic)
7. Near Ormond street '(asphalt)
8. Welland, ON (asphalt)
9. Be very careful with this one after the downhill which runs diagonally on Omer Avenue. Also known as Speedy's pillow. (asphalt)
10. Niagara 5, Port Colborne, ON (asphalt)
11. Elm Street, Port Colborne, On (plastic)

Links

• Welland canal with Jeffrey Boughton 86 km
• Welland canal with Jeffrey Boughton Part 1/2
• Welland canal with Jeffrey Boughton Part 2/2

• Welland Canal on wikipedia
• The Trillium railway