Hike # 8: Hooray for a Friday Hike

Hike 8:  July 24, 2015 -16 km from Woodleys Lane to Smokey Hollow 

(Great Falls), Waterdown

Hooray to being off on Fridays as with Karen's flexible schedule and Valerie's recent retirement we are free to hike on Fridays where possible.  Sometimes it won't be, but this week it worked out. 

Selfie time

Another gorgeous summer morning with blue skies and no humidity, and without a whisper of a breeze.  We started our hike where we left off on Woodleys Lane next to the Dundas Valley Golf and Country Club.

Sadly a re-route of the trail to keep people away from Spencer Creek Gorge and Webster's Falls (why why why?) led us instead through part of Dundas.  Pretty as it was we were sad to miss out on the opportunity to see and perhaps walk behind the falls.  Along the way through Dundas we scoped our possible retirement cottages (every time we are in a pretty place I say "I could live  here") and we came upon a lovely old church  St. Augustines erected in 1863.

St. Augustine's

Once out of the town the trail quickly took us up up up the escarpment with stunning views from the top of Hamilton and Dundas.

Every time we walk we are in awe of the natural beauty and tranquillity that surrounds us.  Lush deciduous forests that canopy the trail we feel like we are in the land of hobbits and elves, or perhaps Robinhood will pop out from behind a tree. 

Old farmhouse ruin

The rail

Red soil banks

At the top of Borer's Falls

The home of hobbits

Grindstone Creek

Great Falls (Waterdown)

The walks are meditative and relaxing.  The stresses of the week melt away with each step.  We have a relaxed rhythm now after quite a few hikes together.  There are periods of chatter and catching up with long periods of comfortable silence.  At the end of each hike we excitedly plan when we can do the next one. 

We are addicted.

It is good.

Hike #7: On The Trail Again

Hike 7:  July 19, 2015 - 15 km from Scenic Drive to Woodley Lane, Dundas

Forgive us for it has been weeks since our last hike.  We had forced hiatus due to conflicting schedules.  Anxious to be hitting the trail again after so long we went out today despite the heat and threat of thunderstorms (the latter of which has just arrived as I write this).  The heat did arrive  early in the day, but was not quite as humid as yesterday ,and there was a welcome breeze now and again.  Still, we were glistening with perspiration before we even started and my face was the colour of a tomato the entire hike.  Lots of water and a more moderate hiking pace were required to manage the heat.

Two brave souls joined us for the hike - Denise (Karen's sister) and Wendy (a neighbour).  Thankfully with the heat to endure, the terrain was not as difficult as previous hikes with some long stretches of wide smooth paths which enabled the 5 of us to walk side by side at some points.   The trail was a mixture of shaded forest and open meadow and was moderately hilly. Babbling streams and some waterfalls (Sherman's Falls - sorry no picture) were a welcome sight for cooling off.  

At the 10 km mark we reached the Dundas Valley Trail Centre where we stopped for lunch (and a civilized pee).  It was nice to sit down and cool off for a bit, but we still had another 5 km to go!

It was a great hike but we were happy to reach the end and into the air conditioned car.  A quick dip in Karen's pool after we arrived back was wonderful.

I did not take many pictures as I did not have my own camera because it is heavy and I did not want it around my neck in the heat.  I am not too familiar with the camera I was using and some pictures I thought I took (the falls for instance) were obviously taken with the power off - oops!

Another hike is planned for this Friday. We will try for 20 km weather permitting.