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.

Hike # 9: Up Up We Go

Hike 9: August 23, 2015 -  20.7 km from Waterdown to Mount Nemo

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

~ 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

Cool orange fungus on the tree

Cheeky hiker

Cool spooky tree

Looking out from the top of Mount Nemo

Valerie at the final climb to the top

Gorgeous vista

Turkey vultures

View of the farms

Hike # 8: Hooray for a Friday Hike

Hike 8:  July 24, 2015 -16 km from Woodleys Lane to Smokey Hollow 

(Great Falls), Waterdown

Hooray to being off on Fridays as with Karen's flexible schedule and Valerie's recent retirement we are free to hike on Fridays where possible.  Sometimes it won't be, but this week it worked out. 

Selfie time

Another gorgeous summer morning with blue skies and no humidity, and without a whisper of a breeze.  We started our hike where we left off on Woodleys Lane next to the Dundas Valley Golf and Country Club.

Sadly a re-route of the trail to keep people away from Spencer Creek Gorge and Webster's Falls (why why why?) led us instead through part of Dundas.  Pretty as it was we were sad to miss out on the opportunity to see and perhaps walk behind the falls.  Along the way through Dundas we scoped our possible retirement cottages (every time we are in a pretty place I say "I could live  here") and we came upon a lovely old church  St. Augustines erected in 1863.

St. Augustine's

Once out of the town the trail quickly took us up up up the escarpment with stunning views from the top of Hamilton and Dundas.

Every time we walk we are in awe of the natural beauty and tranquillity that surrounds us.  Lush deciduous forests that canopy the trail we feel like we are in the land of hobbits and elves, or perhaps Robinhood will pop out from behind a tree. 

Old farmhouse ruin

The rail

Red soil banks

At the top of Borer's Falls

The home of hobbits

Grindstone Creek

Great Falls (Waterdown)

The walks are meditative and relaxing.  The stresses of the week melt away with each step.  We have a relaxed rhythm now after quite a few hikes together.  There are periods of chatter and catching up with long periods of comfortable silence.  At the end of each hike we excitedly plan when we can do the next one. 

We are addicted.

It is good.

Hike #7: On The Trail Again

Hike 7:  July 19, 2015 - 15 km from Scenic Drive to Woodley Lane, Dundas

Forgive us for it has been weeks since our last hike.  We had forced hiatus due to conflicting schedules.  Anxious to be hitting the trail again after so long we went out today despite the heat and threat of thunderstorms (the latter of which has just arrived as I write this).  The heat did arrive  early in the day, but was not quite as humid as yesterday ,and there was a welcome breeze now and again.  Still, we were glistening with perspiration before we even started and my face was the colour of a tomato the entire hike.  Lots of water and a more moderate hiking pace were required to manage the heat.

Two brave souls joined us for the hike - Denise (Karen's sister) and Wendy (a neighbour).  Thankfully with the heat to endure, the terrain was not as difficult as previous hikes with some long stretches of wide smooth paths which enabled the 5 of us to walk side by side at some points.   The trail was a mixture of shaded forest and open meadow and was moderately hilly. Babbling streams and some waterfalls (Sherman's Falls - sorry no picture) were a welcome sight for cooling off.  

At the 10 km mark we reached the Dundas Valley Trail Centre where we stopped for lunch (and a civilized pee).  It was nice to sit down and cool off for a bit, but we still had another 5 km to go!

It was a great hike but we were happy to reach the end and into the air conditioned car.  A quick dip in Karen's pool after we arrived back was wonderful.

I did not take many pictures as I did not have my own camera because it is heavy and I did not want it around my neck in the heat.  I am not too familiar with the camera I was using and some pictures I thought I took (the falls for instance) were obviously taken with the power off - oops!

Another hike is planned for this Friday. We will try for 20 km weather permitting.