Bracebridge Waterfalls

Well I've been slow in posting these days.  So here's another entry for 'exploring waterfalls' If you're like me, you'll think the drive up North is always interesting and exciting.  You'll find as soon as you are north of Whitby, you start to notice more and more farmland.  Open fields as far as the eye can see is a welcoming change from the concrete buildings of the City from where I come from.   I love the golden wheat fields and the character of the old farm houses and dream of a life in them.  I often wonder if they are happy and couldn't imagine them not to be.

Pass through some small towns just north of the 'Highway of Heroes' (Hwy 401), like Brooklin for instance, which is a young and up and coming town.  It is the fastest growing place in the east right now and currently a highway entrance and exit is being built which will bring more economy and production to the area.  

More cottage shots

Beaverton (Trent Severn) is further north and in my hunger to photograph as much as I can in such a sort time today, I stop to smell the roses in a matter of speaking and photographed the Trent River.  The Trent flows from Rice Lake in Southeastern Ontario and empties into the Bay of Quinte.  Stopped again to take a look at a good looking bridge but once discovered a little more closely it was nothing more than swampland.  I thought it was my imagination at first, but it appeared as though a giant toad was staring at me from the water top.   A closer look proved it! I laughed and laughed! Boy he must surely own this swamp for he is the biggest toad I've ever seen!

Farm fields / Severn Waterway

Now back in the car to continue north on Hwy 12 passing the farmlands of Brechin and made another stop in Gravenhurst.  The sun is high in the sky now and the rocks that have long ago been blasted through to create these roads on the Trans Canada highway are getting higher and higher.  Made a stop to take a look at some gear and kayaks in Muskoka Outfitters and left with the idea of buying on of the yellow ones, while thinking, well if something ever happens to me, at least my kayak will be found..!  There are quite a few waterfalls to see in Bracebridge.  It will certainly be worth your trip as there are at least 3 in one area alone.  An ideal way to enjoy the waterfalls on the South Muskoka River in Fraserburg is by canoeing this placid reach in late summer!

Ha! I think that's Shrek?

Trent River / Muskoka

Spending a day or two at a cottage north of here, but had to take some pictures of the waterfalls..was only able to capture Bracebridge Falls and sadly TOTALLY MISSED "High Falls" altogether!  I'm still so disappointed that I was so close and didn't realize it.  You see I thought this was High Falls!! Can you imagine missing the main event and learning later it was only 5 minutes away...well on a brighter note, at least they'll be something to look forward to when I come back again, only this time it will be in a canoe!   

Lynde Shores (Waterfront Trail)

This portion of the trail from  Lakeside Park in Ajax to Port Whitby was explored on a bike instead of walking.  When you first come through Lakeside Park in Ajax you'll have one of the nicest views of Lake Ontario on the Waterfront trail.  Located on the south east area of Ajax, Lakeside has plenty of wildlife to see because of its close proximity to Carruthers Marsh and Lake Ontario.  

Carruthers Creek Marsh area has no formal paths but it's  been traveled so many times through so many generations of nature lovers, you'll see numerous informal pathways.  It is considered a Provincially Significant Wetland (also known as Watershed) area and is accessible to hikers and walkers who want to visit here.  You'll see many sedges and rushes, and of course ducks, birds and fish that come to feed here.  I'm still working on capturing that 'awesome' fowl photo, but they keep flying :)

The trail goes north and you'll find yourself on and off-road paths but its a nice mix from stunning homes on Ortono Road, to rolling hills of farmland to the wooded scenery of Lynde Shores Conservation Area.

The Lynde Shores Conservation Area  is 156 hectares of land on Lake Ontario along Lynde Creek.  It includes parts of the Cranberry marshes, a natural habitat for marsh birds and wildlife in the area.  If you ever want to visit this place, you'll have to make sure to take a garbage bag with you because it's garbage-free which means anything you bring into Lynde Shores, you take out of Lynde Shores.  There are no picnic tables inside the C.A., but there are some near the parking lot off of Victoria Street, if you want to stop for something to eat before going in.

By the way, if you are coming here by car, you can park on the side Victoria street (east of Halls Rd).  Did not visit the Conservation area, but on this day opted to go down Halls Road instead and headed east on Victoria Street towards Port Whitby. Great run today, and will come back to visit the Conservation Area on foot.  Still in all, saw lots of beautiful scenery and took way too many pictures. 

One last thing...
If you are wondering about the butterfly...I found her on the soft shoulder on Victoria Street.  I stopped to pick her up off the pavement and put her on top of a wooden post, and gave her something to eat.