Clearview Side Trail

After running some errands in Owen Sound the other day, I stopped to walk the Clearview Side Trail loop of the Bruce Trail, to get my daily walk.  Parts of it were interesting, but there were some limitations too.

The creek that flows down the valley is certainly a highlight.

The valley at this point is fairly narrow, and the water is very clear.

The Trail Guide indicates that spawning Rainbow Trout can be seen here in the spring.  That may be worth returning for!

The forest itself seemed to have a high proportion of Hop Hornbeam, or Ironwood, its seeds scattered all over the ground.  Took me awhile to figure out the seeds earlier this fall in another location, but the narrow shaggy bark is unmistakeable.

This is how the cluster of seeds is held on the tree before the individual seeds fall off.

There were a few other interesting things to see, like that mossy log, but unfortunately there were a lot of very muddy sections along the trail.  I was tip-toeing around the edges to try and stay dry.

Then I headed up a long gradual hill and came up against this limestone bluff before I could get all the way to the top. 

The trail followed the base of the bluff almost a kilometre back to where I had parked, and this was certainly interesting.  I expect there are some interesting ferns in the summer.

I`m still struggling with some of the geology though.  The upper two-thirds of this outcrop are the large blocky layers of Amabel dolomite.  But the narrow almost brick-like layers at the bottom are obviously something else.  I need to get the geology a little clearer in my head.

I was disappointed in the muddy trail here, and I found 3 different answers as to how far I walked.  Between the Trail Guide, the map, and the signs on the ground - this loop is something between 2.7 and 3.5 km.  The Trail Guide also says that the trail, and I quote - `provides excellent views over Owen Sound and Georgian Bay`.  That`s the main reason I chose to walk this loop, but sorry, I didn`t get a single `clear view` anywhere!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch here, the same snow as yesterday blew in, accumulating quite heavily in late afternoon.  But it`s also very windy, so we have anything from very little where it has blown clear, to foot deep drifts.  Such a refreshing time of year; makes it so nice to be inside a cozy house!