Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail

 The Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail is an 18 kilometre train that follows along the Grand River through lush Carolinian forests with spectacular river overlooks.

 

The conditions of the trail is level and finished with fine gravel which provides an easy path for cyclists and hikers alike.

 

It also follows the old roadbed of the lake Erie and Northern Railway.

 

The ruins of German's Woollen Mill are found in Glen Morris, which is located about halfway into the 18-kilometre trail that begins in Cambridge and ends in the town of Paris. 

Built in 1867, the impressive structure originally operated as a yarn and wool mill before later reopening as a hotel. 

 

It has sat abandoned since the 1940s and today all that remains is the shell of was once a masterful piece of architecture. 

If you've had a chance to watch the Netflix series called,"Hand-maidens Tale" you no doubt would recognize the "Wall" which features hanged people in the series who have

 

 

Wesley Brooks Conservation Area and Fairy Lake in Newmarket

I don't think you will find a photographer novice or pro who doesn't love taking pictures in the Fall.  It's almost impossible to take a bad shot once the leaves start changing colours creating beautiful backdrops and pathways.  

After we had our lunch, we revisited the Mabel Davis Conservation (seen on this blog) heading north to George Richardson Park and looped back south to the over 15 hectares of the Wesley Brooks Conservation area along Fairy Lake.   

The paths are crushed gravel and shared with cyclists so it gets quite busy on weekends.  Red squirrels are common as you move further and further away from Toronto.  (The central core usually has an over abundances of black and grey squirrels which may look different, but they actually come from the same species.  Unlike the eastern grey squirrels, red squirrels are smaller.

The red squirrels are easily distinguished because of the changes in their coat color that depends on the season. When it is warm, their fur turns reddish with patches of white on the belly. 

 

When the temperature drops, the white patch on their belly becomes grey.  Their tale only measures about 10 cm making them super cute (like the chipmunk!).  I've had a love for squirrels all my life and will always try to remember to bring some nuts with me (of course in the past year or so, bi-laws have become more pervasive asking people not to feed them due to over population in the cities.

 

I included a picture of large lichen in this post, as they are incredibly similar to the flowering cabbage plant.  If you do research on lichens you will most likely find out what they are not.   

They are not moss, or plants though there is a similarity in that they use photosynthesis to survive.  They are able to withstand the toughest environments and have been seen living in and around old rock formations.   The pink by the way on the lichen is NOT a natural colour, but spray paint that was found along the pathways on rocks alerting cyclists.  It kind of bothered me that they (Parks staff) would ever think it's okay to spray paint something that is considered life.  It wasn't directly in the path either!  

 

 Happy Trails!

White Water Walk in Niagara Falls

The White Water Walk in Niagara Falls, Canada is a must see, if only just one. It can be expensive - it can run you up to $20/person during the peak season.

For starters you'll go down to the rapids in an old manual elevator with handle lifts and an elevator operator while you travel 70 metres to reach the base of the Niagara Gorge.  

 

As you exit you immediately enter a long arching tunnel as nostalgic to me as the Brady Bunch (if you don't know who they are - you're too young, lol)

At the other end of the tunnel there's an impressive quarter-mile of boardwalk that runs along the shoreline of the Niagara River. Imagine the poor workman who had to do that job!!

 

 

 

This was the part I enjoyed the most.   There are several lookout points along the boardwalk which literally take you to rapid - level where you will experience crashing waves with an awesome view of the 400 million year old rock formations/layers in the gorge.

 

 Now for the scary part!  The Whirlpool Rapids have been clocked as the most ferocious in the world with a class 6 (according to the whitewater rapids classification guide.  Class 1 being gentle waves; 2 - you might get splashed; Class 3 - you'll get wet; Class 4 - you'll get soaked; Class 5- high adrenaline; and last Class 6- non-navigable!

The boardwalk itself is not very long at quarter mile, so it won't take you long to view the rapids in this self-guided experience, so we went back and forth a few times so I could do it all over again!  

 

If you are a photographer, novice or pro - you'll get the best views at the lower platforms of the water's rage so you might find it worth it to pay the admission.

Happy trails!

Barrie's beautiful Arboretum - Sunnidale Park

Another perfect day on Saturday! Not much changing yet with the colours of the leaves, but it's still early.  I'll bet by the end of this month these pictures will look a whole lot different.

As with every season that passes I always miss the green.  Although the autumn weather brings with it less humidity - it's also a reminder of the impending long winter nights.  For me that means less exercise as I love cycling. 

 

Barrie's Arborteum in Sunnidale Park was a project that began with the tireless effort and inspiration of Norman E. Synnott, a horticulturalist and past president of the Barrie Horticultural Society in 1973.  

 

As chairman of the Arboretum Committee its first ten years, Mr. Synnott spent most of his time nurturing the young plantation through the critical stages of its development.  His hard work and leadership paid off well into the beautiful park that we all enjoy almost 50 years later.

The layout of the park is accessible for everyone with his paved walkways that circle in a loop with intricate pathways in the centre allowing you to experience different species of trees and gardens with ease.

In the 'Tranquil Garden' I never saw so many squirrels and tiny chipmunks scurrying about filling their cheeks with nuts running off to hide them than coming back for more!  It was so cute.  People brought their treats to sit around a circle where one by one the animals would come.

The park offers a great backdrop for wedding pictures as you can imagine - as we were looping back out of the park I noticed a small wedding party walking across the lawn so I took a shot as the sun streamed a light down through the trees on the bride.

There was a curious bundle of wood with holes in it that resembled a bee hived structure, when we got closer I learned it was actually a shelter for native bees which unlike honey bees are solitary and make their shelters in tunnels instead of hives.  They're 100x more successful at pollinating plants than honey bees and are the only bees able to pollinate tomatoes!  They're also gentle are never, but rarely ever sting.

Another curious piece of art work off in the middle of a meadow just to the far east of the park were beautifully crafted metal mushrooms with a little visitor in the centre.   It's amazing the work that went into piecing (fusing) everything together.  The talent of some people!

The Sunnidale Park loop is only 2 km of trails so it doesn't take that long to loop around but chances are you'll want to spend time just enjoying the peace and the scenery anyways.

 Happy trails!

Oro-Medonte Rail Trail (Barrie to Orillia)

Well we finally made it to the Oro-Medonte Rail trail (commonly known as the 'Barrie Rail trail')   We've been wanting to come up to Barrie to check it out for a couple of years now.  The weather was perfect, not too hot like the weekend before and not too chilly as September sometimes shocks the system!

The Barrie Rail trail runs from Shanty Bay (more or less) to Orillia covering the easiest bike path and most beautiful I might add that you'll ever travel on.  It takes 6 hours out and back, but as I mentioned you're biking on mostly flat crushed gravel with very little elevation.

In 1869 The Toronto, Simcoe and Muskoka Junction railway bought a right-of-way through Oro to link Barrie and Orillia.  To accommodate the railway, Concession line 1 was re-aligned along the north side of the newly built track. 

The bridge constructed to take the Ridge Road over the track was called, Thunder Bridge.  Whenever a car drove over the heavy timbers forming the road-bed on the bridge, they moved a bit in the steel braces, causing a loud rumbling noise.

In 1871: the railway from Toronto to Orillia was completed and a new era dawned in Oro-Medonte.  

For decades the railway station was a community focal point.  Long before the automobile became common, passenger trains took villagers for day-visits to Orillia and Barrie for shopping, doctor appointments, music lessons and high school.  During the summer, extra passenger cars were added to the north-bound trains bringing cottagers and visitors to this area's summer resorts.

Today, any remnants of the train tracks and old lodges where the Section men and yardmen lived at Watt's Crossing are all gone.  What remains is and will always be the history of what once was.

You'll see the occasional cyclists or families on foot walking the trail after lunch.  The area is so quiet and peaceful.  

 I love that they've preserved this land so others can enjoy it for decades to come.

 

Lemoine Point Conservation Area - Belleville

 Nothing beats walking through a forest.  I often find myself with a permanent smile on my face.  You will love a visit to Lemoine Point Conservation Area located in the west end of Kingston, Ontario.  

I would just about be safe enough to guarantee that no matter what route you choose, you will no doubt find wild life.  I have never seen wild turkeys up close so this was a rare treat for me.  Deer crossing across the footpath in the woods is a typical sighting in this hybrid trail (urban/suburban) retreat.  

Ducks and squirrels seems to 'hang out' on the pathways just waiting for a peanut or two or something else yummy to munch on.  
 I've taken an interest and found some joy bringing a bag of shelled peanuts with me when I go for walks up until recently where there's been some controversy about  the intervention of people feeding wildlife.  This makes me sad that I can't do it anymore because I might stand the threat of a by-law enforcement officer to hand out a hefty fine which is what has been going on from time to time.
Lemoine Point Conservation area has a wide variety of terrain other than forested areas.  In over over 350 acres of land mass, there are marshlands, fields and grassy areas for barbeques and picnic tables.  There is also over 2.5 km of shoreline which is perfect for sunsets!

 

Historically, this spot of land was part of over 3400 acres which was granted to a Johan Jost Herkimer (a Loyalist) in the late 1700s for his service to the Crown during the American Revolution.  Jost also received over 2 acres in the village of downtown Kingston.  

The Herkimer family kept the land until they sold it to Captain William Lemoine in 1836 until it passed hands again eventually acquired by the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority.

Today, there is a north and south parking lot when you arrive.  It's quite busy during summer months with visitors looking to soak up a lot of historical landmarks in Kingston/Belleville.  

I loved it here, and know you will too.

 

Happy trails

Brockville Museum, The Mill and Brock trail

The Brock trail runs along the banks of the beautiful St. Lawrence River. The city was named after General Isaac Brock. It is also home of the famous "Pink Pills for Pale People" manufactured by George Fulford. His home is still standing today. 

The Brock Trail is a 8 km scenic pathway, part of the Ontario Waterfront Trail that runs along Brockville's beautiful waterfront and through city parks. The trail also moves north following Butler's Creek and Buell's Creek with the trail ending on Centennial Rd. at the southern border of the Mac Johnson Wildlife Area. 

Brockville Railway Tunnel

Trails are paved and can accommodate bicycles, roller blades, wheelchairs, and strollers. You might also want to visit the Brockville Railway Tunnel, Blockhouse Island, or one of the other parks along the river. Swimming, scuba diving, or just relaxing in one of the riverfront parks are popular activities. 

 

I had to wait until the rain stopped as the skies opened up when I pulled in the parking lot.  It was a very muggy day, so everyone was relieved by the downpour.  Kids were jumping in puddles, even some of the young moms gave up trying to hide under the trees and just allowed themselves to get drenched.

Once the last spell had lifted, I got out of the car and proceeded to the trail.  Just east of the parking lots is a large mill pond first created in the 1790s to serve Daniel Jones saw mill, located near the mouth of Jones' Creek.  

In the 1850s an additional grist Mill was operated by the Shepherd family.  The pond lasted for over 90 years, ans was drained about 1884 to allow for the construction of the CPR rail line to the waterfront.

A little further you can see the Isaac Beecher House.

The land was first granted to United Empire Loyalist Daniel Jones in 1790.  In 1824, Isaac Beecher bought the Jones property and in the 1840 he added the large stone house.  Beecher a tanner by trade owned the house until his death in 1870.  In 1897 the house and surrounded property was sold to the central Canada coal company in 1976 the City of Brockville with the assistance of the Brockville and district historical society bought the site to establish a permanent museum.

In 1981 after restoration and renovation, the Beecher house doors were opened as the Brockville Museum.

During the pandemic a lot of these indoor attractions are closed off from the public - if you're passing through you'll want to check out Brockville.  The homes especially are so unique.  A lot of the historical value is still kept in the small town.  I loved it.