The Passionate Hiker: Old Bob

Friday, November 24, 2017

Old Bob

Fri. 24 November: Old Bob

A grand viewpoint above Westport Sand Lake

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

I don’t know who Old Bob was, but he has a fine viewpoint above Westport Sand Lake named after him.

Unfortunately someone keeps taking the sign down at the lookout point. Every time I stop here, I end up reattaching the sign to the tree. Not that you need to be told there’s a view here. It stares you in the face – a magnificent rocky outcrop from which you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the lake and, off to the left, the spires of Westport village.

So once again I applied some spare duct tape to the sign – but I hope someone might make a more permanent fix.

This ten kilometre circuit of Westport Sand Lake is worth the effort. The first seven kilometres follow the route of the Rideau Trail, climbing steeply from Lions Beach up onto the top of the escarpment, and along an often waterlogged route to the western end of the lake, then dropping down onto Concession Road 9 heading southwards.

Apart from Old Bob’s Lookout, the best view is just before you drop down off the escarpment onto the road. Here you get an enticing glimpse of rural Eastern Ontario stretching away to a distant lake, framed by the trees.

Of course, I wouldn’t particularly recommend County Road 12 for a quiet stroll. But today there was hardly any traffic on it, and it made for a speedy three kilometre, mostly downhill, journey back into Westport, the wind at my back. It worked for me. For hikers with just one vehicle, looking for a nice circuit, this is it. Why not try it out before the snow flies?