The Mighty Bruce Adventures: 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