Niagara Section from Kinsman Park at 66.9 km to end of Niagara at 80.4 km Grimsby - Dec. 21, 2017

Great day for a 13.5 km hike along the Escarpment

about -2C and overcast.

 Today's hikers; Case; Rhonda; Ron; Steve our leader; Fran; Nancy, John G; 
Marleen; Rob; Carol; Jon N. Stephan and in the front row Ann and Karen.

"Jackrabbit" Fran came dressed as a Christmas Tree.

 Thanks to Ann our hiker's are becoming more cognizant 

of the need to keep the Trail clean of litter.

 Mike Weir's Winery 

 Fielding Estate Winery 

 The Bag Lady and her partner ....

This picture is for Ron

 This hike has it's share of 'rough' terrain.

 A standoff between the vegan and the 'Halloween Candy' lady.

A challenging steep downhill ...

 The snow had disappeared but ice was still evident.

 The end of the Niagara Section at 40 Mile Creek.

Niagara Section - Woodend Conservation 15.2 km to Decew House 29.8 km - Dec. 14th, 2017

 Fantastic day for hiking, about -10C and sunny.

 Today's hikers; Rob; Ron; Nancy; Marleen; George; Karen; 

Steve our leader and Case.

 Yahoo, Tim Horton's and lunch.

 The Second Welland Canal (1845-1915)

 We crossed the Fourth (current) Welland Canal

 The Third Welland Canal (1887 to 1931)

 I suggested this might be a bollard used to tie up the boats in the

 now defunct fourth canal.. Our resident Biologist disagreed and 

opined it was a petrified mushroom from a bygone era.

 Ron, collecting his Christmas Decorations - Bittersweet

Over the stile, across the road and into the car !!

Niagara Section - Queenston Heights (0.0 km) to Woodend Conservation (15.2 km) - Dec. 7th, 2017

We had a large group out to hike the first 15 km of the Bruce Trail on this cold windy day.  Luckily most of the hike would be in the shelter of the forest but it was chilly as we started off.

The hikers were Ann, Steve, Rob, George, John G., Karen, Nancy, Marleen, Fran, Annette and Steve K.  Fran probably felt the cold the most as she had just returned from two weeks of cruising on a yacht in the Caribbean.  Brave lady.  Our new hikers posing by the Cairn.

The trail begins by crossing the park surrounding Brock's Monument.

The trail soon enters the forest.

The leaves were long gone offering glimpses of Lake Ontario below.

A clothing adjustment was soon required.

The trail follows the edge of the escarpment.

With some descents...

and ascents required.

Followed by a another steep descent.

A bit of road walking.

Fungi for Ron.  We missed you!

A lonely bridge picture. Where did everyone go?

A small creek crossing.

A major road (QEW) crossing.

Half of the hikers appear to have made it through the Screaming Tunnel as Ann and Marleen approached it.

I checked for my lost boot but no luck.

A bit more road walking into the wind,

Back into the forest.

One final descent (I hope).

Now how did they get up there?

From there it was a short  hike to the cars and a warm drive home.