Ron had been shuttling me to and from Ed and Betty’s place in Welbeck, near Durham, for the past two nights. Betty, Ron’s sister-in-law, welcomed me in and fed me. Thanks to Ron’s shuttling and arranging of accommodations, I was able to hike 300 kilometers without worry. His assistance put me past the halfway mark and solidified my confidence. I would go on to realize, after we parted ways, that the days of solitary hiking were fine. It was the solitary nights that got to me. I like company, and Ron was good company.
The Sydenham section of the Bruce Trail is relatively new, and still contains substantial road walking. This was a hot day and I was in need of shade. When I came upon the McLean’s Cemetery and spotted a shaded bench, I quickly detoured. I saw Jim leveling new graves and decided to let him know what I was up to. He was still catching up on winter internments. It was a lovely cemetery if you are looking for one, and a bargain at only $750 for a plot.
I spent the night at the Bighead designated campsite near Massie Hills management area. Mosquitos were thick so I prepared dinner and hid in the tent as fast as I could.
8 hours: 32.5 km: 4 km/hr
Jamie