Peninsula - Purple Valley Access (15.6 km) to Park Road/Sydney Bay Road (31.7 km) - May 11, 2022.

Day Three of our first of 3 trips up to the Peninsula for the Hiking with Friends group and we are "filling in the gap" between our two previous days with a hike from the Purple Valley Access Trail up to our finishing location yesterday on Sydney Bay Road near Cape Croker Park. This walk will cover 16.1 km of the main trail but in reality will clock in at 17.4 km with side trails (and wandering) and will take us 6 hours to complete...a walk in the park compared to yesterday. 

A bird saw us hiking and sent me this picture...kinda looks like we were walking the shoreline of Florida at the end...we only needed to climb a modest 190 meters today...lets have a look at how things went after yesterday's challenge...

We're all back for another early start at the parking lot for the Purple Valley Access Trail...most of us enjoyed a wonderful bbq feast last night at our motel prepared by Laura's husband Peter (up with her for moral support as he works towards rejoining the group), and after a reasonably good night's rest, we are up for hiking northward for a change today (gotta even out the tan)...

After the requisite boot brush, it's off to find the white blazes of the main trail...

  We reach the main trail and hang a left today (as opposed to the right turn towards Wiarton)...we will be hiking through the Malcolm Bluff Shores Nature Reserve for the next while...

       Our first glimpse of Colpoy's Bay near Gravelly Point...the overcast skies are welcome after yesterday's intense heat..it won't stay this way unfortunately but we'll enjoy it for now...

A nice view of White Cloud Island, with Griffith Island in behind...

The trail is in great shape...not a lot of roots and rock to deal with...everyone appears to have recovered nicely from yesterday, but there is still a pretty full day ahead...

The view is spectacular...

A furry friend is curious about these human hikers...

Another trail notice to digest and then it's on our way again...

We stop briefly to examine some huge segments of capstone that have become dislodged and lie like abandoned Tetris pieces in the forest...

A view through the trees towards Kings Point Bluff...

We enter an area of exposed rock and several long crevices...

Spirits are pretty high..is it because we know that we are done after today?..

After traversing some more open areas, we happen upon an abandoned piece of farm equipment rusting away in obscurity...

What would a day be like without a steep staircase to negotiate...this one was definitely on the narrow side!..

The descent continues for a bit...

We cross Coveney's Road and shortly afterwards, start a climb back up the escarpment...

A short break at Coveney's Hill to admire the view (again)...

Barbara discovers a trail guest book and records a greeting from our group...

A short pause on Crooked Toe Road to allow a regroup...

It's warming up again and we entertain where to stop for our elevensie's today...

The McIver Pond Side Trail catches our eye and after a 100 meter walk, we come upon the namesake pond...quite a tranquil spot...

It's a delightful area for a rest and refuel...some hikers enjoyed the cold leftovers from last night's feast...

We soon venture on, leave the trail "with stile", and spill onto Boundary Road...

Will it be all downhill from here?..

We leave the road and venture onto the lands of the Neyaashiinigming Reserve again...over the last three days, the trilliums have exploded in colour...Brian adopts a friendly rock which provides an naturally ergonomic resting spot...

Another great view, this time from Jones Bluff...

The troops are feeling the effects of another warm afternoon and the cumulative kilometers from the past three days...

Doug graciously adopts a second backpack to relieve another hiker, who is "feeling it", of some weight for the last stretch...

Some absolutely stunning vistas of Cape Croker and Nayausheeng to enjoy before we head to the finish...

A large erratic just hanging out where the glacier left him...

We greet Peter the chef waiting patiently at our dropped cars location...we are hot, dirty, and sweaty, but bathing in the satisfaction of what we have achieved over our three day experience...

And, finally, let us congratulate these two gentlemen...Boyd, on the right, celebrates his completion of the Peninsula section today...Steve, our inspirational leader, has just completed the Bruce Trail for his third time!..Bravo and thanks for being not only a hiking friend, but also the motivational mentor your are for us all!

That's it for now...see you back on the trail soon for more adventures...

The End