Gus Harris Trail

I admit it, its not quite green enough yet, but it's getting there...  Our weather has been so confused lately promising us warm days ahead and waking up to blankets up to our noses!  But, spring has sprung and with it promises longer days and yes, warmer ones too.   

The Gus Harris Trail, which was christened on June 1, 2002, was named in honour of Augustus John (Gus) Harris, who was a career politician.  Like Kay Gardner (see the Gardner Beltline Trail in this blog), Gus served his city tirelessly in a variety of different roles and eventually becoming the mayor of Scarborough Township in 1979-88.  He passed away in February 20, 2000 due to his complication of Parkinson's Disease.  Yet another sad tale of a man who's honor was given to him after his death.  I could never understand this philosophy and it happens often.



We reached the trail very late in the day passing through from the east and travelling to the west, which is why most of the pictures are in the mode of the sun setting.    You can reach the Gus Trail off of Pharmacy Avenue, just a little north of Victoria park.  It's not a particularly large section of parkland but you won't be disappointed and despite the preceding photographs, there's much to love about this trail.  

 
A little historical fact (of course) was during the last ice age, this section of Warden Woods Park was once a part of the natural shoreline of Glacial Lake Iroquois!  The sandy soil of the ravine, has been ravaged over the years which have made city workers busy.  The most severe problem is soil erosion which has been somewhat eradicated with rock walls embedded in mesh to prevent flooding and further erosion.

I wanted to mention the footbridge that you'll see a few hundred metres into the trail.  It crosses the creek, and the other side offers dozens of several foot trail that weave their way into the forests of maples and oak trees.  I had my zoom lens ready to take my first decent shot of a wide variety of birds I saw overhead, including one woodpecker, which was evident by sound.  

Unfortunately as it was quite late into the day, so I didn't get THE shot of the bird I was hoping for :) 

Lakeshore Road - Clarington (Waterfront Trail)

Where it all begins

I thought that since I seem to be following some sort of pattern along the Waterfront trail, I might mention the 13 km spot of Lakeshore Road in Clarington.  It starts from the Port of Newcastle and ends just on the municipal border of the Hope Township.  Although it's not classified as part of the designated 'Waterfront trail', it's still a popular route followed by cyclists and inline skaters, although since there are no amenities along here, it is really best to take this long strip of trail by car.

You won't find any food, fuel or rest stops.  It does however wind along the shores of Lake Ontario and there is a 30 metre bluff, and the odd abandoned-looking farmhouse here and there, providing some of Clarington's most riveting scenery.



There's a small parkette about half a kilometre east along the road, easy to spot as it's along a curve.  About 7 kilometres along Lakeshore and the road turns sharply over an old wooden bridge.  Be cautious around here as Via Rail still accesses the double set of tracks here.  You must have seen those Via trains just scream by the plodding GO Trains.  

Old Wooden bridge structure

Just a bit after the tracks the road makes a sharp right to continue eastward, and there you will find the Bond Head Bluffs Area of Natural Science Interests (ANSI).  There are ANSI sites all along the bluffs of the Clarington secton of the Waterfront Trail.  

Certain portions have places of interest where rare plants thrive as a result of local mini-ecosystems.  These are private lands and the bluffs are unstable and prone to erosion.  Bond Head is of interest to those studying rare plants and flowers. Although, I do not have an interest in botany I do respect those who share a keen discovery, but I will not be exploring this rare place.

Lakeshore fields

Another 5 or 6 kilometres along Lakeshore and we passed quickly through Port Granby, which is a site of some low-level radioactive waste.  Sadly once a bustling port community with its own hotel, all remnants are now gone.  

Inukshuks line railways 'Welcome'

Local cow saying 'Hi'

A few more kilometres and we passed some lovely little towns such as Port Britain and Wesleyville.  Although I didn't take any pictures as the clouds overhead were looming overhead, we did stop briefly so I could check out a tiny Wesleyville Church (closed unfortunately).  Located between the tiny ports of Port Grandby and New Britain, it was a last reminder of the small settlement that served local farmers named after John Wesley, who in the 1740s founded the little Methodist Society.

I do not have any pictures that I am particularly proud of to show off here, as the spring and summer colours are just now emerging, and the greenery is still hidden under ashy brown fields.  The flowers are still mostly closed up, except for the brave wild ones found further in. 
 

To take this trek, I promise you that going along this historic roadway in the more colourful months will be an unforgettable experience, especially at sunset.  I'm sure many people find this among the most spectacular stretch of Lake Ontario's north shore.  In fact, I almost second-thought my idea to post any pictures at all, but they were taken, and therefore shared.

You will pick up the Waterfront trail again, once you reach the eastern boundary of Port Hope.

Update: Here's a link to an article on Wayback Times written by a nice man who used my picture for his article. Historically very interesting.