Sydenham Km 160.6 to Peninsula Km 5.8 - 15 Sept, 2015

Sydenham 12 - Km 160.6 Bruce Caves Conservation Area to Peninsula 1 - Km 5.8 Colpoy’s Bay Road Side Parking (13.6 km)

Weather; sunny and warm, beautiful hiking weather (no bugs)

Actual distance hiked 14 km

Hikers; Case, Steve, Andy,Karen Leader, Christine, Liz Guest hiker, Ann, Helgy
and Richard leader.

The cars were positioned after we met in Shelburne and took a last pit stop in Wiarton. Had lots of fun paying our Conservation area parking fees with Steve's mobile phone, thank goodness we have a nerd or two in the group!

We left Bruces Caves parking lot (Note to Conservation area: please spend our parking fees on grading your access road, Karen's Acura may never recover!) and climbed the side trail to the main trail.

"Did you bring the map?"

After a short stroll through the Conservation area we were following Bruce Rd 1 along the south side of Colpoy's Bay. Passing the hamlet of Oxenden the trail then moves off the road to skirt the Wiarton Airport an old WWII air training station.

Steve chooses his sarcophagus, military surplus?

At the edge of Wiarton the trail descends a steep cliff via two ladders, which was exactly where Case dropped his camera. After clattering some 40 ft down a scree slope Karen rescued it for him and by some miracle it still worked. Case must have been a Saint in some former incarnation!

The stroll into Wiarton along the towns streets was a pleasant change from the cow tracks around the airport and the water's edge park (Bluewater Beach) made a pleasant lunch stop.

Wiarton Willie and us!

We followed Bayview St out of Wiarton past the Marina and the water treatment plant walking along the lake edge until we reached the magnificent spiral staircase leading up to the Corran ruins.

We emerged from a cattle pasture to cross Bruce Rd 9 just above the village of Colpoy's Bay. The trail takes the back-roads and fields behind the village and we joined Bruce rd 9 again at the end of the village at Kribbs Mill. It came complete with a wooded stream, little water fall and some comfortable benches, so after getting their shoes from the car at the cemetery that was where the car-less waited for the their shuttle.

Kribb's Mill stream

Back to Wiarton Willies Inn and our host Raymond.

However tonight we relied on Social Director Steve to find Wiarton's hidden gem The Irish Parlour pub. we had a great meal and good beer.

All were resolved to return the next night only to discover they are closed on Wednesdays!!!

Oh well, definitely a first world problem. Quey sera.

Peninsula Km 34.3 to Km 50.4 - 10 September, 2015

Section and Distance: Peninsula from Boundary Bluffs ST 34.3 km to Jackson’s Cove Rd 50.4 km. Main trail distance hiked 16.1 km.

Weather: Cool at mostly sunny and approx 18 C

Actual distance hiked: 16.1 km

Hikers:  Our Hike Leader: Richard, Liz*, Debbie* Andy, Christine, Ian*, Steve, Helgy, Ann and Case.  *Guest Hikers

 With a challenging last day’s hiking ahead of us we decided on a “hot pursuit” start. The passengers were dropped off at Boundary Bluffs ST and started walking under Steve Kelly’s leadership and the drivers headed for Jackson’s Cove Rd our end point. There we left two cars, the third returning with the drivers who started some 40 minutes behind the main party.

The start of the hike was climbing to the top of Sydney Bay Bluff. The route was up an impressive forested talus slope with a steel staircase to scale the final cliff. 

This lead to the first of many spectacular look-outs.  The first were of Sydney Bay. and then after we cut across the bluff it was Hope Bay laid out below us. The hot pursuers caught up with the rest of the party at the Harts Tongue ST. Shortly thereafter we descended off the escarpment via a steep set of stairs and then a ladder which caused a few raised pulse rates!  

Then after cutting across the bluff it was Hope Bay laid out below us. The hot pursuers caught up with the rest of the party at the Harts Tongue ST. Shortly thereafter we descended off the escarpment via a steep set of stairs and then a ladder which caused a few raised pulse rates!  

It was a welcome break as we came out on Brock St and got to do a little road walking after the rugged escarpment edge. Hope Bay Rd, Beech St and Water St led back to the cliffs north of Hope Bay. We left Ian and Debbie in Hope Bay to be picked up later. With this in mind two drivers made a “hot escape” to minimise the amount of time Ian and Deb had to wait. 

The balance of the party continued at their sightseeing pace over rugged trails on the escarpment edge passing the Jack Poste ST, glacial pot holes, spectacular look-outs, the Don Irish ST and our final waypoint the Hopeness ST. 

The last kilometre snaked up and down just below the scarp edge and seemed a particularly long km due to an extremely tough footing! We found the last car (and Steve’s pole) where they had been left in the Jackson’s Cove Rd parking area. We all met up at Tim’s in Wiarton to reunite people with their luggage and their drivers, before heading home.

The last kilometre snaked up and down just below the scarp edge and seemed a particularly long km due to an extremely tough footing!  

We found the last car (and Steve’s pole) where they had been left in the Jackson’s Cove Rd parking area. We all met up at Tim’s in Wiarton to reunite people with their luggage and their drivers, before heading home.

Peninsula Km 20.6 to Km 34.3 - 09 September, 2015

Section and Distance: Peninsula Km 20.6 to Km 34.3
Weather:  Warm and a little humid at first finishing parly cloudy with cool N. breezes

Actual Distance hiked:  14.3

Hikers: Leader Richard, Ian*, Debbie*, Andy, Helgy, Christine, Steve, Liz*, Ann and Case

* Guest Hikers: 

After meeting in Hepworth, one car was positioned in Cape Crocker Indian Park at the parking area (and porta-potty) by Boundary Bluffs ST and Main trail intersection. The park is v hiker friendly, we only had to pay $5 for the one car being parked (worth 2 km on Boundary Bluffs ST to Pit Rd parking we figured!).

Two cars were parked then at Coveney’s Rd and Crooked Toe Rd parking. We accessed the main trail via Covemey’s Side Trail. We were quickly below the escarpment edge via a steep set of stairs, the Moss Crevice ladder where we disturbed an Eastern (or red Spotted) Newt eft.

Eastern (or red spotted) Newt Eft

We crossed Coveney’s Rd and were shortly at the Knapp Lookout looking out between Kings Point and Jones Bluffs at Georgian Bay, Hay Island and Cape Croker. The trail then meets Crooked Toe Rd and follows it out to boundary Rd. We re-entered the forest where the Jones Bluff ST cuts off from the main trail. The trail follows the escarpment edge all around Jones Bluff with numerous lookouts onto the impressive bluff cliffs and over Cape Croker and then Sydney bay to the north. It was on Jones Bluff we met a party of senior lady hikers from Southampton and Port Elgin who had encountered a wasp nest on the trail. Luckily we avoided any such encounter! After rejoining the Jones Bluff ST the trail descended the escarpment and followed Sydney Bay Rd to Park Rd and into the Cape Croker Indian Park.

 

Those who thought we were now home were sorely mistaken as we still had about 3 km from the Park gates to our cars. It included a very impressive section of boardwalk funded by BTC and constructed by the Cape Croker Band. The board walk had one particularly scenic lookout on the bay with a large comfy bench much appreciated by us tiring hikers!

 

 

We found our car at the intersection with the Boundary Bay ST, did the shuttle and adjourned to Wiarton Willies Inn and a night on the town in Wild West Wiarton!