Date – May 20, 2012
Location – Map 35, Wiarton to Map 36, Cape
Croker
Distance – 19.8 km
Total Trail Distance – 275.1 (618.9 to go)
Hikers – Steve, Simon, Dean, Marlene, Madeleine,
Benjamin, Harold and Janette
Start – 167.3 Wiarton Airport, Sydenham
Section
End – 17.1 Purple Valley Access Trail, Peninsula
Section
Direction – North
Weather – Hot and sunny.
Details – This is the second weekend hike that we’ve
done since starting our Bruce Trail adventure, but yesterday was the first time
we hiked more than 20 km in one day and today we are feeling it. Everyone is
very sore and there’s a bit of reluctance to get the shoes back on and head out
again. We make good use of the washroom facilities at Tim Hortons in Wiarton
while stocking up on coffee and breakfast sandwiches, and then head back out
onto the trail.
As we pass through a meadow beside the Wiarton Airport,
it doesn’t take long for us to get into the swing of hiking again, and it
begins to get easier.
It’s another hot day, so during our first snack
break, shortly after passing the massive Wiarton Willie statue, some of us take
a dip in the frigid waters of Colpoy’s Bay, while we are still hiking at water
level. Very soon after that, we climb a spiral staircase leading to the Spirit
Rock Conservation Area, and we spend the rest of the hike along the top of the
escarpment.
There is still quite a bit of poison ivy on the
trail, although not as much as on the south side of Colpoy's Bay. We come across numerous lookout points with
stunning vistas across the bay, and we begin to almost take them for granted.
We see powerboats and sailboats out on the bay, taking advantage of this
gorgeous warm and sunny long weekend weather.
Once again we are thrilled to see large patches of trillium in full
bloom – one of the joys of spring hiking.
By the time we near the end of the second day, the
distance we’ve hiked over the past two days begins to catch up with us. The
last few kilometres are very difficult, and it seems to be all we can do to
just focus and keep going. We are relieved and exhausted when we finally reach
our vehicle, but very satisfied with what we have accomplished over the
weekend.
We head back to camp, pack up our camper and gear,
and thank Bill and Laura for allowing us to set up camp at their place. It’s a
long drive home, but we are happy hikers, already planning the next outing.
Guest post by
Dean.
