I’m going to spare you the photo of what Cheryl and I looked like after two days of hiking at just over 30 celsius , but it wasn’t pretty! The fact that the humidity reading was 100% and so things felt like 40…you get the picture, we were melting! This is the north remember, not Mumbai, although climate change is altering all that.
I thought I’d do a catch up on our Bruce trail adventures because we’ve covered some ground and are still working at completing the nearly 1,000 klms. We plan to do this over four years though and we are now over 400klms towards that goal.
We’ve traversed some gorgeous forests in the Beaver Valley and Owen Sound sections and on the two days of the official heat alert we were in the gorgeous Blue Mountain club section – I’m a member!
We’ve seen lovely waterfalls, abandoned hydro electric projects, rare flowers,
Lady Slippers growing next to abandoned hydro electric station
bizarre fungus, a vigilant guard llama,
Guard Llama
and a sad sign for a lost cow. No wonder the llama was suspicious of us!
We have crossed paths with more hikers than we did last year – although this trail is often ours alone. A totally unscientific poll (our own!) tells us most of those hikers have been women and even the occasional men we’ve seen, have often been with women …so what’s with these signs? How come they’re all men?
No hunting signs are throughout this region – truth be told, we avoid certain areas in hunting season – but this was certainly the most poignant sign this year.
They say Autumn is on it’s way in spite of the heat and we’ve seen some colours changing. On we trek and the journey is amazing!
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Amazing photos! First photo is my favorite. Thank You showing these photos.
I had only heard about this trail from Joanne – I see she has commented on here – and I think it is a marvellous challenge to set oneself, and lovely to have a friend to do it with! That first image is a beauty, what a setting! And I love the slipper orchids what a find! Have fun on the rest of the trail and keep well away from the hunters 😦
Yes I ‘found’ Joanne through her Bruce trail adventures – so impressive that she and Helen did it in one year! We’ve given ourselves 4 years and keep discovering wonders around us on every hike. Thanks for the visit.
I imagine that it can be much nicer to do slowly as you have time to absorb all the little things you find on the way.
We tell ourselves that but I think Joanne is fitter and more determined too😉!
Such a lovely area, and those Lady Slippers are beautiful!
Other worldly in a way – thanks for the visit.
I’d like to have a llama, although it seems a bit of a long shot given that my apartment building doesn’t even allow dogs and cats.
Never mind – I hear they sometimes spit! Have you thought of a hamster?
Hmm, a guard hamster… I know they can ferocious little devils. I’m not sure it’s fair on the burglars.
Such gorgeous country and captures!
Wondrous photos, especially the first one. Alas, poor Jack. 😦
Yes we shall be wearing our neon vests as the colours change and the hunters emerge😳!
Nearly halfway there, but more important how much joy you’ve gained from pursuing this challenge. That first shot is a stunner! I just gawped 🙂
Thank you! Being nearly halfway there is great and I only wish we could say that it’s all downhill from here😉
My hat’s off to you for hiking in those steamy temperatures! But what a grand adventure … and I love those. I must admit my favorite photo is your guard llama! 🙂 Keep enjoying your journey. ~Terri
Thank you Terri – the concept of using llamas and donkeys to protect livestock is really neat. The way they bond with the herd and protect them whether from dogs or wolves is something that could teach us a thing or two! You stay safe on your own adventure.
How exciting … what a great plan. The terrain looks so lush and inviting. And the signs .. wonderful (with the exception of the missing cow of course).
We do feel lucky to find this outstanding trail just on our doorstep – sort of – where we don’t have to fly anywhere to enjoy it! Poor people with the cow – cattle rustlers like the old west perhaps given the price of beef.
good piece!
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Thanks Shannon. The trail is an amazing place – maybe one day you’ll join us for a hike?
What a beautiful area!. . . and the signs are so unique. I’ve never seen a lost cow sign, and the no hunting sign is so poignant.
So nice to hear from you again! I like your new approach and look forward to following you.
What a spectacular photo the first one is and those lady slipper orchids are very special. I do admire you battling on in the heat and 100% humidity. Do you just do one day hikes or do you stay overnight in huts? What a grand project you have taken on and I am enjoying sharing it with you through your posts.
Oh I wish we were adventurous enough to be camping out – just need more comforts these days. We’ve treated ourselves to B&b’s on occasion though! Isn’t that house perched on the falls amazing? Those moss covered, waterfall ledges went all the way down the escarpment – magical.
Much more enjoyable to walk after a good nights sleep and pampering in a BnB.
Such beautiful green countryside. I am a little tired of looking at dried out brown hills and burned out lawns as drought continues in California and we head into the official fire season. I am doing my best to avoid a little tinge of envy. we are headed out for another road trip later this month so I’m looking forward to seeing some of this lushness with my own eyes. Thanks for sharing such marvelous pictures. Keep up your journey.
Such a shame about the ongoing drought your poor home state is suffering through😕. Enjoy your road trip and I wish you pleasant green scenery.
What a fabulous adventure you are on! The green is so lush! I am a bit surprised about the stats of the hikers but I’m with you. How about a little diversity in the signage? 🙂
Yes we realized just recently that we’ve met mostly women but as I said – our polling methods are a little informal😉.
Amazing we are over 400km. Remember the 1km and wondered what the HELL we were thinking. So glad we’ve continued because the sights are simply breathtaking. Thanks for the reminders.
Great to be sharing this journey with you!
Yellow Lady Slippers! Haven’t seen one in ages. What a beautiful area you live in, Carol.
Yes, plenty of hunting here too, and fall is coming. One doesn’t have to be in the woods to need to be cautious. Neighbors a few doors down had a bullet land beside them on their back porch. A stray one form somewhere.
How scary Lavinia! I just don’t understand gun use for any reason. It is a lovely area now that we’ve taken the time to look around and properly realize it😊
It’s very difficult hiking in those temps and humidity so kudos to you gals. I’m sure you’ll be sharing some fall colors soon. The leaves were just starting to show signs of change in Door County, WI.
Thanks for the kudos – we’ll take them happily!
It looks so verdant, I can’t believe it was over 30 celsius, you’re obviously very fit to keep hiking in those temperatures – hopefully you were mostly in the shade of all those beautiful trees. The last sign is sad. Even over here in East Anglia we have to be careful of hunters as much of the farmland has been overrun with Muntjac deer (an alien species that has escaped from formal deer parks) and the pest control types are out early shooting.
I don’t know about fit but we are stubborn sometimes! Coconut water is the most amazing substance for dehydration – you can feel it bringing back your energy. We will wear vests in hunting season but there are some areas where we just won’t go…unfortunately hunting trips often involve alcohol:(
You certainly brought back some melty memories of my own while hiking in 30+ degree weather. After a couple of particularly bad hikes, I said ‘no more’ … it has to be fun.
I’m really enjoying re-experiencing the Bruce through your journey. Gorgeous photos as usual … now I know what a Lady’s Slipper looks like 😉
We’d called off a day or two because of humidity and were starting to feel a little wimpy…Those waterfalls were calling out to us along the way though! We’re happy to be spreading it out over the four years. I thought at first it was too long but now I’m happy to admit I was wrong and we’re savouring every hike…well maybe not the sweaty, buggy ones:)
This fall Helen and I have decided to venture back out onto the Bruce. Since we are both goal oriented, this time we’ve set our sights on completing all the blue sidetrails … starting with the Toronto section. I figure it will keep us busy for a while 🙂
That’s a great idea and many of the side trails lead to special sights you don’t see on the main trail.
It’s been 2 years and I’m looking forward to getting back onto this beautiful trail. I’m going to experience it with a totally different viewpoint 😀
I can’t believe it’s so hot. It looks really lush, especially that first photo. It seems a wonderful trail, and one well worth taking 4 years over.
It is lush in the many forests along the trail and I really should do a post on all the waterfalls we’ve seen this year (like the one the house is perched over). The Bruce Trail runs along the length of the Niagara Escarpment so there are many natural falls along the way. Our summers do tend to be humid but this has been extraordinary.
I await the waterfall post!
Sounds like you will have no problem reaching your goal! The heat has been overwhelming the past few days, I am certain cooler days are ahead!
We’re very hopeful about completing the trail but the journey along the way has been very special in and of itself. Yes, maybe in January we’ll look back at this heat with fondness:)