First day on the Hunt - Boyd Crevices Hike #15

I've got the book with the clues, I've got my Bruce Trail maps, and I've got a great hiking companion along for the morning! How is it possible that just about nothing went as planned?!

Kirstin and I had plans to locate two of the codes just east of Owen Sound, Rock Springs and Boyd Crevice. Since we didn't get the Rock Springs code, I'll save that story for my next post. Let's say we put a few practice kilometers on our boots as a warm up for the Boyd Crevice trail!

I've explored Boyd Crevice before, and it's the best! It feels magical that this mossy wonderland of rock faces and crevices is a short 10 minute hike off the road. It is truthfully listed as moderate to strenuous difficulty because you need to goat it up and down rocks in some places. Wear shoes with good treads!

HOW TO GET THERE

You'll find a few spots to park on the west side of the 10th concession between Storybook Park road and the KOA campground. Then, and this is the important part...(lesson learned) do not head into the bush where you park your car, walk north along the road for a couple of minutes and you'll see a trail on your left marked with the Bruce Trail Conservancy white diamond with arrow.

Follow the trail through some long grass, and a tunnel of cedar trees. Shortly after the forest opens up, cliff faces appear, and you'll want to start exploring! If you stick to the (white blaze) trail, it leads right through the biggest crevice of all with a ladder to help you up and over.

It is sooo cool. Literally, so cool! It was a humid 30 degrees that day, but the most delicious draft comes from the crevices!

The Boyd Crevice section is a linear hike along a section of the main trail, not a loop. So wander until the trail leads away from the ancient rocks, then turn around and retrace your steps. Giving yourself an hour to explore this trail should be lots. Perfect bite sized fun!

Kirstin and I happily headed into Owen Sound for lunch having stumbled upon what we thought was our 4 digit code. It was so easy to find we didn't even get the book out to read the clues!

TRUTH TIME

I learned a valuable piece of information days later. Each structure on the Bruce Trail has a number to identify it and that number is strikingly similar to the code plate we were looking for in the Secrets of Sydenham treasure hunt. The number we recorded from the bottom of the crevice ladder was clearly not where the clues (if we had bothered to read them!) described our code to be.

And so, this, my first hike day to find the Secrets of Sydenham.....was a bust! But only in terms of checking boxes. I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday

Thanks for joining me Kirstin!

August 22, 2020

Hike length - 1.5 km

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