Sydenham Section - Series #3 - October 8-10, 2024.

Sydenham Section - Series #3 - October 8-10, 2024.

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Day One : Lundy Road (132.5 km) to Graham's Hill Road (147.7 km) - October 8, 2024.

Hiking With Friends was back up north this past week for the third and final series of this fall's three trips to the Sydenham Section, and our first challenge was a 15.2 km trek from Lundy Road, just north of Owen Sound, to the end of Graham's Hill Road.

Our nine member group for today's outing includes myself, Josie (photographer), Andrew, Doug (H.C for this series, and photographer), Rhonda, Sandra (Sweep), Rita, Catherine, and Andrea. It's overcast and cool at the start and there is the threat of showers, but that won't deter us as we look forward to some great hiking during our favorite time of year! As usual, for these 3 day series blogs, we will let our pictures do (most) of the talking and there are some great photos to enjoy, so come along with us!

We get off to a moooving start...

It's been just over 3 years since HWF, or at least its former iteration, "Pathfinders End to Enders" (led by Steve K) was in this neighborhood and I'm excited because at that time, in September of 2021, a good portion of the main trail here was closed for tree removal. As a result, there was a significant road and side trail detour. So there will be some "new to me" trail to experience today...

There's been some pretty nice open field walking so far, and we arrive at an expansive marsh area in the Kemble Wetland Nature Reserve...with all its beautiful wildlife...

 ...including, apparently, the ones you barely expect...

Doug helps out Rita with an annoyingly loose gaiter...top notch service by our H.C...it's a real Cinderella story...

Welcome to the land of Dr. Seuss trees...

It's been a great start to the final series of our fall trips. The other reason I am excited for today is that the last time we hiked here, it poured rain the whole day...it was by far the wettest experience I've ever had... So it was really nice to travel along on what was a cool, and cloudy but rain free day...

...until it wasn't...the skies opened up and brightly colored ponchos came out...but fortunately, it didn't last long...in fact, it became a bit of a sun shower type day...quite soul refreshing in such a beautiful forest...

 We emerge onto, and cross Kemble Rock Road with a magnificent vista to the south east...

There's not a lot of elevation gain to contend with today, but the trail has many foot placement challenges and crevices, so it does require a high degree of concentration in certain areas...my new hiking shoes are performing well (and they're really bright)...

The trail descends into a long, deep, and narrow crevice and we get to experience a super cool (literally and figuratively) stretch of prehistoric envelopment...there's a very unique ambiance inside these ancient natural corridors...

 We pass over some smooth exposed bedrock which I believe was formed some time around the age of "The Flinstones"...

The next sight that really rocks is that of our dropped cars...we've completed our first great hike and everyone is ready for a shower, some food, and a good sleep before we reconvene tomorrow morning...see you then!

End of Day One

Well not quite...Ron B and Michael (who had both tackled some Blue Side Trails earlier) join us for dinner at Casero's Family Kitchen...

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Day Two : 7th Avenue East and First Street (87.7 km) to Jones Falls/Visitor Center (101.8 km) - October 9, 2024.

It's the second day of the last of Hiking With Friends' three, 3 day hike series in the Sydenham Section this fall. The leaves are changing color and our group of enthusiasts are eager to appreciate all that the Bruce Trail has to offer during a 16 km walk from the Side Trail parking in Owen Sound at 7th Avenue East and First Street to the Visitor Center at Jones Falls in the Pottawatomi Conservation Area. The day promises to include a mix of the highly technical challenges of the Palisades, the stunning beauty of Inglis Falls, and some lovely forest walking in the West Rocks Management Area and Springmount Forest...so let's get started!

Or not...

   Two punctual "boy scouts" await the arrival of their troop leader prior to today's group of ten hikers finally being assembled at the visitor center...myself, Rhonda, Andrea, Josie (photographer), Andrew, Catherine, Rita, Doug (H.C), Sandra (Sweep) and, adding his presence, Ron B...

A short but "get that heart pumping early" climb up the Harrison Park Side Trail gets us to the white blazes and into the heart of the Palisades, a unique and iconic area of the Bruce Trail that seems to transport you back through time mere steps from a modern and developed urban landscape...

The progress is slow to begin with as we clamber over the jagged outcrops and marvel at the Gothic stone monoliths strewn about the steep embankment...we decide to also take a quick trip up the Raven's Nest Side Trail for a view of the valley below...

  It really is an enchanted forest and definitely a top ten Bruce Trail attraction...

As we leave the grandeur of the Palisades, the sound of rushing water portends our arrival at the banks of the Sydenham River, and we see creatures who make our struggle to walk a mere few kilometers seem paltry in comparison to the effort they must exert to keep their species in existence...

A somewhat slippery boardwalk leads us to the picturesque beauty of Inglis Falls...and one of the nicest refreshment break spots you will find on the trail...the weather has improved today with only a few drops felt earlier...and the sun starts trying its best to warm us as a cool breeze sweeps through...

Replenished, but with still a good distance remaining to cover on our route, we set off through field, and over stile, to continue our journey...

To be honest, I have been a little disappointed in the lack of autumnal color on display so far this trip...we are either just a bit early for the full effect, or it is very muted this year...there are some flashes of the brilliant palette that we can appreciate...including one of my favorite landmark trees on the trail...

After descending the escarpment with the aid of a rickety wooden ladder and crossing Highway 6 (probably the most dangerous part of the hike), we arrive almost 2 years after to the day at Jones Falls and the hallowed ground where Sandra and I both completed our E2E...we recreate the moment and look for the plaque that commemorates our feat but to no avail...

Present Day

October 5, 2022.

Oh well...must still be on back order...

It's been a great day with lots of challenges and beauty to behold...one more hike to go tomorrow...let's do this!

End of Day Two

Well, not quite, again I guess...here we are out for dinner (and opening night for the Canadiens and Leafs...Habs won 1-0!)

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Day Three : Graham's Hill Road (147.7 km) to Bruce's Caves (163.7 km) - October 10, 2024.

Hiking With Friends will be wrapping up their last three day trip to the Sydenham Section today with a beautiful 16 km trek from Graham's Hill Road, around Skinner's Bluff, to the Bruce's Caves parking lot just off of Grey Road 1 east of Wiarton...this is the last hike in the Sydenham Series (we tacked on the last 7 km or so into town onto the Peninsula Series) and for one hiker, it will be the completion of one more of the nine divisions of the Bruce Trail...

We are back down to nine hikers for today's outing, with Rhonda having left for Thanksgiving long weekend preparation duties...there's myself, Ron B, Catherine, Rita, Josie (photographer), Andrea, Sandra (Sweep), Andrew, and Doug (H.C)...the weather forecast looks very promising for today with sunshine and a high of 12 degrees...pretty much ideal hiking conditions...let's get started!

There's some beautiful open field walking to start the day, interspersed with passages through groves of cedars and spruce...very pleasant...

After travelling on a portion of Coles Sideroad, and traversing the pretty Ancient Beach Nature Preserve, we emerge onto Colpoy's Range Road, a narrow, pot-holed track that will eventually take us up the escarpment...

It's a long climb, but fortunately the only significant one for today, and the spectacular views we will get from Skinner's Bluff will make it well worth the effort!..

It's a magnificent day and the full grandeur of what the Bruce Trail has to offer is revealed...

 A group selfie is in order at a rocky outcrop overlooking White Cloud and Griffith Islands at the mouth of Colpoy's Bay...this hike has been top notch and it's time to capture the memory!..

As we near the end of the hike, there are a few more vistas to appreciate, and a growing sense of accomplishment as we put the last few kilometers behind us...Hiking With Friends is the best way to hike...shared trail experiences in the most beautiful of environments...

And what better way to wrap up than with an honor guard to celebrate Andrew's completion of the Sydenham Section!..one more done and dusted...ever closer to the E2E goal...congratulations!

And a hearty "Cheers!" from the gang who have thoroughly enjoyed being together on the trail we love so much...see you again soon!

End of Day Three 

(Well, except for the long drive home...)

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