I took last week off. And then immediately regretted taking a week off. I just wasn't feeling great in the week leading up to the weekend. Muscles were achy, belly was churning. By Saturday night I was booking a COVID test for Sunday morning (negative result emailed the same day).
(I've figured out that the physical issues I've had as of late are related to The Depression. FFS)
I've also done the math and realized that I'm going to run out of trail in just a few more hikes. I will finish up Iroquoia and I can't tackle Sydenham during the snowy months, since it's a 2 hour drive, I don't have snow tires and weather is unpredictable. It will be there in the spring, waiting for me.
I think I'll then tackle the Toronto side trail badge. I can plan some shorter hikes and invite the folks who have been asking to hike with me. Then I'd like to do the Toronto section again, this time to get the non-winter badge.
So I'm back to Iroquoia. I started it in early February, then picked it up again in late March and hiked here in April before the big lockdown. I did some more trail in August. Now I'm back to it to finish it in the fall.
For this hike, I put out a call on FB to see if a Hamilton-based friend could shuttle me and someone volunteered. I haven't seen MMT since March 2020 and it's good to see her and her kiddo again. They meet me at my end point and shuttle me - not without Google maps sending us in circle - to my start point.
And then, I do the same damn thing I did at this section of trail back in August. I go off the paved trail too early and end up heading down this steep hill that is NOT the trail. And this time I fall, rip my pants, and then have to scramble back up the hill in the mud.
From this angle you can't see that my ass cheek is fully exposed. I figure my backpack will cover enough, that I have a bandana on hand that I can drape over from the waistband, etc etc. Fuck it, I keep going.
Next up...more mud. Puddles and puddles of trail. And then into a small conservation area where I'm on paved trail. I look over and see this deer friend! You can see how close we were to the highway. As I moved, she took off and when I watched her leave, a stag came out of nowhere and joined her. I'm aware that I should be wearing my orange hat as I hear gunshots in the distance.
This entire hike will feature water and mud. I'm hiking through Hamilton, known at the City of Waterfalls. I pass by some without taking the extra time to check them out. The trail is soggy and at one point, one appeared to have turned into a waterfall.
I am laughing at this point, and wishing I had someone to share this moment with.
Here's Canterbury Falls
This brings me into Dundas Valley Conservation Area. And I am aware that there are people and my ass is hanging out of my pants
Fuck it. I keep going. I know my pack sits low. I know few people are going to be walking behind me.
If you think my ass was muddy (my underwear were crusted with mud), check out my legs and boots and pack.
In my excitement to get back on the trail, I had neglected to check for trail changes. And this is a big one, because it makes me off the empty trail and through the suburbs, and then into quaint Dundas
It's not ideal, but it's not a busy road. There aren't very many people out. And Dundas is adorable!
Back on track, I've got a hill to climb to get back to my car and one more waterfall. Oh, but first more soggy trail.
Back to the car! It's still there (yes, this is a frequent thought...wondering whether the car has been stolen or towed from where I left it). I'm at the top of the hill and snap a pic. I know that I'll be at this spot again in a week and will want a comparison shot.
I throw my stuff in the car, switch my shoes and mutter about not having a spare pair of bottoms in the car for the first time in 6 months. I wrap my hoodie around my waist to cover my ass and go do some errands, including picking up a bottle of bourbon.
Documenting the damage is hilarious. I have a large welt on my ass, but also dried mud. I do love some nice bruises on my ass, but this is not my preferred way to receive them.
Later in the week I end up scrubbing my pack, jacket and hat in the bathtub. And then tackle the boots a few days later. Messiest hike I've done and I loved it. Life is meant to involve getting dirty.
Stats:
starting near marker 40.5
ending near marker 59.8
total hiked today: 19.3 (plus the re-route)
total Bruce Trail hiked since starting: 518.3 km
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