Caledon Section: Horses, Vodka and Cones of Silence

The Blistered Sisters set out to conquer the Caledon Hills section of the Bruce Trail on Oct 15th, 2017.

After an early 7 am departure from Ottawa, we arrived in the Halton Hills/Caledon region around lunchtime. We immediately dropped one shuttle car and headed to our start pt at Terra Cotta, where the trail is actually the last 10 km of the Toronto section. We parked and launched.  Into the torrential rain. And wind. Of course.

Fortunately, we had Matchy Yellow Ponchos this year that immediately transformed us into Genetically Compromised Creatures. Onward into the sideways rain we marched...

 pretending to be pretty and cheerful.

Day #1 (half day)
Start and End Pt: Bottom of Terra Cotta Forest Conservation Area at 27 Sideroad and Tenth Line to the Cheltenham Badlands, corner of Olde Baseline Rd and Creditview Rd.
Distance: 10 km
Hike Time: 3 hrs
Weather: heavy rains, warm, huge winds
Terrain: easy, flat, often on parts of recreational pathways
Wildlife Sightings: none
FitBit Step Count: 18,914 steps

The rain persisted and turned into what some might call a "slashing" rain. Sideways with strong accompanying winds. Trees came down on the path ahead of us. Three of the Blistered Sisters are immensely grateful to Sue for her ridiculously long Starbucks order*. We are convinced that if she was inclined to order a "normal" hot beverage, (say, for example, a "tall latte") that we would have been ten minutes ahead on the trail and thus killed instantly by a falling grove of trees. Our hashtag (if any one of us actually had an Instagram account would have been  #wecoodabinkilt.

The Cheltenham brickworks, now abandoned.  Established in 1912 and in full operation by 1914, the brickyard was the first in Canada to mass produce bricks, shipping to national and international markets by truck and rail. The area was rich in “medina shale,"  a hard clay that made excellent bricks when fired in kilns.

The hike ended (wetly) at the Cheltenham Badlands. These badlands are apparently created from erosion caused by mismanagement of farming practices (overgrazing by cattle mostly). The rock is soft and the coloration caused by mineral content (iron oxide).

In spite of the rain, it was very pretty. 

Lucky for us we were booked into a sweet B and B in Terra Cotta for two nights. The Peartree was a perfect soft landing for us, run by the very competent Audrey. We marvelled at the spacious/gracious house, had hot showers and went out for dinner at a nearby pub (The Copper Kettle) with Diana's cousins Deb and Kevin. That night, the coyotes sang!

Random Asides:

1. Sue's typical hot beverage order: " the Double Ristretto Venti Half-Soy Nonfat Decaf Organic Chocolate Brownie Iced Vanilla Double-Shot Gingerbread Frappuccino Extra Hot With Foam Whipped Cream Upside Down Double Blended, One Sweet'N Low and One Nutrasweet." 

Please note:  Once you have ordered this, you cannot order anything larger. 

2. We did wonder what we were thinking on previous hikes, trying to cook sides of salmon and vegetable-stuffed-puff-pastries in toaster ovens.  Way easier to go to a pub and order a burger and fries!

Day #2

Our second day dawned brightly. We were encouraged by the sunshine and downed a veritable feast of eggs and toast and a delish salad (all beautifully presented by Audrey) before getting our gear together and setting out on the first section of the Caledon Hills trail.

Start and End Point: Corner of Olde Baseline Road and Creditview Rd to Kennedy Rd/Escarpment Sideroad

Distance: 21.8 km

Hike Time: full day

Weather: Sunny, cool (10-12 degrees)

Terrain: This hike travels through the very picturesque Forks of the Credit Provincial park. We hiked on different terrains, including trails through fields, rocky boulder fields with steep descents (and cables to hang onto), as well as along gravel sideroads lined with stunning horse farms. 

Wildlife: One brief and panicked snake moment by Liz. 

FitBit Step Count: 32,784

We began the day with a bit of a bang. Under the Blistered Sister's Cone of Silence, little more can be said about this incident which may have involved a stationary object and vehicle. Pls see the Sisters' Prepared Statement* in the Random Asides section below.

The forest floor was covered with hollow segmented grasses that we have yet to identify. 

There were lots of stunning horse farms, selling for nice little prices like $9 million USD!

Teal green fungi!

We lunched in a sunny, warm field. The Matchy Yellow Ponchos have multiples uses, we discovered. 

Liz's chewy homemade granola-ish bars were a huge hit. Here's la recette:

Whitewater Granola Bars

1 cup butter

1.5 cups peanut butter

1.5 T vanilla

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup corn syrup

6 cups oats

1 cup coconut, toasted

1 cup sunflower seeds, toasted

1 cup sesame seeds, toasted

2 cups chocolate chips

Toast coconut and seeds in skillet. Cool and set aside. Cream butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar. Add in syrup. Mix in remaining ingredients. Press into greased cookie sheet and bake 20 min at 350 til golden brown. 

Cool slightly and cut while warm.

We ended the day tired but happy. After hot showers, S and K introduced the newly christened Blistered Sister's Official Drink that involves ice cold blood orange vodka, soda water and ice.

C'est tres bien quoi. 

Random Asides:
1. D is a trooper and somehow manages to keep on hiking, even while suffering from very painful plantar fasciitis. We are all in awe of her.
2. Official Prepared Statement of the Blistered Sisters:

In order to protect a certain Sister and her family members, The Blistered Sisters decline all further public commentary on an alleged incident that may have taken place between a stationary object and a vehicle.  However, the Sisters will acknowledge one of their membership may not have used the full range of technological assistive devices available to her. 

Day #3
Our third day of hiking was not our best. We got off to a very late start after yet another outstanding breakfast by Audrey (Mexican empanadas this time, with a huge selection of delicious fillings) and got ourselves lost trying to find our next shuttle car drop spot. (*Note to selves: bring a map of ON too, as the Bruce Trail maps are too small in scale to adequately see where we are in the larger surroundings.) However, we eventually found our way and set out under sunny skies and balmy temps.

Start and End Pt: Corner of Escarpment and Kennedy Roads, ending at 7th Line Parking Access Trail
Distance:22.6 km
Hike Time:full day
Weather: breezy, cool at times when out of the sun, lots of sunshine
Terrain: easy, flat,often on roads
Wildlife Sightings:wild turkeys, hawks, 1 garter snake, small fish in waterways

 FitBit Step Count: 36,704 steps

This section of the trail was a bit less interesting for us. We were often on the road which is harder on the feet, but also sometimes just too busy (ie Airport Road!). We did pass many palatial homes and equestrian farms with gorgeous horses. Most of these homes seem to be lived in on weekends only and have high security gates, guard houses, and video surveillance.  When the trail did tuck back into the woods, the terrain was rolling, the forests were highly managed, and there were many downed trees from the high winds of the previous days. In some places, you can see the Toronto skyline very clearly.

Note bright pink survival whistle and bear bell keeping us safe.

#wecoodabinkilt

#wecoodabinkilt

We had a late lunch on the trail (literally) 

and talked incessantly about vodka (in anticipation!)

We picked up our two vehicles and may have adopted a bit of a bank robber look for the drive.

But the truth of the matter was that there was a strong odeur d'essence due to a spill in one of the shuttle cars that necessitated "the look." Knew our new Canada 150 bandanas would end up being useful!!

For our third and fourth nights, we changed accommodations and stayed at the Hockley Meadows Farm, a lovely place owned by former TO Argonaut Bill Symons and his wife Trish. Here's Bill-then and now. Super welcoming people.

Thanks to Diana, we were able to convert an old dentist's chair in the basement into a superb massage chair that somehow complemented the Blood Orange Vodka awfully well...

and found the perfect size of wine glass on top of the fridge.

Sunset over the Hockley Valley

Day 4
On our final full day, we awoke early to a stunning sunrise! Worth a pic or two in our pjs!

Start and End Point:  7th Line Parking Access Trail to the base of the Hockley
Valley Provincial Nature Reserve

Distance: 18 km

Hike Time: full day

Weather: Sunny, balmy (20 degrees)

Terrain: Rolling terrain, well maintained and marked trail through beautiful hemlock and ironwood forest, significant maple sugar bush, small brooks and waterfalls, ski hill with stunning view

Wildlife: wild turkeys, monarch butterflies, one tiny mushroom-coloured tree toad

FitBit Step Count: 31,274 steps

This hiking day was only 18 km but felt like more, probably because we were getting tired. It was also a very beautiful hike with gorgeous fall colours (especially the poplars and the sumac) and small waterways. Quite possibly our favorite day.

Maple sugar operation

Clearly, we are not the only "old relics" on the trail...😁

Near the end of the hike, we found ourselves on top of a ski hill that had a black diamond run...

and a gorgeous view that we savoured for a few moments.

We finished the day very close to a cute country inn (The Mono Cliffs Inn) and restaurant. We trooped sweatily in and had a lovely light meal of soup and salad before returning to our farm for the night.

Random Asides:
1. We may have replaced our evening yoga practices with vodka and G&Ts. Perhaps has the same effect?
2. Never trust S when she says our B&B hosts are out for the evening. K may have been doing a highly suggestive zumba dance in the high beams of the car THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE DRIVEWAY upon our return, only to notice our kind hosts smiling and waving from the window.

Day#5 (half day)
Start and End Point: Base of the Hockley Valley Provincial Nature Reserve (on Hwy 7) to Mono Centre (Hwy 8)

Distance: 11 km

Hike Time: half day

Weather: Sunny, balmy (20 degrees)

Terrain: Rolling terrain, trail passes directly through the nature reserve, pretty hardwood forest, some road walking. The final kilometre was actually the first kilometre of the next section of the Bruce Trail-the Dufferin Hi-Land Section.

Wildlife: no sightings although we did cross a rocky area that looked pretty snake-friendly!

FitBit Step Count:

It always feels a bit sad to start off on the last day, knowing that soon we will be back on the 401 and returning to our busy urban lives. We already somehow intuitively knew that "forest bathing" was good for our souls and it is hard to leave.

Random Asides:
 1. For the first time, we created a "walking book club." It got off to a rough start when none of us could remember the name of the book (although we had all read it) and there was some confusion as to the author's name ie. Barry Sebastian or Sebastian Barry. But we all agreed it is a fun way to discuss a book of interest. Two possible titles for next trip are For Joshua or The Hidden Life of Trees.
2. We also experimented with "mindful" or meditative walking. A good practice we all agree. Walking in silence. focusing only on breathing.
3. Our knitting projects have fallen by the wayside a bit.  A bit like the yoga. Replaced by vodka drinking. Will try and get back on track next round.

Next up: In spring of 2018, the Blistered Sisters will back track slightly to pick up some missing parts of the Iroquoia section of the trail (about 40 km) as well as three sections of the Toronto section (an additional 40 km).