The Blanchards Triangle

Wed. 15 April:  The Blanchards Triangle

The start and end of our loop

There’s magic happening south of Lombardy.

We seemed to lose one corner of a square, on our hike today.  Setting out from Blanchards Hill Road, we marched south for a few kilometres along the Cataraqui Trail, the old railway line from Smiths Falls to Napanee. 

Turning left at Bass Road, we travelled for some way through rolling farming country before again turning left at a lonely corner.  Supposing that we were now about half-way, imagine the surprise to find ourselves back at the start within a few minutes!  Surprise and perhaps a little relief.

This is perfect hiking country, with the contrasts between swamps, lakes, woodland and open fields, all set within the gentle rolling landscape on the edge of the Canadian Shield.

Seventeen of us had gathered for the hike on a perfect day, the fresh north wind at our backs.  It was mostly dry under foot, although in the woods the wet snow was still lying. 

As usual when in good company, time slipped by, and our trip was over all too soon.  But it may also have had something to do with that missing last quarter of the square – swallowed up in the mysterious Blanchards Triangle.

  

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance:         7.0 km (hike)

Height Gain:             Nil

Time on Trail:          1 hr. 56 mins.

Blanchards Hill:        9.57 am

Bass Road:             10.56 am

Line 1 Road:           11.37 am

Ret. to cars:            11.53 am

Temp:                     +10 C

Weather:                  Cloudless, keen N. wind

Heading south on the Cataraqui Trail

A  keen wind blowing

Hopeful hockey fan

There is still snow in the woods

Beside the Cataraqui Trail

Remains of a snowdrift in the cutting

Swampland...

...and its residents

Otter Lake:  ice gradually melting

Otter Lake panorama

Kilometre 16 along the Cataraqui Trail, beside busy Hwy 15

We turned left here onto Bass Road

Roadside swamp

Rolling farming country

Back along Blanchards Hill Road...

...to our starting point