End-to-end, Hiking

Pat Turow remembered

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Pat Turow and fellow hikers at end of 900 km hike on Bruce Trail in front of Northern Cairn in Tobermory showing special badges made for the unique hike.
Pat Turow and fellow hikers at end of 900 km hike from Port Stanley to the Northern Cairn of Bruce Trail at Little Tub Harbour in Tobermory. Each showing special badges made to commemorate the unique hike. Fall 2001.

Picture above shows Anne Faubert of London, Ann Hoover of Aylmer, Loretta Vaughan of Port Stanley and Pat (seventy at the time) after they hiked 900 km from Port Stanley to Tobermory over five years. Pat’s favourite memories of the trip were using ladders and ropes to traverse the escarpment at Devil’s Pulpit near Orangeville.
Pat and her husband Joe volunteered many years fundraising and other duties for the Elgin Hiking Trail Club, especially at the Spirit Walk.
Her funeral is today.
Loretta talks of this hike regularly and how much they all enjoyed the challenge, well maybe not the waist deep snow and wicked thunder storms.

Sincerest condolences from the Elgin Hiking Trail Club.

Hiking, Trail maintenance

Card of thanks to trail maintenance crew.

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Card from Elgin Court Public School Way-2-Green Environmental Club.
Card from Elgin Court Public School Way-2-Green Environmental Club.

Received this week and it is nice to see that the teacher and students took the time to thank our trail maintenance crew. Nice to know others outside the club appreciate the effort put forth by our volunteers. Good job to our trail maintenance director Tom Beharrell.
Pretty cool!

Go to Blazes Day

Go to Blazes Day: May 28, 2016

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Clean-up at red barn. --- photo by Cathy Johnstone
Clean-up at red barn. — photo by Cathy Johnstone

We had a very successful morning at the Red Barn. Thanks to Brian Wilsdon, Dave Kirkpatrick, Tom Beharrell (brought his tractor and wagon), Loretta Vaughan, Joanne Welch (became a member during the work), and Jim Northey for coming out to the barn. Another thank you goes out to the following: D J Smale for sending lunch food with Jim. Richard Wright and Brian King for cutting and trimming the grass last Monday of the long weekend. The property looks awesome. After the shed came down and the debris was cleaned up, Brian, Dave and Tom headed out to do some trail rerouting at 4th Concession Rd. while myself and the ladies stayed back to clean and organize the barn. The lunch menu was turkey sandwiches, veggies, chips, bottled water, Loretta’s selection of chocolate covered cookies and D.J’s famous homemade cookies.

Loretta and I took home approximately 10 very large bags of garbage to be tagged for today’s garbage day.

Welcome new members Joanne Welch and her husband Mike.

Again, thank you all so much …. YOU ROCK!

Cheers

Cathy

Hiking, Trans Canada Trail

Dutton-Dunwich hike on Trans Canada Trail

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Group at start of Dutton/Dunwich Trans Canada Trail End-to-end.
Group at start of Dutton/Dunwich Trans Canada Trail End-to-end.

Eleven of us starting the end-to-end of Dutton/Dunwich Trans Canada Trail. The weather was cool yet quite comfortable for the 9.4 km hike this morning. There were many spring flowers in bloom and the birds were singing away. The maintenance folks were busy this week as we could see signs of at least three bridges being recently repaired. The hike was planned to end at Backus-Page House to take in The Road To Culloden, a Scottish living history event in 1745 following Bonnie Prince Charlie and his loyal Jacobites in the quest to reclaim the throne. Thanks to Marg for planning the dual event.

New boardwalk, Trail maintenance

Boardwalk installation

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Boardwalk completed in record time with help from eighteen cadets.
Boardwalk completed in record time with eighteen members of St Thomas Army Cadet Corps help.—Photo by Brian Wilsdon

The weather could not have been finer, when 18 army cadet volunteers and their leaders showed up to assist in setting the 45 eight foot panels into place for the new boardwalk. Due to the excellent prep work done by Loretta Vaughan and Richard Wright everything went smoothly. Loretta figured all day and many hands made light work. The installation was completed in a little over 3 hours. The cadets were mindful of each other and when one saw another getting tired, the other quickly stepped in. The cadets truly made their leaders proud.
Cathy, Jackie, Debbie and Loretta prepared a nice lunch for everyone, which we enjoyed at the Trout Hatchery. Special thanks to Kit for allowing us to use the facilities. Just a great setting for lunch and the cadets really enjoyed it. Special thanks also go to D J for supplying home made cookies for everyone.
Parkside Collegiate Institute students under the supervision of Mr Haskell assembled the 45 panels. Richard Wright and Brian King brought them down to the location. Four by five inch locust was used for the base and all the panels were two inches thick and 32 inches wide on 2 x 8 frames. It looks amazing. Thank you to all the volunteers. We could not have done it without you. Splendid job!

Trail maintenance

Build the Boardwalk Day this coming Saturday, April 16th.

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Meet at 8:30 am at the boardwalk across the road from the Port Stanley Fish Hatchery on Thomas Road off Union Road. The green space west of the hatchery is private property that we can park on. We will be installing a new boardwalk. St Thomas Army Cadets will also be helping. Lunch will be provided.
For more info contact Loretta at 519-782-7550.

Hiking

Loretta’s Presidents message

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As I write my last President’s Message I would like to say Thanks to the current Executive for all their support.
Walking has always been my passion since high school and my service to this club has been because of this devotion; and the desire to improve the trail and make it safer.
Our efforts as a club paid off as we celebrated our 40th Anniversary; all sections of the trail are now open; reroute off Sunset is completed; for safety reasons. Boardwalk funding and material ordered; just hoping the weather co-operates April 16th.
Our membership remains constant; but if each of us asked just one person to join our club, membership would increase.
There are many excuses for not taking responsibility but there are more for stepping up and doing what needs to be done.
If you are at all interested in keeping this trail and club alive please call and I will help mentor anyone.
Soon it will be Spring; so get out there and enjoy the best local hiking trail around.
Sincerely;
Loretta Vaughan
519-782-7550