A Fall Hike in Ben Eoin

It's fall and that means I've traded my swimsuit and flip flops for long sleeves and hiking boots. It's the time of year when it's still warm enough to be outdoors enjoying the fresh air. It's the time of year when I head to the trails and enjoy time in the forests, mountains and rugged coastlines of Cape Breton Island.

My first real hike of the season was a fairly short one.  I didn't plan to hike that day.  I was out for a drive on a nice Saturday afternoon when I spotted a picnic park in Ben Eoin.  I pulled in to have my lunch and noticed a sign for a hiking trail.  It looked quite steep.  I was tired.  I pondered the idea of hiking up a mountain.  On one hand I didn't really feel like tackling such an exhaustive-looking feat.  On the other hand, it was nice out, the views were amazing, the fall colors were out and I had never hiked this trail before.  There were way more reasons to push myself than to just drive away having turned down an opportunity to spend some time in the forest.  So I went for it. 

It was warm enough to wear just a t-shirt and although it looked like it might rain, I didn't care.  It was warm enough that I risked it so I didn't have to carry a heavy rain jacket up the mountain and back. 

The trail was well-maintained and fairly easy except that there were lots of old roots that created tripping hazards and some parts were quite steep. I kept a steady pace to gain momentum going up the hills but hiked slowly enough to take in everything around me.  A woodpecker pecking at some bugs on a tree.  Two squirrels fighting over an acorn.  The trees rustling in the gentle breeze.  The sun casting it's rays through the canopy.  The smell of rotting leaves.  

It took about a half hour to reach the top of the mountain where there was a clearing overlooking the Bras d'Or Lakes.  The walk down the hill was a little difficult at the steep parts but I made it down in good time before the rain started.  

I continued on with my afternoon drive and kept going up Route 4 to St. Peter's and onto Isle Madame.  I took a wrong turn on the island and ended up in another part of Cape Breton that I had never been to before and made a mental note to return to explore it more thoroughly.  I took a drive through the Lennox Passage Provincial Park and thought it would be a nice place to stop and enjoy lunch on my future return visit to the area. 

I just can't get enough of Cape Breton and I'll never stop exploring it!  More fall adventures to come!