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.