27th, a 1/2 Hike - That Was Tough!

I had the privilege of babysitting my "hiker-in-training" today. Unfortunately, my daughter is not well and had to go to see a doctor, but it does mean that I could hang out with the best dude ever! We had an extensive road piece to do, approximately 10 kilometers, so we were all set for a great adventure!

I packed lunches, lots of water, sunscreen, bug spray and all the other baby paraphernalia and  headed north to a little place called "Kilgorie". In order to get there, I decided to drive the route we would be walking, just so I could get a feel for what was ahead.....

This was not the first clue of what lay ahead. That was when I turned on to Centre Road from 10 Sideroad. The sign said "No Exit". I checked my map, but it showed a road that led to River Road. I was a little confused. Then, I saw this sign. Let's just say that there wasn't a lot of summer maintenance, either!

After manoeuvering the car through huge potholes and down steep hills, some of which were washed out, we made it to the little town called Kilgorie. We parked by the mailbox, and I loaded the little man into his stroller, with all his stuff, and a cookie!

We set off going south. Beside the road we could hear, but not see at first, a small brook. Soon enough, the bugs decided we made a great lunch, so we sprayed ourselves with bug spray and continued on.

The view in the picture above is taken with the camera directly in front of me. This is the angle of the first piece of the road. It was not easy, but I figured I had been working out at the gym and now it would pay off!

 As you can see in the picture above, the road did not get any easier. It got steeper and steeper, and I think the stroller got heavier and heavier. We were treated to the lovely sounds of the stream as it flowed downhill and there was absolutely NO traffic sounds.

I had my little encourager with me, chatting and giggling all the way.

 However, when I tried to do the piece past the barrel, I could no longer keep going. The angle of the stroller was difficult enough, even if it had been a smooth, flat surface, but together with all the stones and the potholes, it literally became impossible for me. At one point I tried pulling the stroller instead of pushing and it still would not work, so we had to turn around. This was the first time I have had to do that, and it was not easy to give up like that.

 At least the way back down was quite a bit easier. We had made 1.4 kms with a 100m change in elevation. It was such a joy to have Judah with me. Here is a video of how happy this child is:

This is my view :).

 I really loved how this stream looked as it meandered its way down the hill. At times it didn't seem to be in a rush at all, and at other times, it was gurgling and swooshing its way down quickly.

This driveway is from one of the summer homes that grace this road. I assume there is something quite beautiful beyond this gate and grass driveway.

Happy to be back in the car and away from the bugs, we ate our lunch parked at the side of the road. (No, he doesn't drink Tim Horton's......yet!)

26th Hike - Bibbulmun Track-Bruce Trail Friendship Trail

This Friendship Trail was unveiled May 28, 2016, just a month and a half before we hiked it!

It is "a mark of friendship and international cooperation between our two organizations." One day, maybe one day, we will hike the one in Australia :).

We started by parking in the lovely little parking lot just off of the 1st Line E, south of 10 Sideroad. The weather was a little cooler than the hike last week, something both us and the dogs were grateful for.

I loved the lightness of this little piece of forest. We trekked through it and soon came to some hilly meadows. This time of year is one of my favourites as we get to smell the heady perfume of the blossoming milkweeds.

Upon reentering the forest, we found another Heritage tree! The first one we found was in the Hockley Valley. This one was just as impressive!

 

I love that they do this on the trail. It does give you a sense of discovery and sleuthing :). 

 As we started to head to the north, we met two side trails, Moss Haven and Enchanted Forest. It was quite spectacular to see the tree with the split right down the middle, and the tree was still quite alive. We also found this cute little tree "gateway" where the tree had fallen and the trail forced its way in between the stump and the tree (usually these are cut, but this one was natural). 

After this, the whole feel of the forest changed. We entered to a mostly cedar piece. Here the ground became softer and quieter. 

We also found ourselves at times being wedged between trees as the path meandered along.

When the trail turned more easterly we started to follow another stream (which we think was the Oliver Creek, but we aren't sure). 

This brought us to the beautiful "Walkers Woods". As the sign says:

Walker's Woods

This majestic hardwood forest

has been named in memory of

Chris Walker

Chris, a former Trail Director, was a long-time trail volunteer

who did so much to help the Bruce Trail

to achieve the optimum route

and thus to preserve the beauty of the Niagara Escarpment

for all of us to enjoy....

Ross McLean

At the edge of the woods, we found this piece of destruction. We assume it is still the fallout from the ice storm last March. It's kind of hard to see in the picture (I know, I need to take the other camera), but there are many trees that have fallen over, and at the edge of the picture are many, many trees with the tops broken off. 

...and it truly is a majestic place. Soon we found ourselves at the South East Lookout. We would have missed it if we hadn't seen the bench. I think the trees have grown over where the lookout should have been.

After the lookout, we met up with the piece of the Oliver Creek Side Trail that we had hiked the week before. This took us almost to the 2nd Line E where we had parked our car. 

So we followed this trail north again, to meet up with the Bruce Trail. 

We headed west, and took the "short cut" with the Moss Haven Side Trail. I don't know what we were expecting, but it wasn't this! This trail follows the upward trajectory of a small stream. But there is moss everywhere, and the stream trickles with joyous sounds down the valley. It was such a treasure, but the pictures will never do it justice. 

As we exited this trail and rejoined the Bruce Trail, the skies decided to rain. It was a bit of mixed emotions because we need the rain so badly (we are having a bit of a drought in Southern Ontario). When we were on the last little piece of forest before we came to the parking lot, Clarence found this track in the mud of what probably should be a stream.

Unfortunately, Clarence is not used to taking pictures with an iphone, and it didn't come out too clearly. Not sure yet if it is a really big dog print or something else.

We made it back to our car a bit soggy, but still glad to have had this time in God's creation.

 Statistics: 7.1 kms., 2 hours and 2 minutes, average of 200 m ascending and descending (457m asl high and 384m asl low) and 3.7 km/h average speed.