2024 Spirit Walk

We will be holding our annual Spirit Walk around Springwater Conservation Area.

This event is a joint project with Catfish Creek Conservation Authority and Elgin Hiking Trail Club.

Spirit walk features candle lite trails to the entertainment stations featuring carollers, story teller, magician, the grinch and musicians.

There will be hot chocolate and cookie station which has been manned by volunteers Mara and Paul. They have looked after this for many years. All the people working at the event are volunteers.

Brian Wilsdon had the original Spirit Walk idea and as he turned 80 recently it would be nice to have someone to carry out this great event when and if he is ready to retire.

Many, many children have been delighted and excited to see Santa at the end of the route and he has heard many Christmas wishes. The parents have keen ears when the children talk to Santa as new ideas are given.

Aylmer Express  put the event in their Christmas in Elgin Magazine under Elgin Events, very much appreciated. Mark the day on your calendar and hears hoping for a sprinkling of snow to illuminate the Christmas Spirit Walk.

Blues and Cruise Festival 2

Blues and Cruise Festival 2 on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at Springwater Conservation Area 12-4pm

AGM 2024

There were 23 members out for the AGM at St Thomas Public Library. Gary Lowe was the evening MC and the meeting went swiftly, there were no new volunteers for the executive. Secretary and Social Convenor positions are still vacant. President Richard Wright thanks Tilman Joosten for all the work he did for the new crossing over a wash out area on Dodd Creek. Michelle gave thanks to Brian King for making her transition to secretary so smooth. Members of the executive supplied snacks and coffee.

All photos in this post taken by Brian Wilsdon.

Joan Atchison and Michelle Innes did a presentation on the events the club participated in for the last year. They even had a practice hiking session with volunteers. Everyone had a great laugh. The ladies had three gifts for anyone who found Waldo in the pictures. Lawrence Eubank called Waldo for about the first five slides, confirming him as one of the club’s happiness clowns.

Still waiting to hear if next years 50th anniversary will be twinned with Hike Ontario’s AGM next year.

Loretta, Joan and Michelle involved in Women’s Day, absent in picture Jan Witmer

A nice card and sign of appreciation was sent by YWCA for the 4 ladies from the club who did a presentation at Women’s Day at the Seniors Centre earlier this year.

Annual Winter Dinner

Brian presenting to Dave

Last week the club held it’s annual dinner at the Bistro. There were thirty people including guests.We had a room to ourselves and five tables were occupied. This did make getting to talk to everyone a bit problematic.Everyone enjoyed ordering what they would like off the menu.

Jim, Linda, Roseann, Tom, Joan and Patty.
Jackie, Joan, Ric, Charlotte, Lawrie and Dan.

After the dinner Brian Wilsdon wanted to recognize Patty Galliger for her contribution to the Spirit Walk by dressing up as the Grinch. He honoured her by giving her a personal copy of the Grinch.
Brian also recognized Dave Allen for his performance as Santa at the Spirit Walk and his efforts raising funds for Diabetes Canada in August with his Blues and Cruise event in Port Bruce to celebrate the life of his bass playing wife Elva.

Lynn, Rick, Mel, Evelyn, Patti and Mel’s daughter.
Mike, Ida, Michelle and Jim.
Charlie, Frankie’s girlfriend, Frankie, Dave, Brian, Ruth and Don.

Thanks to everyone who attended and made this annual dinner memorable.

Penny Byway Remembered

L-R Janet Medlyn, Deb Bagshaw, Dawn Docker and Brian Wilsdon

There were over 25 people at the Sunset Cafe on Wednesday morning to remember Penny Lynn Byway who passed away on Thursday, Dec 7th, 2023 at the St Thomas-Elgin General Hospital. Penny was a fashionista and in her younger years would sew her own clothes, her wardrobe was always changing. Penny was a long time member of the club. Brian Wilsdon and Sandi Pyper, both long time friends of Penny organized the event and her sister Linda Dowdall and friends Dawn Docker, Deb Bagshaw and Janet Medlyn were in attendance. Brian, Sandi and Dawn shared fond memories of Penny.There will be a celebration of her life this June 15th at Pinafore Park.

Sister of Penny, Linda Dowdall in orange

Remembrance organizers Sandi Pyper and Brian Wilsdon

Elva Allen passed away

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Elva Allen on Monday March 6th, 2023. She and Dave retired in Copenhagen a few years ago after living in Northern Ontario for most of their married lives.

Elva enjoyed being closer to their children Karen and Mike who both live in St. Thomas. They enjoyed many vacations in Mexico  over the years. They have numerous friends in northern Ontario and Mexico.

Elva  who played bass guitar in a band enjoyed the Beatles music and the Blues.
She loved her two grand daughters and her cat Darryl. Two years ago she started up a Facebook Group for the Elgin Hiking Trail Club which now has 339 followers.

Our condolences to Dave and his family and rest assured that you have loads of friends in the club to lean on in the future.

Above graciously supplied by Brian Wilsdon, the clubs Path Finder Newsletter editor for an eternity.

Link to Elva obituary.

Link to live stream of the funeral.

Saturday Hike on Trans Canada Trail

Start of the hike

It was a mild winter morning when 14 people as far away as Port Glasgow and Aylmer gathered for
one of Marg Hulls quarterly hikes for the EHTC. Their was a new bench to rest and view the valley below.

Brian and Marg having fun on new bench

The hike was approximately 7.7 km with horses and ponies on the way.

Hikers admiring the horses and ponies

Not many birds were seen, yet a Cedar Waxwing did make an appearance near the end of the hike. Our resident happy guy really bonded with the horse, even though he did not have an apple.

Tom and horse on Homestead Rd

Everyone enjoyed the hike and the weather. Thanks to Marg for organizing.

Spirit Walk at Springwater

Spirit-Walk-poster

After a long covid induced hiatus we are pleased to announce the 2022 Spirit Walk is a go. With our partner Catfish Creek Conservation Authority and many volunteers the event will start at 6 p.m. and the last tour through the woods and school house leaves at 7:50 p.m. There will be the usual Christmas music and recently added story by the Grinch and the magician “Hoppy”. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served and the children will get to visit Santa in this quaint forest setting.

A special thanks to this years organizing committee members Michelle Innes, Eileen Harrison, Dave Allen and of course Brian Wilsdon whose vision led to the Spirit Walk for over 20 years.

For more info please contact Brian at 519-633-3064.

Elevated Park

End2end Day 3 – 4 km

Elevated Park

Due to the skies looking threatening, it was decided to venture onto the next leg of the journey. Construction is taking place on Sunset and the usual parking lot under the bridge is closed. Parking at the new lot on Centre St at the east side of the Elevated Park we ventured onto the Park which is over 30 metres above Kettle Creek. The bridge was built in 1929 during the times when rail was the best way to move large quantities of goods long distances.

The St Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre has installed some creative art on the approach to the bridge and further down the trail at Deer Ridge Farm and at Lyle Rd.

The New England Aster was in bloom and their seeds are a good source of food for the birds in winter.

At the west end of the bridge we venture north and follow a fence around the top of the trail near the Osage Orange tree, their are several in the area. This connects to the trail and we venture down the hill under the bridge to Fingal Line. Fifty metres up the road we venture into the woods and follow the top of the ravine. There are several up and downs until we come out on Sunset Drive. This
is the end of the wooded journey. Right on Sunset Drive takes us to a left turn onto Chester Street, turning right onto Henry’s St and walked the roadway on the north side of St Thomas Cemetery and exiting at the entrance onto West Ave. Turning right onto Ada St to Wilson Ave, following it a short distance to Elm St, turning right again take Elm St to traffic light and cross Sunset Dr. Two hundred metres south we are at our destination for today, Sunset Cafe.

Weather held off and had a great hike getting to see the Elevated Park.

Thanks to Jim for leading this hike.

Al Sharpe

End-2-end Day 2

Parsons Rd to Lyle Rd – 6.25 km

Start of hike as fog lifts.

It was a foggy morning when 12 intrepid hikers gathered. First 3.6 km was all
road work. At the Red Barn on Hwy 3 we headed into the woods owned by Province of Ontario. The woods wind along the south side of Dodd Creek. When we get to a evergreen forest the roots of the trees make sure you keep looking down.


There are a few steep hills and would be quite slippery if recently rained.
We were very fortunate as everything was dry. Along the way we saw Azure Asters and Jewelweed also known as Spotted Touch-me-not, this plant likes damp soil and shade to really bloom. Ruby Throated Hummingbirds really
enjoy the Jewelweed.

The hike ended at Lyle Rd and on the way back to get car five American Kestrel were sitting on the wire, gathering for the fall migration.

Thanks Jim for another great hike;

Al Sharpe