Yesterday was our second Hike Day, and I’m beginning to think my new travel companions are a bit nuts. We are in the middle of a heatwave, with yesterday being the hottest day of all. Apparently it was above 40 C with humidity (104 F for my American friends). Still, they piled into the car (minus Snap who couldn’t make it, or perhaps was smart enough to not make it) and headed up to Earl Rowe Provincial Park about an hour away. The final tour will involve 14 Provincial Parks!
After buying our park pass, Robin assured Clare that she could follow the slightly complex park map to the parking lot we picked. She then proceeded to entertain us all, pretending to be a tour guide, pointing out obvious features along the road “and this is the world famous storage shed…” Clare then asks “where are we? Do I turn here? It says parking.” Ummm… Robin has no idea, she was having too much fun being a tour guide. Crackle and Pop start laughing from the backseat “This bodes well for our seven day road trip!” Now, I know Robin can follow a map just fine, but I do have to admit, it was funny! Clare found a random parking lot, and THEN figured out which lot we were in - a little backwards, but I guess it works.
After a picnic including delicious cookies made by Crackle (which reminded me of my own travels on the East coast of Canada) we headed out for a “hike”. The original plan, a two hour hike to a lookout, got vetoed by everyone due to heat (whew, glad to know they have some semblance of sense). However, can someone please tell me the difference between a hike and a walk, because we’ve had two of these so-called hikes now, and all I’ve seen is walking? Is it because it’s in the trees? Is it because two of them got stung by plants (Clare says they were called Stinging Nettles)? Does that make it a hike? This trip is supposed to be full of these so-called hikes. Maybe I’ll understand by the end… I’ll try to keep you updated on that.
So, after a casual walk through the trees, stopping to fill water bottles and soothe stinging arms, we still finished a 45 minute hike in 25 minutes, although they all looked a little wet, and I don’t remember any of them getting in the water. Yeah, hot.
We had one more planning session, which I tried to pay attention to, but yeah, boring (I’ll spare you the details - you’re welcome).
Finally, we climbed back into that air conditioned car and headed home. I just want to share my new pride of place between the two front seats. I even get clipped in so I won’t slide off. This trip is looking pretty good so far!
And that, my friends, is the last instalment of our planning and hike days. The next time you hear from me we should be well on our way! I’m so excited!
Whatever!
