Bruce Trail - Mallory Beach to Wiarton

Today we hiked the northwest side of Colpoy's Bay.

We drove up to the Mallory Beach Rd access point and walked back to Wiarton. This is the first time that we have walked "backwards", every other time we have walked in the Niagara to Tobermory direction.

The access trail was straight up hill and then we were on to a very rocky and rough section of the Bruce. We were glad to have this at the beginning of our hike as it takes focus and concentration to place poles and feet and not stumble. Much harder to do at the end when we are tired.

The trail went right along the edge, or the "scarp" as the guide book calls it, with occasional views across the bay.

It was really quite lovely and after a while we were warm enough to strip of layers of clothing until we were down to t-shirts.

We had started at 10:15 and stopped for a snack at about 11:30. We had decided to stop a couple of times for refreshments as we were going a bit further today.

The next section was through meadows and Nic and I spent time getting photos of the masses of monarchs among the clover.

It was warm out in the open, wading through the long grass. Periodically we would be negotiating areas of flat bedrock with huge cracks reminding us how little top soil there is here.

At the access points and whenever we crossed a road there was a station to brush off our boots. They are trying to stop the spread of seeds from invasive plants.

We stopped again for coconut water, cheese, trail mix, mangoes and snap peas.

Nicola knew this was coming from reading the guidebook but was still less than impressed. "Who puts a spiral staircase in the middle of the woods?!"

Hates heights!

The last 3km were beside the lake, crystal clear and gently lapping with occasional boulders that had fallen from the top of the escarpment.

We watched some large Merganser families fluttering, splashing and diving

from a seat by the water treatment plant and then

walked past the marina to get home.

We drove back out and picked up the car, showered and then drove into Owen Sound (just over 30minutes) to check out a quilt store (closed), Fabricland (Nicola scored a half price cutting mat) and have supper out. We had just started looking for a restaurant on line when we noticed a place with a patio close to the water. It turned out to be a real find. Mudtown Station is in a renovated train station (CPR) that was built in 1946. We sat on the patio even though we were already a little sun burned but felt that the days of patio eating are nearly over for the year .We were blown away by the menu and basically wanted to try everything.

I settled for marinated, grilled octopus over a greek salad.

Nicola had rainbow trout, salad and duck fat roasted potatoes (crisp outside, melt in your mouth inside). The was also a creamy lemon sauce accompaniment.

We felt we had earned the shared dessert - vanilla ice cream, waffle, picards peanuts, chocolate sauce and maltesers.

There were hops growing beside the patio

because it is also a craft brewery.

Bruce Trail - Bruce's Caves to Wiarton

Today we drove to Bruce's Caves and hiked back to the campsite. Then drove back to Bruce's caves to pick up the car.

It was grey and cool for most of the hike, very comfortable.

We usually avoid the side trails as we have enough hiking with just doing the Bruce Trail, but were curious about the caves so walked the extra kilometre (in and out)

The caves did not disappoint. They were large and formed into two huge arches, formed by an ancient sea.

The floor was covered in rubble from the roof.

We played with taking pictures

and then walked back to the parking lot to join the access trail to the Bruce Trail.

This section was rocky and we had to watch for loose stones and tree roots.

The woodpeckers had had a field day with this tree making rectangular holes?

Fall colours were infrequent.

Then we were on to the road for 2 1/2 kms. This is Himalayan Balsam according to Nicola's App.

We turned off the road and over a stile into

meadows of milkweed, golden rod and monarchs

next to Wiarton Airport.

The sign at the entrance to the airport advertised "Non stop flights from Toronto". On looking it up I found that they fly out of Billy Bishop Airport, cost about $150 and take about 45 minutes. As we passed the main terminal we saw a plane with CANADA marked on its side and 3 big black SUVs lined up. A workman further down the trail said that Justin Trudeau had flown in. We looked that up and he was coming in to an event in Owen Sound. Sigh, no photo bomb.

The next section was very overgrown and we were hot so stopped for cheese, trail mix and coconut water. That gave us a boost.

Then Nicola got a surprise. Direct quote "You've got to be kidding me". She hates heights.

Although steep and slippery they were solid and we both negotiated them with care.

The final kilometre or so was through Wiarton

and ended at Bluewater park and the campsite.

We finished our snacks sitting by the water, drove back to get the car, showered and then sat outside in the occasional sun to knit and rug hook. We had hiked about 9km and took about 3 hours.

Had a glass of wine while watching a small group of sailboats tack back and forth, set their sails and then sail up the sound towards Georgian Bay.

Wiarton to hike the Bruce Trail.

I hitched up the trailer and drove to Guelph on Monday afternoon and then Nicola and I drove in convoy up to Wiarton on Tuesday. It started out foggy, then just grey, then blue sky and as we approached Wiarton, started raining.

Water pouring off the awning. We unhitched and set the trailer up in the rain. Inside in the warm and dry we changed into dry clothes.

Although it is just a couple of blocks away we drove to downtown Wiarton and found a place to have lunch. We then explored about 2/3rds of the main street. Of note was an amazing used book store with piles of books on the floor and in boxes as well as cramming the shelves. I have never seen so many Nora Roberts or Clive Cusslers in one place. There was also a beautiful quilt store, Nicola was in heaven. We grocery shopped and went back to the trailer.

Wiarton Willie is everywhere. This is a mural downtown.

The campground office is in the railway building. It was moved here from a few blocks away.

The campground is right on the waterfront

and the Bruce Trail runs right through it.

We took our wine and walked by the bay

The sun came out and it was quite warm.

I thought he was a loon but on closer inspection, a grebe. (oops I have been corrected - a Merganser)

She came to check us out, sitting on a bench, but soon moved off as we had no food to offer her.

We realized we were hungry and headed back to the trailer to make supper.

This is giving me a chance to figure out what I am missing in the trailer so far the list has tube of garlic, aluminum foil, chicken stock and bowl big enough to do the dishes in. Tomorrow, weather permitting, we will do some hiking.