The first thing I noticed today was that it took less time to drive to my starting point. I’m very slowly getting closer to Toronto. Eventually, somewhere around Halton Hills, I’ll hit the closest point and then start moving away again.

The hike started with some beautiful views out over the local vineyards to the lake. It was quite striking with the sun coming up. For some reason I really noticed the ferns on this hike. I don’t really have anything interesting or funny to say about that, there were a lot of ferns. If anyone is reading this (ha!) and knows a good fern joke let me know. I’ve also been on the lookout for interesting mushrooms/fungi, but I haven’t seen much. When I was portaging in northern Ontario as a kid I used to see all kinds of interesting fungi, but not much here. It’s possible that a well maintained trail simply doesn’t have enough decaying wood/leaf matter to foster them.

Again, there were lots of surface street sections here, many of them going right past wineries. They are all closed at 7:30AM of course. I have half a mind to bring some wine with me and each time I pass a winery, stop, and have a “tasting” of my own. Wine is mostly water, so it counts as hydration. I do not have a problem. In addition to lots of vineyards I stumbled upon a lost/discarded journal. The first page contained a Post-It Note reminding the owner to get some Ozempic.

I encountered more hikers this time than normal. Possibly because the weather was so nice, possibly because it was Father’s Day. There was a dad and his three kids who were running the trail, I caught them on the way out and back. I asked my kids what they wanted to do for Father’s Day, they said anything but hiking. So, I have some work to do there.

Just before Thirty Mile Creek I encountered my friends from the previous hike, the two vultures. I managed to snap a photo of one this time. I have no reason to believe these are the same two as the last time, but I’m going to anyway. Most people would think that having a pair of vultures shadowing them would be a bad sign. But we don’t really know what vultures are like, maybe they’re nice. They may even provide meat rain from time to time, so that’s good. I also happened upon a groundhog who came out on the road to sun himself.

After Forty Mile Creek I had a choice. The main trail goes in an eastbound loop out to the edge of the escarpment. However, I could cut about 1.8km off my hike by taking a side trail “short cut” to the next parking lot. I resolved that my goal was to hike the main trail, so I did. I was richly rewarded; the trail goes right to the edge of the escarpment where the creek cuts it in half. There were gorgeous views out over the town of Grimsby and Lake Ontario. They even had elevated viewing platforms. Just before the parking lot there was another elevated platform for the “Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch”. I climbed it but didn’t see any hawks. Worst. Hawk platform. Ever.

When I requested an Uber to take me back to my start point I really thought I’d had it. I got the “we’re trying to find you a driver” message, where I was just waiting. I did finally match with a driver who was 25 minutes away. Amazingly he showed up and was really interested in the trail and what I was doing. The next few hikes transit Hamilton so it shouldn’t be a problem, but it was a nail biting few minutes.

Right next to my start point was the Cave Springs Vineyard tasting room and it happened to be open by this time. Of course, I tasted some wine and brought home a few bottles. It was Father’s Day after all.
As far as I can tell I have now completed the Niagara section of the trail and can apply for my “all the way” Niagara badge! Pictures to follow.

I thought of one. Why is a forest floor covered in ferns said to be “richly” covered? Because they out f-earn all the other plants. insert audience silence with lone person coughing sound

Only 797.4km to go!