The first day was filled with grassy meadows, old farm tracks and back roads, with the occasional rocky outcropping thrown in. It started out with pouring rain, but lessened to sprinkles throughout the day. As I had a shorter hike to a nearby campground planned, I used the soggier morning to catch up on my blogs, and hiked much of the afternoon.
The second day dawned beautifully with clear blue skies, though it rapidly turned to haze and then cloud. I quickly packed so I could be on my way, as there had been warnings about record humidity levels. Before I left, I draped the solar panel over the top of my pack to charge my cell phone. This has been working very well, even in partial shade or cloud.
The Trail followed meadows and old farm tracks. Across a particularly marshy area north of Hwy 26 it turned into a series of nicely-crafted boardwalks. The cattails on either side were over my head, and some had grown through the slats on the boardwalk.
In the next meadow I could hear wild turkey hens clucking, but couldn't catch sight of them over the tall grasses. The bugs were fairly heavy here but it was in the following forest that I had to finally get my net jacket out, for the first time this trip.
Then across a dirt road and into a rolling meadow, where I met up with a middle aged couple. They nodded in approval at my long pants - they had worn shorts and told me the vegetation ahead really warranted leg coverings.
The Trail meandered through tall grasses to a small pond. Across its surface, dragonflies danced in time to the rhythmic "pinging" of frogs, the sound that so reminds me of the plucking of guitar strings.
A short while later the Trail entered a pasture through a cattle gate, and I found myself in the midst of a dozen wide-eyed Jersey cows, all enjoying the shade in a small forested area. They watched curiously as I picked my way through numerous cow patties. I breathed deeply - I actually really like the smell of cow manure.
I shortly came to a blue-blazed side Trail. My commitment is to stick to the white-blazed Bruce, but this side trail was not a shortcut for the Bruce; according to its sign, in 100 metres it would take you to "the spectacular Laycock Cave". Curiosity got the best of me and I started down the narrow rock corridor. It twisted and turned, and I startled a turkey vulture when I came around one of the turns. There was much rock to climb over or around, and finally I arrived at the final descent - a twelve-foot drop. " Well, I've come this far", I thought, and began the descent. About halfway down, my friend the backpack became lodged in the rock. I unclipped it and left it there.
The cave really was spectacular: tall and deep, craggy and very cold. No sign of bats or snakes or anything else that breathed, though I'm sure there must've been some kind of creatures inhabiting it.
I managed to get myself and the pack back out, then to the main trail to continue the day's hike, ending at the weekly supply drop spot to meet up with Dan and the dogs.
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