Blue Mountains/Dufferin Hi-land Sections - 9/10 Side Road Nottawasaga (14.1 km) to Lavender Cemetery (54.5 km) - August 6, 2026.

 Blue Mountains/Dufferin Hi-land Sections - 9/10 Side Road Nottawasaga to Lavender Cemetery (54.5 km) - August 6, 2026.

Hiking With Friends ventured a little further north this past week (for a day trip that is) to take on a 14.6 km hike primarily in the Blue Mountains Section, with just a little bite of Dufferin Hi-land, ending up at the dead center of Lavender (well, just 500 meters east of, but you'll get it)...

We were dying to get started so after dropping cars at the Lavender Cemetery (now you get it), we headed over to our starting location at the end of 9/10 Side Road Nottawasaga and, having received our instructions and preparatory notes from our Hike Coordinator for today, Andrew, assembled for our group shot...today's cast of characters includes myself, Grace, Frank C, Donna, Barbara, Andrea, Steve K, Josie, Frances, Nancy, Doug, Annette, and Andrew (H.C)...a baker's dozen ready to get cookin'...

You may have heard "the grass is greener on the other side"...well, on today's journey, the grass is green, on both sides...and very long... and very wet...and we will be mowing through a lot of it...

A plaque honouring the life of James "Dave" Knox, who, after retiring from an esteemed teaching career in Collingwood, served as a Land Steward Director for the Blue Mountains Club for over 20 years...

A small pine forest gives us some respite from the overwhelming vegetative morass that we have been wading through...combined with the hot, humid weather, and sporadic showers, it has made for a rather damp start to our day...but we forge ahead and pray for drier conditions down the path...

This section of trail has been "twinned", in a friendly way, with the famous Transcarioca Trail in Brazil...coincidentally, conditions today seem to mimic being in the Amazon rain forest...

 Despite the heat, humidity, showers, mosquitoes, slippery boardwalks, uneven footing, muddy, hard to see under the waist high grass, trail, things are...just fine...

We emerge onto 6/7 Side Road (are we supposed to use the average of these two numbered routes?...is it a "give or take" situation?), and it's time for clothing adjustments as the rain has fortunately subsided...

A right turn on Concession 10 sends us up a short hill but it's good to be stretching the legs a little and being able to walk abreast for a while...

We are soon back into the woods and entering the Dunedin Ravine Nature Reserve, a 78 acre BTC Protected Natural Area...oh, and also home to much more, very high, wet and lush, brush...

Also finding that there's an attractive quality to my merino wool socks...

Our group forges on through yet more climbing, grim reminders of "death by blaze", and now "chest high" grasses...challenging?..yes...rewarding?..also yes...

A very nice gate leads us into the 14.5 acre Gardner Protected Natural Area ...

After crossing Highway 9, it's time to be of sound mind and body as we enter the Noisy River Provincial Nature Reserve...Frank joins a select group of hikers who have come to hear of this unique area over the past years...

The beautiful span over the river provides a great rest spot for refreshment and then another classic bridge photo...

There is a "downside" and an "upside" to every river valley, but, upon reflection, I feel those terms are juxtaposed in relation to the effort required when conquering them...

Could we be more "boulder" in our approach to hiking?..perhaps, but nature will always have the upper hand...

Another fine example of her artistry...

It has been a long, damp, warm, buggy, wonderful hike and we are glad to emerge onto the lovely lane way (actually South Nottawasaga Concession 8) and the pretty house and garden that sits at the end...

 ...and the very friendly, furry friend that lives there!

The last 500 meters to the dropped cars is covered slowly but surely...a tough hike today no doubt, but Hiking With Friends is the best way to always make it a memorable experience on the Bruce Trail! Thanks for sharing our day together.

The End

While there is no "specific" date for the creation of our group, having evolved as it did following its transition from the Oakville Pathfinder's "End to Ender's" entity, this month does mark the 4th Anniversary of the establishment of our "Hiking With Friends" homegrown brand...Congratulations to all who have shared the cumulative joy of the 10's of thousands of kilometers hiked on the Bruce Trail!..Bravo!