Peninsula - Purple Valley Access (15.6 km) to Wiarton Rec Centre (0.0 km) - May 9th, 2022. 

The "Hiking with Friends" E2E group ventured northward to the Bruce Peninsula this past week for the first of three 3 day hiking trips (on alternate weeks) in an effort to complete the Peninsula Section of the Bruce Trail. For many of us, it was our first experience in this northernmost section of this historic trail, and it lived up to the all the hype. Its physical and mental challenge is matched only by its beauty and natural wonder. In short, it encapsulates the essence of what we seek from hiking, but in turn exposes us to our frailties, and asks each of us in its own way, to reckon with personal achievement. 

A bird's eye view of the route which covered just under 16 km of main trail but with side trail access at Purple Valley, and the usual wandering, my feet carried me 19.5 km on a spectacular spring day. We walked for 5 hours and 40 minutes and climbed a very modest 122 meters. As the above gradient profile suggests, it was overall a declining slope, with a major descent near the end off the escarpment.

Having completed our 3 hour drive from Oakville, we dropped some cars at the Wiarton Recreation Centre and headed to our trail head at Purple Valley.

Our crew of eight hikers is just about ready to start the first of our back to back to back hikes on the peninsula. Up for the trip are Boyd (welcome back!), Doug, Steve, Brian, Laura, Barbara, Sandra, and myself.

We start off down the Purple Valley Access Trail which will take us about .6 km to the main trail...the weather is absolutely perfect...Brian helps Doug with a backpack adjustment...

We reach the main trail and begin our southwesterly trek down to Wiarton...we will be following the bluff along Colpoy's Bay which will be to our left...

Our first look out and the cameras quickly appear to capture the morning sun glistening off the serene water of the bay...

There is not much foliage on the trees yet, but the forest floor is evidently coming alive with trilliums and the like...

A little more walking and it's time for a short break...water and clothing adjustments are required...the day is starting to warm nicely...

Another great vantage point arrives and we revel in the view again...this will be the theme for the next while...hike, enjoy the view, hike, repeat...no better way to spend the day!..as these smiles prove...

On occasion, there were chances to see the exposed escarpment face up close...this is the distinct white edge that so well defines the landscape along the shoreline...

It was hard not to get that "king of the world" feeling when you experienced this place for the first time...

We reach the Crawford Drive Side Trail, and Brian checks out what we think might be a diving platform out on the bay...

We continue along at a good pace...the occasional patch of cedar forest providing some welcome shade from the increasingly hot sun...we were not expecting it to get this warm...fortunately, the bugs were not too bad...

Our next intersection, the Mallory Beach Side Trail (named after my daughter, I'm sure), allows for a quick map reference to assess our progress...we are just over halfway to Colpoy's Bay Village...

It was at the Whicher Side Trail at which we decided which place was the place at which we should stop for elevensie's...a well earned rest for which we were grateful...

Brian stops to examine a small bird's nest...there were lots of chirps and tweets to accompany us on our journey...

We emerge from the forest and enjoy the wide expanse of a meadow as we near Colpoy's Bay Village...

We find the resting place of past residents...can the land of the living be far away?..

Doug exhibits his mastery of the stile as we enter the village...others chose the bypass...

A pretty little (pedestrian only) bridge on Kribs Road with engraved concrete benches crosses over a small creek in the heart of Colpoy's Bay Village...

Our trek continues as we start out for our final destination, Wiarton...

A lone concrete silo dominates the landscape on this hardscrabble terrain...

Exposed bedrock and underground streams are prevalent on this stretch of trail...

After the obligatory boot brush cleaning station (to prevent the spread of invasive species via our footwear), we traverse Route 9 leading into Colpoy's Bay and enter the Spirit Rock Conservation Area...

We encounter some old ruins of a past homestead...

One corner of the structure is adorned with several Bruce Trail Conservancy plaques honouring some of the many people who have dedicated so much to this amazing resource...we pay homage to them always...

 We take a short deviation on the Spirit Rock Side Trail to visit the Corran (gaelic for "land running into sea") Ruins, once a beautiful 17 room stone mansion overlooking the bay constructed (starting in 1882) and owned by Hester and Alexander McNeil. It was inhabited until 1964 but subsequently abandoned and, after vandals set fire to it in 1971, all that remains are the stone walls...

It does provide a nice resting area for us...Barbara does her best "Kilroy was here" interpretation...

Next up in our adventure today is this spiral staircase leading down the escarpment...an engineering marvel in its day I'm sure, but now exhibiting signs of structural wear that suggested a "one at a time" utilization ethic...

Not exactly what I would have in mind for a way to "wind down" for the day, but we all made it to the bottom safely...

Our reward for our fearlessness is the cool shores of the bay and the knowledge that there are only a few kilometers to go...the water is gorgeous in its calmness and clarity and it certainly deserves a moment to appreciate...

 We followed the shoreline path for a while and eventually spilled out onto Bayview Street, which has a nice view of the bay...who knew?

Willie?..or won't he?..we celebrate the end of a great hike with a group shot at the iconic statue of the famous local woodchuck...it's been a great start to our first trip up to the peninsula...we look forward to more great experiences tomorrow, but now it's time to head back to our motel base in Owen Sound for dinner, and some rest...see you soon!

The End