A keyhole and a tiny bridge

Friday, Oct 29th.

As we drove up to the higher areas away from Georgian Bay, we were enveloped by thick fog.  We decided to keep going and hike anyway even though the viewing opportunities might be limited.

We drove to Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area which is near Singhampton.  The Bruce Trail runs through it and there are several side-trails that allow for loops.  There are also some trails that are maintained by the conservation area.  There are not many steep climbs here but the ground is quite rough in places and, along with the wet leaves, we found it quite slippery in places.  

There are numerous crevices, some of them quite deep.  At one point, the trail goes down one of these crevices and, at first sight, appears to end in a blind alley.  As you get closer to the end, you can find a 'keyhole' through the rock and the trail continues on the other side.  Large people may not fit!

We ended up eating lunch in the car as it was raining lightly and we had not seen any promising lunch spots. 

In the afternoon, we decided to continue our walk along the north part of the Transcarioca Trail where we left off last week.  It's an easy walk through open hardwood forest and some abandoned orchards.  There are a few crevices to look out for.  One of them is spanned by this extremely short bridge: 

There are lots of windfall apples around. Evidently, there were once a lot of orchards around here. In many places, the trail is 'carpeted' with apples:

Cape Chin

We had heard about the BTC purchase of a spectacular property on the Bruce Penninsula north of Lion's Head. We knew that it resulted in the BTC moving a section of the trail to the optimum route.  So we headed there on Friday October 22 not deterred by the chilly, wet weather.

We parked in the designated spot and took the Bard side trail to connect with the main trail at the edge of the escarpment, hiking south towards Cape Chin itself, where we found a large home that was used by the previous owners of the property.  It will be a challenge for the BTC to deal with this building. It's beautiful but remote and in need of repairs. There we found a bench that we positioned out of the wind for our lunch break.  A group of golden-crowned kinglets could be easily viewed in the bushes.  

On this hike we encountered some unique vegetation and geology.  

We returned on the Cape Chin Meadows and Pat Daunt side trails covering about 9 kms.  The weather had improved and we still had energy so we took a side trail to Otter Lake, which was recommended to us.  The quality of the viewing platform impressed us.  I wonder who built it? 

This would be a great spot to watch for birds in the spring.  We hope to return soon.

Transcarioca Friendship Trail south section

This section of the Blue Mountains Bruce Trail is twinned with part of a hiking trail in Brazil.  We covered the lower section and included a piece of the June and George Willis side trail for an 8 km hike with Louise on a day that started out fair but turned rainy mid-hike and then cleared up again.  

The pretty route included a little of everything - some crevices, good views, former pastures and a few streams.  It was easy walking with only a few muddy areas and one boardwalk.  We delayed lunch until the rain stopped, finding a convenient log just before a bridge. 

After the hike we toured Dunedin and Glen Huron, stopping at Hamilton Brothers for birdseed and a jacket for Barb.

Wodehouse Karst Side Trail

 I often cycle along 7th Line which runs parallel to and in between Grey Rd 7 and Grey Rd 12.  It's great for cycling as it has little traffic and good views.  Along the way, there is a sign for a side trail entrance to the Bruce Trail.  We have been curious to try it and today was a good opportunity.

The side trail starts on 7th Line just a bit south of the very tiny village of Wodehouse (pop. STILL only 88).  However, we chose to start our walk at the parking lot on sideroad 78 and do a there-and-back to the side trail entrance. From the parking lot, the Bruce Trail follows a steep gravel road for a bit before turning off into the woods.  It's mostly an easy walk with a beautiful spot by a stream.  This stream is unusual because it comes out of the ground as a spring rather than following the surface.

Shortly after, the side trail splits from the main trail and the going becomes quite a bit rougher.  Evidently, not many people take this side trail and in several places trees have fallen across the trail.  It's a bit of a scramble to the top of the escarpment after which it's much lusher.  This is evidently a wet place!

There's a pond through which the stream flows.  It is edged with lily pads. Apparently, the pond becomes much larger in the Spring and the trail is then submerged and impassable.

We have heard reports that the Bruce Trail organization has had problems with 'hotspots' being overrun by hikers during this time of COVID.  Not here!  We saw exactly two other people today. And, had we been five minutes earlier, we would have seen zero people.

Bognor Marsh Revisted

 September 18, 2021

This was a second attempt to complete a hike that we had to abandon almost exactly a year ago due to water and mud.  This time the weather had been dry for several days and we were able to do the walk with dry feet.  We covered about 6.5 kms using the main trail, side trails and an uninspiring walk up to a conservation area trail head.  On our route we spotted a snake that appeared to be sunning itself on the side of the trail until we arrived.

We heard and then saw a number of frogs in the marshy spots.  

The route was not especially challenging but it offered a wide variety of terrain, fungi, a floating boardwalk and a lovely viewing platform with a bench which we used for lunch.  We did not see birds but could imagine birdwatching here at a different time of year.  Very few hikers around on this beautiful 20 degree day.