The Upper Chedoke
Falls is a challenge to
get to, but the experience in retrospect was a great one. I had been here before to the Chedoke Trail
and had already known where the ‘Lower Chedoke
Falls’ were. What I didn’t know was where the ‘Upper Chedoke Falls" were or how tricky my ‘rock hoppin’ skills
would have to be.
Stuck literally between a rock and hard spot
several times, this rocky crag left much to my problem solving skills. About 10 minutes into the trek and my partner
falls and as he is lying and moaning on top of a bed of rocks, worrying about
his phone. I say, “are you ok?’ to which
his reply is “yeah, but I think I fell on my phone” with that I am determined
evermore to get to the Upper Chedoke, and for a moment, I am tempted to use his
back as leverage to get across the water..lol
Upward and onward, I can hear the rush of
water, and up ahead in the distance, I didn’t see a shimmering light, but I did
see the movement of waterfalls. Not one,
but two! This was exciting and while he mutters something to me like, ‘remind
me not to do this again’, I laugh with the determination of getting ever closer
to take that photograph that will instill in my memories forever.
There she is! The top of the Niagara Escarpment
she is a 15 metre ribbon waterfall and there I am standing at the foot of
a beautiful wave of rushing water of the Upper Chedoke
Falls!
Todmorden Mills was discovered actually quite by
chance while on an unadventurous bike ride southbound on the Don
River recreational trail. Deciding to veer west off Pottery Road in Toronto, I saw the ‘Fantasy
farm’ up ahead. I had always wondered
where this was as you could see it off the Don Valley Parkway, but I had never seen
it up close. As I discovered it’s a
banquet hall, and set in some really pretty and private country-like scenery
great for Weddings. Right across the
lane is ‘Todmorden Mills’. It’s an
historic site owned now by the City of Toronto,
but was once a Lumber mill located in a small settlement called, "Don
Mills" in 1790's. 
There remains todays two historic miller’s homes, a
Brewery building and over 10 hectares of fields containing wildflowers and
walking trails including upland and bottomland forests. 
I was surprised when I walked into the historical mill
house near the entrance of Todmorden, there were walls of artwork and a stage
door leading to a renovated Papermill Theatre and Gallery. Interesting setting for this. Honestly didn’t even know it was here. If you want to find out more about the Papermill Theatre and what's on, click here. 
