Join us for a walk. Be inspired. 8 AM Saturday morning. Can you imagine!
It is a beautiful time of day to walk.
Please scroll down to view walk info (updated 18/April/2013)
The Lively Dragon participants are lead by "Shirley" or one of the other group leaders. Every weekend it is a different location in the Hamilton / Burlington area. There are many beautiful places to see that are ours to discover.
The walks are usually 10 km on excellent trails, parts of the Bruce Trail and others in the area.
A walking pole could be helpful.. Water is important even in colder weather. Please stay hydrated. Hiking is amazing and refreshing. .
If you have questions about winter hiking email walks@lively-dragon.com me your question and I will try to answer it.
Sat May 18th 2013 - 0800 hrs - University Plaza/Monarch Trail
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The group will be meeting at the back of Shoppers Drugmart at University
Plaza (see the attached map). At that point the group will decide which way
they want to do the Monarch. If you do it on the way out, turn left onto
Lynden and then cross Little John to get on the trail. You'll cross over Old
Dundas Road and then hit Arteban which will be a right hand turn onto the
road - follow the Monarch markers - you'll pass the Maplewood conference
centre and then be back on the conservation trail. You'll eventually hit the
Main Loop - head to the right and exit to the Trail Centre. You can take the
Spring Creek trail back to Sanctuary Park or take the H-B rail trail
straight back. I've also attached a copy of the city's 2013 trail map- oddly
enough, they didn't show the Monarch trail going all the way to Little John.
This walk is usually done in under 2 1/2 hours - and the usual Maple Leaf
Pancake House is just down the street.
Since this email already has two maps I will send May 25th's separately -
hopefully less confusion. Enjoy the Monarch walk - weather is looking great
for the long weekend.
Kathy
Sat May 11th 2013 - 0800 hrs - Redhill/Felker Falls
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We'll meet at the Redhill parking lot at the end of Mtn Brow, near Pritchard (see the attached map). We'll exit the Red Hill trail at old Upper Mt. Albion Road and head over to Felker Falls - from there we'll get on the Bruce Trail and eventually exit down into the Greenhill neighborhood. From there we have a couple kilometers of sidewalk to take to get back to the 'Greenhill' entrance to the 'Red Hill' trail. We've got a couple of 'healthy' hills to do to get back to the cars - nothing we cant' handle! The Donut Diner is close by for breakfast - remember, cash only. We've got rain on the way for the remainder of this week. This route has lots of groomed trail, some sidewalk and a stretch of Bruce Trail that 'hopefully' wont' be too muddy thanks to the drainage along the escarpment. Still, bring those extra shoes and socks...maybe another top in case we catch some rain while we are out....
And remember, a little rain won't harm you... we're not made of sugar! See you out there, rain or shine. Kathy
Sat May 4th 2013 -0800 hrs- Dundas Valley via Ridgewood Blvd/Lower
Headwaters
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We'll be meeting/parking at the top of Ridgewood Blvd off of Govenors Road.
From the town of Dundas, head out on Govenors Road, past Creighton and
Bridlewood - after passing Wainwright, Ridgewood Blvd is kind of hidden on
the left - slow down or you'll pass it. Park near the top and we'll take off
into the conservation area from there. We can make a quick pit stop at the
Trail Centre before heading onto the Main Trail. From there we'll get on the
lower half of Headwaters and head to Martin Road and Mineral Springs Road.
From there we get on the Hamilton -Brantford Rail Trail and make our way
back to the Trail Centre. It will take the usual 2 1/2 hours and, if I
remember correctly, breakfast last time was at Maple Leaf Pancake House on
Main West.
Hard to believe we are heading into May already - not too sure if we've had
spring yet - temperatures have been up and down like a yo-yo. Not too far
away is the Phlox Run (June 2nd) - last year it was hot (too hot for poor
Isabella) and the phlox were virtually all gone by the time of the race. I
haven't heard anyone mention it this year.
http://www.runnersdenparis.com/Specials.html
With the weather getting warmer, hopefully the Saturday group will grow in
size - last week's group of 17 is proof that a little sun and warm weather
can to a long way. See you real soon. kathy
Sat April 27th 2013 - 0800 hrs - Headwaters here we come!
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We will meet/park at the Lion's Club Pool on Jerseyville Road (see the attached map). It might be a bit wet along the creek side but in the past we've been able to 'portage' the worst of it. This is a well groomed trail - hopefully it has remained as such thru the spring melt. But, hey, what's a little mud?- at least we're back on the trails. Sammy's is close by for breakfast - another group favourite. Bring the 'usual'...an extra pair of dry socks and shoes.
Looking ahead at the weekend weather, I think it will feel more like April - quite cool in the early morning but warming up quickly. Keep an eye on the 'possibility' of rain and dress appropriately...and remember that famous line...'We're not made of sugar ya know!' See you there! kathy
May 4th - Dundas Valley walk from the Govenor's Road side - we'll park at the top of Ridgewood and head into Dundas Valley and do the bottom half of Headwaters, exiting off of Martin Road, thru Mineral Springs.
May 11th - Ridge Road? - the last time we did this one, we could barely see
past our noses. I'm hoping by the time we do this one the marsh iris will be in bloom (and no mosquitos out yet!). We'll park on Powerline Road, walk Ridge Road back to Eleventh and then take the boardwalk back thru the Vineland Wetland.
May 18th - Dundas Valley from the Ancaster Old Mill
May 25th - University Plaza/Monarch Trail - I think between all the "die-hard' walkers, you should be able to find your way along there -
Sat April 20th 2013 - 0800hrs - Chedoke Rail Trail..with a 'twist'
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We'll be meeting at the base of the Chedoke Rail Trail on Hillcrest - from Aberdeen, head up either Beulah or Mountain Ave to Hillcrest and park along the top, close to the trail (see the attached map). From there we will head up the trail - all depending on how the side trails are, we'll get on the Iroquois Trail on the way up (where we normally exit on the way back) and walk along the escarpment. When we exit back onto the main trail we are actually going to get on the other part of the Iroquois Trail (that we've never been on before!) which takes us to Old Mohawk Road where the trail actually begins. We've got about 2 km of sidewalk/streets to walk before we get back on the Chedoke Trail at Scenic. On our way down Mohawk, we'll be passing by the farm house that Boris and I are presently living in.
This walk is going to be 11 -12 km and take us the usual 2 1/2 hours. As far as breakfast goes...we are not far from Wimpy's on Main Street..if anybody has any other suggestions, let us know before we take off.
The weather is looking 'do-able' for Saturday - still a bit cool for April but at least there is no rain in the forecast for that day. The Iroquois Trail, on the other hand, could be quite muddy. I'll try my best to get out Friday to take a look - if the escarpment side turns out to be too muddy, we'll skip it. Still, bring extra shoes and socks - breakfast will be far more enjoyable with dry, warm feet. Hope to see you Saturday. Kathy
Sat April 6th 2013 - 0800 hrs - East Mountain 10 km Route/Eramosa Kaarst
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We'll be meeting, once again, at the Red Hill parking lot - at the end of Mountain Brow, near Pritchard (see the attached map). This time we will be heading toward Mt. Albion Falls to Arbour Rd and over the pedestrian bridge we'll go. We do have about 1.5 km of road to walk that doesn't have a sidewalk so we'll need to walk single file and pay attention to traffic - hopefully, being early on a Saturday morning, there won't be too much. That will take us into Eramosa Kaarst - I'll try to work in a small loop of the Kaarst before we head over to Felker Falls. It's this portion that still does not have the finished trail so we have to go thru the community for a kilometer or two. We end up heading back down old Mt. Albion Road and back onto the Red Hill trail. Once again, the Donut Diner can be our breakfast destination - just remember to bring cash - they don't take cards.
The weather is looking like it's on our side again for this weekend's walk - variable cloud and a high of 4to 6 C and, so far, very little wind. Boris and I have been keeping an eye on the Chedoke Trail and Dundas Valley - it's virtually clear on the Chedoke trail but with it comes mud on the Iroquois trail. We'll take a look at Dundas Valley later this week - after today's warm weather, we're hoping the trails will be 'do-able'. Won't be too long before we can get back on them. See you Saturday. Kathy
Sat March 30th 2013 – 0800 hrs – Red Hill Trail (and a last visit to ‘old’ 60 Pinehurst)
We’ll be meeting at the Red Hill parking lot at the very end of Mt Brow on the east mountain, near the bottom/start of Pritchard – see the attached map. From there we will head down to the Green Hill baseball park (or maybe the Hixon bridge), head up Greenhill (or Hixon) to the Kimberley stairs, onto the Escarpment trail – then up the Margate stairs we go (that’s right, two sets!) We will deviate onto Pinehurst and visit the ‘old’ house and then back along the escarpment we’ll go until we hit the trail again at Mohawk. We’ll get back on the trail until Limeridge and then exit to the paved trail along Mt.Brow Rd– that way we can visit Mt.Albion falls on the way back. Not too far away, on Stonechurch, right near Nebo Road, is the Donut Diner. We’ll try to call ahead and see if they’ll save that large table for us. You’ll need at least 2 1/2 hours for this walk – one route is too short but I’m going to check before Saturday and make sure the Hixon route won’t be too long. You’ll have to be patient and see what I come up with.
The weather is, so far, looking fabulous for Saturday (hmmm, maybe we should do the longer route). Spring is a ‘mucky’ season on the trails so make sure you bring an extra pair of dry socks and shoes. And don’t forget the sun block, possibly hats too! See you on the trails! kathy
Sat March 23rd 2013 -0800 hrs - Hutch's on the Waterfront
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We'll be meeting at Hutches on Van Wagner's Beach Road - it's at the bottom of Centennial Parkway - see the attached map. You can get to Centennial Parkway via the QEW or exit the Red Hill at Barton is you are coming by highway. Park close to Hutches - there won't be too many people there for ice cream. The washroom is available there - but it's 'secretively' behind an unmarked door at the front. When we head out we'll see which way the wind is blowing and decide whether to do Beach Road on the way out or on the way back. It's kind of an 'out and back' to the lift bridge with parts of Beach Road as an alternative way to sight see - it takes the usually 2hours, maybe 15 minutes to walk. Breakfast? What a coincidence...Bedrock Bistro is not far from there...so for those of you who missed last week's Flinstone breakfast, here's your chance.
Keep an eye on the windchill factor Saturday - if the winds stay below 20 km/hr we'll be fine. Always best to have an extra neck warmer in the car just in case you step out of the car and don't like what you 'feel'. I'm really hoping we can get out on the Red Hill Trail Easter Weekend - cross your fingers. See you Saturday morning...bright and early..and smiling! kathy
Sat March 16th 2013 - 0800 hrs - 'Spring Fling' at Gage Park
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We'll be meeting in the Gage Park parking lot which is at the back of the park, off of Lawrence. From down in the city, you can get onto Lawrence from Gage - if your coming down the Kenilworth Access, there is an exit for Lawrence at the bottom (turn right onto Lawrence) - see the attached map. From the parking lot we'll do a circle around the park, exit on the east side into Rosedale for a short part of the walk and then head over to the neighborhood on the west side. I haven't put the route together yet but we'll try to hit the 'picturesque' streets as much as possible - and it might not be the usual 12 km...and I'm sure you're disappointed with that, aren't you? The only place I know of for breakfast down there is the Bedrock Bistro at 260 Queenston Road - near Parkside Drive - not too far from Gage Park. If you have any other suggestions, let me know.
If you can't make it to breakfast at least make sure you take time to go into the greenhouse. Boris and I were in there yesterday and it was like a miniature Royal Botanical Gardens. Make sure you leave a little water in your bottle and snack in your pocket because it's one of those places where you just want to sit on a bench, listen to the waterfall and watch the koi in the pond....never mind take in all lovely smell and colourful blossoms of the spring bulbs and tropical garden. See you there! kathy
Sat March 9th 2013 – 0800 hrs – William’s on the Waterfront
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We are going to walk the waterfront this Saturday – lets hope the winds stay down and no ‘off the lake’ storms come in from nowhere. We’ll meet down at William’s Cafe on Discovery Lane (off of Guise Street) – see the attached map. From there we will head to the docks behind the old Discovery Centre and circle back, heading towards Bayfront Park, the ‘island’ and eventually Princess Point. It’s more or less an ‘out and back’ but we can add deviations along the way so it won’t get too repetitive on the way back. Pay attention to the wind chill factor that morning and dress appropriately – that wind can be nippy coming off the lake. Another important factor is ice – the city ploughs the trail but it can have sheer black ice due to run off – and we are heading into warm temperatures by the end of the week so that snow is going to be melting across the paths. And we don’t have to drive anywhere to go to breakfast/coffee....William’s is right there when we get back!
Well, lets hope we at least keep dry this coming Saturday – I haven’t looked today, but yesterday Saturday was forecasted as being a ‘tad’ wet - and with that note comes the reminder that “We’re not made of sugar you know!” – bring a dry change of clothes and just ‘live with it’. If we’re going to get wet....then let’s get wet together! See you Saturday! Kathy
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