03 November 2020

Hiking from Elliotts to Breadalbane on The Confederation Trail


After a summer of cycling we have switched to hiking and although we rode this section of The Confederation Trail only a few weeks ago it was good to take it more slowly and on foot. When the snow comes the Trail will be handed over to the Snowmobile Association who lease it for the winter months but for now it's ours and today we covered 10 km on it.

The trees lining the Trail rustled and creaked under a stiff wind, while here and there patches of ice from a recent snow flurry lingered and autumn birch leaves like gold coins scurried across our path. The sun shone and the sky was blue, belying the single digit temperature. Bovine and equine company abounded. Some very large cows were curious about us from the start and two placid horses ambled over to greet us near our turnaround point.

Susan regaled me with stories of her childhood and at the start of this film she is heard explaining how they ran barefoot through fields of cow pats (patties over here). I feel as though I haven't lived!

You rather wish that farmer would be made to have his ancient rusted machinery hauled away. It is a blot on the landscape and at one point even encroaches on the shoulder of the Trail. The cows didn't mind though and thoughtfully chewed their cud.




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