Where In the Wild is Gavin?

Day 33: The End of the Trail!

2009-10-18T23:10:00.004-04:00

Sunday, Oct. 18th. It was down to -4 C last night, but I kept warm enough sleeping in the van. After a breakfast of hot oatmeal, I drove up to Tobermory, found a place to park the van, then peddled the 17 km back to Cyprus Lake Park to begin the final stretch of the trail. There was a heavy frost last night. My toes were frozen by the time I started hiking but they warmed up very quickly as I walked. It was a gorgeous hiking day - the sun was out, temperature climbed up to about 10 C., and the smell of fall was prominent. Views from the bluffs approaching Tobermory are fantastic. I saw just about every kind of terrain today including boulder beaches, rough bedrock, cedar, maple, and birch forests, and even some hard-packed crushed gravel. I nearly stepped on a rattlesnake today that was sunning itself, stretched across the path. It was the only one I've seen on the whole hike. He was quite content to stay put as I stopped to take pictures of it, and finally moved over far enough that I could get by him.

Today's examen was a review of highlights of the trip from the beginning. I'm thankful for many blessings I've experienced along the way - physical exercise, putting aside of the the normal work routine, the chance to see so may beautiful places, time to reflect, time to listen to a wide variety of podcasts, time with friends to name a few. The hike may be over, but I hope to carry many of these practices on in one form or another. And in particular, I'd like to continue to explore new territory. The next frontier for exploration is the bass guitar!

Back in March of this year, I announced my intention to hike the Bruce at a birthday gathering at Kings Buffet in Kitchener. It seemed fitting to celebrate the completion of the hike by stopping in to King's Buffet for supper on my way through Owen Sound. I probably need to do today's hike over again to undo the effects of the supper! Glad I have a warm place to sleep tonight.

Day 32: Bruce Park

2009-10-17T21:28:00.002-04:00

Sat. Oct.17th. It was frosty when I woke up this morning. Grabbed some breakfast and a coffee at Tim Horton's then finished up the remaing bit of the Colpoy Bay south section before heading up to Cyprus Lake. It was nearly noon by the time I checked into the park and was ready to bike back to my starting point at the end of Crane Lake Road. Turned out to be a 31 km bike ride. At 1:30 pm I was starting my walk. I did more km on the bike today than I did on foot - 31 cycling and about 28 walking. It was a great day for both - sunny and around 5 C. Much of the trek along the edge of the Penninsula was very rocky and uneven - tough on the feet after several hours. I was glad I wasn't in full back packing gear today. I made it back to Cyprus Lake by 7 pm, just as darkness was setting in. No bears on the trail today - just one lone porcupine. After picking up my bike I hit up a little restaurant in Tobermory for some Pizza just as they were closing. Not too many people at Cyprus Lake park tonight, but the few who are here sound like they've had a bit too much to drink.

Day 31: Colpoy Bay

2009-10-16T21:02:00.002-04:00

Fri. Oct.16th. Only time for a short hike today. It was about 4 pm by the time I got away from our staff days at the CSL. I headed up to Wiarton and hit the trail by 5:30 heading east from the Bruce Caves parkinfg area. I knew I'd lose the sunlight by about 7 pm so I was moving quickly. I did, however, stop to enjoy the view over the farm land and out toward the bay at several points. I pushed on until about 6:40 pm and then decided I had best head back. I was moving quickly, knowing I would soon be out of light. Since I was now heading west, I had a great view of the beautiful orange sky as the sun was setting. Predictably, by shortly after 7 pm, the sun was gone and I was more less in the dark with a couple of km still to go. The tree stumps started to look like bears! Soon I had the flashlight out looking for the blazes. Needless to say, this is a much slower way to hike, but I'm glad I had the experience once. I was out by about 8 pm. It was a cold night and I didn't feel like turning in yet, so I slipped back to Owen Sound, got a bite to eat at Wendy's and caught a movie. I returned to Wiarton and slept overnight in the van in an empty trailer park.

Next Hiking Dates

2009-10-13T23:59:00.001-04:00

No more hiking dates on the calendar for awhile in as much as I have completed the Bruce Trail.

Click on the map to the left to check on my progress to date marked in red.

For photographs from the trail, visit here.

Day 30: Bognor Marsh to Woodford

2009-10-13T23:53:00.002-04:00

Tues. Oct. 13th. This afternoon I picked up a couple of short sections that I passed over earlier in the summer. The first was a little corner at Woodford. Woodford doesn't look like much of a village - looks like one of those places that lost it's lifeline when the highway was rerouted. Next to Lavender however, Woodford is really something! Anyway, the section of the Bruce travelling north-east from Woodford is a pretty little stretch. There is one section that passes through a very tight rock crevice. You'd have a tough time getting through with a hiking pack on.

The other section was up through the Bognor Marsh. Parts of this trail are very pretty, and there are some great look-out points as you get closer to County Rd 18 running north & south. The forecast didn't call for rain or snow today, but they came anyway in short bursts. The worst of these hit just as I was leaving the trail. I was thankful for the rain gear today but I don't think any of the bursts were long enough to really get drenched.

On the way back to the CSL I saw one of the most vibrant rainbows I have ever seen, and behind it a panorama of rolling hills and fall colours. It was a real treat to behold.

Day 29: Bayview Extension to Owen Sound

2009-10-12T17:38:00.004-04:00

Mon. Oct. 12th. I left the Pinecrest Motel about 7 a.m. - before there was really enough light to be on the trail, but by the time I got to the starting place the lights were on! Two sections stood out to me today, one being the area just south of Highway 26 and east of Bothwell's corner. The rock faces in here look like they'd be great for rapelling - not too hard to access, nice and straight and a good drop. Then there's Lloyd Laycock's Cave, north of 26 and east of Billy Bishop Airport. This is one of the most spectacular crevice cave's I've seen in Ontario. I'll have to go back with a flashlight sometime and check it out more thoroughly.

A third of the way through the Bayview Escarpment portion, I was really starting to drag. I was surprised at how quickly I was rejuvenated by a short rest and a light lunch of tuna and an orange. I guess it's true that you don't get far on an empty stomach.

Listened to a Tapestry interview today with Richard Dawkins, author of "Evidence for Evolution." I read a MacCleans interview of him recently but he did come across much more clearly as a gentleman and an intellect in the live radio interview. It was probably one of the most informed discussions on evolution I've ever heard. He puts far more faith in the reasoning powers of the scientific method than I would, but he did make me think that most of what I have heard as a rebuttal to the theory of evolution is little more than drival.

There's lots of talk on the radio today about thankfulness, this being Thanksgiving. For my part, I'm thankful for 2 beautiful hiking days despite the forecasts, for family, for the opportunity to enjoy all the sights, sounds and smells of fall, and for the realization that within I week, I will have finished this Bruce Trail challenge. Back in the early spring, it seemed like a bit of a stretch to think that I would actually finish before November.

Day 28: Owen Sound Area

2009-10-11T22:46:00.001-04:00

Sun. Oct. 11th. Today I covered the span from Owen Sound to Copperkettle but started at Copperkettle and worked my way back. The west side of the Glen Management area has lots of rock crevices and is a fun area to hike. One section of the trail had me on the Georgian Bluff Rail Trail which was new to me - it's a great path for cycling. I do have my own bike along today to help shuttle myself around. I notice a big difference between it and Peggy's bike - glad to have it in great working condition finally.

There were 2 waterfalls on route today, namely Jones Falls at Springmount and Inglis Falls on the South side of Owen Sound - Jones was nice but I had forgotten how beautiful Inglis Falls is - it would be worth a trip back just to see Inglis Falls. Another area that would be a great little afternoon adventure is the section between Concession 10 and Highway 10. The rock formations just west of Concession 10 are awesome.

There were a few snowflakes in the air today, but no rain, thankfully. It was a great day for brisk hiking. I do wish I had remembered to bring the turkey sandwich I made for myself. I'm sure it would have tasted betteer than the flap I resorted to.

Tonight I'm staying at the Pinecrest Motel in Owen Sound so I can pick up where I left off first thing in the morning.It's probably one of the cheapest places in town, but there's clearly a reason for that. It's not the sort of place I'd recommend. Internet doesn't work, the furnishings are very shabby and no chance to soak in a tub - there's only a shower in my room. Oh well, it beats sitting around for the evening in the near freezing temperatures.

Day 27: Lavender Area

2009-10-07T14:52:00.002-04:00

Tues. Oct. 6^th. I thought I’d be putting the finishing touches on a presentation for the Great Lakes pastor’s retreat this afternoon but when the morning speaker called in sick, I was bumped up to the morning and had a few hours to spare in the afternoon. It was kinda rainy but thought I’d venture out anyway and finish the 14 k open section extending from the Mulmur 20th Side Road to Lavender. By the time I got to Lavender and had the bike out of the van, the rain had stopped. Biking in this area is like riding a roller coaster with long slow ascents followed by steep drops where you ride down with the brakes on for fear of losing control. Trail blazes around the 20^th and Prince of Whales side road were poor to nonexistent. There was a spot where some trail evidently left the road and headed into a farmer’s field but there were no blazes at all. Having left my map back in the van and wanting to finish before dark, I travelled back up Prince of Whales until I found the spot where the Bruce clearly intersected with this road. The first km of this section requires some fancy foot work through narrow, boulder-strewn passages. Beyond that it was a very pleasant walk. A good chunk of it follows the 1^st Line, which is little more than a wagon trail but it was easy walking. Made it to the van by about 6:45 p.m. and headed back to the camp to catch the tail end of the presentation and discussions for the evening. Feels good to have closed the gap between Stayner and Niagara.

Day 26: Mono Cliffs Park to North of Kilgore

2009-10-04T22:35:00.003-04:00

Sun. Oct. 4th. It was tempting to call today's hike off on account of a poor weather forecast, but I was glad I didn't. Turned out to be a perfect day for it - overcast, not too hot, and a nice breeze. The only rain came just as I finished the second of three sections and was getting back into the van - didn't last long. The first section of the hike followed the edge of farmer's fields for the most part - pleasant but not especially memorable. The second section started at Hwy 89 and Centre Rd. I parked the van there, peddled north nearly to Whitfield and walked back. Much of the biking was downhill for which I was grateful. There are a few very interesting properties tucked away in the vicinity of Mulmur Hills - some you would never come across unless you were hiking the trail. I stopped for lunch at the "Mulmur Hut" which is a makeshift shelter with a loft for sleeping. The ground level was covered with old mildewy wood slabs. Given a choice, I'd sleep in a tent before bunking down in the hut. I was glad I took the time to make a chicken sandwich before I left this morning. - much tastier than the flap I would otherwise have resorted to.

I was tired out when I got back to the van, but found my second wind in the third section, following Centre Rd. up to Kilgore. Maybe it was the gorp that brought me back to life. The trail up around Kilgore is very pretty. The loop just west of Kilgore would be a great little morning hike for a family. You see a lake, walk along they Boyne River, and can explore the remnants of an old power mill and damn. The passage between young trees is the tightest I've seen anywhere along the trail yet, giving it a very unique, adventurous feel. This would not be an easy place to get to in the winter time. Centre Rd and Prince of Wales Rd are more like rough pathways around Kilgore.

Day 25: Airport Rd & 5 to Mono Cliffs Provincial Park

2009-10-03T22:10:00.002-04:00

Sat. Oct. 3rd. Can't believe nearly a month has gone by since my last time out. Left home around 6:30 this morning and headed toward Orangeville. It's supposed to rain today, but I can't put this off any longer. I parked the van on the north side of Hockley Valley Provincial Park and peddled Peggy's bike down to my staring point. My own bike is being used for the ride for refugees in KW today. The last hill on this stretch reminded me of the hill leading to the Jerusalem Rd near Kagawong, only this one was steeper and rougher if that's possible! By the time I hit my starting point, I was covered in mud and my legs were like Jello. The legs seemed to recover after a few minutes of walking and the rain held off, for the most part, until mid afternoon. It was actually a very pleasant day for hiking - cool enough that there were no bugs, the leaves were turning, the mist looked like smoke rising from the hills, and the smell of fall was in the air. This section of the trail is fairly well groomed, and while there are lots of ups and downs, the walking was very enjoyable.

I was back to the van by lunch time and after finishing a cold pork chop, headed south to pick up a short little patch near Airport Rd that I didn't quite finish last time out. Here I discovered a very interesting Taoist Centre. Looked like a great place to host Pitch if we could live with the clash of values.

Finishing this section, I headed for Mono Cliffs Provincial Park. The trails through here are well groomed and well marked. I wasn't long into the park before the rain came accompanied by thunder and lightning. It was a good test for my new Sierra rain shell and it performed very well. By the time I got back to the van, my pants and feet were soaked, but my upper body was dry. I was distracted from the rain by a very interesting Tapestry podcast interview featuring Father Richard Rohr talking about the value of solitude and contemplation. Contemplation is, in part, the ability to examine an object or idea holistically, embracing all of it's nuances without resorting to dualistic thinking which tends to polarize everything. It is in solitude and contemplation that we come face to face with who we really are and understand our undeniable need for salvation. He had a great little quip about evangelicals - they are very good at talking about the need to be born again, but don't have much of an understanding about the death that necessarily preceeds being born again.

By the time I got back to the van around 4:30 pm I decided to call it a day and return home. Given that I've covered longer distances on rougher terrain, I was surprised at how stiff I was getting out of the van after the ride back to KW. Better not wait a month before the next time on the trail!

Day 24: Glenn Haffy Conservation Area

2009-09-07T23:03:00.002-04:00

Mon. Sept. 7th. Late this morning, Shauna decided that if there were trees to climb, maybe it would be worth joining me on the trail for a few hours. We packed a few things including our bikes, and headed off to a destination point near Airport Rd and the 5th Side Rd., just north of highway 9. There we mounted the bikes and cycled 13 km south to Finnerty Side Rd and Innis Lake Rd and began our hike up through the Glenn Haffy Conservation Area. By the time we hit the trail, it was 3:24 pm, and the bike ride, with its ups and downs had already sapped much of Shauna's energy. Less than a kilometer in, she was wanting to turn back and wait for me where we left the bikes. I convinced her to keep going. This section of the trail is quite pleasant and apparently well travelled - a much softer feel than the Bruce Peninsula where I have been for the past 4 days of hiking. It's a nice mix of forest and meadows. When we hit Highway 9, I realized that the calibration on my pedometer was messed up and we had actually travelled over half of our intended distance rather than merely a third as the pedometer suggested. Shauna was greatly encouraged by this and finished the rest of the hike without complaint. We were back to the van by about 6:25 pm and "crowned" the event with a trip to McDonalds. 13 K of walking and 13 K of cycling - probably the most exercise Shauna has had all summer!

Day 23: Cape Chin North to Bruce National Park

2009-09-06T19:45:00.003-04:00

Sat. Sept. 5th. No need to be up quite so early this morning - they don't serve breakfast at the Country Inn until 8 am, but as with supper, it was worth waiting for. I had the cheese omelette with sausage, fresh fruit, coffee, orange juice, pastries, etc. Not the sort of thing you have camping out on the trail. At the end of breakfast we felt like we wouldn't need to eat again all day, but fortunately we took the packed lunch option because by 1 pm, we were certainly ready for it. In the morning light we were better able to see what a beautiful property this old farm called the Country Inn B&B really was. A number of other European guests were staying there as well. Apparently this place has quite a reputation.

Peggy dropped me at the trail just north of the B&B after confirming where to meet me at the other end. Just a short hike today as we are heading over to a wedding reception for Seth and Renae Stover in Kincardine at 5 pm. Within a few minutes I was at Devil's monument, which is an impressive flowerpot structure separated from the main bluff - apparently the work of ancient glacial lake wave action. I was particularly glad that I wasn't carrying the hiking pack today because this short stretch was one of the roughest parts of the trail I've seen yet. I thought I'd get across it much faster than I did.

When I arrived at the pick-up point, dripping with sweat, I met a couple just getting onto the trail. They wondered why I was wearing a bell. When I told them it was to warn any bears or snakes that I was coming through, I think at first they thought that was cute. When I told them about the bear realities, the woman had a momentary look of fear. I don't think it occurred to them at all that they might encounter a bear. They seemed relieved to know that their conversation as they walked along may be enough to keep bears at a distance.

We checked out the access to Bruce National Park from Crane Lake Rd, then drove down to Lion's Head and had lunch on the beach. Unlike my previous visit at 9:30 am yesterday, today the beach was bustling with activity. Who knew that Lion's Head was a sun destination! Sunny or not, the water was cold as always.

Gratitudes today: 1. Peggy's patience in waiting for me at the other end of the trail. 2. Having been pampered at the Country Inn B & B.

Day 22: McKay's Harbour to Cape Chin North

2009-09-06T17:29:00.004-04:00

Friday, Sept. 4th. Rose just before 6 am and got my stuff together quietly so as not to awaken my neighbors. Fortunately for them, there was no evidence of bears in the area last night - I don't think they hung their packs and didn't seemed to be at all concerned about the threat of bears the night before. I was just finishing up breakfast when a full-grown fox came prowling out of the woods toward me, fully aware of my presence. He stopped momentarily when I made noises at him but then came in again, evidently in search of something to eat. I tossed a stone toward him which scared him off about 20 paces, but then he came slinking back. We played this game for about 10 minutes before he finally gave up and ran off. Wish I had a picture, but in the moment, it didn't seem like I had time to grab the camera and shoot. I didn't think I could afford to give him any more ground. I left the site before the other couple was up - too bad they missed the fox. They said they hadn't seen a lot of unusual wildlife on their treks.

The 5 km in to Lion's Head seemed more like 8 0r 10 - not sure why - maybe it was the pack or the rough terrain or my impatience but it was a good hour and a half to get there. Even by 9 in the morning I was ready for a really cold drink. Stopped into the grocery store and picked up one of those caffeine-loaded energy drinks. I was kinda half hoping I would run into someone I knew who would let me store the pack in town for the day, but no such luck. Fortunately, the trail was relatively even for the rest of the day. Even so, I've noticed that the stress on my feet, not to mention my shoulders, is much greater when I am carrying the pack. Views along the top of the bluffs today were marvelous.

At km 98.7 there is an unnamed side trail off to the south. I do wish they'd name it - I followed it all the way down to the Cape Chin Connector Side Trail before I realized it was not the Pat Daunt Side Trail.

As the day wore on, I felt some pressure to keep my pace up in order to check in to the Country Inn B&B, get cleaned up and meet Peggy by 7 pm. By 5:45 pm I was ready to collapse - the heat, the weight of the pack and the stress on my shoulders and feet were all mounting. I took a short break by the side of the road for a drink and a moment of relief from the pack. It looked like there was still a couple of km to go so I rallied myself for the final push. Much to my delight, I found the Country Inn just around the corner, less than 500 yards from where I rested. I checked in, cleaned up and had a bit of a rest before Peggy arrived at 7 pm. We sat down for a worth-the-wait 5 course meal - beef tenderloin for me and fresh trout for Peggy, topped off with raspberry cheesecake. After supper we hit the hot tub - the perfect remedy for tired shoulders. Our room was small but the bed was comfortable and I slept very well. No fear of bear attacks tonight. They make sure all of the windows on the main floor are closed at night to discouraged any such intruders. In case we doubted this probability, our server, Gerry Boyer, told us that she saw a bear on her front lawn that very morning.

Day 21: Hope Bay to McKay's Habour

2009-09-06T16:05:00.007-04:00

Thurs. Sept. 3rd. Rose early, had a quick breakfast of oatmeal, an orange and a cup of coffee and was on my way by 7 am this morning. Today's examen didn't take very long as little time had passed since I had completed the exercise yesterday. I was grateful for the neighborly campers next to me who were generous with their firewood. Perhaps I can pay the favour forward. This is my second excursion with the backpacking pack - I've learned more about the various adjustments so it was not as much of a pain today as the first time out. Still, I'd be happier and much lighter on my feet without it. Early in the day, along the edge of the bluff, I was spotted by a hawk who seemed to take considerable interest in me. It swooped by me many times, daring me to get a decent picture of it. I clicked away for a few minutes, but between the speed of the bird and the obstruction of trees, I failed to get a decent photo.

It didn't take long to figure out why Scenic Cave Road was so named. There are lots of interesting cave-like structures in this area and a few ancient glacial potholes that look like perfectly shaped wells.

By mid-afternoon, the sun was hot as was the fresh asphalt road I was walking at that point. A home-based bakery advertising fresh baked tarts and pies was tempting, but what I really wanted was something cold to drink. I was hopeful about what appeared to be a general store just down the road beyond the bakery, but it turned out to be an antique furniture shop - nothing good to drink there. I wondered if I might be able to push through to Lion's Head today, but it seemed to take forever just to get out to Gun Point. The pack also seemed to weigh twice as much as it did first thing in the morning. When I finally arrived at McKay Habour a little after 7 pm, I knew that was far enough. McKay Harbour has obviously been frequented by many campers - there are numerous fire pits in the area. I was hoping for a faster drop-off for easier swimming but was happy just to be close to a good source of water. After about an hour of setting up camp and settling in, another couple arrived at the site. There was plenty of room for the 3 of us and more. After supper of chicken tetrazzini , my new neighbors joined me around the campfire for a few minutes before we called it a day. They too, were doing the whole of the Bruce Trail and also encountered the temptation of the fresh-baked tarts earlier in the day - they said they were delicious! It was good to be able to share some trail stories with these friends. They had been previously to the B&B I was heading for the next night and spoke very highly of the meals there. The moon over the water was amazing tonight. It was like someone turned the streetlights on - the rocky beach glowed under the moon beams.

Side Note: Listened to an interesting Podcast from CBC's Tapestry featuring an interview with Kathleen Norris on Acedia, defined as "a state of restlessness and inability either to work or to pray." It was considered by some of the early church fathers to be one of the deadliest temptations to succumb to. Norris suggests that while the term has fallen out of use, the condition has not gone away - witness the prevalence of "whatever."

Day 20: Mallory Beach to Hope Bay

2009-09-06T14:56:00.002-04:00

Wed. Sept. 2nd. Left Kitchener shortly after 7 a.m. Highway 6 to Owen Sound was slow-going due to several construction projects. When I finally hit Wiarton, I drove on to Hope Bay and checked in to the Hope Bay Camp Ground. They agreed to store my heavier hiking pack and I drove back to Wiarton to start my hike from Mallory Beach with a little day pack. It was just after noon by the time I finally hit the trail. In a short time I was on the top of the escarpment looking over clear blue waters of Colpoy Bay. Came across an awesome camping spot on the top of the Bluff between Crawford Dr and the Purple Valley Access Trail. There are many scenic lookouts over the bluffs along this section. It took me a few hours to work through my Examen exercise because it has been 17 days since my last time on the trail and 7 of those days were at Mishewah Sr Teen Camp - lots of good stuff to review there. Among other things, I recognize that the call to further study and teaching in the area of spiritual formation seems to be growing stronger in me. The only other hiker I met today was Gary, whom I met the last time I was out on the trail. By the time I caught up to him, he had finished his day and was waiting for a pick-up. I signed a hiker's log book in the vicinity of the Jones Bluff side trail and noticed that a day or so earlier, other hikers had seen a bear in that area. Either the bear has moved on or my bear bell is keeping him at bay.

I've heard there are no mosquitos on the Peninsula but my experience proves otherwise. They caught up with me today at Cape Crocher - not nearly as bad as they were down in the Kemble Mtn. area - not even bad enough to bother with bug spray - but they are here.

I finally arrived at Hope Bay around 7:30 p.m. It's a beautiful harbour and the folks at the campground were very hospitable. A family camping across from me gave me some of their firewood to save me scrounging around in the dark for some. Supper tonight was minestrone soup cooked over Vangy's very efficient featherlite stove. It was great to be able to have a warm shower before turning in for the night.

Day 19: Colpoy Ranger Road to Copper Kettle

2009-08-18T20:34:00.001-04:00

Sun. Aug 16th. I decided to jump forward on the trail today to take advantage of the opportunity to catch a ride with the YouthBuilders & Co. who were spending the afternoon at Sauble Beach. Colpoy Ranger Road reminded me of some of the roads I have travelled in Haiti - the main difference being that in Haiti, they would call them national highways! This was definitely the hottest and most humid day on the trail to date. I made my two litres of water last me through the day, but it definitely was not enough. By 5:30 p.m. I was at a rather low point, out of voice, and judging by the cold sweat, suspect that some measure of heat exhaustion was setting in. It didn't help that I spent an extra 1-2 hours going in circles in the Lindenwood Management Area - following the blazes all the way, nonetheless. It seems that the trail in this section is not managed all that well. The Kemble Access Trail had no signage at all. And the bugs were nasty today - probably because of the heat. If parts of the trail felt like hell, I took comfort in the fact that the description of hell I was listening to in Dante's Divine Comedy was far worse. It was not all bad - there were spectacular views from the top of the escarpment and some really cool rock formations that the trail cut right through. When Soha and Ashley picked my up on the road, just north of Copper Kettle, a large Blue Heron soared just in front of them, as if guiding them to my exact location on the side of the road. Couldn't get enough to drink when I finally got home. My voice was gone for 2 days.

Day 18: Blantyre to Bognor Marsh

2009-08-15T20:10:00.001-04:00

Sat. Aug. 15th. It was a gorgeous day to be out. This was another of those hiking / cycling combo days where I would park the van at a destination point, cycle to the starting point, walk back to the van, pick up the bike, drive to the next destination point, start the cycle again. Walters Falls is nice, but one of my favourite parts of the trail today was a cedar forest on the east side of the Spey River Forest. Unfortunately this is also where I also had the most annoying experience of the day - for a solid hour, someone in that area was either firing gun shots or very loud firecrackers about ever 15-30 seconds. At first I wondered if I was being shot at, finally decided I was not a target, but was no less irritated by the noise. I started into Dante's Divine Comedy today. It may be a bigger challenge than the Bruce Trail itself!

Day 17: Grey Side Rd 13a to Blantyre

2009-08-06T23:10:00.004-04:00

Wed. Aug. 5th. Started on the trail at 6 am. Met up with the YouthBuilders at the Epping Lookout at about 9 am for a time of communion. The lookout at Epping is a well-kept little park with a great lookout for watching the sun come up over the Blue Mtns.Most of the ups and downs were in the first 2 hours od hiking. Once I crossed Grey Rd. 40 most of the trail was on the level. Today.s wild-life sightings inclued 2 porcupines, a deer and a fox. The fox was running down the trail toward me but when it got within 30 ft. and realized I was there, it turned and high-tailed it in the opposite direction.Listened through the Gospel of John on the trail today. Jesus sound a lot less whiny in this gospel (Next Generation). I finished at the West edge of the Beaver Valley section at about 3 pm. It was a beautiful day for a hike.

Day 16: Beaver Valley Loop

2009-08-02T23:41:00.003-04:00

Sunday, Aug. 2nd. Travis Habermehl joined me to today and I was glad for the company. We talked about religion, politics, and relationships but also had plenty of opportunity just to drink in the beauty of our surroundings. The hiking took us through meadows, across hill tops, along babbling brooks and waterfalls, and up and down ski slopes. I think I was on some of the steepest inclines along the Bruce that I've seen yet. Ended up with a blister on the top of my little toe - mostly from the pressure against my boots going down the steep slopes. The weather forecast indicated a 60% chance of rain but it was a beautiful day with frequent cool breezes. I hope I've come to the end of the ski hills - they're not much fun to climb!

Day 15: Scenic Caves Dr to Grey Rd 13

2009-08-02T23:23:00.003-04:00

Saturday, Aug. 01. Longest day yet - 54 km on my pedometer. Started at 8:45 am and finished at 9 pm. No blisters today, but my feet were tired - wondering what it will be like trying to put in a full day tomorrow. The trail itself was not super difficult today, but there were times when you really had to keep your wits about you - particularly in park areas where there are several other trails. In these cases the Bruce is sometimes the least well groomed. Ended up getting slightly lost a couple of times because of that. There were several great panoramic views of the Beaver Valley today. The worst part was an abundance of deer flies. Loved the BBQ chicken for lunch - thanks Charity!

Day 14: Pretty River Prov. Park to Scenic Caves Dr.

2009-07-31T07:54:00.003-04:00

Wed. July 29th. Today's hike was really more of an extended morning walk. Left the CSL at about 5 a.m. and was on the trail by 5:35 a.m. It was still dark and a bit of a challenge to see the trail blazes at first. It seems that one of the worst aspects of hiking this time of day are the myriad of invisible cob webs at face level. It must have been getting gradually lighter, but at one point it seemed as if someone suddenly turned the lights on for the great outdoors and all was bright. There are some beautiful views of Georgian Bay and the Collingwood area from the bluffs along here. You really have to keep your head on around the Scenic Caves - there are so many other trail markers that it's easy to lose sight of the Bruce Trail. In the course of my Examen routine, Bonhoeffer's concept of meeting God in the context of relationships began to sink in. We've been looking at this idea as a paradigm for youth ministry with the YouthBuilders. As I look back over the past several days for traces of the activity of God in my life, I'm struck by how intricately those traces are entwined in relationships.

Peggy met me on the road after 3 hours of hiking and we returned to the CSL to spend the rest of the day with the YouthBuilders.

Day 13: Nottawasaga Bluffs to Pretty River Provincial Park

2009-07-22T01:53:00.003-04:00

Gave up on getting a decent sleep by 6 a.m. and was back on the trail before 7 a.m. Thankfully there was a good tree for hanging my pack last night, so the coons had to find something else to gnaw on - just wish they could have done it without so much noise. Today's highlights were the panoramic views which were breath-taking. Otherwise it seemed to be a day of testing and I was failing the tests. Lack of sleep contributed to a short fuse. My ill-fitting pack was soon digging into my hips, and the extra weight and wet socks were contributing to blisters on my feet for the first time since hiking the Bruce. The trail was up and down many steep inclines today and the trail markers, particularly between Nottawasaga Lookout Provincial Nature Reserve and Pretty River Valley Provincial Park, were very poor to non-existent. I was lost at least a couple of times today. Near the end of the hike, as I was near the end of myself, Peggy phoned to say that she could not find the pick-up point. I gave her new directions but had her turn to the right rather than left at the last intersection. It was pouring rain when I came out of Pretty River Valley Provincial Park and Peggy was nowhere to be found. To make matters worse we were both in a dead zone for cell phone signals. It took us over an hour and many frantic calls on my dying phone to find each other, eventually in the small Hamlet of Gibralter.

So no profound insights, epiphanies or euphoric experiences today other than to realize once again, how completely human I am. I was surprised to find a reserve of energy during the rain storm and 6 km walk out to the main road at the end of the day when I thought I was at the end of myself. I am thankful that some of the technical problems of the past two days - like the poor matches, an ill-suited pack, wet socks, etc. - surfaced on this relatively short trip rather than on a 3-5 day trek. I would like to make a trip back to the Nottawasaga Lookout Provincial Nature Reserve to spend more time exploring the caves. Distance travelled today: 40 km.

Day 12: Lavendar To Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area

2009-07-22T01:15:00.003-04:00

Sunday, July 19th. I was camping with our young adult group this weekend so by the time I hit the trail it was nearly 6 p.m. Skipped a section between Caledon and Shelburne for the time being to take advantage of access to pick-ups further North. I was strongly preoccupied with getting to a campsite at Nottawasaga Bluffs before dark. This was my first time camping on the trail and the first time hiking with an expedition pack - a whole new level of hiking to be sure. Made it to decent little campsite at Nottawasaga Bluffs by 9:30 pm. The caves in this park make for a very interesting playground. I'll have to return here again - there's only so much you can do with a pack on your back and daylight quickly ebbing away. Bought a lighter to start a campfire on the ride up but left it in the van. My back-up matches wouldn't light because I didn't have the proper striking surface. No campfire tonight - good thing my pork chop was already cooked! Turned out to be a very long night as a couple of rowdy coons kept me awake with their chatter and gnawing away at a nearby outhouse.

Day 11:Terra Cotta to Hwy 10 & Escarpment Rd

2009-06-23T16:38:00.002-04:00

I took advantage of the fact that Peggy was dropping Ryan off at Stayner Camp today and arranged to have her meet me at Hwy 10 & Escarpment Rd on her way back. It meant hitting the trail at 5:30 a.m. in order to be at the pick-up point by noon. It was a warm day and the mosquitos loved it! This was the first time on the trek that I resorted to bug repellant. Forks of the Credit is a pretty area - nice spot for an afternoon hike. The section between Creditview Rd and Baseline Rd is very well kept - packed crushed gravel most of the way. Malcom Gladwell's "Blink" Section 6 provided food for thought today. He was providing an overview of the work of Sylvan Eckman and Paul Tomkins who suggest that every human emotion is universally recognizable to the the trained eye in a person's facial expressions. What's more, they suggest that to put on the facial expression is to feel the emotion. Maybe there's something to that old song: "Put on a Happy Face!"

Day 10: Limehouse to Terra Cotta

2009-06-13T17:52:00.003-04:00

It was a beautiful day for hiking - not too hot and no rain. Joe Moores from Kitchener joined me today. He is a fascinating source of stories on everything from factory life to cross-cultural mission experiences. No need or space for Stewart McClean's Vinyl Cafe today! The trail from Limehouse to Terra Cotta is pleasant but not as sensational as the area between Halton Hills Conservation area and Limehouse. This area, however, would win the prize for the best daffodils, the largest fungi, and the longest snake I've seen on the trail so far, and maybe one of the greatest oddities as well. Just about the time we were ready to stop for lunch, we came upon a very nice picnic table - steel tube frame and newer varnished boards that had not been all carved up yet. It was back in the woods at the intersection of the main trail and a side trail. How it got there is anyone's guess but we were happy to take advantage of it as a place to rest and eat.

Day 9: Limehouse to Milton

2009-06-09T01:54:00.005-04:00

Never really heard of the village of Limehouse until I discovered it on my Bruce Trail guide. It's a pretty little village, just south of Highway 7, mid-way between Guelph and Brampton. I hiked from this point south down to the 401 today. Felt like I was going backwards but it worked well logistically. Peggy picked me up on her way through to our Georgian Bay Connection meeting at the Yates later in the afternoon. There are some fantastic places for crevice climbing along this stretch, both in the Limehouse Conservation Area and in the stretch between Sixth Line and Dublin Line. You really have to watch your step in the latter section because you are walking along the very edge of steep cliffs. Two memories I'll take from today - one, the sound of a myriad of crickets jumping in the grass - I thought it was raining; the other was coming close to about 6 hawks on the top of the escarpment. They hovered silently just a few feet over my head, moving effortlessly through the air with almost no wing motion at all. I had the distinct feeling that they were checking me out.

In my practice of the examen today, I was thinking about an interview I heard yesterday with Barrie Wilson, author of How Jesus Became Christian. Wilson suggests that the Apostle Paul essentially creates his own religion of the Christ, based very minimally on the historical Jesus. Wilson is not looking at history through the lense of the resurrection of Jesus. It's amazing what a difference this perspective can make.

Stewart MacClean's Vinyl Cafe - April 11/09: The Lottery Ticket is worth the listen.

Day 8:Burlington to Milton

2009-06-06T23:59:00.001-04:00

I started at Mt. Nemo and finished at Hilton Falls Conservation Area, just north of the 401. The new twist this time was that I was completely self-contained - threw my bike in the back of the van and peddled from the start point to the finish point, and then hiked back to the van. Mt. Nemo offered spectacular cliff-top views of Milton and Mississauga. I was amazed that I could hear the voices of golfers out on the greens far below me. The trail also took me through Rattlesnake Point and Kelso Conservation Area - no rattle snakes today, but several small garter snakes. There's a very cool little play area in the rocks at the "Calcium Pitts" where the trail crosses from Yaremko-Ridley Park to the Crawford Forestry Tract.

I met up with an interesting little rodent at a boardwalk at Rattlesnake Point - squirrelish in size but definitely not a squirrel. I couldn't figure out why this little animal was so bold as it approached me until I realized that there was a dead frog - likely his - about 2 feet in front of me on the board walk and he was very reluctant to give it up.

I listened to a Tapestry interview with Robert Kull - a man who spent a full year by himself on a tiny little island frequented by fierce winds. He was looking for some kind of divine experience - a transcendent state of being, similar to a momentary experience he had years earlier in the interior of BC when he was under threat of a bear attack. No such experience came to him on the island but he realized the spiritual plane he was seeking was ever-present in the ordinary circumstances of his life.

My time in the exercise of the Examen today brought to mind Ed Prosser, who's funeral I attended 2 days earlier. His funeral really did have the feeling of a celebration of a life well lived. He was forever lifting others up in one manner or another. I would do well to emulate him in this respect.

Day 7: Dundas to Burlington

2009-05-30T22:13:00.004-04:00

Today's walk was the longest yet, stretching from the Dundas Conservation Area to Guelph Line in Burlington - about 38 km including the hike to Tim Horton's from the trail exit. I met about 58 people along the trail today - not surprising because it was a beautiful day for hiking or cycling. My legs, more specifically my right hip started to feel stiff at about the 18-20 km point, but then I seemed to catch a second wind and finished the last 10 km without difficulty. One of my favorite sections today was along Grindstone Creek, particularly up around Smoky Hollow. It would would be a nice afternoon outing in the future.

Last night as I was making preparations for the hike, I listened to a CBC podcast featuring Paul Boers, author of "The Way is Made by Walking" (which I have on order, Paula). One of his practices while walking was to review the chronology of his life through the exercise of the examen. I love the examen as a manner of praying. For my part, beginning today, I'm using some of the trail time to practice the examen, looking at the space of time since my previous day on the trail. Boers also made some comments that got me thinking again, about the relationship between spirituality and religion. He is not nearly as quick as some post-moderns to dismiss the value of religion. At this point, I would define religion as those practices that we engage in habitually as pathways to take us further along in our pursuit of God and what you believe about them. Some practices are good for a time, others may have more longevity, but they are never an end in themselves.

Day 6: Spencer Gorge Wilderness Area

2009-05-19T09:26:00.005-04:00

On Sunday afternoon, (May 17) I headed out from Pitch & Praise with 10 friends to the Spencer Gorge Wilderness section. It was a beautiful day for hiking, and lots of other people seemed to think so as well. The lookout points for Websters Falls, Tews Falls and Dundas Valley are beautiful at any time of year. This group had a lot of fun particularly on the west side of the loop traveling north toward Websters Falls. Watching them cross the river by shimmying across a slimly log was great entertainment. In all the times I've been to Websters Falls, I had never seen anyone actually cross behind the falls - until this day. Some of my companions were rather daring, and of course by the end of the afternoon, were completely soaked! What a privilege to enjoy one another's company and to drink in the refreshing sound of water rushing over the riverbed. We were just out for a few hours this afternoon, but a few of them remarked that it was the best part of their weekend!

Day Five: Stoney Creek to Dundas Trail Centre

2009-04-26T23:50:00.008-04:00

I started from Felker's Falls this morning at 7 a.m. Much of the trail today coincided with other well groomed recreational trails including the paved Chedoke Rail Trail. I learned the hard way that you have to keep an eye out for where the Bruce Trail digresses from some of these trails. While I was talking on the phone along the Chedoke Rail Trail I missed a trail turn marker and ended up wandering haplessly along the streets of Hamilton for a few minutes. Between the trail map, the GPS on my Blackberry, and my handy little compass, I found my way back to the Bruce Trail soon enough.

Lunch today consisted of some left-over steak I found in the fridge last night - I could get very used to that! It was great to have Peggy and Shauna and about ten people from our young adult group join up with me at Tiffany Falls in the afternoon. Daniel Louks was the first to find me. While we were waiting for the rest to arrive, we startled a group of about 10 nimble white-tailed deer, about 60 metres from the edge of Wilson Avenue. Hiking with the group from Tiffany Falls to the Dundas Trail Centre was lots of fun, and that is a beautiful section to hike. The Dundas Trail Centre in itself would be well worth going back to visit again. I counted at least 5 waterfalls along today's 30 km hike - Sherman Falls was my favorite of the day.

Day Four: Grimsby to Stoney Creek

2009-04-13T23:41:00.006-04:00

Peggy dropped me at Ridge Rd and Wolverton Rd at 8 a.m. this morning. I decided to give the Lifebrand Pedometer a second chance, wearing it on my hip this time rather than at my belly. Is this what "as near as possible to the centre of your body" means? The resulting measurements were much more in line with the distance I was expecting to travel today. 335 steps into the hike, I startled a white-tailed deer - the only one I saw all day. Today's stretch was relatively easy - only once down from the top of the escarpment and once back up, and much of the trail was flat and well travelled. The landscape of the forest was beautiful and there was almost always a view of Lake Ontario in the distance. Looking carefully, I could see the faint outline of the CN Tower across the water. The trade-off to the pleasant hiking was the din of factories and the close proximity of suburbia along much of the trail. I finished at Felker's Falls at about 1:45 pm.

Day Three: Balls Falls to Beamer's Falls

2009-04-12T23:19:00.003-04:00

Easter Sunday - a beautiful day for hiking and a great space to reflect on the meaning of the resurrection of Christ. I listened to a CBC Ideas podcast on Dante's Paradiso. The professor being interviewed commented on the freedom from the body that we will experience in paradise according to the Christian tradition, but I think the good professor got this wrong. According to the biblical tradition, we will have a new body; personhood can scarcely be separated from experience in a body. Today I'm wondering if the legs of my resurrection body would get tired on a hike like this; or for that matter, if this present body will get used to these distances after a few more times out. I could still move at the end of the day, but my legs are telling me that they worked hard.

I tried out a new pedometer today - according to it, I walked 2.5 km, but the map indicates that I covered about 28 km. Note to self - don't trust Life Brand pedometers - especially when the directions tell you to measure your stride in inches, but the instrument purports to measure distance covered in kilometers.

Today's hike was sandwiched between two awesome waterfalls. At 1/3 the height of Niagara Falls and a good flow of water, Ball's Falls is quite impressive. Although not as high or thunderous, Beamer's Falls, with it's gentle cascade, surpasses Ball's Falls in beauty, as far as I'm concerned. It's worth the trip down the side trail to see. One place I'd like to go back and visit sometime is the View Restaurant at the EastDell Estates. Looking over acres of orchards and beyond to Lake Ontario, it acquired it's name for obvious reasons. Passing by less than an hour after inhaling my lunch-time bagel, it was all I could do to resist following the aroma of gourmet food into their dining room with its panoramic views.

Day Two: Brock University to Balls Falls

2009-03-22T22:31:00.000-04:00

Checked out of the Sheraton at about 8:30 a.m. and checked into McDonald's across the road for a couple of breakfast burritos before I hit the trail. My legs are still working fine, but I don't have quite the same zip that I started out with yesterday.

Today's hike meandered around lakes and up and down the escarpment several times. Parts of it were very rocky and other parts very muddy. Today I surprised a group of about 5-6 white tailed deer somewhere up around Decrew Falls. There were several falls along the route today - probably the most interesting aspect of the trek. There were points along the way when I thought to myself - wouldn't it be cool if I suddenly and unexpectedly came upon my parked van, waiting for me at Balls Falls. And then it happened - just when I thought I had another kilometer or two to go, I stepped out of the woods onto a road and there was the van waiting for me on the other side! After 9 hours on the trail it was a welcome sight. I covered about 22 km today. Still no blisters but when I stopped for a coffee in Grimsby, I could barely shuffle across the parking lot!

Day One: Queenston Heights to Brock University

2009-03-22T00:45:00.001-04:00

Peggy shuttled me down to Queenston Heights this morning where my journey began.We met 3 women at the cairn marking the beginning (or end) of the trail. They were celebrating having completed the whole trail 10 years ago by taking another hike again today.They did it in 18 months.Maybe I'm crazy to think that I'll do it in 1O. It was a beatiful day - wasn't long before I shed the windbreaker and the gloves.

I just listened to the sounds of the forest for the longest time - refreshing. I'm giving the Word of Promise - Next Generation New Testament a test drive on my iPod. I listened to most of Luke - too bad about Jesus. His words were fine but the sound of his voice was really annoying. Hope he's not really like that!

Today I covered about 3O km - not too shabby for someone who doesn't get out much. I'm thankful for good boots and socks - no blisters yet! I'm also thankful that there was a Kelsey's restaurant right in front of me when I was ready to stop for supper, and a Sheraton Hotel at the end of my day's journey. I'm sure I won't always have these luxuries. One of the highlights of the day was coming upon 2 full-grown white tailed deer in behind Brock University. Vangy was right about the mud - there was lots of that. Hope I can stand up tomorrow. I'll be starting around 9 am from Brock University.

Stepping into the wild

2009-03-19T01:18:00.000-04:00

Thought maybe I'd do something to mark the half century point of my life on this planet - not so much in the spirit of "those final things I want to do while I still have breath," but rather in the spirit of opening up myself to a whole new world of adventure. I could do something exotic in another part of the world, but I'd probably be doing it by myself or with a very small group of people. How cool would it be to do something that enabled others to step into the wild with me and share this adventure, whether for a few hours or for a day or two at a time. The Bruce trail looks like a suitable adventure. At nearly 900 km it's one of the longest continuous trails in the world and it will either finish me or whip me into shape. It's relatively easy for me and most of the people in my world to access, and I expect to stumble upon all kinds of interesting places that I'll want to go back and explore more fully. So, I've got a new pair of hiking boots and socks to match, I've got my Bruce Trail guide, and a cute little bell to keep the bears at bay (thanks Ryan). This weekend I begin the adventure from Queenston Heights. Meet me at Brock's Monument, Saturday at 9 a.m. if you dare, and join me on this adventure into the wild.