The Rideau Trail 2018 End-to-End Hikes: 14. Port Elmsley (11C-) to Smiths Falls (Cornelia Court) (12A+)

Sun. 12 August: 

The Rideau Trail 2018 End-to-End Hikes: 

14. Port Elmsley (11C-) to Smiths Falls (Cornelia Court) (12A+)

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

We survived a shooting range AND busy Highway 43 to arrive safely in Smiths Falls with all ten hikers still intact.

It wasn’t that bad.  The so-called rifle range looked more like a target board for kids with air guns.  Nevertheless, the fields leading south from Port Elmsley were littered with shotgun cartridges and spent .303 shells, so we knew that there had been some more serious shooting going on over the past few days.  The shells had not been there the previous Tuesday when we checked out the route. 

To be safe, our hike leaders were wearing our bright orange RTA safety gear.  Who says hiking in Eastern Ontario is boring?!

Once more we were grateful for the work of the “weed whackers union” for clearing the way through the tall grasses and the prickly ash in readiness for our walk.

So now we have broken the 200 kilometre barrier (207 km from Kingston to Smiths Falls) and we have only 123 kilometres left to do.  Ottawa here we come.

Spent cartridges and shells littered the trail south of Port Elmsley

An alert group approaches site of "rifle range"

Sign peppered with holes

On the lookout for shooters...

...but the field is empty

Lovely pathway through the grasses and prickly ash

The farmer takes credit for this nicely manicured field

Crossing the stile onto Poonamalie Side Road

A glimpse of an arm of the Rideau Lakes and access to the Rideau Canal

Pleasant road walk (Poonamalie Side Road)

Not so pleasant road walk (Hwy 43 approaching Smiths Falls)