Hike #43 - September 10, 2021

I've fallen so far behind in writing these. Focus is at an all-time low. So of course I'm stoned and going to try and catch up on a month's worth of hikes. Will copy and paste from IG and try and round things out a bit. 

"Fall is here. I'm driving in the dark again, and the temp read just 9 C as I headed north to Beaver Valley. Just 17.5            km today and it felt like an easy one with no hills, except a little side trail to the base of a spring. I'm approaching my BT anniversary; I started this on Oct 11/2020. I wondered aloud whether I could hit 50% done by then and turns out I'm just 20 km from the 450 km mark. The Bruce Trail length changes with every re-route but it's about 900 km so I'm just 1 hike away from 50% done, as the plan is to finish up Beaver Valley and start Sydenham with the next hike of...20.4 km. I started this because I wanted to prove someone wrong. Am I winning?" 

Right. Someone said to me that he didn't think I like to be uncomfortable, that I only do small things. Dude. I have whitewater rafting on two continents, travelled solo to the US, South and Central America, and travelled and hiked solo in BC. When I finally realized he was cheating on me and learned that they planned to do the trail as a thru-hike, I remembered that his follow-thru is about 20%. I absolutely intend to roll up to that Northern Terminus (where he lives just 2 km away), take a photo and mail it to him as a postcard. 

Anyway, this started off with this wicked ladder/staircase that I had prepared JC for by sending him photos. I am a good friend who only teased him a little in the lead-up. 

There were mushrooms to poke and moss to pet. 

We made our way down a hill and snacked by a spring. 

I had to shit twice on this hike. That makes it three times total. I don't track this in my spreadsheets, but I should. 

There were good views 

I went swimming afterwards. I didn't notice the 'do not swim - gross water' warning until after I'd gone in, so I went back in for good measure. 

I was in no rush to get home. No Annie there. I could have driven off in any direction and no one would be waiting for me at home. 

Did I think about it? Absolutely yes. 

So I went back to Hoggs Falls to get right down to the base. There's a rope/rock ladder and I went down in sandals on wet rock. Not the smartest, but I have stopped caring. If I'm taken out while on the trail, it would be perfectly appropriate. 

Stats:

starting near marker 85

ending near marker 102.5

total hiked today: 17.5

total Bruce Trail hiked since starting: 420.6 km