Fall Colours on the Don Trail

Autumn really is the prettiest time of the year.  Leaves change color and even the smell of wood burning at dusk in the neighbourhood is nicer in the Autumn than in winter.  Ever wonder why that is?  

I rode my bike through the Don River trail and Tommy Thompson Park stopping every once in awhile to take some pictures to share of some autumn colors of the Lower Don River Path and trail.  


I rode all the way south on the trail to the Tommy Thompson Park and was amazed to see how much weed had grown in just 4 weeks from when I was last there.  You can see from the before and after shots on what the difference is. 

Niagara Falls - Canada/US

View from the American Side

 On a recent trip to Niagara Falls, I was able to get some fairly decent shots of the 3 falls, which are the American, the Bridal Veil and the Canadian Falls.  The Canadian falls is the largest of the 3. Niagara Falls is the second largest falls in the World, after the Victoria Falls in Africa reaching a height of 54 metres.  



View of both Falls while crossing the border



600 billions litres of water flows through the falls from the Great Lakes every hour!  If you've ever been to Niagara, I don't have to tell you that it is by far one of the most spectacular sights and sounds you will ever see in your lifetime.  In fact it is listed as one the the 7 wonders of the world.  The actual change in appearance of location of the Falls was created during the last ice which occurred about 10,000 years ago.    

the Grand Rapids!

Look out below!

While looking out on the Canadian side, you must have noticed that boat that sits right on the brink of the Falls.  I always wondered about why it was there.  Apparently it's been there since 1918!  It's called the old scow (barge). At that time, there were two men on board who frantically moved 50 tons of rock by hand to avoid their fate! 

The men were finally rescued by "Red" Hill who was a Niagara daredevil.  To this day the barge is still secured on a rock while water rushes past it!  There are tons of sites on the Falls (Cataracts) out there that will give you more details.  


Here are the some pictures of the Rapids flowing from the Niagara River!

Albion Falls (Autumn)- Hamilton

1906 Postcard of the Old Mill
Courtesy of Joseph Hollick

The breathtaking beauty of a 19 metre drop of complex cascading water of 'Albion Falls".   Located on top of the Red Hill Valley in Stoney Creek, you'll find this treasure.  One of many located in Hamilton, known as "the city of Waterfalls".  It is especially beautiful in the Autumn when the local trees of beech, elm, maple, ash and walnut surround the falls with a myriad of colors of orange, yellows and red.  You'll love the hiking trails and the scenery of King's forest. If you're not a local like me, you can find places to park in 3 different lots on the escarpment.  On Mud St. (w. of Mt. Albion Road), at the Junction of Mud St. and Mt. Brow Blvd or Mt. Brow Blvd (just west of Mud St). The Shorebirds, warblers and sparrows are heard and perhaps seen in the cooler months of autumn. Parts of the terrain on the trail can be pretty rocky and wet, but it's all worth it for a view of the falls.


As a constant supply of water, it is no surprise that almost 100 years ago it was used to supply water to the "Old Mill"  located at "Mount Albion"  Today, the Mill is gone, but the creek known as 'the Red Hill creek' is a constant flow of water into what is known as "Albion Falls" 


Today hundreds of visitors can be found on weekends exploring this splendid waterfall in Hamilton's east mountain. 

Don River Ravine in the Autumn!

Lower Don River

Off path of lower don trail

There are so many Discovery Walks in Toronto.  In a real sense the walks link people with nature in all corners of the city.  The amalgamation of the boroughs of Toronto in 2000 brought about some change in preserving our natural heritage.  The City and the Conversation Authority have worked to improve several features which included vegitation communities as well as the city's watersheds.  The pictures of the Don River you see today, look much different than that of even 10 years ago.  Believe it or not, there was a time, when the storm water and sewage ran directly into the Don, thankfully direct access is blocked by culverts, watersheds and smaller storm sewers before reaching our rivers and streams.   In fact there are at least 6 sewers plus a number of culverts that empty along the stretch of the Don.  

The Lower Don River

Environmental causes and groups crop up all over all the in and around major cities.  It's almost become trendy and fad to 'go green', save the planet, save our waters.  It's a good thing and from I see, work has paid off and will continue for generations to come.