Cochrane Road Pre-Hike

I woke up thinking that I should do the pre-hike of Saturday's hike today. The weather forecast was calling for rain and I have a busy week ahead. When I looked out the window, my thoughts were confirmed. How can you not want to go outside on a morning like this?

Saturday's hike will begin on Cochrane Road where it intersects with Dale Road. What3words co-ordinate for parking is debater.make.plaza . Park on Cochrane.

The route follows Cochrane>Cornish Hollow>Ball>Ferguson>Racetrack>Dale.

I am calling the hike a "moderate" because there are a few short steep hills, one long shallow hill and one gravelly, steep decline. The hike is 8.19 km with an elevation gain of 152 m.

Many of this fall's colours are a memory now.

It doesn't take long before you are on an unmaintained portion of the road. In the spring this section is impassable on foot unless you are wearing rubber boots. I find it so interesting that in our county springs are found on hills.

Walking sticks are recommended for this hike. This section of the route is impassable many winter days because another spring emerges in this section creating a huge icy patch. The best time of year to walk this road is right now.

Our sponsor today is red. All along this morning's walk reds leaped out at me, begging to be photographed.

Where Cochrane Rd. meets Cornish Hollow Road, I saw more red. At first I thought it was very big berries.

No.

Small apples.

The long, shallow incline follows much of Cornish Hollow Rd.

There's our sponsor again. Persistent fellow.

If you walked here in May, you would be able to take home vegetables for supper. Note to self: asparagus in the ditch on Cornish Hollow Rd.

On Ball Road there is a shallow incline as well. Squirrels were scrambling around in the noisy maple leaves as I walked by.

Looks like our sponsor is into roof painting.

Today, as I walked by this bunch of beehives I had an epiphany. I always am a bit worried walking by myself through the wooded area on Cochrane Road. Bears live in Northumberland County. I wonder if I might meet one there. This morning, it hit me that there must not be bears in this immediate area. If they were, this apiary would be fenced. Whew!

More sponsors wanting their minute of fame.

Ferguson Road is slightly busier. We may encounter farm equipment there.

Corn harvest might be starting by the weekend. It's that time of year.

I can't guarantee that turkeys will cross your path on Saturday.

Here's a closer look, just in case we don't see them then.

I can guarantee that you will see a couple of llamas.

Llamas and goats.

And cows.

Details of Saturday's Hike:

Leaving from where Cochrane Road meets Dale Road. Park on Cochrane.

What3words co-ordinates for parking: https://w3w.co/debater.make.plaza

Length: 8.19 km - MODERATE

Bring: water/snack/hiking poles

Optional lunch at Ted & Hilda's place when we pass by. Meat & Vegetarian Chilis & buns.

“I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light.”

Helen Keller