Week 4- Francis / King Regional Park

Francis / King Regional Park was a wonderful surprise! I had not been here before, and I imagined it to be a more challenging hike than it was from pictures I had seen beforehand. I visited the park early in the morning, and when I was getting ready to leave, the parking lot began filling up quickly. This park’s ease and accessibility are unique compared to others in the region. There are many well-marked trails to choose from, including a wheelchair-accessible loop. Additionally, there is a nature centre, bathrooms, and child-friendly information signs. Overall this park is one of the best for families because there are options for all hiking abilities.

Getting Ready

Before the journey began we investigated around the nature house and discovered a printed map of the park. Unfortunately, the nature house was closed!

What I brought:

Map
Camera
Snack
Water
Gloves

The Very Beginning

The Elsie King Trail is the 800-meter wheelchair-accessible loop. I ran around this loop a few times, stopping at the information signs placed throughout the path. According to the welcome sign, the park is named after Thomas Francis, a homesteader, and Freeman King, a naturalist and Scout leader. The Elsie King Trail is dedicated to King’s wife and Medal of Merit recipient for outstanding work as a Girl Guide Leader, and later eventually bound to a wheelchair.

Hiking With a Toddler

My daughter has been hiking without a carrier since she could walk. Now that she is three, she can comfortably hike for about an hour before needing a break. I always follow her lead, and if she is not in the mood for a longer hike, we keep it short or play in the forest. Over the past few weeks, I have recorded her experience and what drives her to keep going. At Horth Hill, she was looking for dinosaur footprints. At Witty’s Lagoon, she could not wait to see the waterfall, and at Raey Creek, she was collecting “food” in a container for her pet dinosaurs. At Francis/King Regional Park this week, she decided to practice her trail running, and like all good personal trainers, she motivated me to keep up!

“A whale!!!!!!!”

Discoveries

Lots of moss
Twisting wood
A giant anthill
Ducks

The Mysterious Tree

I am not sure what happened to this tree, but only a tiny piece is still standing. It appears to have fallen over and smashed part of the path barrier!