Welcome to the Oak Ridges Moraine. Your experience of the rolling countryside and country estates starts with the ride north up the 8th concession of King, leading you, in due course, to Lloydtown.
 
Lloydtown is named after Jesse Lloyd, who with his compatriot William Lyon Mackenzie, led, on a very cold early December evening in 1837, a march down to Montgomery's Tavern to rebel against the Family Compact and Sir Bondhead. The rebellion was not terribly successful and Mackenzie and Lloyd fled to the United States. Mackenzie returned about 12 years later and became Mayor of Toronto. In Lloydtown you may wish to take some time to see the Pioneer Cemetery (at the turn in the Lloydtown/Aurora Road), and the Cairn and Rebel Statue just north of Church Street.
 
Schomberg is a community which originally grew on its river to service the farmers to the north and east working the marsh. The establishment of the Schomberg and Aurora Rail (with two trips per day), from Brownsville Junction (1km directly east of Main Street, Schomberg) to the Oak Ridges station (Yonge Street at King Road; now the site of a Harvey's) helped Schomberg grow to a sizeable community (at the time). Built almost entirely on a flood plain, Schomberg was very hard hit
by Hurricane Hazel; but nevertheless King Township has done an admirable job over the years in maintaining the heritage structures and the quaint village atmosphere.

The trip from Schomberg to Ansnorveldt will take the cyclist along a ridge line running between the north slope of the Oak Ridges Moraine and the low lying Holland Marsh. In the early part of this section of the trip, looking to the south will show the rise of the Moraine; to the east, and well in the distance, the northern portion of Newmarket; to the west and again well in the distance, Orangeville; and to the north, another ridge line up around Highway 88 area. It's a pretty and relatively easy ride. Later in the journey, especially after crossing over the 400 Highway at 5th Sideroad and 5th Line, watch for a downhill ride with rapidly changing vegetation; until rather abruptly (it will seem) you're in the Holland Marsh.
 
The Holland Marsh, named after surveyor Samuel Holland who first surveyed the area in 1793, is often referred to as the Produce Basket of Ontario. While the primary crops are likely potatoes, onions and carrots, many other products are grown here. The canals which you will ride along were created in the 1930's primarily by the Dutch immigrants. If you ride along here on a hot muggy day in mid to late August, or following a gentle rainfall, the smell of onions permeates the air.
 
In Ansnorveldt, a community of about 50 homes, you might note the barn like designs; a result of land grants awarded to settlers of the area; and you will come across a series of blue buildings (west side of Dufferin), which are the original settlers meeting areas. There is also an historical plaque here which you may wish to view.
 
Riding south to Kettleby will bring you back in to the hills of King. Kettleby was originally a very bustling town with 3 mills, 2 hotels, and a large mill pond (at the bottom of the hill before the one lane bridge) called Shadow Lake. A true and very classic quiet heritage village of about 100 residents, with a lovely park at its south end, Kettleby alone makes this whole ride more than worthwhile.
 
Leaving Kettleby and travelling west along the Lloydtown/Aurora Road, you will need to be prepared to use the brakes on your bicycles quite a lot; the hill down to Pottageville is very long. Pottageville, named after its founder, Edward T. Pottage, is known for two things primarily; mosquitoes, and a wonderful garden centre, Pathways to Perennials.

 

And finally, you're on the leg home.