Beaver Valley Section - Third Line C (102.5 km) to Blantyre (119.9 km) - Oct. 11, 2023.
Beaver Valley Section - Third Line C (102.5 km) to Blantyre (119.9 km) - Oct. 11, 2023.
It's the second day of the Hiking With Friends' second trip (yes, I missed the first day) to the more northern sections of the Bruce Trail and don't think for a second that this hike was second to none (well, maybe it was when you see tomorrow's)...we had a roughly 18 km route planned from the roadside parking at the corner of Third Line C and Side Road 22 to the pretty hamlet (or what's left of it) of Blantyre...how did we make out you ask?..read on to find out!..
Our bird's eye view of the trail we took from the north...this 6 hour jaunt involved a modest 320 meters of ascent (most of that near the start) on a somewhat damp, cool and overcast day...
A quick shout out to the landowner (Sundance of Blantyre Lodge) in Blantyre, where we dropped some cars at the end, for providing temporary parking on their property while the other area undergoes improvements...kudos to them!..
We then shuttle over to the start and prepare for our day's journey...16 hardy hikers are ready to face rain, wind, and cool temperatures in our goal to return to Blantyre...on foot!..myself, Frank, Andrea, Peter, Nancy, Laura, Andrew, Ron B, Marleen, Grace, Doug (our H.C), Lesley, Catherine (special day for these last two), Sandra, Michael, and Steve R...
Access to the main trail takes a bit of work and we reach a span over a tributary of the Beaver River...it's raining pretty hard so this will have to suffice for our bridge picture today...
It's not the nicest start to a hike that you will experience, but eventually we reach the top of the hill and take a break on level ground to catch our breath...
At the corner of Side Road 25, we reach what I consider to be hallowed ground...it was just over a year ago that our good friend Arpi completed her End to End at this exact spot!...an HWF memory that will last a long time...
The morning has improved somewhat and the road walk along Side Road 25 is quite nice...despite the overcast skies, the colours and views are still a joy to behold...
We are eventually directed into the woods at the Webwood Falls Nature Reserve...
...and we soon come upon the natural wonder that is the namesake of this area...(not before having to pass yet another case of "death by blaze")...
It's stopped raining (for now) and the day is turning out to be rather enjoyable...not a lot of hills and the path is in good shape...
We continue to travel..."out past the cornfields...where the woods got heavy"...were we there yet?..oh no, far from it...but "we weren't searching for some pie in the sky summit"...just workin' on our hike moves...
After passing through a grassy meadow, a well weathered sign advises we are about to cross Grey Road 40...
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We are now passing through the Daphne and Gordon Nicholls Nature Reserve, a permanently protected stretch of land obtained by the BTC in 2017...there is an amazing view to the east on this hilltop...
The trail becomes a little more challenging by way of wet, leaf covered rocks that require a fairly high level of concentration in order to maintain one's balance...
There's finally a break in the clouds and it's decided we need a refreshment break...unfortunately, it didn't last as it was quickly followed by an intense cloudburst that shortened our picnic...it was that kind of day, a real mixed bag of conditions...
Sir "Hike-a-Lot" can barely contain his excitement at the prospect of another 8 km or so of trail remaining...
At the Euphrasia-St. Vincent Town Line, we leave the Griersville Management Area...
The trail eventually emerges from the forest and we are treated to some more stunning vistas, this time to the north...
It's a classic October sky...
We approach the road crossing at 7th Line and it's the home stretch left to reach the end of the Beaver Valley section in Blantyre...
Fortunately, the trail is getting a little less rocky as our weary legs give us their final push home...
Our final steps are taken through the Blantyre Springs Nature Reserve, which includes a fine monument honouring the "Boyd's of Blantyre"...four generations have farmed this area...
Our goal for the day is reached and man, are we "Blantyre-d"...it's been a challenging hike in not great weather conditions but still satisfying and for two hikers, another "section feather" in their Bruce Trail cap...
Catherine and Lesley have conquered the Beaver Valley Section!..congratulations on completing another part of their quest for the Bruce Trail Holy Grail...there's more hiking (and celebrations) to come tomorrow, but it's time to head back to warm showers and dinner to cap off a great day...thanks for spending some time "Hiking with Friends"...
"Pot 'o gold" bound...
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