Hike # 30 & 31 Mothers Day Weekend

Hike # 30 - km 80.8 to 92.5 in the Beaver Valley

Hike # 31 - km 92.5 to 107.5 in the Beaver Valley

Happy to see the sun shining, coffee in hand,  we set off on the two-hour drive north for our two days of hiking.  Our first stop was where we would end that day at the Epping -John Muir lookout.  A gorgeous view that I would never tire of looking at – big sky, valleys, and hills and just a hint of green beginning on the trees.

Epping -John Muir Lookout - the end point of day one 

Due to limited parking options along this stretch of the trail our planned hike for Saturday was only a short 10.5 km (because of trail re-routes it ended up being 11.9), but we planned to take advantage of an early finish and explore the town of Thornbury.  I am glad we had the time to poke around the shops and galleries there. We will return and next time I will buy the sky high lemon pie!

Happy that the sun was shining and we were hiking 

The trails were less muddy than two weeks previous and the signs of spring more obvious.  The trillium were coming out, but not yet at their peak.  The forest floor was dense with trout lilies, patches of wild violets, and many other wildflowers just emerging.  The tree buds were still just starting, but a few warm days will encourage them.

Lovely trillium basking in the sun

Burgundy beauty

The lack of foliage made it easier to spot the many birds along the way.  Two birds I have never seen before were the red breasted grosbeak with it's striking black and white feathers, and what I believe was an eastern kingbird.  We also spotted red winged blackbirds, a downy woodpecker (or two), an oriole, nuthatches, and many more.  While we did not spot any larger wildlife other than a glimpse of a very quick and nimble deer, there were many signs of life in the forest including a hole near to a stream around which were scattered at least a hundred snail shells (mink? river otter?) and the skeletons of what we think were two deer.

We found two of these right next to each other - deer?

The trail took us up and down and up and down as it is apt to do, but we also had some nice long stretches along the top of the escarpment.  Most of the trail was relatively easy footing although there were some very "squidgy squadgy" patches and some areas that were rocky.  In one such area we found the trail took us through a crevice which was fun.  Easy to miss if you are not paying attention to the blazes.  

Through the escarpment crevice

Mossy tree 

Heading down the valley

Trees for miles

Escarpment views

As always, the views from the top of the escarpment were breathtaking and, for me at least, such views bring a deep sense of calm and peace.

Rare photo op

Sky views

Valerie waiting for us to catch up

Narrow stream and marsh marigolds

Views views views

Beaver Dam

Can you spot the Oriole?

Day two - grey, cool, muddy

Pretty creek

More views

Webwood Falls

Cool root system of a long dead tree

We are slowly, but surely making our way through the second half of the trail closer to our goal by a few more kilometres.  Though it seems we are making slow progress, we are still moving forward, still striving toward our goal of completing the trail end to end.  That is enough.

A funny bird tale

In tree above the parking area a vocal cardinal sang out to us and fluttered about, once or twice landing on the car and seeming to be quite taken with his reflection in the side mirrors. We thought little of it - other than to find it cute - as we set off for the day. 

Many hours later after completing the days hike, we noticed the flicker of red near the car. The cardinal was still looking in the mirror and flitting about. On closer inspection there was evidence that the cardinal had been there for quite some time! As we considered this strange behaviour we surmised that he was either very vain, lonely, or that he thought his reflection was a competitor invading his territory. Although we chuckled at the bird’s antics, at the same time we felt sorry that he had had such a stressful day aggressively trying to get the “other cardinal” to move on. 

Poor thing. I hope he moves on to another area before peak season when more cars are parked there creating more phantom cardinals.