This is a story in the series of “Trail Sections along the Avon Trail”. It was written in May and updated in August. The Tuesday Morning Ramblers walked this section August 24.
Before you begin, ensure you know the trailheads’ location and safe parking spots. Get your ONDAGO mobile map or hardcopy Avon Trail Guide Book Edition 8.0.
A generous landowner has provided three off-road parking spots at the top of his drive on Line 40 at Trailhead 59.9. In addition to this parking location, he also has a sign indicating additional cars can be parked on the grass slightly west of these parking spots.
Trailhead 59.9 – 58 (heading southwest)
Once parked off the road, your adventure can begin. Walk west along Line 40, 200 metres, to find the access point at 59.7. Follow the Trail by turning left onto a lane. You are entering a woodlot heading southwest. Follow the white directional blazes you will encounter on trees along the path. The Trail turns right from the lane, heading west along the edge of the woods. Listen to the trills of birds and the chatter of ground squirrels as you continue your journey southwest, paying attention to the directional blazes. You can follow your progress by opening the ONDAGO trail map (Avon Trail Part 1 of 2) on your mobile phone. You don’t use data to run the app. The path follows the edge of a field on your right. Eventually, you encounter a tiny cottage in the woods, very modern in design.
The way continues southwest. At this point, You approach a stile built and installed by Avon Trail volunteers. A stile is an easy-to-climb ladder allowing you to pass over fences along the Trail. The path continues southwest with fields on your left and woods on your right. Don’t be surprised if you see some cattle passing through the woods right of the trail. Today, they appeared to be taking refuge from the August mid morning heat. As you continue your hike towards Perth Road 108, on your right, hidden in the woods, you pass the remains of a cabin built by the “TUXIS Boys” of the Central United Church, Stratford (Keep your eyes peeled for orange-coloured blazing tape in the cedar signaling the direction to the chimney). In the 1920s and 1930s, TUXIS was a boys’ program like the Scouting Movement. A stone chimney stands in the woods among the cedars, all that remains of the cabin. You will encounter your next stile as this trail section ends at Road 108. You have now hiked 1.9 kilometres.
Retrace your steps back from here to the starting point on Line 40 to complete your 3.8-kilometre hike.
Tom Kimber