Beaver Valley Section - Sixth Line (13.7 km) to Metcalfe Rock (27.9 km) - Sept. 8, 2022.

 Beaver Valley Section - Sixth Line (13.7 km) to Metcalfe Rock (27.9 km) - Sept. 8, 2022.

The third and final day of our first of 3 fall trips up north has arrived and we are filling in the gap after our two previous hikes in the Beaver Valley Section this week by walking from the Sixth Line roadside parking to Metcalfe Rock (10th Line parking lot), a 14.2 km jaunt that follows yesterday's challenging trek.

We will spend 4 and a half hours on the trail today and as you can see above, there are a few "bumps" in the road that will require climbing 350 meters along the way...our legs are tired, but knowing we have the end in sight after our previous two day treks will give us added inspiration...

It's a tight group of five this morning as previous obligations have taken a few of us elsewhere...where else would I want to be?...so here I am, with Steve (leader), Lesley, Sandra (sweep), and Arpi.

The hike got off to a bit of an unsettling start for myself as a bee got trapped in my glasses and "sort of" stung the side of my head...no bad reaction fortunately and I was able to gather myself and carry on...

After a short walk down Sixth Line, we turn right onto a busy Side Road 15...just in case you hadn't noticed, it's another terrific looking day...we have been truly blessed.

After a kilometer or so, we are guided by the blazes to turn left off the road and begin our southward venture...

An area of bulrushes, a grove of apple trees, and a beautiful  meadow vista are just a few of the early visual delights that greet us this fine day...

The terrain gets a little more challenging as we head into an area of crevices and rocks...

"If this trail could talk"...well apparently some tales of the trail have been captured in this whimsical box of anecdotes...

Not the fanciest bridge we've ever posed on but it fit the bill for our relatively small entourage...

Much of this portion of the trail flows through agricultural land...the crops are nearing their harvesting stage...

 A right turn onto Side Road 12 takes us westward for a bit...

We head south again and the ladies find a cute bench platform from which to enjoy the beautiful morning view...

 This little yellow guy was quite sweet and delicious...

One of the many stiles we encountered this day leads us into a lovely forest...the trail today is welcoming and our small group is moving along well...

A sign informs that we are on a portion of "Old Mail Road", a pioneer road some 21 miles long that was traveled by settlers in the late 1800's to access newly opened townships...apparently not just humans use this path...

 Another stile to cross and another expansive field to pass by...

A shady grove of trees gives us an ideal spot to take our break and refuel...

Our next crossing is Grey Road 19...

A Conservancy plaque proclaims "Onward and Upward"...totally ignoring the fact that the trail often involves "downward" as well...

Our last pavement crossing is at Grey Road 2 as we enter the Kolapore Uplands Management Area...a couple of horses hang out nearby in the shade...

Wasn't sure if this was a type of mushroom, or Steve R's golf ball from his game this morning (he was hiking 9 holes while we were doing our thing)...

This last section of trail took us through an absolutely beautiful forest and then out into a golden meadow...I have to say that I really enjoyed this hike just for its overall ambiance...serene and picturesque...

A magnificent view as we approach the Metcalfe Rock area and the end of our journey...

The crevice at Metcalfe Rock looms beneath us...

This imposing view of the escarpment is the last sight we have before taking the short pathway out towards the parking lot at 10th Line...our final hike this week is complete and we have enjoyed great weather, fine company, and most importantly, the privilege of travelling the Bruce Trail...and, we'll be back!..see you soon.

The End