Toronto!

My Lake Ontario hike ended in Toronto, the second-largest city on the edge of the Great Lakes.  

(Chicago is the largest.)

First view of the Toronto skyline in distance

Toronto skyline from beach

Along this stretch of pathway, hundreds of people biked and skated, jogged and strolled.

French makes everything sound classier, even the Hockey Hall of Fame

CN Tower

Sunrise in Toronto over Union Station

Canada borders 4 of the 5 Great Lakes. Only Lake Michigan is completely within the borders of the U.S. I thought it was important to experience how Canada relates to these vast, inland seas. There are 8 states bordering the lakes. Can you name them? 

Loughbreeze Bay B&B

I stayed at several B&Bs while hiking the north side of Lake Ontario in Ontario, Canada. The B&B owners were all wonderful and helped me to understand their communities and the history of the Canadian side of this Great Lake.

Did you know that the earliest settlers to parts of Ontario along Lake Ontario were colonists who were loyal to the British Empire who fled north after the Revolutionary War?  

About a third of early settlers were not supportive of the war, and the most adamant of these people were called "Loyalists." 

After the war, they left this new country and began fresh in Canada which was still under British rule. 

The Loughbreeze B&B is nestled along the shore of Lake Ontario near the town of Colborne, Ontario

Frances Linton-Schell (on the right) and her husband, Lawrence, were gracious hosts

Loughbreeze B&B

Back yard of the B&B overlooking Lake Ontario and Presque Isle Park

The Holcim Corporation owns a limestone mine near the B&B

Frances called over to the nearby mine in order to get permission for us to walk through it. 

NOTE:  Don't enter mines without the proper permission and guide. They can be unsafe -- often blasting the walls of the mine away with dynamite -- and it is illegal to trespass onto their property.

Limestone mining operation

Frances gives me a tour of the large mine

The mine offloads limestone directly onto ships at their dock

Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail Part 1

The Waterfront Trail stretches from the city of Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Quebec border in Ontario, Canada. 

I hiked 146 miles of the trail last month from the city of Belleville to Toronto.  

From the Website for the trail:

Do More on the Shore!

The Waterfront Trail has been an instrumental part of Lake Ontario’s regeneration. Along it you will find a 900 km [that's about 560 miles!] celebration of nature and culture - where peaceful countryside, small towns and big cities are linked in bringing Lake Ontario to this province's residents and visitors, alike. Enjoy it for a day. Or make it a summer-long adventure. The Waterfront Trail will let you discover the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River waterfront...and what it can mean to you.

The Waterfront Trail represents a whole new way of thinking about the Lake Ontario and St Lawrence River waterfronts that emphasizes the links between ecological health, economic vitality, and a sense of community. It has helped inspire people to rediscover and improve the lakeshore, and been part of a transformation of under-utilized and environmentally degraded lands to vibrant places with businesses and jobs, parks and recreational facilities, natural habitats, cultural venues and attractions.

The trail is marked with this symbol along the way

Helpful signage at a turn

View from the trail west of Port Hope

I always stopped at fruit stands along the road!

Me and Lake Ontario!

These Boots are Made for Hiking!

I hiked the first 300 miles of my adventure in these 
Oregon PCT boots made by KEEN.  

The Oregon PCT boots in repose

As you can tell, they were quite comfortable!  

And they performed well on a variety of terrain.  

Erikson PCT boot by KEEN

  

For the next portion of my hike, there will be more rocks, so I am moving to this even sturdier boot, the Erickson PCT model by KEEN.


They have more leather and go a little higher on the ankle for support.  


Since this boot is constructed for more rugged conditions, I'm hoping they will take me all the way to the finish line in Niagara Falls.  We shall see...


*By the way, the finale of my 1000-mile Great Lakes hike will take place in Niagara Falls on the Canadian side of the river.  I will invite people to join me in Niagara, Ontario, to hike the final 15 miles with me along the 

Niagara River Recreational Trail.  

I am nailing down the details this month for the event which will include a hotel deal at the 

Sheraton on the Falls 

and celebration dinner (along with many other goodies!).  A shuttle will take hikers up to the city of Niagara-on-the-Lake which is located where the Niagara River empties into Lake Ontario.  From there, we will hike back to the falls over portions of a Friday and Saturday in mid-October.  


Details and dates are still in the process of getting nailed down.  I will send a mass e-mail out in the next few weeks with all of the particulars.  Hotel rooms and space at the dinner will be limited, so if you want to come, please watch for upcoming e-mails.  If you are NOT on my e-mail list and would like to be, please send an e-mail my way at Loreen@LakeTrek.com with "Updates" in the subject and I'll add you to my list.  

Please note that since this event takes place in Canada, 

you will need a passport or enhanced license in order to 

cross into Canada from the US.  

The Waterways Connecting Lakes Erie and Huron

The connection between Lake Erie and Lake Huron is over 80 miles of water. Huron flows into the St. Clair River that flows into Lake St. Clair, and that funnels into the Detroit River which splits around the island of Grosse Ile before blending into Lake Erie.

Two grand bridges span the rivers, making the leap to Canada. Today I caught my first glimpse of Lake Huron underneath the Bluewater Bridge!































Photos:
1. Ambassador Bridge, Detroit
2. Belle Isle Bridge, Detroit
3. Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Lake St. Clair
4. The Heather House B&B, Marine City on the St. Clair River
5. Lighthouse at Marine City on St. Clair River
6. Bridge to Bay Trail. I hiked this trail when it stayed close to the river.
7. Freighter on the St. Clair River
8. Arriving in Port Huron
9. The Bluewater Bridge. Lake Huron flows into the St.. Clair River here.

Location:Port Huron, MI

The Next Adventure!

Check out the new image at the top of this blog!

This is the route I will be following on my next adventure, a journey of over 1000-miles that will allow me to touch all five great lakes.

#1: I hike a portion of Ohio's northern edge beginning at Port Clinton, then will continue to do most of the edge of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. This will allow me to touch three Great Lakes: Erie, Huron and Michigan.

#2: I will do two sections of shoreline on Lake Superior including all of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (the longer highlighted part – which is part of the North Country Trail) and Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary (the shorter highlighted part – which protects some of the last old-growth trees in Michigan, some as old as 600 years).

#3: Takes me along Canada’s shoreline on Lake Ontario. I will begin in Toronto and hike east to Sandbanks Park near where Lake Ontario egresses into the Saint Lawrence River.

#4: This is the two-day finale hiking from the shores of Lake Ontario to Niagara Falls along the Niagara River Recreational Trail. This will take place on a Friday-Saturday in October (dates being nailed down) and I’ll invite people to come and hike these last two days with me and to celebrate the end of my second 1000-mile adventure! I’m working on a deal for lodging and celebratory dinner, so watch for details! Also note that this will take place on the Canadian side of the river, so you will need a passport or enhanced driver’s license in order to cross the border into Canada.

If you haven’t already, please go ahead and “LIKE” my fan page to stay current on my writing and hiking and activism on behalf of our Great Lakes. And, if you'd like updates mailed to you, please shoot me an e-mail at Loreen@LakeTrek.com with the subject line: Updates!

Life should be an adventure!

Press Release link: http://prlog.org/11781680