Sunday, 8 July 2012

Cootes Paradise - Hamilton Ontario


Cootes Paradise is a 600 hectare wildlife sanctuary with a 320 hectare river mouth wetland. The lands are owned and managed by the Royal Botanical Gardens.  The wetlands are a catchment area for three main waterways: Borer’s Creek, Chedoke Creek and Spencer Creek. It is connected to Hamilton Harbour via the Desjardins Canal.

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Cootes Paradise Signage

Due to the location and topography of where Cootes is situated, it plays an important role for migratory waterfowl.

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Margaret walking on the trails


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Monarch Butterfly on goldenrod


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Close up


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Beautiful willows along the waters edge


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High Level Bridge - overlooking Cootes Paradise



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Purple Aster


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Purple Aster closeup



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Looking West out over Cootes Paradise


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Kayaking at Cootes Paradise


Cootes has a multitude of hiking trails on the east and west side of the wetlands. Many people enjoy canoeing and kayaking along the shoreline. Margaret and I enjoyed walking along Sassafras Trail toward Sassafras Point. I will be returning again to explore more of this beautiful and interesting area.

Location Coordinates:  43° 16′ 37.06″ N, 79° 54′ 10.98″ W    UTM  17N  589008  4792156

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Paddling



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Sassafras Point - Cootes Paradise

Sunday, 1 July 2012

Halton County Radial Railway & Streetcar Museum


The HCRY is one of the most interesting working museums I have had the chance to experience. It is located between the villages of Rockwood and Campbellville in Milton, Ontario.


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The "Peter Witt Designed" Toronto Tranist Commission Streetcar - 1921 Livery


The museum contains some impressive treasures from the golden age of the streetcar. These include trolley busses, diesel buses and other railway vehicles.


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TTC Streetcar


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Headlight on one of the Streetcars

Margaret and I enjoyed jumping on the Peter Witt streetcar. This streetcar was restored to its 1921 livery and is continuing to take passengers around the museum site.



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Interior of the "Peter Witt" Streetcar



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Railway signal light



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Original Toronto Subway - circa 1954




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Rockwood Station





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Railway push car



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Passengers boarding



If you are looking to see a little bit of history, check out the Halton County Radial Railway.

Location Coordinates: 43° 34′ 46.2″ N, 80° 6′ 49.32″ W     UTM  17   571558   4825552


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Canadian Pacific Railway caboose

Sunday, 17 June 2012

Ontario Summer Trips


Summer in Ontario is not complete without planning a trip to a cottage, provincial park or just visiting a town or city somewhere in our vast Province. I have assembled a list of three different destinations that are great experiences that I have personally enjoyed and would recommend as a Summer Trip.
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Evening at Port Burwell Provincial Park Beach


I have broken down my three recommended destinations into Day Trip, Weekend Trip and Week-long Trip.  All of the listed destinations offer many different activities that can be enjoyed individually or as a family.

Day Trip

Port Burwell, Ontario

Port Burwell was originally surveyed in 1830 by Lieutenant-Colonel Mahlon Burwell, a surveyor for Colonel Thomas Talbot. Situated at the mouth of Big Otter Creek on the north shore of Lake Erie, it has over 1000 residents. Like many of the Ports along Lake Erie, it is known for its fresh perch and pickerel. 

It is also home to one of Canada’s oldest wooden Lighthouse. Standing 20m (65ft) in height visitors can climb to the top.

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Port Burwell Lighthouse



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Port Burwell



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Monument to Fisherman lost on Lake Erie

Port Burwell Provincial Park

The park has 232 campsites, great trails for hiking and many other activities. I think it has one of the best beaches in Ontario. I love camping here or just visiting for the day.
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Beautiful day at the Port Burwell beach

Location Coordinates:  42° 38 48 N, 80° 48 10 W    UTM  17N  516167 E   4721598 N
Check out these links for more information:

Weekend Trip
Algonquin Provincial Park
 
Algonquin Provincial Park holds the title of being the oldest provincial park in Canada. It was established in 1893. Encompassing about 7653 square kilometres, it is bigger than the state of Delaware or Prince Edward Island. Over 2,400 lakes and thousands of kilometres of rivers and streams are located within the park boundaries.

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Algonquin Provincial Park Plaque

There are many places in Algonquin that are fantastic to visit - two of my favourite are the Lookout Trail and Whiskey Rapids. The view from Lookout Trail granite outcropping is breath taking and really worth the hike. Whiskey Rapids are worth exploring for the sheer beauty of the surroundings. Once you visit Algonquin Park you will be planning another trip soon.
Barron River Canyon in Algonquin


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Canoeing on the Barron River
 
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Whiskey Rapids in western Algonquin Park

Location Coordinates:   West Gate  45° 26’ 34.16” N   78° 49’ 14.98” W   
                                      UTM  17N  670416.12 E   5034464.80 N
Check out these links for more information:


Week-long Trip
Killarney Provincial Park
Once you arrive at Killarney Provincial Park you are surrounded by what makes Ontario one of the best places to live - beautiful lakes, Georgian Bay and the La Cloche mountain range.  There are only a few places on earth that have taken my breath away. Killarney is one of them. I think I waited too long to finally make the trip.  It was really worth it.

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The natural beauty of Killarney




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Great trails to explore




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Aspen and Birch forests



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La Cloche Mountain Range with white quartzite


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Canoeing in Georgian Bay



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Pink granite dominates the shore



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Large eastern white pine

Location Coordinates:   46° 5′ 0″ N    81° 20′ 0″ W     UTM 17N  474228 E  5103360 N
Check out these links for more information:

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Christie Lake Conservation Area - Dundas Ontario


Ten years ago I started visiting Christie Lake Conservation Area in Dundas Ontario. Once I discovered this interesting and wild area, I continued exploring more and more of it space.


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Christie Lake Conservation Area


There are many activities that Christie Lake has available. The conservation area encompasses 336-hectares and 10 kilometers of hiking trails with connections to Crooks’ Hollow Historical Trail, Bruce Trail and the Lafarge 2000 Trail, there are many options for hikers and walkers.  Many special events are held yearly, such as Christie Antique Show and Greensville Optimist Fishing Derby.


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Natural beauty around Christie Lake


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Wild cucumber



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Bullrushes

Christie Lake Conservation Area is a great place to start exploring today.

Location Coordinates:   43° 17’ 16.25” N   80° 01’ 40.87” W        UTM   17N   578874 E   4793229 N


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Spencer Creek


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Great trails to walk


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Margaret snapping a photo


Sunday, 10 June 2012

Go Outdoors on Father's Day Weekend


Father’s Day is fast approaching and the nice weather has arrived. I have many great memories of getting outdoors with my Dad for a hike. I have compiled several locations close to Toronto that would be great to get the family out for a few hours or for the day.  

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My Dad and I at Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area 2009

Bronte Creek Provincial Park

Bronte Creek has so much to offer, from hiking and biking trails and much more. The park is 684 hectares (1690 acres) in size. The park is divided by the Bronte Creek. The valley was carved by the water of melting glaciers approximately 14, 000 years ago. Water rushed towards Lake Ontario and cut through the shale of what is now the park, leaving the large valley and creek. There are 10 kilometers of trails, a nature centre, children’s barn, 1.8 acre pool, turn-of-the-century farmhouse and 144 campsites.

http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/bron.html

http://www.brontecreek.org/


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Spruce Lane Farm


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Fields in Bronte Creek


Crawford Lake Conservation Area

I have been visiting Crawford Lake since I was 16 years old and have explored most of the property. With over 16 kilometers of hiking trails, great place to get outside. Don’t forget to check out the 15-century Iroquoian village that has been reconstructed and the lookouts on the Nassagaweya Canyon.

http://www.conservationhalton.on.ca/ShowCategory.cfm?subCatID=1083




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Crawford Lake


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Long House at Crawford Lake Conservation Area




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Stockade around the Village



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Lookout on the Stockade


Mountsberg Conservation Area

This is a great place to hike and check out the Raptor Centre. With 16 kilometers of hiking trails, visitors centre and Mountsberg Reservoir there is something to do for everyone. The Raptor Centre is home to many species of raptor such as bald eagle, owl, turkey vulture and hawks.

www.hrca.on.ca/ShowCategory.cfm?subCatID=1088

www.conservationhalton.on.ca/ShowCategory.cfm?subCatID=1455



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Mountsberg Conservation Area - Raptor Centre


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Bald Eagle at the Raptor Centre - Mountsberg


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Owl at the Raptor Centre


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Great trails to walk at Mountsberg Conservation Area


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Mountsberg Reservoir

Waterfalls in Hamilton Ontario

In the Hamilton-Burlington area there are over 100 waterfalls that plunge over the edge of the Niagara Escarpment. I have visited many of the waterfalls and they are worth the visit.

www.waterfalls.hamilton.ca/

www.cityofwaterfalls.ca/



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Albion Falls, Hamilton Ontario


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Albion Falls, Hamilton Ontario