April 30, 2020, I began the 41 km hike on the Tom Thomson Trail, from Meaford to Owen Sound. I finished on May 3.
The North-Grey Railway was originally planned for Collingwood – Owen Sound, but the line between Meaford (completed 1872) and Owen Sound was never finished. The Tom Thompson Trail begins at the original rail plan and follows the mysterious death trail of Tom Thomson, ending at his second burial site in Leith just outside of Owen Sound. He grew up in the Leith and Annan area in Meaford. On July 8, 1917, the renowned Canadian artist disappeared during a canoe trip on Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park at 39 years old. His body was discovered eight days later. Today his death is still shrouded in mystery: was it an accident, suicide, or murder? For years, rumors of a cover-up have persisted, indicating that Thomson was murdered. An impressive list of suspects has been suggested for the deed, although convincing evidence has been slim. Did he end his life out of fear of being forced to marry his pregnant girlfriend, Winifred (Winnie) Trainor? The body was put in a steel casket and buried in the graveyard at Canoe Lake. Two days later the body was exhumed, put in a sealed casket, and reburied at the family plot in Leith, ON a beautiful Village just outside of Owen Sound. A botched investigation has left Tom Thomson’s death an unsolved murder(or was it?) mystery ever since. Historical hikes are fun and I have also posted his painting with each picture. Signing off, “Hiking with the Viking”. Map – Tom Thomson Trail
Tom Thomson 1915 
NIAGARA ESCARPMENT HIKING 