Since we began our hikes in Queenston, we have been steadily climbing. According to the diagram posted at the Mount Nemo lookout we have climbed 295 m in total and 85 m of that was done today with our ascent to the top of Mount Nemo. I know it is not Everest, but it was still a good stretch of the legs and a beautiful view!
The trail was a relatively easy one for much of this route. We had long distances of wide, mostly flat terrain -sometimes wide enough for two - punctuated by the narrow rock studded trails we have become used to. We walked through areas of tall grasses which had me thinking about ticks, and there were also patches of poison ivy along the way (maybe shorts are not the most brilliant idea for hiking?).
We also walked a good distance along the road with some beautiful residential properties to view (No 1. Side road and Walkers Line). As we walked along we could see Mount Nemo looming large and impressive ahead of us. The climb up and around it was the last few kilometres of our 20 k walk so we had to summon up a little extra energy to push on. Only Valerie seemed energetic which we concluded was because she had coconut water and pineapple juice to drink at lunch.
At the top of Mount Nemo there were plenty of people enjoying the trails and the scenic views. It is a beautiful spot and especially lovely in the autumn. We are lucky to be able to enjoy this area of protected natural beauty. Not too many years ago the life of this area was hanging in the balance as a quarry expansion had been proposed which would have forever changed the face of the land here and made homeless many animals and birds*.
One of my favourite artists, Sarah Harmer, wrote a song about the saving the escarpment, and she was actively involved in the fight against the quarry development in this area. I am happy to say they won this particular fight, but I am sure it won't be the last.
Escarpment Blues
If they blow a hole in my backyard
Everyone is gonna run away
The creeks won't flow to the Great Lake below
Will the water in the wells still be ok?
We'll need to build some new apartments
And I know we're gonna have to fix the roads
But if we blow a hole in the escarpment
The wild ones won't have anywhere to go
If they blow a hole in the backbone
The one that runs cross the muscles of the land
We might get a load of stone for the road
But I don't know how much longer we can stand
We'll keep driving on the Blind Line
If we don't know where we want to go
Even knowledge that's sound can get watered down
Truth can get sucked out the car window
We're two-thirds water
What do we really need?
But sun, showers, soil and seed
We're two-thirds water
The aquifers provide
Deep down in the rock
There's a pearl inside
If they blow a hole in the backbone
The one that runs across the muscles of the land
We might get a load of stone for the road
But I don't know how much longer we can stand
At the top of Mount Nemo there were plenty of people enjoying the trails and the scenic views. It is a beautiful spot and especially lovely in the autumn. We are lucky to be able to enjoy this area of protected natural beauty. Not too many years ago the life of this area was hanging in the balance as a quarry expansion had been proposed which would have forever changed the face of the land here and made homeless many animals and birds*.
One of my favourite artists, Sarah Harmer, wrote a song about the saving the escarpment, and she was actively involved in the fight against the quarry development in this area. I am happy to say they won this particular fight, but I am sure it won't be the last.
If they blow a hole in my backyard
Everyone is gonna run away
The creeks won't flow to the Great Lake below
Will the water in the wells still be ok?
We'll need to build some new apartments
And I know we're gonna have to fix the roads
But if we blow a hole in the escarpment
The wild ones won't have anywhere to go
If they blow a hole in the backbone
The one that runs cross the muscles of the land
We might get a load of stone for the road
But I don't know how much longer we can stand
We'll keep driving on the Blind Line
If we don't know where we want to go
Even knowledge that's sound can get watered down
Truth can get sucked out the car window
We're two-thirds water
What do we really need?
But sun, showers, soil and seed
We're two-thirds water
The aquifers provide
Deep down in the rock
There's a pearl inside
If they blow a hole in the backbone
The one that runs across the muscles of the land
We might get a load of stone for the road
But I don't know how much longer we can stand
~ Sarah Harmer
* The escarpment is home to 300 bird species, 53 mammals, 36 reptiles and amphibians.
Note: pic's taken with my iPhone. I think I will try to carry my camera from now on1
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| Cool orange fungus on the tree |
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| Cheeky hiker |
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| Cool spooky tree |
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| Looking out from the top of Mount Nemo |
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| Valerie at the final climb to the top |
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| Gorgeous vista |
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| Turkey vultures |
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| View of the farms |
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