On the Bruce Trail - Hamilton to Dundas

Last fall, not long after I moved from Dundas to nearby Hamilton, I took a hike along the Bruce Trail from Dundurn Street in Hamilton to Governor's Road in Dundas. It was a sort of connecting pilgrimage that I felt I needed to do at the time, a way of saying, it's not that far, I can walk there. Well, that, and the inviting beauty of the trail that helps transmute the daily noise of living into a long, solitary, and highly enjoyable hike.
I did the same route today, this time a summer walk in glorious sunshine, and it took longer to reach my destination as I was able to linger without the threat of a chill. In all, I was walking for a little over five hours. Well, walking and snacking, taking photos, dipping my feet in a forest stream, stopping for lunch at Sherman Falls, etc., but alone, mostly walking, and trying to be present while letting the stresses of life fall to the wayside.
Not having anyone with me was just right today. Sometimes I just like to set my own pace, and not have to worry about talking or adjusting my response to another's needs. Being able to find your natural rhythm is by definition not a group activity.
The route takes me from Hamilton, through Ancaster, and into Dundas, with distinct natural habitats encountered along the way: deep forest streams, open fields, escarpment bluffs.
When I got to the end of my route through the woods, I went to a bus stop to wait for a ride back to Hamilton; after a few minutes a friend drove by, saw me, and pulled over to offer a ride. It was a great way to break the silence.

walking with the portable Thoreau

"...the walking of which I speak has nothing in it akin to taking exercise...but is itself the enterprise and adventure of the day. If you would get exercise, go in search of the springs of life."

"Walking" by Henry David Thoreau

c'mon tim hortons drinkers, don't trash the trails!

What is with people who leave their take-out cups on the nature trails? If you can't afford to own a reusable mug, at least cart the cup to the next garbage container. This one was in Hendry Valley, near Grindstone Creek.

forest of song

Walkers in the region are being rewarded with lots of migrating bird sightings, including a rare visit by five pelicans in Cootes Paradise.
For budding birders, more common bird sightings will be aided by this site:
http://www.learnbirdsongs.com/index.php
Put a little song in your step next time you are on the trails, there may be a little warbler in your next walk.

Two Wrongs

Lesson One: Keep your dogs on a leash
Lesson Two: Don't use violence to solve differences...

Mother’s Day dustup at Christie TheSpec.com - Local - Mother’s Day dustup at Christie

John Burman, Hamilton Spectator


Hamilton police believe two errant dogs caused a punchup between two groups of men at Christie Conservation Area on Mother’s Day.

It started when one older man and his mid-20s son went fishing, with their two dogs, at the conservation area Sunday evening around 6:30.

The dogs were not on leashes and ran out in front of two cyclists, an older man with a younger companion.

Words were exchanged. The cyclists dismounted and the younger rider belted the older fisherman in the face.

The two got back on their bikes and the younger cyclist damaged the fishermen’s vehicle before they rode away.

The man who was punched was treated for minor injuries in hospital and released.

Police are looking for a white, 20-something male with short hair who wore a hoodie and sweatpants. His older companion is said to be about 50 years old, about five-foot-six inches tall, who has a beard and gray and white hair.

sunset at princess point

springy conditions

On a marvelous Sunny Sunday, with the temperature hitting 11 degrees celsius, there were lots of people out hiking and riding in Dundas Valley today. Most of the trails, like the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail were in perfect condition for such users, but there were muddy spots in the gloomier parts of the forest beneath the hemlocks - as evidenced in the above photo, taken on the Spring Creek Trail.

The mud should pose no problem to hikers properly attired, but cyclists should consider dismounting and walking their bikes through such paths, in the interest of trail maintanence; at least that's what I did.