John Pearce Park (Day 6)

It was a brilliant bright morning outside but the wind was high so I wasn't sure what to expect. Well first things first - I need to get breakfast and then contemplate what the adventure would be for the day. Sure enough not long after eating the call of creation got to me and I was getting my gear ready for a short trip out. As the day was lovely and dry, and the next expecting rain, I decided to head for John E Pearce Park and climb down the cliff to the beach along the lake. I had planned for this activity by packing some rope so I could get down the trail a bit safer. So with rope, camera and radio ready I started off for the farms.

The trees were not very brilliant today. It seems that they were either bare or mostly green. I think they will liven up over the next couple of weeks but I may have left already. So I continued along the side roads looking for some trees in full colour. I did find a few clumps but nothing like in earlier years. After taking my time driving towards the park, I finally reached it. Here I switched my runners for hiking boots and packed up the camera bag for transport. I meandered along the roadway in the park gathering a few photos but really my heart was set on the climb down. So I headed for the cliff and made my way along to the viewpoint. The scene was actually not all that good - no colour.

I walked back along the ravine looking for a good spot to descend. Eventually I spotted the place that others use to get down. There was a nice rope tied in place for me already. So I didn't end up needing the one I brought. I organized my approach and dropped down over the lip for the trail a few feet down. Once steady I grabbed my gear and used the rope to help me across the next 20 or so feet of slope. It went quickly as the clay ground was dry and not slippery. The lower section of trail was easy to traverse and soon I was at the beach. The waves were licking the shore right up to the base of the cliff so I wouldn't be able to walk along the cliff this year. Well at least I was here and now I set about grabbing a few photos of the cliffs and water from the beach. I tried a number of long shutter shots to see how they would turn out. I almost got wet feet a number of times but managed to run back to the path just in time. It was then that I noticed my cap was missing, I looked around for it but the wind must have grabbed it and taken up the ravine. Well, I could get another easy enough. Even here the wind and poor colour made for poorer shooting than I was hoping but I gathered the photos and started back up the trail. It went easily and soon I was at the rope and as I reached level with the top I saw my cap laying there half over the edge. I quickly grabbed it and stowed it until I had finished getting up. Happy again, I walked back to the car and drove off for my second favourite location.