Welcome to our site. We are Bushwhacker and Ranger. When we carved out our little piece of the Internet, we were two retired old guys who explored the bush-trails, conservation areas, wildlife areas, ANSI’s, Crown lands, and the “No Exit” back-roads of South – Central Ontario, Canada. In these places we’d forage mushrooms, berries, and nuts. We’d observe plants, animals, and insects, and even help propagate some. We’d watch trout spawning, feed wild animals by hand, and even rescue a few.
These days, we also explore historic buildings, trace the paths of long-gone railways, search for stations, ghost towns, mills, and homes. We visit places, meet people, and experience things most folks never could, even if they knew how.
Ranger is the historian, and Bushwhacker is the trail reviewer. There will be mention made of “The Wife” in Bushwhacker’s posts as she is an honorary “Old Guy”. I’m not quite sure if that thrills her or not, really, but she loves walking in the bush/woods with this old guy. On the other hand, Ranger is available … ladies ?
We tend to keep things light-hearted, and have fun out there. And we like to have fun in here too. So, if you’re in the mood to see and read some interesting stuff, and have a few laughs doing it, please read on. For a better introduction, please see the “Well, I Gotta Start Somewhere” posting in the category “Genesis”.
2 Old Guys Walking
PLEASE NOTE : We have shut off the mandatory e-mail address requirement to leave comments. Personally I don’t like leaving my addy just to leave a comment so why would you ? Mind you, I’ve retained the manual approval … so, if you do leave a comment, it won’t show up until I’ve looked it over.
Enjoyed your info and wit!! Great web site icon (NO EXIT SIGN) You left me wanting more!
gff
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Have spent a couple hours reading all your blogs. Wish you, the wife, and Ranger lived closer so your li’l sis here could go on these walks with you. Keep blogging, I’ve enjoyed the time spent reading up on your adventures.
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Great blog! Love the one about the tomatoes. Nice to meet you and “the wife” today!
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Thanks kindly Eva. I look forward to Spring to do a write up on your winery’s history. As we said, your wines are the best we’ve ever had.
Bushwhacker
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Hey you 2 old guys I believe these blogs just keep getting better.I love reading the new ones and going back to read the older as well .Where does all this wit and great writing come from ?
li`l sis .Which one u guys will have to guess .
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Hey li l sis, Thanks for the comment, Will try not let all this praise go to our heads! How was your vacation last week?
The 2 old guys.
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Hi Bushwhacker and Ranger, love your site. I thought you might be interested in this mapping resource; it might serve your needs better than Google. The quality of the aerial views is often better and more detailed, and you can print some pretty good topos with it!
https://www.ontario.ca/page/topographic-maps
Keep on trekkin!
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Hi Bill,
Thanks much for your kind words of encouragement, your follow, and the map link. I’ve been playing with it, and it will certainly come in handy (particularly the topos – we’re in Oak Ridges Moraine territory).
Bushwhacker & Ranger
2oldguyswalking
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Hey there again! Another topo map resource you might like:
http://www.natgeomaps.com/trail-maps/pdf-quads
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Our thanks again Bill. Both for the URL and your exploration of our site (I’m assuming the last few days of “higher than normal” traffic has been you looking around). Enjoy.
Bushwhacker
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Hey Bushwhacker! Yes, that’s probably me. I was just reading trail reviews at first, but liked what I saw, so I started over from the beginning. I’m working my way through chronologically now… I’m nearly to mid-2014 or so. Great stuff!
By the way, “The Northumberland Nemesis” creeped me right out. I need to go burn some leather so I’ll recognize the scent.
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Heay Bill,
Keep it up and Ranger and I will have to declare you an honourary “Old Guy”. Though judging by your picture, you might not see that as the honour we would intend it to be.
Bushwhacker
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I’m absolutely fine with being called an “old guy”… kind of a badge of honour. I have a couple decades to go until retirement, though.
I was telling one of our interns last week that I felt like an old guy, and he said I should just claim to be in my late 20s… a couple decades late, that is.
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Noticed a “No Exit” sign today, fairly close to where I live. Drove to the end of that road and, sure enough, I found a trail. So, being inspired by 2 old guys that happen to blog about such things, I followed that trail. It ended up being kind of crazy (and perhaps not the safest trail I’ve ever hiked), but it was definitely fun!
The end of the road (photo): https://goo.gl/photos/abQRwMn272wEKDgx9
The trail (GPS track): http://my.viewranger.com/track/details/MzY2NDgzNQ==
What a fun hobby!
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While it’s true, that not every “No Exit” trail will lead to a pot O’ gold, they’ll often satisfy the explorer in someone. Keep your eyes sharp to the signs and discover just what might be out there … right down the street, or around the corner.
Bushwhacker
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Hey, long time, no comment. Hope you’ve both been well. Have either of you been to High Falls on Eels Creek? It’s just west of Petroglyphs PP… seems like your kind of place! http://my.viewranger.com/route/details/MTE1NzI5
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Hi Bill,
Good to hear from you again. Yes we have been there. A very long time ago though. Almost 30 years back. It was one of our first forays together. Long time … thanks for the memory jog Bud.
2oldguyswalking
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Just found your site through Hiking the GTA. I look forward to reading it.
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Welcome aboard. We hope you enjoy and gain something useful from it.
2oldguyswalking
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hi. how grand to find your blog.!!
As a 60 something gurl who hikes all winter with her dog I am always searching for that trail less travelled!
I explore areas within one hour east and north of Toronto. …getting bored. next I will try that trail off Middle March Road.
I lost one of my loved lambswool fingerless gloves on a trail…went back 2 days later..and wow there it was!
Love how most items get lost and someone places them on a post or low tree limb to be easily found.
I’ve found 2 trails off Conc 3 north of Webb..
any other suggestions? i
ones not used much Mon to.Fri?
Do you hear gunshot much?
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Hello Martha,
I’ve edited your comments to make just one with the info from all three. Firstly, thank you for your kind words. We’re glad you found us. Yes, walkers are very thoughtful people. We’ve retrieved many a lost item by returning the next day.
The two trails you found off Conc 3 North of Webb, are just two of many in what we call “The Uxbridge Complex”. There are dozens of trails up there. At the bottom of every trail review you’ll find this link:
https://2oldguyswalking.wordpress.com/2017/06/07/map-locations-of-all-trails-on-this-site/
It will bring up a map of all 63 (thus far) trails reviewed by us. You can choose the numbered trail location and just scroll down to the link beside the number, to get exact directions on how to find the trail. We find most trails are not used much on week days, but the ones that are, will be mentioned in the review. We also avoid trails with gunfire, though the few where we’ve heard it, will also be mentioned in the review.
Have a nice walk on Crow’s Pass (Middle March Road), but read the access directions closely as that one was a real challenge to find.
Bushwhacker
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Hello,
I came across your blog while looking for my grandmother’s obituary. I couldnt help but notice you used my grandfather’s/grandmother’s headstone in your blog. It is a beautiful picture you have taken.
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Brook, truly appreciate your comment. The Fallis name is very familiar as one of Millbrook’s founding families. Your grandparent’s headstone picture from our post Millbrook’s Historic Churches (September 14, 2016) is very impressive and is located in the beautiful St. Paul’s Anglican Cemetery, both a photographer/historian’s delight.
PS: This headstone is featured again in a recent post: Some Grave Thoughts (May 2, 2018).
Ranger.
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I just discovered your excellent blog two days ago.
I’m a 74 year old retiree who moved to Stouffville September 2016.
Visited all the “tracts” west of Concession 7 so far.
Met some real characters on the trails: a guy on an electric unicycle who tipped me off about deer sightings in the Wilder meadow at post F4. Also a Korean guy who takes care of the horses at Pleasure Valley and who almost mowed me over at F4 while galloping through the meadow on horseback. He recognized me from a previous encounter and yelled “hello deer man” !!
Cheers, Ralph.
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Thanks kindly for the encouraging comment Ralph. We usually find people on trails to be characters too. Walking through the bush just seems to bring out the best in everyone.
Bushwhacker
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Hello old guys! I moved to Port Hope 6 months ago. I bought the house that Thomas Butterfield Chalk built and died in. It is very interesting to me historically and architecturally. Myself and the missus are renovating the place as she needs TLC. If you are ever in the area swing by for a gander.
All the best,
Steven Rennie
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Steven, Thanks for the great comment and welcome to Port Hope. The 2oldguys are honoured by an invitation to visit your historic Thomas Chalk home. These older homes are amazing in their quality and their attention to detail. Would be pleased to send you an email so that we can make contact and discuss a convenient time for a visit.
Regards, Ranger.
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Hi guys! A friend just told me about your site and it’s WONDERFUL!
I’m an ORTA hike leader and trail maintainer. You keep referring to our trails as being marked in blue. Actually, the main Oak Ridges Moraine Trail is marked with white blazes. Blue blazes mark side trails, mostly loops, that run off it. The main Oak Ridges Moraine Trail includes part of the Trans-Canada Trail.
ORTA offers group hikes on many of the trails you’ve written up, especially in the Uxbridge area. The hikes are free and open to everyone. There are hikes on weekdays and weekends. Some attract 30+ people while others attract 3-5. Hikes run throughout the year. There’s a calendar and schedule under the Hiking tab at www.http://oakridgestrail.org/.
BTW, 2 tips if folks feel lost:
1. The Oak Ridges Moraine Trail runs east-west. If you’re lost in the Uxbridge area woods and find a trail that’s marked with white blazes, it’s the main trail and will take you to a road.
2. The tops of the TRCA map posts were all cut on a 45-degree angle. The top of each post points north.
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Welcome to 2oldguyswalking Bruce. Glad to hear from you, and thanks for the kindly worded greeting. We are familiar with the blue side loop trail markings for the ORTA, as Ranger was an ORTA trail blazer and hike leader back in the 90’s, and for the GHTA before that. I just tend to recommend our readers use your blue markers for loop trails as they’re very accurate and reliable.
Thanks as well for the tips. I’m sure our readers will find them handy. But mostly, I want to thank you (and all trail maintenance people) for keeping these trails accessible for those of us who are getting too old to do it anymore.
Our thanks to you all,
Bushwhacker
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Have you guys been to Imagine the Marsh CA in Lakefield?
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Hello Gloria,
Yes we have. It’s quite nice with a lookout and all. However, you gotta walk a trailer park to get to the marsh trail, and the trail itself is very short. Nice to walk if you’re in the area, but I wouldn’t suggest a long drive to get to it.
Bushwhacker
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Good stuff
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Thank you.
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