Friday, 12 July 2019

Sydenham - Centennial Tower (90.1 km) to Visitors Centre (105.3 km) - June 27th, 2019


It was another sunny day when we started our second day of hiking which was shorter at 15.2 km but the first 5 km were very challenging through the Palisades section of the Trail.  Hikers were Mike, Nancy, Ann, Arpi, Steve, Marleen, Brian, Stefan and Boyd the photographer.

The view from Centennial Tower over Owen Sound.

The Trail quickly enters the Palisades with numerous crevices and very rocky footing.


Ann does her part to support the escarpment as we pass through.


Brian inspects the potential crevices for exploring.





Brian points to the hole we crawled out of.

Footing is challenging through this portion.

Climbing into a new crevice.



Maybe there is a way out?


Stefan is the last to squeeze out of the hole.

The Devil's Chimney with climbing anchors.

The Devil's Playground.

The Trail then enters a cedar forest with a much easier footing.

Our first glimpse of the Sydenham River.


We finally reached Inglis falls where we had our lunch by the river above the falls.

A viewpoint over Inglis Falls.


The Trail becomes much easier for the last 10 km of the hike winding through forests and fields.

We encountered some friendly pigs along the way.

Another snack close to the end of the hike.



A final descent.

Our bridge picture at the end of the hike.  Some people just refuse to use bridges.

Sydenham - East Linton (119.2 km) to Lundy Lane (135.4 km) - June 26th, 2019

It was sunny day when we started our 17.3 km hike from East Linton to Lundy Lane (a trail reroute has extended the Main Trail distance from the 29th Edition). Hikers were Brian, Steve, Nancy, Arpi, Marleen, Stefan, and Ann as photographer.

We had to climb a short steep hill to access the Main Trail

The trail follows a series of narrow crevices.





We finally reached the top of the escarpment with some spectacular views.


Ann poses by a rock with a fern hair cap.

The Trail passes along numerous deep crevices.


Time to explore some of the crevices.

Arpi provides scale at the Gap Side Trail where we had our lunch.

Another view from the escarpment.

The Trail descends the escarpment.

Where we find a spot for our bridge picture.  Stefan managed to hide his face.

The Trail follows a series of fields.




Some areas were wet and required detours.

The Trail crosses Lindenwood Rd. which heads down towards Owen Sound harbour.

More views.


We begin the final descent towards Lundy Lane.


The trek through one more field.

The cows seem to be waiting for us as we get to the cars.
So off to the Nights Inn in Owen Sound and a Mexican Restaurant dinner after appetizers in the courtyard of the motel.