The Passionate Hiker: Swamp Man

Fri. 30 October: Miners Point Road Circuit

Swamp Man

Since it’s Halloween tomorrow, it didn’t seem entirely inappropriate that I was wandering around in the swamps today. Luckily there was no scary Swamp Man to be seen, with or without his axe.

Assuming you have a bike handy, this makes yet another perfect loop, allowing you to enjoy one of the most exciting sections of the Rideau Trail without having to retrace your steps. It’s also very convenient, as all you have to do is to drop the bike off at Lally Homestead as you drive down to the trailhead on Miner’s Point Road.

The trail was rerouted recently to avoid the construction work behind the monastery. The new trail was easy to follow as it meandered through the woods, before connecting up with the original route at the first beaver dam. For the next couple of kilometres I was hopping from one beaver dam to another, as the trail wandered through the swamps. The secret to a beaver dam is to stay right at the top of the dam, even if there appears to be an easier route just below the dam. The apparent trail of beaten-down bushes was made by people finding out that the alternative to tip-toeing across a narrow dam will only lead to wet feet and a hasty retreat.

Many of the trail signs through the swamps consisted of wooden posts sticking out of a small stone cairn. Some of these posts had fallen down. I did my best to replace them, but it will need work next year by our friends in the Kingston Club. Overall the signage was very good through the labyrinth, and noticeably better than on my end-to-end journey last year.

There were few birds on the waters, with just an occasional small flock of ducks (I think) taking off silently as I approached. I saw no herons today – I assumed they have already departed for the winter.

It was with some relief that I emerged onto the lonely gravel road leading to Black Ance Point. From here, I was on the well-groomed trails of Murphys Point Provincial Park. These magnificent woodland paths are equally enjoyable in every season of the year. McParlan House made an ideal rest stop. It sits in such a perfect setting that I can never resist the temptation to add to my growing collection of photos of the scene. And so back to Lally Homestead. A cool northwest wind was blowing, but in the protection of the sturdy stone barn foundations, it was warm in the sunshine.

From Lally Homestead back to the monastery was a pleasant bike ride along almost empty roads, the wind at my back. All too soon I was back at the car, with energy to spare. But more than one trip to the swamps at Halloween would be asking for trouble!

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

Statistics:

Distance: 7.7 km (hike) + 7.8 km (bike) = 15.5 km total

Height Gain: Say 80 ft.

Time on Trail: 3 hrs. 11 mins.

Monastery: 9.01 am

McParlan Ho: 10.45 am

Lally Homestd: 11.34 am

Ret. to car: 12.12 pm

Temp.: +4C

Weather: Sunny, cool NW wind