Sat, Apr 12 2008 - SLOWPOKES: Cheltenham Badlands (View Original Event Details)
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Just days before there were 30 members on this hike, with a lot more on the waiting list. On the day of the hike there were 15 hard core hikers, ready to handle anything that came our way. Yes, we REALLY do hike in the rain, people! Rain or Shine, the TOC goes...and why? because usually the weather report gets it wrong, as it did this time around. It stopped raining while we wrapping things up at the carpool, and pretty much stayed drip free until a light misty rain started up just as we were finishing for the day. Instead of wet weather, we got a comfortable and clear day -perfect weather for hiking and at times, even too hot!
Much of the usual trail in this loop was either closed or unusable as it's a sensitive area. I was a bit dismissive of just how well the hike would go because we'd be contained to rail trail and concession road. But we did have it all to ourselves as the promise of rain scared off most folks. Rio and Simba enjoyed some off leash action. Rob & Hannah had their binoculars out to catch some spring bird action and reported some success. We came up to a large washed out section of the trail, but managed to surreptitiously skirt a farmer's field to bypass the section and stayed dry.
Right at the end of the hike, we had a bit of newly reconstructed Bruce Trail to follow that took us by the "badland" formation, which if you squint just right you might imagine that you are in the actually badlands. Sort of. The new trail was very impressive - volunteers did an excellent job here.
Close to the end, Sue insisted that we stop for lunch, at least! and picked out a nice log or two to sit on. I had my trail seat with me, but others chose to have a standing lunch. Rio asked some of us to throw his ball and impressed us with his ballcatching technique. 15 minutes later we emerged to our cars and I couldn't convince anyone to go to Chalker's this time around, but promises for future pints. Maybe if it had been really cold and wet...Cordelia and Chetan were quiet and nodding off in the car on the way home, so I guess even for a simple hike, everyone felt satisfied after all.
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.