Come Walk With Us on the Trans Canada Trail (TCT)

Last night it gently rained on and off, and at one point we heard the sound of coyotes howling in the nearby Asessippi Valley.  I didn't get up when the alarm went off at 5:30, hoping the rain would stop, and thankfully it did.  When I finally stepped out of the tent to make the coffee the sun was turning the dark clouds pink, and a White-tailed Deer with a budding set of antlers was standing tall atop a sand dune in the hay field outside the tent.  A steady stream of American Crows was flying by overhead and complaining loudly, and as I waited for the water to boil a huge Red-tailed Hawk swooped low over the field, giving its iconic screech. When we headed out we found ourselves on a gravel concession, which was wonderfully shaded by two rows of trembling aspens.  Even in their shade it was already hot, but the cool breeze and the sound of the leaves rustling made for a beautiful morning. In some ways there is little to say about today. We essentially walked straigh...

Very honoured to receive such an generous and supportive letter from the president of the Trans Canada Trail, Eleanor McMahon!  We have been so fortunate to have received such great support and kindness from the Trans Canada Trail and Great Trail staff since announcing our intention to hike and photograph the entire length of the TCT pathways in 2018 while promoting diversity in the outdoors and encouraging youth to get back outdoors, become involved in Citizen Science and discovery.  We have enjoyed every moment so far (even the tough ones) and love making Canada better known to Canadians.  We received this letter today, a day away from the Saskatchewan border - which will be our 8th province and 1st with as a flag carrying Royal Canadian Geographical Society Expedition!  When we cross the border we will have trekked almost 8000 km from Cape Spear Newfoundland to Duck Mountain Provincial Park, Saskatchewan - and while it has been wonderful so far, these is still...

This morning we headed out of Inglis on the Marsh Boardwalk and Interpretive Trail - the local portion of the Great Trail.  This charming little forested track took us across a small field, along a short section of railway where the ties and rails hadn't been removed, and through a shady aspen forest to a small wooden lookout over a tiny marsh.  There were interpretive signs along the way describing the importance of wetlands, native plant species, and invertebrates among other interesting things.  In the unfortunately dry marsh we spotted Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs foraging in the mud, Red-winged Blackbirds calling from the cattails, and a Cedar Waxwing uncharacteristically perched on a post in the midst of the marshy area.  Otherwise it was pretty quiet. At the edge of town we walked past a small school with a colourful mural showing the children and their parents, and then headed north on a gravel concession in a bright and sunny morning which was already turn...