Trail Talk: Spring has come in fits and starts as flowers begin to bloom

Michael, George, Glenys, Rick, Pat and Anne.

Spring this year has continued to come in fits and starts.

As I expected in last Trail Talk, I managed to see some hepatica (on April 2 on the Maitland Trail near River Bend) and coltsfoot (on April 2 at the Woodlands Nature Trail).

One surprise was on March 30 when the temperature reached 18 oC Thyra saw a Mourning Cloak butterfly crossing our garden. Unfortunately, I was away at the time.

However, on my Front Road hike a little after 5 p.m. on Thursday April 9, I was very surprised to see a butterfly on the Front Road Trail. The temperature was 19oC, but it was in the forest where I don’t ever remember seeing any butterflies - they are usually out in the more open areas.

The butterfly flew off before I could be certain of the species, but I believe it was a Pearl Crescent.   

Other spring sightings include a couple of frogs at our pond and some violets in bloom.  Our neighbour’s daffodils are now in bloom, although ours, as of April 9, are still in bud, they are always later to blossom than that next door.

Our Thursday afternoon hike on April 9 was on the Bayfield Woodland Trail. It was the first hike this year where a jacket was not needed.

As well as coltsfoot in bloom there were some lovely lavender coloured round-leafed Hepatica as well as the more common white ones. There were wild leeks coming up along the trail and at many other places such as the Hullett Sugar Bush.

I had planned to lead a hike on April 13 from Bishop’s Road to Cherrydale Road along the Maitland Trail.

After checking the route out on April 6, I found that not only was the trail flooded as expected near the junction of the Carey’s property and the Nature Conservancy property, but the blue trail that I was expecting to use to bypass this problem had a significant amount of water across the trail.

The hike has been rerouted to one from River Line to Sharpes Creek Line.  This section still has a deep snowdrift at 32.5k but can be avoided by using part of an old ATV trail.

NOTES:

Maitland Trail Closure - A section of the Maitland Trail is closed from Londesboro Road to Little Lakes Road due to bank slumping and instability. Please plan your hike accordingly and respect all closures for your safety. There is no reroute. The alternative is to walk West on Londesboro rod then North on River Line to rejoin the Maitland Trail.

EVENTS:

Saturday, April 18 - Earth Day at Lakeshore United Church from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and Beach Cleanup at Rotary Cove 1-3 p.m.

Sunday, April 19 from 1p.m. – 3 p.m. - Hike the Millennium Trail - Meet at East St. Cider at 1 p.m. We will walk to the Millennium Trailhead at Nelson Street, downstream and return to East Street. This is a co-promotion event with East St. Cider. You can register with either organization. Maitland Trail registrants must sign the online waiver annually. For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Con Melady at 519 – 530-8998.

Wednesday, April 22 at 9 a.m. - BRVTA Earth Day Cleanup. Meet at Bayfield’s Clan Gregor Square.

Saturday, April 25 from 9 – 10:30 a.m. - Hike the Maitland Trail at Morris Tract & the Ross Property trail. Meet at 36833 Londesboro Road and park on Morris Tract Line, just west of Benmiller - please do not block farmer’s fields/lanes. Hike the Maitland Trail via Morris Tract to the beaver pond and return. For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Susan Ethelston at susan.ethelston@gmail.com. This is a level 1-2 moderate to brisk paced hike. Flat and hilly sections and uneven footing.

Saturday, April 25 at 11 a.m. - Mindfulness Walk and Forest Therapy Meet at the Millenium Trail in Goderich, Nelson Street entrance. Designed for those who want the benefits of meditation but prefer to move. We’ll be moving slowly and silently together for 20 minutes to the first river lookout where we’ll stop to chat about the benefits of mindfulness and forest therapy, enjoy the beautiful vistas of the Maitland River, and head back to the entrance - maybe hug a tree on the way out. Please leave your pets at home; dogs are already very zen. For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Tanya at redroofrecovery@gmail.com or text 519-616-3636. This is a level 1, slow paced meditative walk.

Saturday, April 25 at 1 p.m. - BRVTA Sawmill Trail - “Secrets of the Woods” Family Educational Hike lead by Michele Martin and Janneke Voorsteveld.

Tuesday Trompers meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to hike for about an hour. If you wish to be on this email list, send an email to mta@maitlandtrail.ca

Midweek hikers meet at 9 a.m. and hike for 1.5 to 2 hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact Patrick Capper at pcapper99@gmail.com

LIFE hikers meet every Friday for a hike of about 1.5 hours, with a choice of pace, striders moving a little faster than the strollers.  The hikes now start at 9a.m. and can be joined through One Care.

Tuesday Trompers meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to hike for about an hour. If you wish to be on this email list, send an email to mta@maitlandtrail.ca