HIKING & BIKING IN THE BALMY NIAGARA REGION, APRIL 2000

Well, somebody’s got to do it! Having fun that is, while spreading the word about the energetic and dynamic opportunities for members of the BCC. Rising to this challenge was leader Dwight Hanson and his motley crew comprised of Celine, Susan Clarke, friend Ron, Rita D Antonio, Linda Boon from Bracebridge, Marilyn Mustard and her own crew Cathy and Raymond, Peggy Peters, and Hanne.

Not sparing the horses we met at Hwy. 400 & 9 at 0800 sharp, Saturday April 15—except for Celine who’s horses clocked in a bit slower (but ONLY this once). By 1050 hours we were unpacked at our Mountainview Road B&B, watered, suitable undressed for high 20’s C, gooped in sunscreen, hatted, backpacked and camera ready. What an original looking group we were, ages 12 to 49 or so, all sharing the drive to conquer some hills in Canada’s most famous Escarpment between Beamsville and Grimsby—a distance of some consideration (10 K as the crow flies, so probably 20 K by foot, at least, all long-cuts and short-cuts factored in). Onward we marched, barely slowing our pace except to eat, take pictures, study the map, drink, look at swooping hawks and golden eagles, direct a lost hiker, sit in the shade, admire Lake Ontario, scrape mud from our boots, listen to tall tales, take more pictures. Onward we marched, reduced to rationing our drinks by mid afternoon, and reapplying sunscreen to burnt arms, necks and noses. We nicely noted the heat, but it was the generous breeze, comraderie and absence of biting bugs that we truly celebrated. Funny, nobody talked about last weeks snowfall, nor the postponement of the BCC dock installation last Saturday due to the cold, wind and rain: What a difference one week can make! After more than five and a half hours of perseverance, and a parting look at the plastic owl high in the tree at the Beamer Conservation Area, we returned to the B&B for liquid refreshments (what a delicate expression), showers and deodorants. Dinner was at the Angel restaurant in Grimsby, then song and talk before retiring, listening to nature’s sounds through open windows and doors.

After breakfast we set off on bikes to visit as many wineries as possible. In fairness to our reputations this was NOT our original goal, it just happened—perhaps out of consideration to our members less used to pedal-pushing over hilly distances? Yes, for sure that’s probably true. It was also important to exercise our arms some, so we politely toasted each other with each wee sample, again and again: Very civilized. Within walking distance of our B&B we "moved in" at the THIRTY BENCH winery. Here Rita treated us to an impromptu lunch, and with food-cleansed palate we were ready to sample yet another magnificent wine before our week-end came to a close.

Some of us began the trip as strangers, but sharing wine, cheese, gorp, sweat, mud, beer, etc. new friendships were made and old ones renewed. You learn the darndest things about each other, for example Dwight’s sense of time: How long until lunch? "15 minutes." When do we reach a bathroom? "15 minutes." How long to the B&B? "15 minutes." No one asked Dwight how long it took him to plan this magnificent trip, but hey, it was probably 15 minutes, so let’s do it again!

Hanne Nielsen.