Day Thirty-Nine, August 12: "Meadows and Wetlands." Mount Nemo to Clappison Woods, 16.0 km., 6 hours.

The day started out as overcast and very humid, but the wind cooled my skin and kept the bugs away.  The threat of rain was in the air but never quite followed through.

I walked from a wooded area into an open meadow, which I find is fast becoming my favourite type of hike, with its birds, butterflies, and open air.  About midmorning the wind finally blew the clouds away, and I emerged from a forest to find bright sunshine.  An apple hanging on a low branch knocked me on the head.  Tree swallows darted from shrub to shrub.  Through some trees, I caught glimpses of sunlight glistening on the surface of a small lake. 

Then the Trail took me along a hedgerow and into a marshy area, with a pond in the middle.  I counted thirteen turtles sunning themselves on a floating log.  They were all craning their necks, eyeing me warily.  As I watched, one slid into the water; I slipped away silently, so as not to bother them further. 

I noticed another pond, this one off the Trail a bit, but I couldn't resist a detour.  It was covered with green algae, and was positively teeming with life.  Birds flew constantly over its surface, enjoying a smorgasbord of insects.  Butterflies fluttered along the edge, dragonflies glowed in the sunlight, frogs called from lilypads.  I blinked when I recognized cedar waxwings flying low across the water.  I never realized they ate anything other than berries.

Two black squirrels chased each other and ran right past my feet before they discovered my presence.  I could have stood there all day, but eventually gave myself a shake and carried on down the Trail.

I came out onto a road and an open area, which gave me great views of Lake Ontario and its bordering cities and boroughs.  It all was becoming much closer.

Great Falls were lovely as always.  I pretty much had the entire area to myself, and really enjoyed the walk along the bubbling Grindstone Creek.  Then it was into the maze of trails in Clappison Woods, and out along a side trail to meet my friend Annie, who is housing this wayward traveller for the next two nights.