Straight Forward

Sun. 24 April:  Straight Forward

The Duke of Plaza-Toro
leading his regiment from behind

What could be simpler than a hike along an old railway line? 

The answer is: a return hike along an old railway line.   Why?  Because a return trip would avoid the complex world of car shuttling. 

Luckily for the Passionate Hiker, he had an amazingly helpful team of drivers today, who willingly offered their vehicles to make sure everyone had a ride, and equally supportive hikers who made no complaint as they waited patiently as the shuttle process took place.

Straight Forward
(pre-hike pic)

There is actually a simple formula for car shuttles, which assures nobody is left waiting at the start or end of a trip, and this is critical on winter hikes with sub-zero temperatures.  But it sometimes requires more vehicles than are available.  And for a hike such as today’s, under bright sunny skies and comfortable temperatures, there was no penalty to be paid for a short wait.

The reader might wonder why a group of experienced hikers would choose to walk along a railway line in the first place, when there are plenty of more “interesting” trails available in the area.  But these railway hikes are popular, whether they be along the Cataraqui Trail, or the K&P Trail – both of which this author completed end-to-end last year - or in this case, the Ontario and Quebec railway, (the O&Q).  The appeal lies in the ability to stretch the legs and make effortless progress, while enjoying good conversation and not having to look out for rocks and roots along the way.  And there is, in this author’s experience, always lots of interest, even when least expected. 

Lunch beside McGowan Lake
(pre-hike pic)

Our ten kilometre journey today started in a rural farming setting, ending up in a remoter swampy forested landscape.  The line curved through gentle valleys, sometimes passing through low rock cuts, and then across wet swamps on raised embankments.  There were old farms close to the line, quiet country lanes crossing our route occasionally, and a handful of passing quad riders – always considerate – and then there was the pair of hiking boots.  

There they lay, beside the trail, a pair of smart-looking boots in perfectly good condition.  We wondered how they might have ended up there.  Perhaps they fell off a passing quad bike, or maybe someone had been abducted by aliens or eaten by a bear – we had no good answer.  So we left them in the middle of the trail for some lucky passer-by to find, and resumed our journey, slightly puzzled.

Our lunch stop took place at the seven kilometre mark above the south shore of McGowan Lake, more familiar from the north side where the busy Highway 7 follows the shoreline.  But some thoughtless tick landed on someone’s leg, and so prompted a shorter than usual break.  It was, however, a good reminder for all of us to keep an eye out for those impossibly elusive and sometimes sneaky – and always tiny - pests.

Our route

There might be lots more that could be written about this pleasant stroll, but this will do.  The author apologizes to the reader for not having made use of his camera today.  Unlike the celebrated Duke of Plaza-Toro, he chose to lead his regiment of fourteen other hikers from the front!

So as the reader can see, it was all very straight forward.  And straight forward is definitely a good thing as far as any conscientious hike leader is concerned.

Enjoy this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dmQMl3JtLY

Picking Up Steam

Sat. 16 April:  Picking Up Steam

Spectacular start for a hike:  Sharbot Lake

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

Spring seems to have arrived like an express train.

As I walked along the trail this morning, I was suddenly surrounded by multitudes of tiny colorful butterflies.  The temperatures were climbing rapidly, from 7 degrees C at the start of the hike to the low twenties later in the afternoon.  Buds were opening up, unseen creatures were diving into the swamps with loud “plops” as I passed, and squirrels were chasing each other up the tree branches.  Everything was on the move.

I chose this scenic section of the old K&P railway line, north from Sharbot Lake, to try out a recovering knee.  This was an ideal route to stretch the legs and gather momentum, as I trundled northwards from the old railway station.  Here, steam trains once halted on their way North, South, East or West, for Sharbot Lake was once a busy junction.

The good news is that the Passionate Hiker is picking up steam, and is moving towards his first major challenge of the year, the 100 km Settlers Trek, in mid-May.  Stay tuned.

Heading north beside the lake...

...on the old K&P railway line.

Passing beneath the Trans-Canada Hwy #7

A lonely trail except  for the occasional polite travelers

Returning beside the lake on a perfect day

Imagine living on this island!

The railway line just south of my starting place

Today's map.

Hidden Surprises

Thurs. 14 April:  Hidden Surprises

Take a blue trail on your next trip

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

Don’t ignore those side trails!

I wonder how many Rideau Trail travellers venture down the alternative trails, marked by blue triangles?  Probably not many.  Yet sometimes these lesser-known side trails offer hidden surprises. 

For example, who has visited the Stoney Steps, a tumbling cascade on Brassils Creek, north of Burritts Rapids, just a few hundred metres off the main trail?  Or the ghost town trail south of Perth?  Just to name two of many hidden gems.

One unlikely candidate is the “winter bypass” blue trail north of Bedford Mills.  This route avoids the rope ferry.  But who would want to do that?  Today I started at Bedford Mills, travelling northwards along the rugged, undulating, often wet trail to McAndrews Road, making use of the ferry along the way.  I say “northwards” but this trail, on its way to Ottawa, seems to point in every direction except for north. 

On my return journey I followed the blue bypass route.  It runs through the woods, above a long, narrow lake, shown as a swamp on the map.  This is the lake crossed by the rope ferry.  At the far end of the lake there is a perfect rocky viewpoint, well worth the effort to visit.   And hidden upstream beneath a short cliff were two icefalls, reluctant to let go of their wintry grip.  It may be warm and sunny elsewhere across Eastern Ontario, but in this lonely corner, the seasons have been much slower to turn.

Now I’m keen to try out all those other blue side trails so handily captured in the free maps on the Rideau Trail website. 

Perhaps one day I might actually meet someone on these remote routes?  In the meantime, enjoy these pictures.

Bedford Mill

More ups and downs along this section

And a few wet patches

The inukshuk sentinel 

The ferry

The water is alarmingly deep

The lonely bypass route...

...leading to a nice viewpoint...

Playing with shadows

Icefall draped over the cliff in its final days of existence

Wrestling Match

Sun. 10 April:  Wrestling Match

Magnificent pileated woodpecker
high up in the trees

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

Recently I took up wrestling – with my camera. 

I have been exploring the mysterious world beyond the “automatic” setting; or in the case of my sophisticated Lumix camera, the “Intelligent Automatic” setting. I assume they are referring to the camera, not the user, as so far I have not had much luck.

But today I was presented with the ideal opportunity to try out the “multiple shot” button when a large, colorful pileated woodpecker landed high up a bare tree branch and started to knock loudly on the wood. It was a magnificent sight.  The reader can be the judge of whether I’m making any progress with my new sport.

Murphys Point Provincial Park, just a short drive from Perth, is full of opportunities for the hiker, and today I created a loop which I can highly recommend to others.  The map shows my route.  It was the perfect day for a walk, with only a light dusting of snow in shady areas, the thin ice on the lake rapidly breaking up into little platelets, and the temperatures hovering just below freezing, keeping away any early flying bugs.

Enjoy these pictures.

There is still some ice in the bays

Not sure if I'm being welcomed or scared off.

Bare tree tops

The enchanting Sylvan Trail

Signs of powerful winds

A remote corner of Murphys Point park

Point Trail

The choppy waters of Big Rideau Lake

And the ice breaking up into little platelets

Point Trail visitors book

If you move quickly between these two photos...

...you will see the woodpecker at work

A highly recommended 7.3 km loop

“The Snow has Gone!”

Sat. 9 April:  “The Snow has Gone!”

The only sound today was the wind in the treetops

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

“The snow has gone!” 

I must have made this claim a half dozen times in the last month, and on each occasion I’ve been proved wrong.  But this time, I just might finally be right.

The end of the snow also means the start of the maintenance season on our trail.  So today, as a general early season check-out, I drove the entire route of the Central section of the Rideau Trail, which runs from Rosedale Road (east of Smiths Falls) in the north to Lally Homestead in the south.  There were signs to be checked – and replaced. 

It may surprise the reader that 31 of the 64 kilometres of this Central section lie on roads – either paved highways or unpaved side roads.  This allows the busy maintainer to do a lot of work from the seat of his car!

Having reached Lally Homestead, on the most perfect sunny day, with temperatures a few degrees below freezing, I could not resist a small hike.  So I strolled into the woods for the first enchanting section of trail north from Lally to Round Lake, and back again. 

These pictures might tempt the reader to do some exploring for themselves.  They will not be disappointed.

Trailhead just north of Lally Homestead

The author surprised a deer here once - deserted today

Shadows and the last skiff of snow

Magical woodland pathways

Here the Rideau Trail heads north into the wilderness

Round Lake - a perfect place to rest

Soon the landscape will be shrouded in a leafy cloak

Back at Lally Homestead

Along the Right Lines

Sun. 3 April:  Along the Right Lines

Along the Right Lines:  The Cataraqui Trail near Chaffey's Lock

Note: click on picture for full size view.

On a brisk, sunny day, with temperatures firmly below zero, the Passionate Hiker ventured out onto the Cataraqui Trail to try out a new and improved knee – well, not new, but hopefully improved. 

All went well. 

His incentive was to meet up with his hiking colleagues, who were marching east from the Skycroft wilderness, and to hike the most spectacular section of this old railway line, where it crosses high above the Rideau Canal near Chaffeys Lock on an iron bridge.  

As he strode with increasing confidence along the trail, an ideal testing ground, the author knew that his exciting outdoor plans for 2016 were starting off along the right lines.