It's my birthday. I'm 42. I don't enjoy my birthday very much. I'm taking my heartbreak and loneliness to the forest.
A year ago I was emerging from the Amazon in Ecuador, with no clue that Canada was shutting down. It's been a long fucking year of heartbreak and healing. More heartbreak. Incremental healing.
I've been working on the Caledon Hills winter badge. This hike will complete the requirements.
I'm working my way through the Hockley Valley Provincial Nature Reserve on this hike and it's fitting that I come across an owl pellet fairly early on. I haven't seen one since Niagara.
There are green things emerging.
The Nottawasaga River passes through the park here and it really is flowing. So much so that I have to get creative to get through the water covered trail.
The sun feels great.
Super great. These hikes make it worth all the time I spend trapped at my kitchen table desk.
I completely soak a foot on the return as I try and cross the trail at the river again.
I decide to take another side trail on the return and try out some shirtless hiking. it's cold but it's sunny. I'm solo. It's my birthday. Fuck yes.
Toronto entered a different version of lockdown on Monday, so on my way home I'm able to stop at Value Village and do some thrifting. It's time to start thinking about outfitting myself for spring hiking. I have one more hike of Caledon Hills and then I'm back to Iroquoia. I will have to return to Caledon for 2 hikes that are mostly road, plus one hike that will take me into Dufferin Highlands, the next section north of Caledon Hills.
Stats:
starting near marker 61.3
ending near marker 68
total hiked today: 6.7 (15.08 total with side trail returns)
total Bruce Trail hiked since starting: 173.1
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