I'M ON EASY STREET - NOT REALLY

After Christmas, my Bruce Trail trek journey continued on to The Toronto Bruce Trail Section or as I like to call it, Urban Hiking. That isn't to say, that there aren't some great woodlands, valleys, hills,  and interesting terrain along the almost 50kms in length. That said, it cannot be compared to the Peninsula, because it has it's own charm. Bring on the new challenge...winter hiking. 

You are Here!
The trail begins at /near the stile on Creditview Road/Boston Mills.

There are so many things to consider when hiking in the winter, that said, it's my favourite season (next to fall) . I won't bore you with what you need to consider when hiking in the winter, you can check out this link if you are interested.

The Toronto Section begins in Cheltenham, near Caledon. The famous Cheltenham Badlands are close by but they are technically in the Caledon Hills section...so,more on this in future blogs. 

If you are going to have to hike on the road, it's nice to have a restaurant along the way. Spirit Tree Cidery is a great oasis for the thirsty traveler and they also have great pizza & clean washrooms. (yes, this is a shamless promotion for free food). Keep in mind that cider, will dehydrate and make you thristy or so I've heard. 

I was looking forward to heading back into woodland trails, however thanks to the Emerald ash borer's destruction of the trees in the area, we were again faced with a trail diversion back on to the roadways of Ballinafad to Terra Cotta.

Easy Street - Not Really!

Those footstep make me nervous - death to the left.

Terra Cotta to Silvercreek Conservation Area, I was back in my happy hiking place again, hills, valleys, streams and rocks covered in snow. The terrain now resembled the Bruce I know and love. I had to giggle at the 'video surveillance' warning signs, so when I came across a 'box' attached to a tree, I couldn't help but 'entertain' for a moment, I'm sure I wasn't the first person to ever do that. I feel a little sorry for the person who had to review that recording, besides singing & dancing in the forest is a great way to stay warm. 

Timmie & Stripes get reacquainted.

I mentioned before, the nice thing about hiking down in this area close to home, non-End to End hiking friends were able to join us for these sections help out with car jockeying and bringing 'gumdrops'. Best part my Timmie was also back trekking with me (weather permitting). 

Gwen & Danny in matching coats. 

If you haven't hiked the Toronto Section, I'm here to tell you that hiking on Hwy 7, sucks, it was as if drivers speed up when they see hikers.  I'm not complaining, simply stating a fact, so don't say you weren't warned. The reward for this enduring the crappy road section led us into Limehouse. It was a perfect sunny winter day, crisp snow, and just the right amount of challenge, mind you, this section had more stiles I have ever hiked over at one time - lot's of zigzagging through private land.  A special shout out again, to the wonderful land owners who grant access to hikers. The ruins of the Lime Kilns & the "Hole in the Wall" are a must see. 

Ruins in Limehouse

Next to the Silvercreek section, Speyside to Hilton Falls trek was very memorable and yippee, very little road hiking. Most of the snow was gone from the January thaw, so it was a lot of ICERS on , ICERS off - wax on, wax off and lots of mud. In fact, it was almost too warm to be called 'winter' hiking. The terrain was fairly flat, but very icy at times. You never know what you will discover while hiking. We happened on an interesting 'treasure' on the trail - apparently the world is flat. Think about it?

Very Interesting - or not?

I am enjoying hiking again, it doesn't feel like a chore. My hiking partner hikes at faster pace than me, but she is never out of contact. We take enough breaks, share laughter & funny stories, we talk about the trail and life in general. Our shared passion for completing the End to End and getting our badges, enjoying craft beer, our Tim Horton's stops after our hikes and a mutual respect for our differences has made hiking this winter a fun and rewarding experience.

Badge Number 2

 Next Time: The Caledon Hills Section

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES....

I didn't stop hiking since I last shared my story with you, I continued hiking on the Peninsula Section but for some reason I just stopped writing about it. I’m not sure why, like I said, I'm not really a writer, but I do believe that there is a story to tell, so let me bring you up to date on my journey. 

LIONS HEAD to WIARTON

The Peninsula was relentless in its challenges, from the terrain to the dynamics of my hiking group. This trek wasn't just my trek, there were three other people on their own journey. Maybe, I was just trying too hard to find something special to say about this trek, when in reality, maybe it’s all down to my own desire to do something physically challenging and rewarding before osteoarthritis grips my body and I can no longer hike, not to mention the fact that I will be 60 years old this year, but what was equally important for me was my desire to share the journey with friends.

  

I started this trek with three hiking partners but the truth be told I always felt left out, not part of the group, like there was an inside joke that I didn't get. I’m not sure what happened or if anything actually happened, but the toughest thing for me on this journey was feeling of being alone while hiking. I'm not sure if it was my slower pace or some other reason, but I found myself hiking alone most of the time. We always started at the trailhead together, we sometimes shared a vista view, maybe a few laughs now and again, and we even took time for lunch together, those times will remain very special for me.

The Peninsula Section is never boring are you kidding me....death to the left on so many occasions. That said, there is so much beauty found on this land. It is impossible to not respect and appreciate the land the Bruce Trail shares with our First Nations people and the private landowners who allow access for hikers. As important as it is to gain distance on this kind of trek, I personally needed to stop and take in my surroundings and not just because my feet are killing me (which they are, but I'm not complaining - see guideline below) but the fact is I will not likely never do an End to End again, so every step is precious, and every experience is special.  

Meegwetch

Back in 2008, I travelled in Ireland by myself and it was a fabulous solo journey, but my one regret was not having anyone to share my adventures and stories. If I had wanted to hike the entire Bruce Trail alone, I would have, I wanted to share this journey.  

So, at the end of the Peninsula section, I decided to take a time out for the holidays, knowing that the group would continue on without me and I was perfectly fine with that fact, besides I wasn't enjoying myself. 


The good news, we will and have remained good friends and will continue to hike together, just not the End to End. It is my hope that we will be together again for the last leg of the End to End in December and reach the South Terminus together.

My reward for the 165km and more than 330,000 steps, a badge & chevron.  

My plan was to return to the Sydenham Section after Christmas, however winter arrived with vengeance and heading back up to the peninsula would not only be dangerous, but impossible at times in January and February. I might be crazy to do this trek, but I’m not stupid.  Turns out one of the original members of our group wasn’t able to continue on with the others back in December, due to a death in the family, so her and I have decided to go rouge. We figured, rather than not hike during the winter, why not finish the sections near Guelph through the winter months and head back north in the Spring. That way, we could take the summer off...well, part of it anyhow.  

A new chapter in my journey along the Bruce Trail, begins. I did have one requirement, we must maintain the integrity of the North to South trek – even if we were doing sections out of order and we would do a complete section at a time. 

There are a lot of lessons to be learned on such a trek, and the first is good communication with your hiking partner. We established a few guidelines, that should you wish to join us on any section, we would love to have you....but you must keep in mind the following:

• Do not compromise my safety (stay together, death to the left is a real thing)
• Do not state the obvious (repeatedly - I was at fault for this one)
• Enjoy the journey (aka, no complaining - hills , weather, sore feet (me again), road walking, whatever the challenge- suck it up)

Next Chapter: BTC Toronto Section - Cheltenham to Milton

WITH THESE BOOTS, I THEE TREAD....

These past few months, on my own, I am coming to into my own person, again. 

There is a saying, that life is what YOU choose to make it. So, whether I'm on a backpacking and portaging trip in Killarney, climbing Silver Peaks, opening a yoga studio in my home, organizing wilderness women's retreats or hiking in the Rocky Mountains, I know that YOU alone choose how to live your life. 

For the most part, I'm been really lucky to enjoy my life, my way. I have to thank my wonderful friends (you know who you are) and my supportive family - that said, I have always felt that there was always a missing piece, someone to share all of this life with, but when it comes to relationships, I'm not so lucky.  

As a teenager, all my friends had relationships and I didn't. I remember asking my Dad, why not me?  Whether Dad meant it literally or not, he basically told me, that my intensity, spirit, sense of adventure, vibrant laugh, passion and emotional side were too much - I should tone it down and I would get that relationship I wanted. So, consciously or not, in every relationship, I would surrender to my partners insecurities or I would try to fix them, but deep down I would think that I needed to fix myself. For me, fixing myself meant "toning it down", just like my Dad told me. What would usually happen - little by little, I would feel like I was losing myself, always afraid that if I spoke my truth, I would push him away or he would run away - well, guess what? After a long list of failed relationships, they ran or I did - I am on my own, again. 

Recently, I came across a blog post from Elephant Journal that spoke to me, " I've finally figured out that I wasn't too much - they were not enough. "

So, with these boots, I thee tread!

Allow me to introduce Bruce (aka The Bruce Trail). I may have finally met my "enough". 

You have met Bruce in my other blog posts, but for the past 80 plus kilometres, of the toughest terrain in Ontario, Bruce and I are getting serious. I should probably mention that  Bruce and I have had an on again, off again relationship for more than 30 years now. Sure, we would get together occasionally for a friendly 10km to 20km hike, but never did I make the full commitment -  a full End to End until now. 

894km of Main Trails

Bruce is rugged and strong, full of wonder, intensity, and not for the faint of mind, body or spirit. Needless to say, our relationship was off to a rocky start - have you hiked the Peninsula section?  A dear friend joked, when I told her about my new relationship status, commenting, "that it must be difficult for you to be in a such a  strong and in-charge relationship".  Over the next year, I will be challenged by Bruce, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  

Yes, it's raining again. 

In every relationship, there are ups and downs, highs and lows, good times and bad times, but the biggest challenge for me, has been the rain - are you kidding me? I think Mother Nature might be jealous of the attention I'm paying to Bruce (a typical mother) and she is trying to dampen my resolve or weaken me. Thanks to my osteoarthritis, my feet hurt a lot hiking, hiking on roads is especially challenging and don't even talk to me about the terrain we have experienced--add to that, the rain. When it's raining, your head is down and no one can see you cry. I cry but not just because my feet hurt, but because I hurt, but I think it is making me stronger and testing my commitment to this journey to self. This is my next chapter or as Jane Fonda put it - "Making the most of all of your life". I will be 60 years old when I finish this trek - seriously, that cannot be possible - but it is. 

Many more obstacles to overcome on this journey.

While the Bruce Trail isn't a pilgrimage hike like the Camino in Spain, my Bruce Trail trek already holds the same promise for me. I'm challenging myself, I'm developing stronger friendships with my hiking buddies, I'm learning about the environment I am trekking upon, but most of all, I know Bruce is going to be with me for the whole journey, I can't scare him away with my wild spirit, enthusiasm, passion for adventures, and emotional outbursts. 

Just like the Camino, when I finish the End to End, I will get a certificate of completion and a badge, but they are secondary to what I will really get from this relationship with Bruce, hopefully I'll finally accept that I'm not too much. 

I am who I'm supposed to be!

Just to update for the official record:  

My last weekend in the Peninsula had us hike from Dyer's Bay to Lion's Head. So far, I have trekked 83.3km of the Bruce Peninsula , I'm 1/2 way to Wiarton - the Peninsula Section to be completed before the end of November. Whoot, Whoot!  

You can still donate to my fundraising effort for the Arthritis Society.
https://www.gofundme.com/mybrucetrailtrek?ssid=807712136&pos=1 

THIS PLACE - THIS ADVENTURE - THIS LIFE

DAY ONE

This past weekend, I headed back to the Peninsula to tackle the next 30 km on our End-to-End trek of the Bruce Trail. I was a little sad, my Timmie couldn’t join us, but I knew he was having the time of his life with the gang at SometimesEventful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for showing Timmie such a good time. 

Buddy, Timmie & Alex!

I was quite nervous about the first leg of our two day trek. The terrain from Cyprus Lake to Halfway Log Dump was strenuous if you recall and it took almost 4 hours to do 5km.  The Bruce Trail guide outlines the terrain on this next section as challenging. The other issue facing us, the threat of thunderstorms, and if that wasn't enough, there is NO turn off point, you must complete the full 14 km plus. As a weather watchers, I was checking the weather radar Friday night and again Saturday morning. My hiking buddies & I,  decided to hit the trail as early as possible in order to cover as much ground as possible. We could always seek shelter at High Dump, the 6.5km mark on this leg of the trek. The remaining trail leads down an old logging road, although unpleasant it’s definitely doable in the rain.

Official proof of our start point! 

On our way to the start of our hike, apparently there was a BEAR running through the field, I missed it, but I'm okay with that, next to seeing a Massassauga Rattlesnake on the trail, my other fear is BEARS.  The Peninsula section of Bruce Trial is rugged, untamed, remote and home to a lot of different wildlife.

This reminded me of a video I had seen a few years back, where a woman was commenting about people getting attacked or ‘eaten’ by wild animals – “we are in their house, so what do we expect, if a cow or chicken walked into my house, I would eat it.” LOL  Good news, no bear sightings on the trails this weekend (a rattler on the other hand….details later).


BRUCE TRAIL FACTS: 
It is always a good reminder to tell readers, that every step of this trail is cared for by a dedicated volunteers of the BTC, more than 1,400 of these wonderful people.
Every blaze, every sign, bridge, stile, log step has been placed there by a volunteer to ensure our journey is safe, enjoyable and memorable. 

When we arrived at 7:30 am - ish, the trail was beautiful, rocky, hilly, and dry. Mother Nature held the storm off until we reached High Dump.  The rock formations were amazing, I happened on a huge cave, which might have had a resident, so I didn’t take any chances and viewed it from a distance.

Cave along the trail, I'm not going in!

We arrived at High Dump in record time.  As much as I wanted to head down to the beach at High Dump, thanks to the amazing photos from another Bruce Trail hiker,  Brad Perkins, We decided not to push our luck with the weather, terrain or the wildlife.

Never a good sign!

Log road, very slippery!

Stopping for some lunch, we headed on our way for the last 8km of the day, just as the rain began and wow, it come down and it was heavy - of course it did, the Bruce tests your commitment often, this was just one more test. The group split up somewhat, as some feared the possibility of thunderstorms and wanted to high tail it out of the woods, so I found myself walking and singing on my own. At one point I thought I maybe should have brought my cleats as walking on the logs was tricky, but singing the Monty Python song, “I’m a Lumberjack”, took my mind off the rain. Hey, maybe my walking alone had nothing to do with the rain and more to do with my singing.


Following the hike we knew we were heading back to a cabin (versus the tent last time), a cabin with hot showers, dryers, beds and a covered veranda, which in my opinion is a much more civilized way to camp.  Finishing this leg a lot earlier than expected, a couple of us headed into the Tobermory Brewery.  As for the best item on the menu – Bruce Trail Blonde Ale,  was my choice. 

CHEERS!

DAY TWO

Heading out from Crane Lake Road to Lindsay Road 40,  and then on to the real trail, remember there is nothing fun about road walking, especially for 8km plus. One – you’re not hiking, two – it’s boring, but this is part of the Bruce Trail challenge. Singing to myself "The Road is Long", kept my sanity...or maybe not. Okay, another bad choice of songs.

BTW, only 52% of the Bruce Trail is secured. That means for every two steps you take, one step represents a piece of the trail that is not secured and remains vulnerable to development or withdrawal of access or ecological impairment. The Bruce Trail gets NO government funding, so their work in securing the Trail is funded entirely by membership fees, donations a product sales. Please consider becoming a member.  (Bruce Trail Facts)

Finally, we were back on the trail and it was breathtaking.  I hiked alone for a lot of this day, as my sciatica issue flared up due to the road walking, so my pace was much slower than the group.  This is a challenge for an extrovert, not to mention a ‘hike leader’,  but time alone allowed me to connect with myself and the trail. I've always believed that it's important be present in the moment, live life to the fullest, don't live in the past or look too far into the future, but time alone allows for some quiet reflection.

My past, is my past but I hope it provides me with some direction for the future. I've come to realize that I'm although I'm 'single' , I'm not alone, because I'm connected to my children, my family, my friends, my hiking buddies & colleagues and to this land. So, with my quiet reflection, I realized, that is enough. I am enough. 

I’ve mentioned that I’m a little (understatement) emotional at times, but how can you not be overwhelmed at times to be part of THIS.

THIS PLACE - THIS ADVENTURE - THIS LIFE

Boots with a View...this is how far we have come - 50 km!

There were so many places to stop and view Georgian Bay and breath in the majesty of our surroundings.   I can’t help but think of all the people who can’t or won't allow themselves the opportunity to experience this beauty and I’m so lucky that 3 friends agreed to be part of this adventure, for their own reasons, and to join me.

Photo from Google - no way I was getting that close.

OMG,  I almost forgot about the rattlesnake.  With the 3 hiking partners in front & then me, trailing behind….it happened...it was a rattler! A wide range of emotions from the group occurred from complete calm to shrieks, to horror (one of the hikers was trying to get a photo), to all the laughter, once we were far enough away from the snake.  

Minutes later we happened on a much larger, Garter snake, not nearly as scary, but I’m still not a fan.


Nearing the end of our weekend trek, I met an elderly man on the trail that reinforced my purpose for doing this crazy trek.  He was standing at the edge of a beautiful outcropping, just gazing out over Georgian Bay. When I paused to say hello, he engaged me in conversation. He’s lived in the area for more than 10 years and hikes this section on a regular basis (approx. 2 km).  Retiring to the region, he and his wife (and dog) have enjoyed the beauty and challenge of this land. He talked about how connected he feels when out on the trail and how nature heals. He congratulated me (and my friends) for our determination to make this trek, as he and his wife had always wanted to do an End-to-End, but never got around to doing it and now his wife is gone.

Life is meant to be lived, enjoyed and to NEVER regret that I didn’t do something or did not follow a path that may have seemed like too much of a challenge. This past year, I took up painting (as in art), I canoed and portaged my way through Killarney, I put a yoga studio in my home, I took on a new job and now this trek.

As I reflect on my life, I take great joy in knowing that I'm not going to miss any opportunity to do something ‘epic’, if only to me!

As you are aware, I suffer with Osteoarthritis in both my feet and my knee, I fear that one day my mobility will be limited, but that day isn’t today, so with every step, every ache, every pain, I honour the ground beneath me and the fact that I am taking life, one step at a time. I'm also raising awareness and funds for the Arthritis Society's "Ease the Pain" campaign through a Go Fund Me page.

Side Bar:
"The mountains are calling and I must go”. John Muir

This coming weekend, I head to Lake Louise to hike in the Rockies with my friend.  I’ve never hiked in the Rocky Mountains and it scares the hell out of me, but like I said, I’m not going to miss the opportunity to do something EPIC. 

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