Caledon/Toronto - Chinguacousy Road (Caledon 2.8 km) to Winston Churchill Road (Toronto 42.8 km) - Nov. 25th, 2021

Our hike on the Bruce Trail this week took us from Chinguacousy Rd. in the Caledon Section to Winston Churchill Blvd. in the Toronto Section for a 10.2 km jaunt. 

Our bird's eye view of the route has a little "extra" tracking tacked on to the end as someone forgot to stop their Garmin tracker upon completion of the hike...the ultimate destination of that short drive will be revealed at the end of the blog so read on!..

Our friendly group of 13 lucky hikers this morning comprised of myself, Arpi, Nancy, Brian, Muris, Sandra (Sweep), Ron B., Marleen, Steve (Leader), Alex, Doug (contributing photographer), Boyd, and Barbara.

Final adjustments and intense discussion of strategy in preparation for the walk ahead...some just call it dawdling, but what do they know...

Down Chinguacousy Road we head on a typically dreary, but mostly dry November morning...

A right on Old Baseline Road quickly turns downhill into uphill as we climb up to the Cheltenham Badlands area...

The trail was open but the viewing area was not...not sure why these "lands" get such a "bad" rap...there's always some beauty in erosion...even if it happens to be as a result of bad agricultural practices...

What we missed seeing...(photo courtesy of hiking picture archives)...

A muddy trail with an occasional (slippery) boardwalk in this section...Brian is seen sporting his new "baseball cap/toque" combination head wear...

Having reached the entrance/exit at Creditview Road, we take a moment to regroup...

If there was any doubt as to our location, this info board allayed our uncertainty...I might  make a card out of this picture and carry it with me at all times so I always know where I am?..

After a short wait, the hikers were released from their holding pen and allowed to resume their journey...

South on Creditview Rd. and a hard right onto Boston Mills Rd..

This sign applies to cyclists (not sure why), cars, and buses...but definitely not hikers...should be one for us asking to "speed up!"..

Steve hosts a discussion circle to determine the most efficient method to move through the next portion of the trail...

Which turns out to be...single file!..

The fossilized remains of an old car chassis buried in the autumn leaves..we believe it to be from the "Edselzoic Era"...

Huffing and puffing our way through the Jacquith Property, a 35 hectare forest bequeathed to the Ontario Heritage Foundation in 1990 by Everett and Barbara Jacquith and referred to as Terra Cotta's "Ayli"...

Some stream navigation was required...

The weather has cooperated, but backpack rain covers at least add some colour to the relatively dull November tones...

(Insert 13 hikers on bridge here)...

Our last road to cross...

Heading in towards the Terra Cotta forest...

An enchanted pine forest greets us with overtones of the Christmas season ahead...

Our goal has been reached and time for a little mud puddle splash to clean off the boots...well done!

The End (almost)

The mysterious, post hike, Garmin recorded destination revealed!..The Spirit Tree Estate Cidery, for a delicious post hike lunch... 

             Iroquoia - Sydenham Lookout (59.8 km) to Grindstone Falls (72.2 km) - Nov. 18, 2021

This week's E2E hike was in the Iroquoia Section and took us from the Sydenham Lookout to Grindstone Falls (Smokey Hollow) for a distance of 12.38 km.

The hike took us approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes on a fairly muddy, leave strewn track and involved 388 m of ascent primarily in two major valleys.

Our (soon to be dirty) dozen hikers on this overcast and cool November morning included Ann, Arpi, Michael, Laura, Brian (leader), Marleen, Doug (contributing photographer), Catherine, Barbara, Ron B. (contributing photographer), Alex (message checker), and Ken (photographer)...photo courtesy of a friendly passer-by.

A short walk up the hill, a right turn through a small residential area, and we entered the forest...

Power lines descending into Dundas Valley...we need to summon the energy for the trail ahead...

Catherine's colourful handmade headwear provides a cheerful beacon for those following her footsteps...

        

An information plaque attracts those who wish to gain a further understanding of the geology and ecology of this beautiful resource...

The Gurdwara Shaheedgarh Sahib looms in the distance...

Another informative (read "good excuse for a...") stop...unfortunately, the panels describing erosion have become victims of that same degrading process...

Borer's Falls...we are about to enter its namesake conservation area...

But first, more information is required!..

A decent descent awaits us...

A steep valley, however, often leads to a stream, which often means a bridge and our crew knows what to do...I presume Catherine is showing off her muddy backside, having just recently succumbed to the trail's often slippery surface...

Across Valley Road and entering Berry Tract, part of the RBG domain...

                                                           

Another descent...Brian, our dutiful leader, has picked up some of the trash off the trail (which was unfortunately quite plentiful)...special thanks to Doug who collected a very full bag...

This site appears to have been trashed for quite some time...a concrete playground adorned by youthful expressions (and apparently sponsored by Stelco?)...

As we continue to track Catherine's bright bonnet, we begin to drop down to Hwy 6...

18 wheelers rush overhead, oblivious to the hikers passing through the neon graffiti adorned tunnel below...

Our club president and VP pause in the tunnel...

Halfway there and a good spot to rest and enjoy Elevensies...leftover Halloween candy is apparently still available...

Back to the job at hand...

A rare bit of bright foliage to brighten the bleak November landscape...

Laura, one of our newest members, has quickly shown she is an adept trail enthusiast...

Crossing the rail line in Clappison Woods...a few steps without mud underfoot...

A pause to regroup before the final push to the end...Brian, Marleen and Michael perform the "lean to one side to remove backpack" dance...

Ann providing extra energy to my delight, a missing dog poster, and some "Marleen/Arpi-foolery" keep the day interesting...

Michael is adept at taking advantage of any potential resting spots...a reward for his strenuous pace.

The bridge over Grindstone Creek...and one long climb ahead...

The sun has appeared in the early afternoon...the long shadows a testament to its low, late November arc...

One last regroup before the big climb out of the valley...

(Insert babbling brook sound here)

Up, up, and away we go...

Barbara shows her relief at having reached the top...

It was a "Grind (stone)" to reach, but we arrived at the falls after a challenging, but rewarding day...

The End