Short, but Sweet

Wed. 18 March:  Glen Tay Trails

Alien tourists have landed in Glen Tay

As our hike leader said:  “Short and Sweet”.  Although we were out on the trails for less than an hour, this was one of the quirkiest places I have ever visited. 

The Tay Valley trails meander through woodland, dropping down from the road to the edge of a creek which feeds the Tay River, a short distance upstream from Perth.  

The owners of the area have a unique sense of humour.  They have put to use old bikes, and random pieces of metal and wire, to create a slightly scary alien zone.  Here, gigantic mosquitos, caterpillars and woodpeckers cling to tree trunks, and an alien visitor stands by his crashed space craft, with a real camera hanging from his wrist. 

There is a little playground, and two rope ferries across the small creek.  Nailed to trees are tiny trail signs, with descriptive names such as “Longshadow Trails”, “Gopher Knoll”, “Sugar Bush Road”, “Privy Hill”, and so on.  In the centre of the woods is a post to which a mail box has been attached, with a small visitor book inside.  What a great idea!  We should have more visitor books on other trails which we visit.

Despite this being a cloudless day, it felt very cold, with a biting breeze, and so after one circuit of the park, the vote was unanimous:  time to repair to Perth for a hot coffee. 

Our adventure in this alien playground had been short, but sweet. 

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

Statistics:

Total Distance:     2.5 km (hike)

Height Gain:         Say 20 ft.

Time on Trail:       0 hrs. 52 mins.

Start:                      9.38 am

Ret. to cars:         10.30 am

Temp:                   Minus 8C

Weather:              Cloudless, bitter N. breeze

All manner of quirky objects in the woods

Caterpillar

The visitor book (great idea - should have
more of these along the trails)

Actually, I think we are the Wednesday Wanderers,
but we felt more like warriors in a strange land today.

Mechanical mosquito?

Joining in the fun at the playground

Ying and Yang

This creek runs into the Tay River not far downstream

Lots of little trail signs pointing all over the place

Woodpecker (or metalpecker?)

Pretty woodland scene

Mad March Days

Sun. 15 March:  Mad March Days:  The Rideau Trail circuit from Ferrier Road

Mad March Days on the Rideau Trail

The pictures can tell the story of this weekend’s trip. 

It was one of those late winter days when the blustery wind was racing through the tree-tops, and it still felt cold, although the temperatures were closer to zero than they had been for a long time.  The snow was losing its strength, making snow-shoes essential for the remoter sections of this circuit.

This route took us southwards through one of the most varied and interesting sections of the Rideau Trail, before returning along quiet, snow-packed country roads to the starting point on Ferrier Road.

Highlight of our journey was the lunch stop at the lonely hunters cabin, where the thoughtful occupants had left some comfy swivel chairs out on the front porch.  It made for a luxurious resting place.

The gusts of wind carried the sound of a distant train horn across the fields and forests.  We hoped that, on this mad March day, it was also scurrying away with the last gasps of a long, cold winter.

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


Statistics: 

Total Distance:         10.5 km (‘shoe)

Height Gain:             Say 200 ft.

Time on Trail:           3 hrs. 41 mins.

Start Ferrier Rd:        9.50 am

Hunters Cabin:        11.39 am 

Stanley Rd:             12.37 pm

Ferrier Rd:                1.00 pm

Ret. to cars:              1.31 pm

Temp:                 Minus 1 C

Weather:            Blustery winds, spits of snow, overcast

Crossing the stile at Ferrier Road

Into the woods

Stile style

Boardwalk balance

This is a rugged section of the Rideau Trail

A favourite tree (or what's left of it)

Bridge crossing

The hunters cabin - our lunch stop

30-pointer:   That would be some stag

Back on the trail

Heading down the road from McLaren Point

Ferrier Road

An apple a day...

Sleepy Lagoon

Wed. 11 March:  The Perth Sewage Lagoons

A stroll down to the lagoons

Let’s admit it.  A trip to the local sewage ponds does not sound like a recipe for excitement.  On the other hand, a journey to the Perth Lagoons sets an entirely different picture.  The very word “lagoon” conjures up a romantic hideaway in some far-off paradise.  To this author, the first thing that springs to mind is the dreamy music of Eric Coates’s “Sleepy Lagoon” (better known to Brits as the theme tune to “Desert Island Discs”).  As you read this short piece, connect to this website – but make sure not to nod off!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNac1AXQFps

It was a pleasant change today to be able to set out on foot from Conlon Farm.  With our snow shoes in hand, we strolled through the residential streets of our own town.  It was a little tricky crossing the main road, which for a short while was a steady stream of traffic.  Emerging onto South Street, we came to a gate leading to open fields.  Here we stopped to put on our snow-shoes before heading out into the countryside. 

Beneath our feet, thankfully hidden below the snow, ran the main sewer line out of town, marked by signs and by the occasional manhole cover in the snow. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant walk across the fields, with a warm sun overhead, and just a few non-threatening clouds. 

Bypassing a gate, we entered the woods at the “Perth Lagoon” sign.  In the open area to our right were dozens of herons nests in the high branches of the trees.  What a sight this will be in a few weeks’ time as the birds return from their winter break.  Beside the track, a tree had recently been shredded by a hungry porcupine, leaving a tasty meal on the ground for the deer which will likely follow.

Our eagerly awaited lagoons soon appeared ahead of us, a wide expanse of open snow-covered lake with an access road running across the middle.  We had hoped to see the resident owl here, but although we saw crows, and snow buntings, and a cardinal in cheerful song, the owl was hiding somewhere – perhaps sent to sleep by dreamy lagoon music.

The lagoons were fringed with reeds, and there was a faint odor as one might have expected.  Nevertheless, it was a quiet, winter scene, and a surprisingly large expanse of what, in a short while, will be open water, and a good venue for birders.

Returning the same way we had come, we finished off our short adventure with a visit to the local café, where the  proprietor took care of nine unexpected – but not sleepy - visitors.

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

Statistics:

Total Distance:         3.5 km (hike) + 3.8 km (‘shoe) = 7.3 km

Height Gain:             None

Time on Trail:           2 hrs. 20 mins.

Conlon Farm:             9.34 am

South Street:              9.59 am

Lagoons:                  10.50 am

South Street:            11.27 am

Ret. to cars:              11.54 am

Temp:            Plus 3C rising to plus 6C

Weather:       Sunny, a few clouds

The streets of  Perth

The path to the lagoons

Footprints crossing the trail

Heron's  nest...

...and lots more

Approaching the lagoons

A  snowy (if  not sleepy) lagoon

Return journey

A much milder day as Spring approaches

Returning to Conlon Farm

Streets wet from the melting snow

Beside the Fairgrounds

A great way to round off another successful trip

On the Race Circuit

Sat. 7 March:  On the Race Circuit:  Murphys Point Ski Trails

On the Murphys Point Loppet race course

Just a few weeks ago, on a bitterly cold winter’s day, I stood beside this trail dressed in my warmest parka, as the skiers raced past.  Now today it was my turn to try out the course, and I’m glad to report that it was a much more pleasant day.

In fact, this might have been the perfect weather for an enjoyable cross-country ski trip:  a few degrees below freezing, light covering of new snow, tracks set the day before, and a welcome sun shining through the trees.  I chose the blue wax, which worked as well as it had ever worked before, and it held for the whole trip.  Usually I would have to stop at some point to apply more, or different, wax.  There was no need today, as we glided through the forest on a ten kilometre circuit.

We were a team of six well-matched skiers.  It was not a surprise to see several others enjoying the trails today.  There were perhaps a dozen or more other people out there, and it seemed that our leader knew them all!  Murphys Point is a popular place for the local community, so this wasn’t entirely surprising.  At one point we were even greeting an invisible friend whose voice was heard from a nearby trail!

Our progress was steady, even swift at times, as we made a clockwise loop of the longest circuit in the park. We enjoyed the perfect mix of small hills and long glides through the trees.  There were a few steeper sections, but nothing that gave us any problems, and we all returned in one piece!

Back at the Lally hut, we relaxed beside a warm stove.  As we gathered beside our cars, we looked for, and saw, the local porcupine sitting up a tree beside the homestead.  Earlier, a little further along the trail, we had seen animal tracks, where a porcupine had moved from its den in a culvert to a handy tree.  Around the tree on the snow were scattered branches where the animal had climbed up for a meal. 

Today the temperatures had started a steady rise, which would bring them above freezing next week.  We had probably chosen one of the last perfect days this winter season to be out on our skis.  What better place to be testing our racing prowess!

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

Statistics:

Total Distance:         10.5 km (XC Ski)

Height Gain:             Say 80 ft.

Time on Trail:           2 hrs. 14 mins.

Start Lally parking:     9.55 am

Gatehouse (#8):       10.34 am

Jn. #3:                      10.54 am

Jn. #6:                      11.37 am

McParlan Jn.:           11.50 am

Lally Homestead:     12.09 pm

Ret. to cars:             12.42 pm

Temp:           Minus 5C rising to minus 3C

Weather:      Sunny, thin cloud building

Quite a busy trail at times today

Speeding past kilometre 8

The Loppet start/finish line is to the right of the gate-house

Gliding past a broken tree stump

Perfect conditions for a cross-country ski trip

Finally starting to warm up a little...

..but not yet warm enough for a trip to the beach!

Nice wide trails

Scenic the whole way around

Back to Lally Homestead and a snack beside the warm stove