My friend and regular hiking partner, Mark, joined me for a hike through the western stretch of Hamilton. The trail through the city is beautiful, with lots of residents using its features for exercise. He picked me up on the trail the day before, and we stayed at his brother’s house in Hamilton. I learned quickly that I had to be flexible and that friends and strangers can be very generous.
I met Linda in the Dundas Valley Conservation Area shortly after Mark had left for home. She was hiking with a group of supporters that day. Linda, the first thruhiker I met enroute, thruhiked the Bruce Trail for her charity, “Boots on the Bruce for Shelter – a 900km Hike for Domestic Violence Victims”. I had contacted her before my hike and hoped I would catch up to her. She raised $50000 by the end of her hike. All of the funds went to support the Women’s Shelter in her hometown of Collingwood, “My Friend’s House,” and other shelters throughout Ontario. Linda and I stayed in contact throughout our hikes, writing words of encouragement in trail registers, and texting useful information about the trail ahead.
By the end of my hiking day, I felt pain in my lower left shin. I figured some rest and a couple easier days would remedy the problem. My wife’s cousin, Dawn and her husband Marshall, lived nearby and offered me a place to stay for a couple nights. Marshall was happy for my visit as it meant he got to eat foods and desserts he hadn’t seen for a long time.
6 hours, 18 minutes: 27.6 km: 4.18 km/hr
Jamie