Bruce Trail - Map 14, Heritage Rd to Chinguacousy Rd

I am very late writing this post as Nicola and I hiked this section of the Bruce Trail on June 20th. We had planned 2 days of hiking in the Hockley Valley but thunderstorm predictions caused us to cancel our hotel reservation and change that plan to August. We had been planning to hike this section for a couple of years but the Badlands was closed for development and then due to Covid.

The first section was lovely, through cool woods,

with trickles in the stream beds.

There were occasional, flower strewn, meadows,

where I wasted time

trying to get pictures of butterflies.

It's much easier to get pictures of berries and

flowers.

At the halfway point we were out on to the roads, hot and muggy, and we were thankful for the clouds.

Past the Spirit Tree Cidery which looked very busy (and tempting),

farms,

fields and

homes (Catalpa tree in full bloom)

often in the full sun, it was a real "slog". (Eastern Bluebird)

Finally we reached the Cheltenham Badlands

and we could walk in the shade again until

we reached the lookout areas.

When we used to live just down Mississauga Rd from here, you could wander at will around the old brick factory and this unusual geological area

but now it's all fenced off

with viewing areas,

signage and

 a parking area that you have to reserve and it costs $20.

Back out on to the road and we noticed that the Gypsy Moth Caterpillars

had stripped a lot of the roadside shrubs bare.

The last stretch, up hill to the car. As Nic said, "every step we take is one we wont have to take again."

8.5km and not our most enjoyable hike

but we were thrilled when we realized that we had completed the Toronto section of the trail. A few emails to the Toronto Club and we received our first End-to-End badges!