The Thomas Family of Hockley Valley, thank you for 37 years

The Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club has several long-term private landowners. Some that come to my mind have been with us almost since the trails incept 40 years ago.

This year we learned that one of those landowners will be selling and moving to town. The Thomas family of Mono has welcomed the Bruce Trail on their farm for 37 years. We just couldn’t let the end of era like that go uncelebrated so on June 24 th a group of hikers led by Marsha Fox took a detour off the trail to pay Annabelle Thomas a visit. In this group of 17 hikers, there were many who have been hiking for decades and have fond memories of passing along the north fence through the Thomas’s field past the Blue Bird houses put there years ago by Shelly Anderson.

I met the Thomas’s 4 years ago when I became the Landowner Relations volunteer. I visited them each fall with our thanks and a Bruce Trail calendar. As one of my duties, I always asked if everything has been going well during the past year regarding the trail on their property. Annabelle’s reply was always the same, “I just love to watch the hikers go by”

During our visit, the hikers presented Annabelle with flowers, shared hiking memories and strolled through her beautiful garden. As one of the many hikers who have enjoyed walking through this property with spectacular views of the Hockley Valley, I would like to say thank you. The generosity and support by the Thomas family shown to the Bruce Trail all these years have been appreciated.