Iroquoia Section - Sydenham Road (58.8 km) to Grindstone Falls ( 71.2 km) - Jan. 25, 2024.
Iroquoia Section - 12.44km from the Sydenham Road Lookout to the Grindstone Falls, 25 January 2024.
Unseasonably warm weather after vicious cold the week before. Damp but no rain. Fog. Perfect weather for slip-sliding away on the Bruce Trail!
It was so slippery that getting out of our cars was fraught. There were 13 of us eager to get started - from left to right and barely visible apart from me (Doug) and my nostrils were Steve R, Barbara, Lesley, Liz, Nancy, Grace, Sandra, Andrea, Rita, Josie and Frank. Marleen was in there somewhere but hiding! Yours truly was the coordinator, Sandra was the sweep. I, Frank, Josie, Lesley, Liz, Nancy and Sandra contributed photographs. Such a lot of photographs gerblunden*#! Being the blogger is hard! Two, four, six, eight, who do we appreciate? KEN!!
Off we went! All of us were wearing icers. It was drizzling a little which is why our hoods were up.
Our first bridge picture. Just entering the Royal Botanical Gardens' Rock Chapel Sanctuary.
The Rock Chapel lookout but no lookouters. Nothing to see except fog.
We came across this curious building. Josie posed obligingly. I have tried to find out what it was, but I could not find anything useful. (Haven't been able to think of the right search term...)
Following the escarpment edge to the Rock Chapel Road and Borer's Falls.
Borer's Falls
Heading towards Valley Road
Second bridge picture First staircase picture
Across Valley Road and pausing to chat
A very nice man called John and his two friendly dogs are living here in this tent with the chimney, close to Highway 6. John bought the tent, stove and chimney, used, for $190. He did not explain the blue tent.
Down to the tunnel under Highway 6
... and a spooky stargate at the east end.
We stopped for elevenses at this ruined stone building just east of Highway 6. Arpi sent us some of her scrumptious baking, care of Sandra. (Amazing that Sandra did not keep them to herself. I would have!) Marleen, looking furtive, is caught in the act of filching seconds.
Rita, Andrea and Lesley, looking entirely too pleased with themselves, are promoting purple as the 2024 colour for hikers.
Through the Clapison Woods
Steve R. pretending to be a locomotive on the Hamilton to Guelph Junction CP track.
Our final bridge picture
In the snow, the creek is too beautiful to reduce to small pictures ...
The Great Falls
Our hike was over. It was time to remove our icers and head home after a beautiful but at times slip-slidery day. But there is one more thing to note. Through the enterprise and generosity of Ken, our beloved (and very much missed) chief blogger, we now have three walkie-talkie radios to help the coordinator, lead hiker and sweep stay in touch with each other, particularly when the group is large and strung out. Sir Hikealot tried hard to teach me how to use one and, by golly, by the end of the hike he succeeded! We should have taken a photo of one of the units but naturally we forgot. However, this hike will forever be memorable for the occasional cry of Sir Hikealot through a walkie-talkie, "Breaker! Breaker!"
The End
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