On the shores of Gitche Gumee

August 2023

Off to Our Northern Neighbor we go, hoping that August in Canada will be better than July in Maine Read more

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Backpacking, Couple, Culture, Family, Hiking, Nature, Self discovery, Sightseeing, Vacation, Wildlife

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Traveler On the shores of Gitche Gumee
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- Day 4
- Aug 9, 2023, 12:13pm
- ☀️ 75 °F
- Altitude: 1,506 ft
- Canada Banks 44.48745, -80.31565144°29’15” N 80°18’56” W
Suspension Bridge
August 9, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
Completing the Escarpment Trail and jumping back onto Ridge Top Lookout Trail, we took that back to the Main Enry area, were we took a much deserved rest and feasted on falafel bites with hummus and tzatziki as well as bananas we brought.
Thus fortified, we attacked the last Trail of the day - the one that led us to The Suspension Bridge.
The Bridge is the longest Suspension Bridge in Southern Ontario and offers a breath-taking 10,000 sq km view from it.Read more
TravelerNice but you can have the bridge. I don't do heights like that. 😊
8/10/23Reply
TravelerI understand. Interestingly, it was more wobbly kn the ends than in the middle
8/10/23Reply
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Traveler On the shores of Gitche Gumee
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- Day 4
- Aug 9, 2023, 12:45pm
- ☀️ 75 °F
- Altitude: 1,335 ft
- Canada McMurchy Settlement 44.487094, -80.3092844°29’14” N 80°18’33” W
Suspension Bridge 2
August 9, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
I have to say that this trail was by far the hardest, even as if it wasn't the longest.
The grading was quite steep, but we managed.

Overall, this hike was challenging, with some grading both up and down hills & crevices, and boulders, especially in the Caves' area. We stayed away from a couple of other side trails since they went into much densely forested areas, and we figured they would still be muddy, slippery, and attract the dreaded bugs.

If you look at the enclosed map - we started on the Blue (Cave) Trail at the entry point right by parking lot on the right; switched to Green (Ridge Top Lookout) Trail right before the end of the Blue, followed that to double wide Yellow (Escarpment) Trail, back on Green and back to beginning (map doesn't show it but think "hard left" where Green line ends and way up back to beginning of blue.) After lunch, completed the single Yellow loop to suspension Bridge and back.
Total distance not so much - only 4.6km (7.4miles) but it was a good workout.Read more
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Traveler On the shores of Gitche Gumee
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- Day 4
- Aug 9, 2023, 1:48pm
- ☀️ 75 °F
- Altitude: 577 ft
- Canada Delphi Point 44.538544, -80.36363244°32’19” N 80°21’49” W
On the shores of Gitche Gumee
August 9, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
The day being gorgeous as it was, we decided to take a short drive to the water, thus finally TRULY putting ourselves "on the shores of Gitche Gumee."
Our initial destination, Northwind Beach, proved to be unreachable - the parking lot was completely full, much to our chagrin - the place was stunning, but all we could do was drive right by it.
We found another access to water via one of the side streets.
While we were hoping for Lake Huron, it was still Georgian Bay.
We, however, will take consolation in the fact that the locals told us that since The Bay is PART of Lake Huron, they consider it TO BE Lake Huron (and who are to argue with locals..😊)
So I'm calling it Lake Huron on the video!!!

And here is Laurie symbolically dipping her toe into The LakeRead more
TravelerBeautiful, glad you made it to the "lake".
8/10/23Reply
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Traveler On the shores of Gitche Gumee
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- Day 4
- Aug 9, 2023, 6:19pm
- ☀️ 77 °F
- Altitude: 745 ft
- Canada Mair Mills 44.502998, -80.31142244°30’11” N 80°18’41” W
Dinner in Ireland
August 9, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
Well... not really, but the day was nicely finished when, after returning to the Resort and freshening up (me squeezing another fast refreshing dip in the pool) we settled for a scrumptious dinner in The Village at MJ Burne's Irish Pub.
Laurie had Chef's Creation, which was a grilled chicken sandwich with cranberry Coulee, Pear, Brie ... and I opted for Ublin Seafood Pie
The grub was nicely washed down with Hellers A local crafted beerRead more
Ah, the best part of any day. [Jeanine]
8/10/23Reply
TravelerNothing beats a good chow after a Hard Day's Hike (even if it's only a 3-hr Hike Day 😁)
8/10/23Reply
TravelerNice! Sounds yummy!
8/10/23Reply
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Traveler On the shores of Gitche Gumee
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- Day 5
- Aug 10, 2023, 11:16am
- 🌧 64 °F
- Altitude: 663 ft
- Canada Victoria Corners 44.513914, -80.46184344°30’50” N 80°27’43” W
Farmer's Pantry
August 10, 2023 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 64 °F
Preamble:
The morning was REALLY UGLY!!! Gray clouds dominated the skies, and the rain started coming down in a steady pour.
It was obvious to us that any hiking was simply wishful thinking, so we decided to jump on the Apple Pie & Cider Trail - a driving trail consisted of local apple farms and breweries.
Turns out that Georgian Bay is home to at least 10 cider producers, so we were out for some sampling and maybe getting our (well, mine really) hands on some local apples.

Farmer's Pantry was our 1st stop... and we found out that there are no apples and there is no cider... inasmuch as everything was already picked and produced, nothing is happening until late September, and any apples or Cider available were "leftovers".
Almost made me want to cry 😩

Didn't stop Laurie from meeting Harry The AlpacaRead more
Traveler☹️ for the apples 😊 for the alpaca!
8/10/23Reply
Traveler😁
8/10/23Reply
TravelerWe had a rainy day here too. I think it's done now.
8/10/23Reply
TravelerRain rain go away
8/10/23Reply
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Traveler On the shores of Gitche Gumee
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- Day 5
- Aug 10, 2023, 11:40am
- 🌧 64 °F
- Altitude: 817 ft
- Canada Victoria Corners 44.513114, -80.45076544°30’47” N 80°27’3” W
Spy Cider House and Distillery
August 10, 2023 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 64 °F
Of course, not willing to believe such abomination, we moved on to the next place on the list... only to be told the same.
There was only one thing to do - be it that this place was a distillery, we had to drown our sorrows in flight samples of Hard Apple Cider

At least the rain pretty much stopped by the time we leftRead more
Traveler🍺
8/10/23Reply
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Traveler On the shores of Gitche Gumee
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- Day 5
- Aug 10, 2023, 1:00pm
- ☁️ 66 °F
- Altitude: 994 ft
- Canada Minniehill 44.548687, -80.60882244°32’55” N 80°36’32” W
Good Family Farms
August 10, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F
The next stop - Good Family Farms - was even "better yet" as they had NOTHING to do with apples and all things apples, rather being more a meat farm.
So we got to meet some hot Babes 😉...
Baa-ram-ewe....
...and the skies were clearing up rather quickly...Read more
Traveler🤣
8/10/23Reply
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Traveler On the shores of Gitche Gumee
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- Day 5
- Aug 10, 2023, 2:07pm
- ⛅ 72 °F
- Altitude: 627 ft
- Canada Inglis Falls 44.54182, -80.93696544°32’31” N 80°56’13” W
Harrison Park
August 10, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F
Harrison Park is an urban dream, with more than 40 hectares of streams, trails, gardens, playgrounds, forest, and green space in the heart of Owen Sound. Often called "our jewel in the crown," when it was turned over to the city a century ago by the family of founder John Harrison, it was deemed one of the most beautiful parks in Ontario.

So we abandoned the forlorn search for non-existent apples and took a drive there.

And of course, the trail to small waterfalls was closed "due to the damage," but also, of course, WE WILL STOP AT NOTHING! at least me... so here are the waterfalls 😁

The rain is completely gone by now, the sun is out, and the sky is beautiful blueRead more
TravelerBeautiful!
8/10/23Reply
You rule breaker, you! [Jeanine]
8/11/23Reply
TravelerC'est Moi 😁🤣
8/11/23ReplyTranslate
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Traveler On the shores of Gitche Gumee
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- Day 5
- Aug 10, 2023, 3:47pm
- ☀️ 72 °F
- Altitude: 712 ft
- Canada Grier Creek 44.526432, -80.4659244°31’35” N 80°27’57” W
Grey and Gold Cider
August 10, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
After vyiztyn de pak ve decidd to stop in 1 more place....and we don more hard cyder samplin....
TravelerYou should be feeling very happy by now!
8/10/23Reply
TravelerVery vewwy 😊
8/10/23Reply
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Traveler On the shores of Gitche Gumee
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- Day 6
- Aug 11, 2023, 9:33am
- ⛅ 64 °F
- Altitude: 627 ft
- Canada Inglis Falls 44.54134, -80.93604244°32’29” N 80°56’10” W
Harrison Park Redux
August 11, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
Blessed with another gorgeous day, we drove back to Harrison Park.
Yesterday, we found out that there is another waterfall accessible from there, but it was slightly over 3km hike O\W, and we didn't have our hiking gear.
So today, we are setting out to conquer the Inglis Falls TrailRead more
TravelerA beautiful day and scenery to match!
8/11/23Reply
TravelerAbsolutely. Sunny days make Nature look special
8/11/23Reply
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