Niagara - Glen Road (56.6 km) to Kinsmen Park (69.8 km) - June 23, 2022
Our route on this beautiful June day took us from the Glen Road roadside parking area to Kinsmen Park in Beamsville for a distance of 13.1 km. It was the reverse of a walk the Hiking with Friends group did on St. Patrick's Day of this year but which I unfortunately missed due to a virus that I contracted (any guesses?)...It seemed that I was jinxed somewhat as I had been missing a very short bit of the Niagara Section for over a year (due to a previous parking anomaly) and wanted to get it off my list....would today be the day?
Our good looking group this morning included myself, Peter, Doug, Marleen, Frances, Barbara, Laura, and (crouching-not sure why) Brian...
We got a pretty early start in anticipation of the day getting a little warm later on...the trail was in good shape (not much rain lately) and the conversation was lively...
We near the edge of Twenty Mile Creek and pause to enjoy the sound of the sun dappled water...
We soon approached the imposing set of stairs that takes you out of the gorge...
A couple of landing areas provided a little break time...we all eventually huffed and puffed our way to the top...
A special welcome to this gentleman, Peter, who you may recall was along with his wife Laura for the first leg of our recent Peninsula trips and, although not hiking at the time, did us the grand favor of preparing a magnificent BBQ dinner after our second day hike. Well, here he is, recovered from his recent health challenge, and back on the trail...his positive demeanor and gritty perseverance were evident on this day and we hope to see more of him in the coming months as he gets back up to speed...Forza Peter!..
We near Lower Balls Falls in the aptly named Balls Falls Conservation Area...the trail here is twinned with the Twenty Valley Trail...
Fairly low flow today...indicative of the lack of rain in the area recently I suppose...
We cross the bridge over Twenty Mile Creek and continue our journey...
We take a few paces along Sixth Ave...pass by one of the many wineries that line this route, and pause for a bridge picture...it is a glorious morning!..
Soon after, the trail emerges onto 5th Ave and we pass the familiar hobby farm that so many Bruce Trail hikers have had the chance to appreciate...
And today we got to meet the owner who was tending to some chores by the side of the road...
Crossing Victoria Ave (Hwy 24) leads to a raised knoll and a pretty spectacular view of the Lake Ontario shoreline...you could even make out the hazy outline of Toronto's skyline...
Naturally, we "lined" up to appreciate it for a few minutes...
A stile takes us out onto Moyer Road for a few hundred meters and then it's back into the forest until we reach the Cherry Avenue crossing...
We've made it just past the halfway point of our route, so it's a good time to grab a seat and refuel for the second half...it's been a fairly relaxed pace, but nobody's in a rush when you're enjoying time on the trail with friends...
Well it was a good thing we refueled because it wasn't long after before we began our ascent up to the top of the escarpment near Cave Springs...
All that climbing is rewarded with a nice view of the "Vine land" below us...we also passed by a sign designating the very first location of a blaze, placed in 1962,on what would become known as the Bruce Trail...
Our last crossing is at Quarry Road, where I get to recall the modelling pose I had to hold in the creation of the important signage behind me...
A few kilometers later, we reach our dropped cars at Kinsmen Park...some cool watermelon that Frances provided is a welcome refreshment in the early afternoon heat...
And...I finally get to put the Niagara Section officially in the books!...the end to a great day hiking with friends!..
The End
(This photo was taken the previous week when these 3 hardy hikers braved the heat to enjoy the trail)
