It's actually a week after I got home from this trip, and I haven't been able to bring myself to write this post about the final couple of days. While a part of me was very happy to get home, there is a part that doesn't really believe that it is time to be home. I guess I will just have to wait and see what feels right.
I arrived in Hamilton, Ontario very late afternoon on Monday, 23 July. After checking in to my hotel, I took a little while to wander around downtown Hamilton. It feels a little like a New England mill town. I managed to get out of commercial building and into a slightly residential areas. Lots of homes, very close together - and probably built in the first half of the 20th century. At least where I was walking. As I started back to the hotel, sunset was approaching. This amazing sky was in front of me as I walked.
Once I finished settling in to the hotel, I reached out to a friend in Hamilton I was seeing on Wednesday, and asked for recommendations of good places to walk/hike/explore in my free hours on Tuesday. I knew I would be doing a work project in the afternoon, after receiving information sometime in the morning. That gave me several hours. My friend suggested two different areas of the Royal Botanical Garden: Rock Chapel Nature Sanctuary and the Arboretum.
Tuesday morning I headed out, first to Rock Chapel Sanctuary. This is part of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve. [Just in case anyone doesn't know, here is a definition of escarpment: a long, steep slope, especially one at the edge of a plateau or separating areas of land at different heights.] Rock Chapel is the main escarpment point along the Bruce Trail in this area. The area includes several kilometers of trails along forested, south-facing escarpment cliffs and slopes. It also includes a collection of old field tablelands. I took an escarpment edge trail for a couple of kms, then started back and detoured onto a trail that went through the fields on the way back. It was absolutely beautiful and quiet, although I did see one other couple walking with their dog, and we chatted a little.
After Rock Chapel, I headed over to the Arboretum. The Arboretum is more like an English landscape park. There are actual special gardens, but also nature trails and lots of open grassy space with various areas of trees and other growth. (By the way, there are entrance fees to some of the gardens, but the Arboretum itself the hiking/walking trails are fee to use. There is a fee for parking in most places.) I didn't have a lot of time left before having to get back to my hotel, but did get the opportunity do cover some of the Arboretum. Here are a few pictures.
Originally, I was supposed to meet my friend Wednesday morning, and we had intended heading to Princess Point (also within the RBG). But he suggested that we go to Rock Chapel instead, which I was very happy to do. It was wonderful to have some time to spend with him in person (we had only met virtually), especially outside. We share a love of nature. Perhaps there will be an opportunity to do it again someday.
I headed home Thursday morning, not sure whether I would do the entire drive in one day or stop somewhere overnight. I knew it would be close to a 9-hour drive (minimum). But as usual when it's the last leg, I didn't want to stop before reaching home.
So now this part of my journey is completed. As I said earlier, I was happy to be home, and also sad. I know there will be more travel ... in the future. We shall see!
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