Hikes 56 & 57 Cape Chin North to Crane Lake

October 22, 2022 Hike #56: km 108.5 to km  117.9 Peninsula Section (Ed. 28)

October 23, 2022 Hike #57: km 117.9 to km 126.6  Peninsula Section (Ed. 28)

It was yet another brilliant, sunny, blue-sky weekend for hiking.  It felt like summer on both days - reaching over 20 C on Sunday.  The weather Gods have certainly been kind to us this season.    

We started our hiking at Cape Chin North and hiked past several lovely spots that looked out over Dyers Bay.  The water was crystal clear and turquoise along the shoreline, looking much like the waters of the Caribbean.  That is where the similarity ends as the water is freezing and the shoreline rocky.  Happily, the autumn leaves were still hanging on and showing off glorious hues of gold, orange and red which provided us with breathtaking scenery (when we were not looking down at the trail).  We ventured off the main trail (something we don't often do) to see the Devil's Monument , and then went further down the steep trail the rocky shore. After ascending again, we stopped and had our lunch high up on a rocky ledge with the expanse of the bay looking very much like the ocean. 

While Saturday's hike was not overly long, and the weather dry, the footing was tricky with slippery rocks and roots littering the trail, so we had to watch every step.  Even with the extra care, there were a couple of slips and falls (or F***ity F*** F***s  as I like to call them 😉 ).  No severe injuries thank goodness!  We finished early afternoon and had time to relax and enjoy the lovely Airbnb we had rented.

Sunday's hike took us inland along another rocky trail for a couple of kilometres and then brought us out to the road or several kilometres heading toward to Crane Lake.  Part of Crane Lake Road was flooded over by the adjacent marsh area, and we had to don plastic bags on our feet in an attempt to keep them mostly dry (it worked!).  Luckily the day was warm so having damp feet for a little bit was not an issue.  

Our hiking for this year is at an end with only approximately 36 km to go to reach the terminus in Tobermory. When we resume in the spring, from what we have read and heard, we will be hiking the most challenging section of the trail. There will be many steep ascents and descents, rocks to climb, as well as a possibility of encountering one of the many black bears and rattlesnakes that call the Bruce Peninsula National Park their home. We can hardly wait to get back out there, finish our hiking and pop the bubbly to celebrate!

We met a another group of hikers at the start and one of them kindly took a photo
 - much better than group selfies!

Heading out (photographer ahead of us)

Orange tree amongst the pines

Looking out on Dyer's Bay

A woodpecker had been feasting here

Golden trees

Gorgeous view

A waterfall at Devil's Monument side trail

The Devil's Monument (flower pot)

Rocky Beach at the bottom of the Devil's Monument side trail

Nancy taking in the view from the ledge
(looking precariously close to the edge)

Turquoise and blue 

Crystal clear water

Valerie ascending the trail with the help of a rubber hose rope

Allison and Nancy climbing up

At the start of Sunday's hike

Nancy blending in with the leaves

The road is much easier than the trail

Valerie and Karen

Karen saying hello to the horses

Not much to do but take the risk and go through it

Valerie in her fashionable plastic bag footwear

Valerie makes her way through the flooded section of the road

Nancy and Allison put the bags on the inside their boots. 
(both methods worked fairly well)

We made it to Bruce Peninsula National Park!

Hikes 54 & 55: Your Rocky Spine

September 24, 2022 Hike #54: km 86.2 to km 98.1 Peninsula Section (Ed. 28)

September 25, 2022 Hike #55: km 98.1 to km 108.5 *Peninsula Section (Ed. 28)

Autumn is without a doubt my favourite season for hiking.  I believe my hiking companions would agree.  The Spring is also wonderful but there are usually pesky bugs to content with. We were fortunate to have yet another lovely weather weekend.  Saturday was a cool start but the layers came off quickly and we down to t-shirts and though Sunday was mostly cloudy with the threat of rain, we enjoyed bits of sunshine and the rain held off until we were finished for the day.  

In contrast to the Peninsula hikes of the Spring where we were treated to steep ascents and descents, this hike was mostly level without too much climbing.  We walked along the escarpment edge for the most part, with spectacular views of Georgian Bay.  We did head down to water level and walked the short Reeds Dump side trail where we enjoyed our lunch on the rocky beach. For the most part the canopy above us was still very green. We will likely miss the changing colours this year unless the leaves hang on until late October 🤞

We don't usually encounter too many hikers along the way (with the exception of Lion's Head Lookout - but that is another story), but we passed two large groups of hikers who were doing a group hike with the Peninsula Club.  It is nice to see others enjoying the trail and the spectacular scenery.

As we close in on the last kilometres of our end-to-end adventure, I am both happy and sad.  Happy that we have accomplished our goal of hiking the entire trail and sad because it will be finished.  There will be no more hiking weekends to plan for and look forward to each Spring.  

Maybe our quartet will have to plan a new adventure - or hike it all again! 😉 Alas, I am ahead of myself as we are not quite done yet - 56.6 km to go!

I will end with the lyrics of a song (a favourite of mine) which often comes to mind as I am hiking up high along the rocky escarpment edge. 

I was lost in the lakes
and the shapes that your body makes
that your body makes
that your body makes
that your body makes

And the mountains said I could find you here
they whisper the snow and the leaves in my ear
I traced my finger along your trails
your body was the map, I was lost in there

Floating over your rocky spine
The glaciers made you and now you're mine
Floating over your rocky spine
The glaciers made you and now you're mine

I was moving across your frozen veneer
The sky was dark, but you were clear
Could you feel my footsteps?
And would you shatter, would you shatter? Would you?

And with your soft fingers between my claws
like purity against resolve
I could tell, then and there, we were formed from the clay
and came from the rocks for the earth to display

They told me to be careful up there
where the wind blows a venomous rage through your hair
They told me to be careful up there
where the wind rages through your hair

~ Great Lake Swimmers

* note - trail re-route shortened this hike 

At the start of Saturday's hike 

Valerie spotted apples pretty quickly

Through the meadow

Views 

Lunch spot ! (Reeds Dump)

Selfie

Karen taking in the view

Cool clouds

Valerie looking towards Georgian Bay 

fun fungi

Entry point of Sunday's hike

Nancy taking in one of the many views

We are getting close to our end point in Tobermory -
only 56.6 km to go!

Lunch spot in the sun

High up