Day 43 – Hiking Day 36 – Wednesday October 18 2017

Day 43 – Hiking Day 36 – Wednesday  October 18 2017

Niagara Section K 18.2 North Side of Glendale Ave. 50 m east of the Welland Canal Fifth Bridge to K 0 Southern Terminus Cairn

Distance: 18.2 k

Time: 3:00

We did it!! What an exciting day! It was a beautiful sunny morning and dressed in clothes suitable for running in 18C and our running shoes laced up, we drove ourselves to the start of the last 18.2k on the Bruce Trail and set off. Running the last day was a perfect idea! It felt so good not to have the weight of hiking boots nor a pack nor poles! We felt free and strong. The route was kind to us. We ran along the side of the canal, past the edge of the golf course…we actually tried to run on the golf course cart paths but when we got some really strange looks from a group of golfers we realized we were on the wrong route and went back to find the blazes….then it was up to the top of the Escarpment (yes, a steep climb, but the Escarpment is only about 200 ft high here, so the five or six climbs were very manageable with some walking); climbs mean descents and descents mean crossing streams; we ran alongside a vineyard with the bird bangers going strong, we had short stints on the roads, ran through beautiful forests, alongside a railway, through the “screaming tunnel” under the railway, and across the QEW. About 5 or 6 k from the end an apparition appeared on the trail…or so it seemed!! But it turned out to be Ray!!! He had decided that it wasn’t fun that we had to take “selfies” at the finish and so he got on a plane and flew to Toronto. He truly is an amazing guy!! Three hours passed in a flash and we found ourselves entering Queenston Heights Park and excitedly followed the blazes to the southern terminus cairn of The Bruce Trail!  

Seconds after we arrived our host from Bonny Bank B & B, Carla, turned up with a lovely bottle of sparkling apple juice, two wine glasses, two freshly picked apples….and Cedar (her golden retriever)! Very thoughtful of her. We had arranged for her to pick us up and return us to Robin’s car. Soon Ray arrived. Since we were running, we were a little ahead of him. We all took pictures, and more pictures, then had a little walk around the park looking at the Brock Monument and the new Landscape of Nations Memorial which emphasized the role of the First Nations in the war of 1812.

Ray, Robin, and I headed back to pick up Robin’s car and then into Jordan to have lunch at De La Terre Bakery and Café. The staff all extended their “congratulations” when they heard what we had done! All the support shown to us throughout our journey has been overwhelming.

I drove back to Uxbridge with Robin, and Ray followed in the rental car. Unfortunately, Ray had an extended journey due to heavy traffic jams on the 401, the 400 and just about every road he tried to take. Meanwhile Robin and I sailed back on the 407 and by the time Ray arrived we had already had a relaxing soak in a tub of hot water, Epsom salts, and bubble bath!

In the evening we went to The Tin Mill for a celebratory dinner, then back to the house where Peter had a bottle of champagne waiting! We went to bed happy not to have to set the alarm for 6:30 a.m. the following morning!

I will do a summary in a few days so check back to read our final thoughts!

Update from Robin: We did it - 932.83k. And just to have a “strong finish”, Elizabeth Gillis and I ran our last 18.2k today. Our idea of fun! We were met by Ray Gillis a few k from the end. And Peter Jewett had a chilled bottle of champagne waiting for us back in Uxbridge. Now for a soak in Epsom salts and out for a celebratory dinner in Uxbridge at The Tin Mill. The lovely golden retriever in the photo belongs to our b&b host at the wonderful Bonnybank B&B in Jordan. Elizabeth brought the two little bears from Squamish, and they were our little companions for the adventure. What a hike! What a trail!