The air was heavy and humid, and rivulets of sweat poured down my face and stung my eyes. The forest was green and dense, filled with the drone of insects. Large leaves of burdock and young beech concealed the undergrowth, and small unseen creatures rustled the brush. I expected to see a velociraptor peering out at me with a smile full of teeth. Turns out that prehistoric creatures were less of a threat then the present-day hordes I was about to encounter.
McRae Point Provincial Park is found just east of Orillia with a very nice day beach, which is where I parked to start the 4.8 km Water’s Edge Trail. There are two trails, connected by a walk through the campsites. While not normally my idea of a hike, I had heard nice things about this route and thought it worth checking out. I left most of my gear in the car, as I was certain this was to be an easy trail, just bringing my poles and water, but at the last minute I also grabbed the bug spray. I travelled past the beach, enjoying the lovely view, while a light breeze blew in from the lake. Just ahead the trail entered the forest and the darkness looked cool and inviting. I stepped under the canopy and the whoosh of the waves on the beech faded away, only to be replaced with the drone of thousands of mosquitoes! A cloud of DEET enveloped me, as I sprayed every available inch, including my wide brimmed hat. The masses barely relented in their pursuit, and I found myself moving faster and faster, trying to outrun the beasties through this forest of oak and beech. Although the lake was only a few steps from the trail, the thick vegetation choked off any breath of air that might hinder the insects. Finally, I burst through the bush and out onto a spit of land, bright sun gleaming off the blue water and grey rocks underfoot. Rocks that as I moved them released clouds of flying insects that attached to my hair and clothing, clinging to my frantically waving hands and threatening to fly into my astonished mouth.
Back into the bush and the mad dash continued as I tried to outpace those voracious mosquitoes. I admired the beautiful white meadow anemone and the pink and white flowers of honeysuckles, at least I admired them out of the corner of my eye as I trotted past, wiping bugs out of the corner of my other eye. Finally, the trees parted and gave way to long grasses swaying gently in a small breath of wind. I sighed in relief as the blood suckers held back, hiding in the dark spaces under the trees. My joy was short lived, as the fighter jets were arriving. The loud buzz of a squadron of deer flies where quickly approaching. There was to place to hide and I resigned myself to this annoying entourage through the meadow as I was attacked from every side. Eventually the meadow ended and I found myself walking through the campground, heading to the northern portion of the trail. The heat here was brutal, as the relentless sun shone down, and the humidity made the sweat pop out instantly. This was too much even for the evil squadron, as they reluctantly pulled back and abandoned the chase.
The north trail also began at the beach, and waves lapped across the track in several places. Just to the right was a lovely swamp, and I realized I had just walked into enemy territory. Thousands of miniature warriors lifted from the murky waters with a thrum of wings, as I pulled out my can of DEET. I turned to face the oncoming mass, finger on the trigger, and stared into those multifaceted eyes. I pulled the trigger and …nothing happened, my can was empty. Oh boy. Off I went, dashing through the shallow water and leaping over downed branches. A right turn led through a wet forest, thick ferns carpeting the moss-covered logs. The fighting grew more intense, as my slapping hands were futile against the onslaught, joined now with the smallest and most annoying of the insect army. Black flies flew up my nose and into my eyes, black bodies easily evading my clumsy swipes at them. A few kamikazes flew into my mouth, hoping to choke me into submission. I raced around the loop, once again coming back to the water’s edge until bursting out onto the hot pavement of the campground. I breathed a sigh of relief, before I realized that I still had one more section of bush to get through; one last battle. I straightened my hat and squared my shoulders, and stepped into the shadows. Only to have nothing happen. No beasties attacked me and I gave a little laugh. With a jaunty step I started on, happy to be in neutral territory. THWACK. Umm, what was that. THWACK THWACK. My hat slid forward on my head as it was repeatedly hit from above as some creature with huge wings attacked. It was an ambush!! I held onto my hat and lit off down the trail, twisting to avoid the creature. From a safe distance I looked back and there in a branch above the trail was a red winged black bird, normally a docile bird who must have turned traitor, joining the other winged beasties out for human blood. Thankfully I was back at the parking area and the safety of my car. Like I said, a velociraptor might have been less dangerous than the hordes I encountered.