Hullet Marsh by Margaret Duncan

Here are some beautiful photos by Margaret Duncan from Hullet Marsh's Trekkers Walk.

Kayaking The Bruce and Georgian Bay

Cameron Lake of Hwy 6 going North towards Tobermorey, North of Miller Lake past McVicar not far from Little Cove Provincial Park

Relaxing on the Saugeen River

Kayaking the Bruce Peninsula

Bell Lake at Sunset

Kayaking the Bruce Peninsula

Exploring caves at Lions Head

Kayaking the Bruce Peninsula

Kayaking at Lions Head, as you can see the bluff in the background.

Kayaking the Saugeen River near Maple Hill

Delia

To All Members

I wanted to take a moment and thank Delia for her contributions not only to this blog but to the Thames Valley Trail Association. She has been a consistant and prolific contributor of brilliant photographs not to mention her colorful journalistic commentary. We will miss these contributions but her spirit will be there always for old and new members alike to enjoy as long as the blog survives.
Thank you Delia. Keep in touch. You can always contribute to the blog from home. Your access to this blog will always be as 'author', as it should be.

Regards and best wishes
jmac

AT THE MOUTH OF FANSHAWE LAKE

Thames River at the mouth of Fanshawe Lake at dawn. I was fog bound until about 8:00am even then the fog did not clear until about 10:30-11:00am. The humidity was unbearable by noon.

Medway Valley

Thanks a lot to all of you who have made my hikes with TVTA so pleasurable and stimulating! Thanks to the hike leaders, their knowledge and skill, which meant that I did not have to study the route. Thank you for helping out when it came to selling off our worldly belongings before we have to go home again.   I will remember TVTA fondly and carry your badge proudly.

24 hikers met at the Eastern end of Gainsborough Road on Thursday to traipse up and down Medway Valley Heritage Forrest. We also passed Brescia College at one point - the wheat now harvested which grew there not so long ago.

Duck or jump?

Medway Creek

Fungus on wood

There seemed to be even more wildflowers out than before: striking Goldenrod, starry blue Chicory, small white daisies, little pink Wild Sweet Peas and many more.

A plant of the Salvia family, probably Blue Vervain

A good example of Poison Ivy - don't touch.

Stoney Creek Valley

On this humid and hazy Tuesday morning a large number of ramblers met up at the end of Windermere Road. I have no real idea of where the hike leader took us: we crossed Adelaide Street and Windermere Road and certainly spent some time in Stoney Creek Valley, but probably also in Sprucedale Park and Kilally West Northside.

A lone duck in Stoney Creek.

39 hikers: a strong group had fun for over two hours.

Towards the end of the hike, a Great Blue Heron emerged from the Valley.

We also came across a deer - but I am glad to say, not many stinging and biting insects. Which was surprising really, considering the high temperatures and sauna-like humidity.

Hike around Westminster Ponds

Another hot and humid day. I drove to Westminster Ponds to join up with the TVTA hikers - and missed them! Had left the house just a bit too late. Still, another hiker had cut it just a bit too tight as well and we set off together into the wilderness of the woods surrounding the ponds. The mosquitos were fierce. Although I had sprayed myself (almost all over) with bug spray, they just loved my hands and face.

At the water's edge: plenty of lilies floating on the surface.

The emerald lagoon.

The path: at times steep and covered in roots.

I would not say that we were lost - but I certainly did not know where exactly we were, either. Thus when we chanced upon the TVTA hikers somewhere in the woods, there was no question about not joining them. The hike leader knew where the cars were parked!

Back in the safety of the group.

Plover Mills to Ebenezer Road

There were six of us today, meeting at Highbury/Huron to carpool further north near Highway 7. We took almost two hours in the heat of the day to cover 4.3 km along Thames River from Plover Mills Rd. to Saunders Auto Parts on Ebenezer Rd.

Tom and a crew of volunteers had cleared the path only yesterday; thus we were able to stroll at our leisure along the corridor hewn into the shoulder-high bush and grassland.

This was a varied and enjoyable route: steep woodlands, plenty of wooden bridges, fields and grassland.

Some tiny fungi in the woods.

Thames River below the woods.

There are plenty of wild flowers out at the moment.

View Larger Map

Saturday Walk at Medway Creek

By 9am temperatures were already approaching my comfort limit. Thirty walkers met at UWO parking lot to walk past Brescia College into Medway Valley Heritage Forest and back to the cars via Huron College. At 10am it was too hot to enjoy taking another step.

Grain field north of Brescia College.

One of the numerous dead and bleached trees along the field. 

Hi John,

I'm forwarding some photos of the third leg of the end-to-end taken by Bill Clifford. A dozen members hiked about 24 Km from Komoka Park to Greenway Park. Also passed through Kains Forest, Warbler Woods and Springbank Park. Fortunately, the predicted bad weather held off!