Yurt Camping at MacGregor Point Provincial Park

MacGregor Point Yurt Camp

by Sandra J. Howe

“I just love to be out at MacGregor Point in winter. The yurt is rustic but not too rustic, sort of an elevated camping. We dress warmly, keep active, and have cozy places to go inside. I come up from Toronto every year for this event,” says Karen Valleau about the annual MacGregor Point Yurt Camp. Sydenham and Peninsula Bruce Trailers have been organizing and enjoying this activity for several years. The group was small this time with only 3 participants. Others hoped to go but circumstances changed.

MacGregor Point Provincial Park near Port Elgin offers many km of trails to explore by ski or snowshoe. The snow was sparse this year so we leapt from snow patch to puddle for a while before settling into long walks. The shoreline was open with almost no ice. It is odd to walk a sandy beach in February but still very lovely. Mild temperatures, calm winds, and even some blue sky made a fun-filled weekend.

The yurt was spacious and cozy with electricity and a gas fireplace. We strung Christmas lights to make it homey. Scrabble, Chinese checkers, and storytelling filled the evenings. We ate loads of wonderful food including Greek dinner with spanakopita, tabouli and ouzo. Chili, cornbread, and kale salad were also big hits. Hearty breakfasts cooked on the BBQ kept us nourished for outdoor explorations.

The Yurt Camping Weekend is a great opportunity to get out and enjoy winter fun together. It happens each year in January or February but requires advance planning because the yurts fill up fast. Watch for event notices in late summer or early fall so you don't miss out on this excellent adventure. Hope to see you there in 2017!

Lion's Head Winter Hike

The new day dawned crisp, cold, and clear with amazing blue skies like we haven't seen much this winter. All my plans for indoor projects went out the window, and I headed out the door. We were off to explore on the Bruce Peninsula, one of Ontario's most wild and spectacular areas. All the winter gear-skis, 2 pair; snowshoes, 2 pair; ice skates; extra clothes-stay in my car for the season so no great packing to do. Just food and water into a backpack, and we're on Bruce Rd.9 headed north.

At first I thought we were headed to Bruce Peninsula National Park for a walk into Indian Head Cove and the Grotto. Plans changed though as a cloud bank moved in from the west. To make the best of blue skies and sun, we pulled in at Lion's Head. What a postcard perfect village! The bay is crystal clear and that lovely turquoise colour. The cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment rise high as ramparts up both sides of the bay. The lighthouse and marina are well-kept and scenic. It makes a delightful daytrip with lots to see and do, and some great food to sample.

We fortified ourselves at Marydale's Family Restaurant, a traditional rural diner, with homemade potato soup, a hearty sandwich, and of course, superb butter tarts. Try the tarts with "the works", heated with ice cream and caramel drizzle- oh my!!! Rachel's Bakery and 50's Diner is another delectable eating option, and is fun with authentic 50's decor. Several other eateries in and around Lion's Head come highly recommended but I have yet to sample their menus. More work to do; hooray!

You can catch the Bruce Trail right in the village along the water but we drove out McCurdy Dr. on the south shore to the hikers' parking lot. Excellent signage makes the area very accessible, and there are a variety of trail options- long, short, inland, coastal. All are rugged escarpment terrain so good footwear is essential. Walking poles are also helpful. These trails are great for snowshoeing but a bit rough for skis. on this day, trails were well-packed so we just walked.

I love to be out exploring the Niagara Escarpment, and the Bruce Trail is such an incredible resource. No wonder it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking the trails in winter, you see the shape of the trees, rocks, lands, and waters so clearly. We took our time on the hike, checking out side trails, potholes, animal tracks, and bird sounds. The views from the cliffs are truly awe-inspiring. I recommend following the loop from McCurdy Parking Lot counter-clockwise: Head into forest on Bruce Trail marked by white blazes; continue for 2-3km, about an hour walking, past the potholes to Lion's Head Lookout on the cliffs over Isthmus Bay; return to Moore St. Side Trail with blue blazes; this follows old roads to street and back to your car. Round trip about 5km, maybe 2 hrs easy walking. Enjoy the hike!!!

Royal Botanical Gardens and Easterbrooks Hotdogs

Royal Botanical Gardens and Easterbrooks Hotdogs

by Sandra J. Howe

A weekend getaway to Burlington/Hamilton area. Lots of fun! Sunday was great with visit to Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) and gourmet hotdog lunch. We explored trails, hand-fed chickadees, soaked up greenery, and gobbled footlongs. What more could a girl ask???

RBG is a vast complex of gardens, nature reserves, greenhouses, arboretums, and an aviary. Nestled along the Niagara Escarpment with forests, meadows, wetlands and shoreline, it offers a wide range of natural and cultivated landscapes to explore. In green seasons, the gardens are full of blossom and beauty. In winter, RBG has other charms including birds and wildlife well-acclimatized to human contact. Feeling the tiny feet of a chickadee perched on my fingers is always a highlight for me. Carry sunflower seed to make friends!

When it is cold and bleak outside, a trip to the RBG greenhouses is just the thing. The variety of species in the cactus garden is fascinating. Interpretive signage offers insight into the diversity and habits of prickly plants. I have a special weakness for the tropical trees and shrubs that remind me of days in warmer climes. Aloes, agaves, figs, and bird of paradise speak of tropical places. Brilliant orange koi in the watergarden add a splash of colour, and amuse youngsters who amuse oldsters. It was tempting to taste the pomegranates but I let them be. Good for me!

After a snowy outdoor adventure along Grindstone Creek boardwalk and a saunter through warm greenhouses, we were ready for food. Comfort food, fun food. Enter Easterbrooks Hotdogs. Right across the street from RBG, a Burlington tradition. Classic soda shop decor in red and white tiles with red, vinyl counter stools. I went for the Reuben, a footlong with sauerkraut, mustard and cheese, onion rings along side:YUM!

Lots of choices: chili and cheese, lettuce and tomato, go spicey with jalapenos. Milkshakes, ice cream, fries; all your basic food groups. Are you salivating yet? And yes, they do have a veggie dog option.

Sunday is also aviary day but they were closed on this trip. Guess we'll have to do it all again which suits me fine. Hope you enjoy the pics! And here's the links:

http://www.rbg.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/EasterbrooksBurlington/

Forest Bathing, Shrinrin Yoku

Forest Bathing: A Free and Potent Medicine

by Sandra J. Howe

“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, "This is what it is to be happy.” 
― Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

Have you wandered in a forest recently? Left people, buildings, street lights, and cell phone behind. Taken time to look, listen, smell and feel the abundant life around you. Sat quietly under a tree. If it has been a while since you indulged this way, you are missing out on some wonderful health benefits. Time spent in nature can reduce stress, uplift mood, improve memory and focus, and boost immunity. Now that's good medicine!

The term “Forest Bathing” comes from the Japanese, Shinrin Yoku, a practice of walking or resting mindfully in an outdoor setting. It can be done as a moving or sitting meditation with focus on sensory information: How does the tree bark feel? How does the air taste? Are there creatures scampering nearby? This kind of paying attention to immediate, natural stimuli relaxes our bodymind, reducing stress levels and improving mental health. Around the world researchers are discovering the amazing benefits of daily immersion in nature.

Saints and sages through the ages have offered insights into the essential value of engaging with the natural world. St. Francis learned lessons in spirituality from wild creatures. Thoreau wrote eloquently of the human need for outdoor contact. Rachel Carson said, “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” John Muir, considered as “Father of National Parks”, insisted on our need to preserve wilderness areas for human well-being. Richard Louv, in his book “Last Child in the Woods”, coined the phrase “Nature Deficit Disorder” to describe the human cost of alienation from the natural world.

Science is now proving what our great teachers have always said. Humans need time in nature to stay healthy and happy. A recent study at Tokyo's Nippon Medical School found that women who spent 6 hours hiking in the woods over 2 days showed increased levels of virus- and tumor-fighting white blood cells, and that the increase lasted for up to 7 days. England's Walking for Health Program has demonstrated improved health for thousands of participants at very low cost. The evidence is very clear: Walking in nature is good for us and feels good too!

In Grey-Bruce we are particularly blessed with opportunities to get outdoors in natural spaces. You can join a Bruce Trail hike, take a family stroll in Harrison Park, explore county forests, or wander through a local conservation area. You can go alone or with a group. But take your time, turn off your phone, breathe fresh air, and be grateful. Walking in nature will add beauty and bounty to your life. Forest bathing is a free and potent medicine. Get yours today!

Forks of Credit to Cheltenham Hike

With sunny skies, above zero temps, and still no snow, I headed out yesterday for my final hike in the Caledon section of the Bruce Trail. Forks of the Credit is a scenic, little community deep in a steep valley. The idea of climbing up out of the ravine was daunting but do-able. The Caledon Bruce Trail Club does a great job of keeping stairs, supports, and water control structures in good condition on the route.

Highlights in this section include the Ring Kiln, a fascinating piece of our industrial heritage. I love how the moss-covered rock walls rise out of the cedar forest like ancient ruins. Also, the Cheltenham Badlands are in this section but public access is closed at present for an environmental planning process. Driving back along Olde Base Line Rd, I did get a view but you can't stop for pics.

So I am finished hiking the whole Bruce Trail north of Cheltenham Badlands all the way to Tobermory. I have completed my hiking goals for this year and am very pleased with my efforts. In 2016, I have Toronto, Iroquoia and Niagara sections to complete. And a celebration to mark my success!

Looking North across Credit Valley

Crossing Credit Valley Explorer Active Rail Line

Brick and Tile Remnants

Beautiful Old Stonework of Chimney and Kiln

Firebox Access with Brickwork Visible

Brilliant Green of Mosses in Grey Forest Landscape

Site Map

The Story

Scaling the Cliff

A Long Way Down

Bruce Trail Fall Hikes

I love to be out on the trails all year but autumn is especially beautiful. Air is cool and fresh. The exercise feels extra rewarding. And the colours are spectacular! The forests are mainly golden this season. Some falls we get more red or orange or copper. Under a maple forest canopy right now feels like walking in yellow light, whether sun is shining or not. It is truly magical!

I have been systematically following the Bruce Trail south through southern Ontario. Last weekend marked a major milestone: crossing Hwy.9. Yippee!!! This highway passes from Arthur to Orangeville to Newmarket, and for me, sort of divides rural from urban Ontario. Of course, urban continues to sprawl northward. Just north of Hwy.9 on the trail and Niagara Escarpment is an amazing lookout, Humber Heights, which provides a view down the Humber River Valley all the way to the Toronto skyline. Awesome!

Here are some pics along the journey. Enjoy! Hope to see you on the trails!