“I can choose either to be a victim of the world
or an adventurer in search of treasure.
It's all a question of how I view my life.”
Paulo Coelho
Sometimes you are given treasures even when you are not looking for them. This morning, I was fortunate to have two adventurous ladies join me for a pre-hike. The first treasure.
This is a very sandy part of the county - Pontypool Sand according to the soil map.
Wheat fields were looking healthy and the rows were beginning to be covered in with leaves.
There is a good reason why so much of this area was planted to forest a century ago. It really isn't good farmland. In drought years there is no crop to harvest.
On Saturday, the trilliums should be in full bloom. Treasure #2.
If you look carefully, you can see trilliums below. They will be sensational on the weekend.
Not to be outdone by the trilliums, here and there we came across other interesting spring flowers.
Bellworts! Treasure #3
There is very little mud to be found on this route. It may look muddy, but it is just sand and water. Easy to pick your way around.
I am guessing that by Saturday we will see a lot more green in the canopy of the forest.
Treasure #4. RED Trilliums!
There are a few homes tucked into the hills here and there. Over the 6+ km we did not encounter one vehicle. My kind of hike.
Feeding the world, one wheat field at a time.
Heading back north again, we encountered a few wet spots.
It looks like the 4-wheelers have moved their trail to the right now that they've caused the former trail to wash out. I am not a fan of 4-wheelers in sandy areas.
This area of the forest has a wide variety of trees....
.... some that turn into cool bunny houses when they die....
.... some that just make the trail look pretty....
..... some that stand out starkly against their neighbours....
..... and some with convenient holes right through them so you can see your friends.
It's cherry blossom time too. Treasure #5.
And, treasure #6 - the largest balsam fir tree I've ever seen.
There are very few hills on this hike. I would rate it as EASY.
We will meet at the Hwy 45 Commuter Parking Lot, carpooling and leaving at 9:30 - Saturday, May 6. If you wish to join us at the start of the hike, be there for 9:45. Be aware that half the road sign is missing. It should say Gleason's Corners Road. This road is on the west side of Doug's Small Engines. (map below)
what3words coordinate for parking: crowd/uppers/shaken
Who knows what treasures you will find?
Yorumlar