A Halloween Hike - November 4, 2017
Tuesday, October 31, started off as a grey windy day. I should know, I did my morning jog-walk in it, starting at 7 am. Blah. So, I was delighted to learn that a friend of a friend had posted his first book on Amazon. I could download it to the kindle app on my computer and spend the afternoon with a pot of tea and an e-book of science fiction.
But as we were heading out the door to GoodLife to get in our exercise for the day, Laur said, “I need some more pictures for my presentation on the Welland Canal? Want to come with me this afternoon?” I confess, my first thought was, “A few hundred pictures already aren’t enough?!” And my second thought actually popped out of my mouth. “Nah, it looks yucky out there.”
Having been married to me for 40 years, Laur knows how to “push my buttons” in a positive way. He offered, “It would be a 6-k hike, and there could be a Tim’s run included, and I’ll make supper.” OK, he didn’t offer to make supper – he had already made it last night, and we were having leftovers this day. OK, he didn’t exactly make supper, he “prepped” the potatoes and collard greens. Funny how my wrists hurt too much to peel and chop veggies, but not too much to do BodyPump at the gym…
I was still undecided – but then the sun came out. “Oh, what the heck. Sure, I’ll come!” And off we went after lunch to the location of Canal Three. According to Laurence, “...one of the most interesting features of this third Welland Canal is the Merritton Tunnel on the Grand Trunk Railway line that ran under the canal between Locks 18 and 19…” He has a lot more to say about it, trust me.
What I know about Canal Three is that it’s located in an area that local canalophiles call the Welland Canal Parklands, but that the St. Lawrence Seaway has plastered with signs, “No admittance. Keep out. Danger!” But surely, they can’t mean us – two harmless seniors going for an afternoon stroll by a canal wall where, if you stumbled, you’d fall three stories into freezing water, and there would be no way to get you out until they dredged it.
Today Laur was bound and determined to find the original Turney house, “…near Turney’s Crossroads, now under a reservoir supporting the 4th canal...” If you are a Welland Canal-ite, you’ll know the significance of this. Laur loves this kind of thing. He had wanted to become an archeologist until he found out there was math involved.
We tramped around in a tick-infested, weed-filled, muddy clearing until Laur noted there were three trees perfectly lined up. “Aha!” says he. “Those have been planted.” And sure enough, he was able to find a few stones left from the wall of the original house.
He eventually found the outline of the entire house as well as the remnants of a cold cellar. Wow! What a find for his presentation in April of 2018! And the Welland Canal security people eventually found us, wandering back illegally on a gravel road. The lad pulled his van over and reminded us that we could get fined for doing what we are doing. We took this to heart – meaning from here on in that we’ll only go exploring in this area on the weekends, and we’ll stay off the road.
As we were staring at the underbelly of an old train bridge, I said to Laurence, “I am so very grateful we can do this.” Laurence responded, “You always say that.” And I said what I always say, “And I really mean it.”
I am so very aware that we are but one car accident or one bad medical diagnosis away from having very different lives, or no lives at all. And even if we are so fortunate to live into our 90s, arthritis and other frailties of old age will limit us to very level walking for very short distances. My mom at age 60 was far more energetic than I am; and at age 95 while her spirit is so raring to go, her body puts up a bit of a fuss.
Next week, all things going well, Laur and I head off to our trailer in Arizona. We like to get a little hike and a big hike in weekly. I am so hoping we’ll hike Mount Wrightson again – it’s is the highest point in the Tucson region. And sadly, our dear friend Sam, who taught Laur pretty much everything he knows about hiking, will not be joining us this year. He passed over the Big Ridge in September of this year.
Why do I like hiking? I don’t always – it can be hard work. I certainly like the hike being over. Here is a quote, however, that says it very well:
“I like the mountains because they make me feel small. They help me sort out what's important in life.” ― Mark Obmascik, Halfway to Heaven: My White-knuckled--and Knuckleheaded--Quest for the Rocky Mountain High
But as we were heading out the door to GoodLife to get in our exercise for the day, Laur said, “I need some more pictures for my presentation on the Welland Canal? Want to come with me this afternoon?” I confess, my first thought was, “A few hundred pictures already aren’t enough?!” And my second thought actually popped out of my mouth. “Nah, it looks yucky out there.”
Having been married to me for 40 years, Laur knows how to “push my buttons” in a positive way. He offered, “It would be a 6-k hike, and there could be a Tim’s run included, and I’ll make supper.” OK, he didn’t offer to make supper – he had already made it last night, and we were having leftovers this day. OK, he didn’t exactly make supper, he “prepped” the potatoes and collard greens. Funny how my wrists hurt too much to peel and chop veggies, but not too much to do BodyPump at the gym…
I was still undecided – but then the sun came out. “Oh, what the heck. Sure, I’ll come!” And off we went after lunch to the location of Canal Three. According to Laurence, “...one of the most interesting features of this third Welland Canal is the Merritton Tunnel on the Grand Trunk Railway line that ran under the canal between Locks 18 and 19…” He has a lot more to say about it, trust me.
What I know about Canal Three is that it’s located in an area that local canalophiles call the Welland Canal Parklands, but that the St. Lawrence Seaway has plastered with signs, “No admittance. Keep out. Danger!” But surely, they can’t mean us – two harmless seniors going for an afternoon stroll by a canal wall where, if you stumbled, you’d fall three stories into freezing water, and there would be no way to get you out until they dredged it.
Today Laur was bound and determined to find the original Turney house, “…near Turney’s Crossroads, now under a reservoir supporting the 4th canal...” If you are a Welland Canal-ite, you’ll know the significance of this. Laur loves this kind of thing. He had wanted to become an archeologist until he found out there was math involved.
We tramped around in a tick-infested, weed-filled, muddy clearing until Laur noted there were three trees perfectly lined up. “Aha!” says he. “Those have been planted.” And sure enough, he was able to find a few stones left from the wall of the original house.
He eventually found the outline of the entire house as well as the remnants of a cold cellar. Wow! What a find for his presentation in April of 2018! And the Welland Canal security people eventually found us, wandering back illegally on a gravel road. The lad pulled his van over and reminded us that we could get fined for doing what we are doing. We took this to heart – meaning from here on in that we’ll only go exploring in this area on the weekends, and we’ll stay off the road.
As we were staring at the underbelly of an old train bridge, I said to Laurence, “I am so very grateful we can do this.” Laurence responded, “You always say that.” And I said what I always say, “And I really mean it.”
I am so very aware that we are but one car accident or one bad medical diagnosis away from having very different lives, or no lives at all. And even if we are so fortunate to live into our 90s, arthritis and other frailties of old age will limit us to very level walking for very short distances. My mom at age 60 was far more energetic than I am; and at age 95 while her spirit is so raring to go, her body puts up a bit of a fuss.
Next week, all things going well, Laur and I head off to our trailer in Arizona. We like to get a little hike and a big hike in weekly. I am so hoping we’ll hike Mount Wrightson again – it’s is the highest point in the Tucson region. And sadly, our dear friend Sam, who taught Laur pretty much everything he knows about hiking, will not be joining us this year. He passed over the Big Ridge in September of this year.
Why do I like hiking? I don’t always – it can be hard work. I certainly like the hike being over. Here is a quote, however, that says it very well:
“I like the mountains because they make me feel small. They help me sort out what's important in life.” ― Mark Obmascik, Halfway to Heaven: My White-knuckled--and Knuckleheaded--Quest for the Rocky Mountain High