Bruce Trail End to End: Niagara - Swayze Falls (43.6 km) to Glen Road (56.6 km)

Today's hike was a 13 km hike from Swayze Falls where we left off last week, to Glen Road. The weather was around zero when we started but warmed threw the day resulting in a gradual increase in mud as we went.

We had ten hikers out today including Catherine, Sandra, Brian, Barbara, Arpi, Ron J., Marleen, Ron B. (photographer), Steve (photographer) and Doug (photographer). Unfortunately Ken was away so although photography was ably provided by Ron B and Doug, we don't have the benefit of Ken's blogging skills this week.

Our first Bridge picture of the day. There was some winter damage hence the caution tape, but Brian did a detailed inspection prior to the rest of us risking our lives on the crossing. Doug gets us in some order for a proper Bridge picture.

Off we headed down the Trail. Luckily the ground was still frozen.

Sandra was our sweep for the day, carefully avoiding the brown stuff.

The hike was characterized by numerous stream that were all flowing strongly with spring runoff.

Where there are waterfalls there are hills to climb.

Look closely and you can see deer in the field. We almost missed them despite the fact over a dozen crossed the Trail not more than 100 metres in front of us. It was early in the hike and conversation was flowing with little attention being paid to deer running in front of us.

Crossing our first stile of the day.

Trail shots and then the Trail gets icy.

The snow and ice eventually became so prevalent we had to put on our icers. Brian tells us about the one that got away as he puts on his icers, while everyone else appears to listen attentively.

Our second Bridge picture at Rockway Falls on Fifteen Mile Creek. The best of four pictures with only 6 of the nine looking at the camera! Photographer or subject error?

We crossed Ninth Street and back into the woods along the top of the Escarpment with views to the Lake.

After descending to cross a stream we climb back to the top where elevensies is our reward.

Brian and Ron waiting patiently for us to complete our break.

More streams to cross and ...

Waterfalls to marvel at. Louth Falls on 16 Mile Creek.

Early signs of Spring! Is that a Trillium you might think, but you would be incorrect. Luckily we had Ron Jackson our botanical expert along for the hike and he has provided the following explanation.

"Clearly (more or less) Hepatica acutifolia. Or in common English, Sharp-lobed Hepatica (or even simpler, Common Hepatica, Liverwort or Pennywort). The Latin name comes from the Greek work for liver, to which the leaf is supposed to resemble. It times past, there was a view, called the "Doctrine of Signatures," that suggested that God had shaped plants to tell us poor mortals the value of the plant in solving our health problems. If so, God made a mistake. It has no known benefit for correcting liver problems. Attached is a photo of the plant in bloom."

We exited the woods onto Staff road and took time to remove our icers given the 2 km of road walking facing us.

Meanwhile Brian and Ron took the opportunity to stop at the Sue-Ann Staff Winery and pick up two or three bottles for the trip home. Those two are always thinking.