Orchard Trail (Rouge Valley)

Majestic Jack Pines

I loved the Orchard Trail in the Rouge Valley much more than "Cedar Trail" The paths are more concise and you won't have any problems on the trail if you follow the white blazes marked on the trees.

The Orchard Trail was carved out of remnants of an agricultural past and coins the phrase 'hope springs eternal' as you can see even in a short span of two years nature reclaiming the land.

I used to frequent the Tommy Thompson Park quite a bit and one of the things I thought was the most interesting was the way the geography was transformed by  growing over piles of rubble.  This had created hills and valleys and the excavation of the nearby soil would produce wetlands when it was removed to cover the rubble.

You can see this very phenomenon from the north trail head.  

Another interesting bit of information was that I found out that back in the 50's there used to be a hotel on the South trail head (at Twyn Rivers Drive).  You can still see pieces of the old concrete dam that was once used to back up the Rouge River for swimming for the guests at the hotel that once stood there. It was apparently a popular vacation spot in its time equipped with a ski hill as well.  A search didn't produce any pictures of the hotel itself, though perhaps if I have a little more time I will have closer look.

One of the obvious features of the Orchard Trail

The Rouge River

Site of the remains of the dam and Hotel

is of course the orchard that belonged to residents that once lived here.  I took some pictures of some wild flowers, and snails that started from the ground (eggs that are laid) and somehow found themselves resting on the top leaf of a wild plant four feet up the stalk.  Now that is what I call perseverence!

Near the entrance of the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre, where you cross the front of the house to start the Orchard Trail you will see various sign postings that claim some safety tips in case you encounter a coyote, as well as the possibility of spotting white-tailed deer.  I saw neither, although my camera was in position and would have loved that, other people on the trail were too noisy to ever make any animal feel like peeking out of its hole.

Scrap metal from old car

Spotted some scrap metal of a car, and a box spring from a back seat.  This may have been left over from the local residents.  No one bothered to remove it and it just makes for a unique feature point.  

Now the bees were odd to me.  They moved so slowly, and as I zoomed into two of them hovering around a particular purple flower, I noticed their movements becoming slower and slower and I wondered if they were being poisoned with pesticide sprayed in the area.  I hope not, I would be disappointed if I thought the bees were being harmed by this.

The Orchards

The loveliest site of all in the Orchard Trail to me was the tall Jack Pines.  Majestic and slender, they are in the running for my favorite tree now, along with the Willows.

The entire trail from beginning to end is over 4km both ways.    Unlike the Cedar Trail this one starts at the Conservation Centre and will easily take you back again without leaving you in the middle of nowhere after your descent into the valley.  This one is very accessible with only moderate slopes so great for running and hiking.  Biking is not allowed in any parts of the Conservation Area. If you can manage a two hour trek though, this is one I recommend.

Exploring the Bowmanville Zoo

The Bowmanville Zoo may not be Canada's largest zoo, but it is certainly Canada's oldest private zoo, founded in 1919 in Bowmanville, Ontario.

This zoo has some pretty impressive creatures considering it's size.  Including the gorgeous Bengal Tiger named Jonas from the movie "Life of Pi" (which I saw and thoroughly loved!!).  Jonas was no where around.  He was either getting a massage, or busy brushing up on his part in another movie spot.  Did you know that the Bowmanville Zoo is Canada's largest supplier of Hollywood movie animals? 

Limba the Elephant is the only Elephant at the zoo, and although animal activists claim that she is or must be unhappy, evidence goes to the contrary.  She is 50 years old and is in excellent health.  At one time there apparently were 6 elephants that lived in the zoo, but Limba shied away or fear them.  She never interacted with them even though elephants are believed to be social animals.  As time went, it was proven that she simply just didn't bond with them.  

She loves people and they know this by the clicking sounds she makes or the way she moves towards the people instead of away from.  She often accompanies her keeper giving rides on her back in the zoo and she is often an attraction for families at the Bethesda House.  The Bethesda House is an organization that helps families deal with domestic violence.
  

The Camels at the Bowmanville zoo are also stars here and are treated very well.  Some of them have been there over 15 years.  They also were in a movie called, 'The 13th Warrior" starring Antonio Banderas (lucky camels..)  Although they are not as smart as elephants, they are still wise and are hard working.  These animals are trained, as well as their keepers to take all precautions possible for the safety of the people who ride them.

The cutest attraction here is the goats, great for kids (kids...) but watch your paper maps.  We witnessed a goat grab our map, and continue to chew on it while onlookers laughed.  I was horrified thinking it would get sick, but apparently there is enough fibre in the paper and the zoo keeper assured me the ink was non toxic and it happens all the time?

But the baby goats roam freely and are tame to pet.


The children will enjoy "Funland" and "Splash-bash" as well as the elephants rides.  

I've got a few more ideas coming up, but for me I won't be visiting a zoo again for a very long time.  I realize these animals are treated well enough and cared for but I still believe that wild animals are meant to be kept wild to do their thing and humans really have no place to that end, other than to serve and protect them in order for them to continue their life in the wild (ie. if they are in threat of extinction by way of commerce or culture)  They are not put on this planet to be caged up for me or anyone else.  

There are hundreds of different ways to help out animals in the wild, there are activists groups that focus on a specific species, or groups helping endangered, abused or abandoned animals.  Either way I think it our responsibility to support the species that share our planet, and that includes our own species as well.   

Exploring the Toronto Zoo

I've decided to take a break from the freedom of the trails to get a different perspective.  What is the opposite of freedom? Well that depends on who you ask and how you define 'freedom'.

The opposite of freedom can mean freedom from the chains that bind you, captivity, imprisonment, confinement or freedom from fear and constraints.  

One can argue that a lot of these animals outside of these bars and chains would never survive for as long as they have here.  That they are given food and nourishment and routine check ups.  They are loved and cared for by their keepers better than anything that can be found in the wild.  But that brings me back to the word freedom.

The Toronto Zoo opened in 1974 and is situated in the Rouge River Valley.  Encompassing over 287 hectares (714 acres), it is the biggest zoo in Canada. 

There are over 5,000 animals (including invertebrates and fish) representing over 450 species.  

When I looked at the animals I sometimes felt their loneliness, and in some cases their loss of freedom.    

We started coming in to the park and came upon a long line up before getting our admission and maybe for a split second we were going to turn around and hit the trails instead (Rouge Valley Conversation Trail), but we decided to pay the animals a visit, literally.  

After entering the park, you are almost immediately barricaded by the traditional tourist taunts.  Like colourful, shiny and mirrored horses on a merry-go-round; A square-paned glass gift shop called "The Green-House" ; an enchanting arched bridge which carried you into the entrance of the animals.

First up  Red River Hogs from South Africa, Wild Boars from the South America and Tapir from Southeast India. I found the Tapir very interesting.  It has a nose that it can use to pick up small objects.  

It can also breath underwater through their nose by using the same method as we do with the snorkel!  They are fairly gentle animals and their defenses are pretty much their keen sense of smell, and their ability to use camoflague effectively.  The babies curl up with their black and white outer shell making them look like tiny watermelons, doing undetected.  

The adults will lay still in the shade of the forest in the night like a large rock that is bathing in moonlight.  They also have a thick skin at the back of their necks also important to their survival.  

 

The zoo is divided into seven geographical regions: the Indo-Malaya, where you experience the humidity of the rain forest, and witness butterflies flying about your head and Orangutans hanging off of tree limbs.  

India, where you'll see the Rhinoceros and the Long-tailed Macaque.   Africa, where you'll see the white lion, speedy cheetahs, the long elephant, the hippos, the antelopes, meerkats, giraffes and baboons.   

The Canadian Domain has raccoons, cougars, a bald eagle, grizzlies, meese (mooses?), bison and of course the ferocious chipmunk.

The birds were everywhere in all parts of the zoo.  Found in the rain-forested walk-through which was surrounded by lovely water falls and dense forestry, such as the South American Blue Jay, the Macaws and the Pink Flamingos of the Americas.   

Throughout the day, I was constantly reminded of all of the great times my husband and I had taking the kids to the zoo when they were young.  It's funny but as soon as it is close to 6:00 in the afternoon, all the kids starts getting restless, tired and cranky as do the parents by this time.  

It comes to mind that perhaps freedom to any of these animals is like nothing left to lose.  I mean they have been chosen in a sense, and though it may have been against their will or their best interest, I really don't see the harm in saving an animal from extinction or from the wild.   


The Zoological society of Toronto has a commitment to saving those species that are injured or in danger like 3 polar bears from the wild in 2011 and over 120 animals in 2012.


All in all visiting these critters, both large and small gave a new hope to having boundaries that are safe. Being safe is just as important as possessing total freedom in an unsafe planet.  This place is like an animals paradise.

Cedar Trail (Rouge Valley)

If there's anything that can heal me it's a good long walk through the woods or a soul-search over the fields of wildflowers, day-old hay and the sounds of a distant locomotive.  

How could I have known that my life has been easy and blessed until this year, which I will always remember as one of the worst?  It is true that tragedy brings forth pain and challenges, and if you can rise to it, you will be stronger.

While I long for the simpler days again, never realizing that simple is good and not to complain, it is in the wake of these challenges that I appreciate the buzzing of the bees and the flight of the birds overhead and the birth of regrowth that shows me life is going on all around me.  I'd love to walk here alone, but I can't.  I have to share myself with others that need me and maybe I might need them too.

I'm not done with this as there are still many obstacles ahead, but why not walk here undaunted, if not for answers, but for peace alone.  So I did.

My camera isn't working as well as it used to. I focus into something small and close, but it doesn't want to sharpen the view.  It's time for a new camera, but I still love taking pictures.  I have plenty I haven't cataloged yet, and some posts have been put off until now.  I have decided to balance worry with wisdom, heartache with hope.  

This is another series of trails in the lovely Rouge Valley Conservation Area.  This one is called Cedar Trail.  It's all off-road; no vehicles allowed here, so no point in looking back, but I will say one thing, the trail ends at a very inconvenient place in the middle of nowhere really.  So if you are on foot, you are looking at about an 8-10 km trek back to the city of Toronto, unless you want to turn around and go back the way you came.  I personally don't like to hike that way, and quite a few others are the same.  Moving forward without backtracking is pretty common.  But these trails aren't designed for that as they are in the middle of a conservation area which is a non-profit charitable organization that offers hikes and educational tours.  It is designed to have you come back to them, so that you can donate, share, assist, learn and restore.

The Rouge River flows through it from near McCowan Road to 19th Avenue.   It begins in the Oak Ridges Moraine in Richmond Hill and goes by Markham northwest, central to south and into a few other smaller conservation areas.  It flows like chocolate milk as it picks up mud and debris traveling south.  

Cedar Trail is one of 5 trails in the conservation area.  This particular one is 2.2 km through old growth forest.  Even while it was sweltering out and the sun was hot and humid, the lush valley was cool by comparison.   There are some steep grades on the trail and several wooden staircases taking you down into the forest floor, which is yet another reason, I personally don't wish to go back up where I came from.  I had no idea that what lay ahead was 2 hours of walking to get back into the suburban core.  It's rural country out here, next to the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo, which shares land space.  Passing several hectares of unripened corn crops and long two-laned highways it was quite the hike.   The Rouge Valley Conservation area is not for biking either.  

So, come here to escape,  belong to nature again and watch out for the coyotes (warning posters have been in every trail from Hamilton to Eastern Ontario).  When you go into the valley, expect to come right back up in this place, otherwise expect a 2-3 hour journey along Beare Rd up to Steeles almost as far as Markham Road.

Was it worth it? Yes.  You can expect to see small streams that flow into the Little Rouge Creek.  You will see all kinds of wetland and meadow species near southern sections of the trail and forest species in the north.  

If you haven't had a chance to challenge yourself in a while, I suggest starting with a place where you can't look back.

Ivan Forrest Gardens and Glen Stewart Ravine

The Ivan Forrest Gardens and the Glen Stewart Ravine are conjoined so I decided to bring them together into the same post.  Ivan Forrest is a small lovely garden that you enter from Queen Street East in the "Beaches' neighbourhood.  A perfect spot to have your quick lunch or just relax on one of the three benches at street level or a few located closer to to the fountain below.

Every spring the garden comes to life with perennials and fresh flowers newly planted. 
The newly built pedestrian bridge takes you through the Glen Stewart Ravine, an 11-hectare ravine lined with red and oak and maples.

A couple of years ago, a project was aimed to restore many areas of the ravine.  The City of Toronto along with Toronto's Conservation Authority were focusing on some major repairs which included the failing retaining walls and replacing the staircases and bridges as well as improving the trails.  The flow of the water from the slopes of Ames Creek needed to increase so a boardwalk was built as well.

Last year the $11M:11 week project was completed to reveal the success of the undertaking.  

Features included new elevated boardwalks and pedestrian bridges over the wetland to keep people of the newly planted areas.  The damaged walls were reinforced with sand bags along with newly planted grasses and herbs.  Many of the non native trees were taken down like the the Norway and Manitoba Maple and replaced with the natives species like red oak and Maple and Black Cherry.  complex ecosystem while at the same time allowing safer and heightened public access.