Hike # 11: Hiking Not Biking

Hike # 11: September 13, 2015: 20.1 kms (+++) from Appleby Line & Steeles to Bruce Trail Pear Tree Park, Speyside

It was a day of road blocks and set backs with a side dish of rain.  

As is our usual practice we left from home at 7 a.m. hoping to be on the trail by 8 o'clock, but it was not to be.  As we approached the area to get to our parking spot at Kelso summit there was a very unusual amount of cars on the road -  most of them with bicycles attached to the back of them. Hmmm something was going on. 

It did not take us long to figure out that the something was a bike race ( Epic Bike Tour Halton), and most of the ways in and out of the area were blocked off by police cruisers.  Finally, after a few circles around, we made it to parking (not the parking we wanted so we were farther from our start point = more kms), and we started our hike at 9:30.  

It was going to be a long day.

As it turned out, it was made even longer when we missed an important turn sign on the trail at Kelso and ended up having to double back adding more time and kms!  Added to that, much of the trail was rocky (and slippery) which made for a slower pace and required our complete concentration to keep our footing.  It is interesting to note that our conversation falls silent during the difficult areas :).

Despite our late start, the rain, and the added bonus of repeating part of the hike, we had another great day on the trail, finishing the Iroquoia section and getting in a few km's of the Toronto section of the trail.

A policeman at a roadblock took our picture

An easy part of the trail

Lots of these crevices along the way

Funny signs for the mountain bike trails at Kelso

We liked this part so much we did it twice! (by accident of course)

Looking over Kelso beach

On the ledge

Wild Asters

Rock ledge at Kelso

Looking over Milton

Kelso ski hills from the other side

Near the beginning of the Toronto section

Hike # 10: Mosquito Trail

Hike # 10: September 4, 2015: 21.1* km from Mount Nemo Conservation area to Appleby & Steeles

At the start - Mount Nemo 

We were fortunate that the day started out cloudy since it has been quite hot and humid this week but that cloud cover brought out the mosquitoes in full force.  They usually leave me alone (I am not sweet enough I guess) but I am sporting quite a few bites today.  Along with the bug bites is a mysterious rash that we all have on our ankles.  It is not itchy - therefore I don't think it is poison ivy.  Any guesses?

Enough about pests and rashes because the hike is full of more beauty and pleasure than annoyances no matter what the weather or the difficulty or the distance.  When you reach the end of a long climb up and get a beautiful view that you would otherwise not be able to see it is worth it all.

What stood out to me most about this section of the hike (other than the mosquitoes) was that it was quieter.  We were farther away from the never ceasing sound of cars on some highway or another. When we reached the end point of the hike we were under the flight path of Pearson International Airport reminding us that even as we enjoy the tranquillity and silence of the trail we are not far from a very busy city.

The first part of the trail took us roadside past many riding stables.  We enjoyed a few grapes (concord I think) along the way.

Karen on the roadside trail

grapes

ba ram ewe

The trail changed from farmland to gorgeous green deciduous forest.  Some leaves were already starting to change colour.  It is going to be breathtaking hiking these trails in the Autumn.

We had a beautiful spot for our lunch from the lookout at Crawford Lake.  This view looks out over towards Rattlesnake Point across the Nassagaweya Valley.

Looking out from the look out at Crawford Lake

Setting up my shot

"eerie" part of the trail

Still pond (aka mosquito haven)

I love taking close-ups of flowers and berries, but if I stopped to take all the shots I wanted to I would be running half the trail to catch up.  Notice I am always behind Karen and Valerie? :)

Camo"frog"

Cool fungi

I could not identify these berries (my book is packed)- any guesses?

These are poisonous -White Baneberry.  They are creepy looking.

* plus another km to get us to Kelso Summit Parking lot.