Hiking the Bruce Peninsula

**robthehiker** · 11th July 08, 09:01 PM

We took the kids camping in the Bruce Peninsula National Park this week. On the first morning I got up early to hike up to Tobermory while my wife and kids had a leisurely breakfast before driving up to meet me. Here are a few pics:

Escorted to the trailhead

Confused by the self timer feature

The Grotto

The trail hits the beach

Say hello to my little friend! We don't see a lot of rattlers up here. At least I think that's what it was.

I like this picture in spite of (or maybe because of?) my head being chopped off!

**Jock Scot** · 11th July 08, 10:06 PM

I notice you and others in hiking mode, in the wonderful kilted "hiking around the Canada/USA" type pictures, are not wearing hose. Do you have no midgies,ticks,leeches,etc. to bother you? I would just never consider going hiking without hose,of course I know your sort of heat must be a consideration of which I know little.Great pictures and I am also glad we don't "do" rattlers!

**robthehiker** · 12th July 08, 05:28 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I notice you and others in hiking mode, in the wonderful kilted "hiking around the Canada/USA" type pictures, are not wearing hose. Do you have no midgies,ticks,leeches,etc. to bother you? I would just never consider going hiking without hose,of course I know your sort of heat must be a consideration of which I know little.Great pictures and I am also glad we don't "do" rattlers!

While we have some midges in Ontario they aren't a pest on the same scale as in Britain. Ticks are also not a big problem here although a few years ago there were a host of stories about the growing frequency of lyme disease.

What we do have are mosquitoes and black flies. Mosquitoes are around all summer. They are a nuisance but their bite isn't that bad. DEET is an effective deterent for them. Black flies on the other hand, are downright nasty. They don't sting - they actually bite and you don't typically feel it until it's too late. They're only active in some areas and only for a couple of months. I don't hike when black flies are active.

**McMurdo** · 12th July 08, 02:24 AM

Great photos Rob, looks like you had a wonderful time with the family.

**Beertigger** · 12th July 08, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by robthehiker

Say hello to my little friend! We don't see a lot of rattlers up here. At least I think that's what it was.

Just a wee baby, that is!

Saw a monster up in Northern Arizona about 10 years ago - smack in the middle of the Interstate highway.

He was easily over 10 feet - he was coiled up between the lanes, with his head up ready to strike - and his head was higher than most of the drivers' windows whizzing by. Not a happy looking snake at all.

And I'd been wondering why everyone was braking and swerving at that spot....

**mudd** · 12th July 08, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by robthehiker

The trail hits the beach

That's a beach?

**robthehiker** · 12th July 08, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by mudd

That's a beach?

That's a beach. Here's a somewhat unsteady recording of "a nice walk on the beach".

**ccga3359** · 12th July 08, 11:07 PM

Always loved Tobermory, I remember scuba diving in the Grotto and scaring the crap out of a young couple when we surfaced in the cave. Are you hiking down to Niagara?

**robthehiker** · 13th July 08, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by ccga3359

Always loved Tobermory, I remember scuba diving in the Grotto and scaring the crap out of a young couple when we surfaced in the cave. Are you hiking down to Niagara?

I was just doing the dayhike from Cypress Lake to Tobermory. The Bruce Trail is great but it's not really set up for thru-hiking because there are so few camping spots. I've hiked in all of the sections but have never overnighted any of them.