I have been thinking about the Bruce Trail for many years now, yet life prevented me from taking the first steps.

When I read Paddling North by Audrey Sutherland, that’s when things changed. Audrey’s words and stories inspired me. She had a zest for life, an unparalleled tenacity and strength, but it was her philosophy in life that smacked me in the face… “Go simple, go solo, go now,”

The “go now” is what motivated me the most. Like many of us, there are so many dreams yet not enough time. This is certainly true for me, yet Audrey said “go now”.   I will be 60 next year and there will be fewer and fewer able years available to chip away at my bucket list… so the Bruce Trail is “now”

One week ago I had this epiphany, and one week from now I will start my solo hike of the Bruce Trail.

The Bruce Trail is a hiking trail in southern and central Ontario from the Niagara River to the tip of Tobermory, Ontario. The main trail is more than 890 km long and there is over 400 km of associated side trails. The trail follows the edge of the Niagara Escarpment, one of the thirteen UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves in Canada.

The trail traverses land owned by the Government of Ontario, local municipalities, local conservation authorities, private landowners and the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC). The Bruce Trail is the oldest and longest marked hiking trail in Canada. The trail is named after Bruce County which got its name from James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin.  James Bruce was also the Governor General of the Province of Canada from 1847 to 1854. 

The concept of the Bruce Trail came about in 1959 following a meeting between Ray Lowes and Robert Bateman, of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists. 

On March 13, 1963, the Bruce Trail Association was incorporated in Ontario.  The cairn at the northern terminus in Tobermory was unveiled in 1967 to coincide with Canada’s Centennial Year.

It appears it was meant to be. The trail is named after me… “Bruce“. The trail was conceived in the year of my birth… “1959“, and was incorporated on my birthday… “March 13“.

Coincidence?… we will see.

UPDATE 1

Bruce completed the first 400 km in 12 days and then the adventure was cut short due to injuries. He vows to complete what he started in 2019  #BruceHikesBruce

UPDATE 2

Bruce completed the second half of the Bruce trail in 2020 with his good friend “Crusher” #BruceHikesBruce