In another venture he became president of the Cobourg and Rice Lake Plank Road and Ferry Company in 1846 -- essentially a reworking of the 1830's rail proposal. Unfortunately, before the plank road was even completed to Rice Lake, the carefully laid planks were heaved and twisted by the frost in the winter of 1847-48. (More - Cobourg Peterborough railroad - part 5). By the 1850s, however, it was described by travelers as one of the best roads in the area.

Weller's steam ferry passenger and freight business running across Rice Lake and on the Otanobee River, another facet of the company's operations, went along swimmingly as did the Weller-operated steam ferry on the Trent River.

Weller also became a joint-stock owner in a scandalous venture, the Cobourg and Port Hope Road Company along with other Cobourg businessmen. The toll house and gate apparently went up even before the road was properly completed and gravelled. This lathered local residents into such a state that someone burned the toll house to the ground in 1848 -- along with the gate.

But before they left, Weller being a sporting man, bet £1,000 with some cronies that he could cover the 360 miles between Toronto and Montreal in under 38 hours.

He knew the odds were favourable as it was February, and the route was snowbound -- the surface hard and fast. The Governor was tucked in to a warm bed in a covered stage sleigh, the start officially timed, and with Weller at the reins and cracking a 20-foot lash, they were off at 6 a.m on a Monday morning. A second sleigh followed with the governor-general's staff.

Every 15 miles Weller's hostlers stood ready at the post stations with four fresh horses, hot food and drink. Without a stop for sleep, Weller drove through the night and the next day. And 37 hours and 40 minutes later, at 7.40 p.m. on a Tuesday, pulled up his steaming horses outside the Montreal stage office. In addition to winning his side bet, Weller received £100 from the appreciative Governor-General and an engraved gold watch.

It was an amazing accomplishment considering that the regular trip by coach and four usually took four and a half days, including stops for meals and overnight stays at the many wayside inns. Weller averaged nine to 10 mph throughout the journey with speeds reaching 15 mph. In comparison, wheeled coaches could only average speeds of three to six miles per hour during the summer months.