Dandelion Trail

Our most recent cycling adventure on the Confederation Trail took us to the Pleasant Valley area where we had finished cycling last October. Along the trail, the dandelion blooms greet hikers and cyclists.

What was a scant bloom in a few places the previous week had become a full bloom in many areas.

Wild strawberry blooms look out of place among all the dandelions but the tiny white blooms are visible along the trail..

This section of trail is through the rolling hills of the central portion of the island. Steep banks on either side of the trail keep one focussed on the straight and narrow trail ahead. 

Through the trees we see some fields are being plowed, ready for spring planting. 

However, any time a view of the countryside is exposed, the dominant colour is yellow in the unplowed fields. 

As we approached the community of Hunter River, we could hear elementary school children out for recess on the opposite side of the river, running, shouting and having a great time. We caught glimpses of them through the trees and the sounds brought us back to our days teaching all those years ago. 

A new bridge across the Hunter River gives area residents a great route for a walk. 

An old church in the community has been for sale for years but it looks like someone has purchased the building and is renovating the old place. It is good to see this work rather than demolition.

A few nesting boxes are located adjacent to the trail as well. My poor eyesight thought it was a grackle at one of the boxes. 

I was pleasantly surprised to see a Tree Swallow at the opening of a box when I looked at the photos. I captured a photo of one of the birds on top of the box as well. 

We stopped briefly to observe a mare and foal my husband saw through the trees. The mother was watchful of every move I made as I attempted to get a photo of the two through the trees.

We stopped for lunch at one of the picnic sites along the trail. This one had an old tree nearby with two huge woodpecker holes though no birds were present.

Before we arrived back at the car, we stopped to hydrate on the trail between two fields of yellow. The view on one side was a yellow delight.

The other side showed the burgeoning hills of yellow.

On the short drive to the highway, we passed a cattle farm where the cattle were out grazing among the dandelions, looking quite content.

Soon the blooms will be replaced with fluffy seed heads. It will be interesting to see the countryside when the air is filled with seeds as well.