I've managed to route out the rest of the Toronto section and if I'm able to do one hike each week, I'll be able to finish it by February 13. The longest hike will be almost 15 km out and back and I'm hoping this can be my standard length for the Iroquoia section. I've routed that out too, but have no idea when I'll be able to take that on, because fuck this pandemic.
Today they declared a state of emergency and there's conflicting advice about what is essential exercise. Is it essential that I drive 45 minutes each way to hike? Probably not. But am I going to do it anyway because I just need to get the fuck out of Toronto once a week? Fuck yes.
Am typing this after having taken a sick day. I'm not sleeping well and when the alarm goes off in the morning, I immediately feel super anxious, like someone has punched me in the sternum. Also, my entire body is sore and I'm trying not to think about the possibility of COVID.
I was sick a year ago. I spent about 4 days passed out on the couch, with a fever and heavy chest. For three weeks afterwards, I coughed so much that I had to use bladder leakage pads. I feel fairly certain that what I had was the first wave of COVID that hit Toronto, but there's no way to know for sure.
This hike takes me through cornfields for 2 km and looks like they've planted these trees to keep folks on trail and not in the fields. It's a sunny day and it's so nice that I stop every so often just to close my eyes and hold my face to the sun.
Once crossing 5th line, I've entered Limehouse Conservation Area and it's...busy. And busy with folks who aren't prepared for the packed down snow/ice, so there is a lot of screaming. It's unpleasant. It's also more people than I want to be around. I do follow the trail to get into the Hole in the Wall and try and get a photo but am distracted by a screaming child and a couple coming VERY VERY close to me.
I've seen many photos of Limehouse on IG and I did try to visit once in the summer, but the crowds were too much. It's nice to explore in winter and because I have microspikes, I can literally run on the ice around people who are in my way.
Plus cool frozen things in the water! How was that even formed?
I get to my turnaround point and decide to take the Black Creek side trail on the return to avoid crowds. This takes me along the creek and I stop a few times just to enjoy the sound of the water and to take photos of more frozen things. I also find that someone has pulled a cedar branch off of a tree, so I strip it down and bag it to pass on, hoping one of my Indigenous friends could use it. I end up passing the two poop bags full onto a Metis friend.
While taking a video, I spot what I later determine to be a mink but am not able to capture it on video.
It's super peaceful and quiet on the side trail and even tho I end up having to climb a hill, the terrain is nothing like the hills in Niagara.
Back across those cornfields again...
Stats:
starting near marker: 17.4 km
ending near marker: 21.5 km
total hiked today: 4.1 km x 2
total Bruce Trail hiked since starting: 104.8 km
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