Training Log Archive: Bash

Thank you, Gord.

Another hot, humid run - close to 30C with humidex of 35.

A few days ago, Dave Robinson asked if I'd found a way through the "mess" in the northeast section of the Hockley Loop (where the 3 Itches are). Apparently, Dave and WandAR tried to find a way through last week but finally gave up and returned the way they had come. I didn't know about any mess but 'Bent said the area had been logged when he ran the Loop with Leanimal and Goose last month.

I started my run at the north end of that section out of curiosity since it's one of my favourite places for hill training. It's always sad to see beautiful woods being logged but in a managed forest, it's not a surprise. The turn-off onto the Bruce Side Trail single track isn't marked right now but I was able to follow the usual route with the exception of a 30-40 m section where the trail disappeared into logging debris. When that happened, I descended the rest of the bare hillside to the double track and continued.

After the first 900 m, the rest of the trail is unaffected by the logging. I continued south over one more big hill to be sure. Heading back north, I found a detour sign where the logging started. Turns out the Bruce Trail wants people to head north on the East Access Trail and exit onto 15th Sideroad 500 m east of the usual entrance.

There is no detour sign at the usual gate off 15th Sideroad but if you continue farther east, you'll find the gate shown below. This trail joins the blue-blazed Bruce Side Trail with an unmarked left turn onto single track after about 900 m so the Loop distance remains the same with a little less climb. See my GPS track.

If you know the area well, you'll be fine but it's not a good plan to do the full Loop right now unless you're quite familiar with it.



I'm not training for mountains so I ran over to Mono Cliffs for the rest of my run. I took a 9-minute break around the 90-minute mark because it wasn't going to be worthwhile training unless I let the effects of the heat dissipate. I drank a bunch of water, ate another salt pill and a snack, and (most importantly) stood still in the shade until I felt some energy return. That gave me a second wind but I decided to cut half an hour from my plan. Hope this heat wave ends soon.

Afterward, I went to the Farmhouse Pottery Cafe on Hockley Rd. for a thick slice of their awesome strawberry rhubarb pie and an icy drink.

Small GPS adjustment because I messed up the on/off when I stopped to chat with some mountain bikers