Words and Photos by Jason Livingston
The off-roading scene has grown over the years as more people are looking to test themselves and their vehicles in various ways. There are hardcore rock crawlers, mud junkies, and the ever-growing crowd of overlanders and backroad explorers. Add the loyalty to Jeeps, Toyotas, Nissans, and many other vehicles, and what you get is a community that can occasionally be at odds. However, every once in a while you’ll see them all come together for the greater good.
The Fall Colours Apple Run is one such time. For the last three years, Steve Soper of Earthscape Overland has been coordinating this day-long event with proceeds going to support the Family Transition Place of Orangeville, ON. Since 1984, they have been providing vital services to women and children who have been in abusive relationships.
The Apple Run is a stock 4x4-friendly event with the trail largely made up of scenic backroads and unmaintained roads, lined with stunning, fall colours. Despite the low difficulty level, it is quite enthusiastically supported by the four-wheeling community as a whole.
This year, local Ontario businesses also jumped on board to support the event. Salem’s Lott Scary Hot Sauces, Technicor Precision Plastics, and 905 Tire donated items for auction. Wheelbarrow Orchards offered their property for event space and, from Ontario’s own overlanding community, REGAR Expeditions stepped up to the plate, helping with event staffing and providing more auction items.
The event started bright and early on October 20. The morning was foggy and damp as off-road rigs and trucks steadily rolled into the Wheelbarrow Orchards parking lot, appearing out of the gloom like ghosts. While people lined up to pay the five dollar registration fee and collect their 2019 FCAR decal, donated by Signs and Wraps, others checked out the various vehicles and milled throughout the crowd.
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Jason Livingston
Running among Ontario’s seasonal foliage.
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Jason Livingston
Earthscape Overland has been coordinating this day-long event with proceeds going to support the Family Transition Place of Orangeville, ON, since 1984.
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Jason Livingston
The array of vehicles at the event
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The convoy of 31 vehicles could be seen stretching out for more than 1 km (.6 mi).
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The event rounded out with raffles and giveaways at the old grain shipping terminals near Collingwood, ON.
By 8:30 am, 31 vehicles had arrived with more than twice as many participants, all excited to get rolling. After a quick briefing by Steve, we began mobilizing to head out. The CB radios were awash with radio checks as the convoy coalesced and spilled out onto the road. Our path meandered through the scenic backroads, winding around Forks of the Credit Provincial Park. As the sun rose and the fog began to burn off, more stunning scenery was revealed. The cold mornings had induced a spectacular array of fall colours among the hardwoods for the day’s run.
From there, we headed north through Hockley Valley and Kilgorie where the constant elevation changes created incredible hillside views. These hills hid many winding, solitary dirt roads at their heart, lined with golden archways of maple, birch, and poplar.
Thanks to a healthy dose of rain over the previous week, some of the unmaintained roads were making driving a little more engaging for first time off-roaders. Occasionally, the telltale sound of a scraping undercarriage could be heard from lower-slung vehicles, but there were no serious dramas.
Travelling through more backroads lined with farms, we made our way towards Eugenia, the last area of exploration for the day. On straight stretches, the convoy could be seen stretching out for more than 1 km (.6 mi), a dusty haze shrouding the roadway as we passed through. There is something about travelling in convoy that evokes a sense of teamwork and belonging. It is a great sensation.
With each pit stop along the way, more and more people could be seen talking and sharing the experience. Even locals, curious about what was going on, began to take interest and engage the group.
Finally, as the light started to take on that late afternoon glow, we descended towards Collingwood and our final destination, the old grain shipping terminals. Once again, curious onlookers stared as truck after truck poured into the parking lot. While the vehicles were maneuvered into a haphazard group for a final photo, conversation abounded and the jokes were plentiful. What began as a cautious group of strangers, brought together by a common cause, now looked far more like a family.
I walked around as the raffles and giveaways began, noting the satisfied and contented expressions. Many new friendships were forged this day; friendships that would spawn many future adventures. On the drive home, I reflected on the event with pride knowing that this dirt-loving band of enthusiasts had done much to overcome the stigmas about off-roaders and make a difference in the futures of people who deserve a better life.