Taking My Mom For a Walk
I took my mom on an easier hike than the one last year. There was no stops and she was a lot better with her flat path ahead.
The last time I took my mom for a long walk, it didn’t go well - there were too many rocks, it was too steep, and it was uncomfortable. I searched and found Dundas Valley Conservation Area near Dundas, Ontario. It is a vast area with numerous trails of varying difficulty levels. The cost for parking was under $10 because it was during the week. We saw people with dogs, on bikes, and it wasn't too busy for a Wednesday.
We were greeted by the Trail Centre, a replica of a Victorian train station, along with some old railcars from the Canadian Pacific Railway. It was unmanned but had washrooms and water, along with information and ample space for groups.
We took the ‘red route’ or the main route around the park, and it was under the trees, so it was shady. It was early enough for it to be cool. Since being home, I have noticed that the temperatures peak around noon and then drop at night, but the mornings are comfortable, making them the best time to do anything outdoors. The red route has many other trails branching off from it. The entire path is part of the Bruce Trail, extending from Niagara to Tobermory.
The path was relatively flat, but it had dips that led down into the valley and then back up again. I was worried about my mom’s stability and breathing, so we took as much time as we could and gave her time to breathe and enjoy the walk. It wasn’t a race, and there was no hurry.
The path had some ‘open parts’ that were great for escaping the mosquitoes. Next time, I will need to spray for them. They are annoying, but I forgot this time around.
Along the path, we came across the Hermitage and Gatehouse Museum. It was built in 1855 as a home for an Irish family. The area reminded them of their lives back in Scotland. It fell into disuse and was restored in 2016. It is a lovely area to take pictures, and some of the original remains remain untouched.
The path was a loop and took us back to the station. Within the conservation area are four waterfalls, including Tiffany, Sherman, Canterbury and the smaller Hermitage Cascade. The park is also part of the old railway hike between Hamilton and Brantford, allowing you to walk the longer, flatter path.