Bruce Trail: Firemans Park to Woodend Conservation Area

A few weekends ago Nicola and I continued our hike on the Bruce Trail.

We were very excited because the new guide that Nicky had ordered had arrived the day before we needed it (close call). Last month we had used maps that she had downloaded and they were difficult to read.

This had clear, fold out maps that can be taken out of the guide and put in a plastic pouch (comes with it) for carrying on the trail. We still have to take our glasses with us though, maps are pretty small..

The guide also has sections on the history of the Bruce Trail Conservancy, geology and fuana and flora.

After making sure, this time, that we had both sets of car keys

we set of from Firemans Park, where we had left the trail last month.

Although most of this weekends hike was very close to St Catherines, the QEW and Hwy 406, we were only occasionally aware of traffic noise and subdivisions, most of the time it was woodland and meadows.

Trail blaze on a birdhouse. They were usually on trees or (on the roads) telephone poles.

This section of trail had a lot of creeks and wet spots to be navigated, sometimes with bridges and boardwalks but other times just piles of stones to step on.

Hiking a month later meant that the plants and flowers were all different. There were lots of brambles and berries.

Doesn't look very attractive but we were very glad of it.

A footbridge over the QEW

and shortly after, a rather wet tunnel (known as the "screaming tunnel") under the railway.

A section on a country road took us past vineyards,

a shoe tree (why?)

and a couple of guinea fowl

before heading across private land ,

with a lovely pond,

Lunch - granola (with M&Ms), snap peas, cheese curds and protein powder (I was not a fan).

The escarpment rock outcrops are quite impressive in places

and if it wasn't for the traffic noise you wouldn't know how close to the QEW you are.

The trail goes around

Walker Living Campus, with its

statues and

flower beds. It is an outdoor education centre run by the Niagara District School Board.

A glimpse of Lake Ontario through the trees

and a ghostly Toronto skyline across the Lake.

After 8km we were at the days destination.

After checking in at the hotel in St Catherines and a shower, we felt revitalized enough for wine,

appetizers (stuffed mushroom caps and herbed goat cheese with port poached pears) and quilt store shopping.

For supper we took a taxi to Port Dalhousie. To quote Nicky "this is when gluten free sucks". My cheesecake and her fruit sorbet (the only gluten free dessert available)

The Lake levels are still very high. There is no beach left at Port Dalhousie.

We bought Meridian from La Salle on Burlington Bay and sailed her to Port Dalhousie the first day. Stayed overnight here before taking her through the Welland Canal to Lake Erie. The dock we moored at that night is under water.

This reminded me of Meridian

and this was definitely the boat that was moored behind us then.

Another glimpse of Toronto

St Catherines honors its rowing history in Port Dalhousie

where the rowing competitions are held.