Day 26 – Hiking Day 23 – Sunday October 1 2017

Day 26 – Hiking Day 23 – Sunday October 1 2017
Dufferin Highlands Section K23.9  8th Sideroad to Caledon Hills Section K0.00 Mono 8
Distance – 24.37 k
Time  - 6:35












Our hike today was….dare I say it….relatively easy compared to what we have experienced on other sections of the trail. We started off in a planted forest and walked between the straight lines of the trees. Fortunately it was very well blazed and there was no chance of us getting lost. The golden base of needles made the footing soft and spongy which was bliss to our well worn feet. We continued through forests, along the side of streams, and across meadows. We also crossed 3 steep sided ravines which meant a careful descent and a good hill work out on the ascent, times 3!! We had beautiful views over the Boyne Valley, a marsh area in the Boyne Valley and tons of boardwalk, some road work including a scary crossing over Highway 89, a pond, and finally at the end of the day we came to McCarston’s Lake, a kettle lake formed about 13,000 years ago from the melting of a huge piece of ice neglected by a glacier, and the only natural lake in Mono. Ray joined us right beside the lake and so got to enjoy this view before retracing his steps with us to the finish. 

We met a few hikers along the way, but around the Mono area there were many day hikers enjoying the scenery, including one couple who stopped us for directions, and who were pushing what looked like a running pram along a single track path near the lake. At the point we met them they had 3 kms left. We wished them good luck....it looked a tricky task!

At the end of the day, we found ourselves in Mono Centre and about a kilometer away from the Mono Cliffs Inn. Tam had recommended this Inn to us, and as we entered it Ray recalled having been there before with her. It was built back in the 1850s and the pub is absolutely delightful. It is packed with crazy sayings, Aussie road signs, and an electric train track that circles the room at ceiling height. It is an eclectic and fun place to have a pint at the end of a hard day’s hike! Although…..I do have to say a latte was my first choice…..followed by half a pint of Wellington’s Dark!

Back in Collingwood….which I may add was about an hour’s drive…..we packed in preparation for departure tomorrow, headed to the Beaver and the Bulldog for dinner, and back for our last night at Lloyd and Sherry’s condo. A huge big THANK YOU to them both for so graciously letting us use their condo as a base for the past two weeks. It added stability and relaxation for that part of the hike.



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