It was hard to believe that it was our penultimate hiking weekend, but indeed, the next weekend was to be our final one, when we were to reach Tobermory! The September 16 hike was #58 out of 61, from Cape Chin Road to Dyer’s Bay trail parking lot–18.0 km.
Thanks to them, we have records of many glorious scenes:
They also captured beauty that appeared on a smaller scale:
Sometimes I can’t decide which is more impressive—the artistry of nature or of the photographers:
JR and MJ also had a good eye for nature’s whimsies:
And for the whimsies of homo sapiens:
They even captured primates grooming each other:
And who knew what good portrait photographers they are!
The photographers also captured the most dramatic encounter of the day:
The Tale of the Sign and Matters Bovine
We had been forewarned by our fearless leader, absent from the day’s hike, about the unusual sign—“AVOID FARM ANIMALS”-and about the cattle. She had regaled us with a long story of the cows’ curiosity and prodigious products. Yet no less an expert than her sister declared that the leader’s tale may be BS, so we approached the field with more frivolity than fear.
But as we approached we could see that indeed, the cattle were numerous…
and curious…
and fearsome…
So we planned our approach carefully.
Finally, we were led by the farmer in the group. Her expression may have been fearless, but note that she carried a big stick.
Emboldened by our numbers, however, soon enough we crossed and were all safely on the other side of the pasture. And we left in stile.
Somehow along the way a poem started taking shape in my head. I have no idea what inspired it…
Here is the poem (It’s not a haiku—it’s a hike-oo)
Why do we hike?
Oh, why do we do it? Why do we hike?
When we could travel by car or by bike?
It’s not for the pain in the knees and the hip
Nor for the tree roots that cause us to trip
It’s not for the bruises, the bunions, and blisters
We hike for the vistas…
And fun with our sistas…
It’s not ‘cause we like rising so early on Sundays
nor for the stiffness that greets us on Mondays
It’s not for the rain, and getting soaked
And the sun in July can bring on heat stroke
But we love the splendour and solace of trees…
And laughing together…
and smiles like these:
Oh where is that blaze? We dread getting lost
And we don’t even want to think of the cost
of the gear we have purchased–the boots, poles, and gaiters,
Paying for parking, motel rooms, and waiters
It’s not for JR’s collections for gas
Or the kind that, while walking, we inadvertently pass.
But we like mossy canyons and soft forest floors
The smell of the cedars and the flowers galore
We don’t relish the complex and changing logistics
it’s a wonder it doesn’t drive DS ballistic
It’s not for the mosquitoes, the ticks, and the bugs
It’s for the talks…
IR’s stories…
and the hugs…
We like the challenge and cardio workout
And savouring the spectacular lookouts
We can forget the scrapes and the gashes
The toenails we lost and the poison ivy rashes
Because we love the views of the bay…
And a buttery tart at the end of the day…
We like the space and the time for reflection…
but most of all, we love our connection…