Bognor Marsh Spring Photos

Bognor Marsh, just SE of Owen Sound, is a lovely walk in any season but spring is an especially great time to visit. The Bruce Trail and a connecting sidetrail form a hiking loop which includes a boardwalk through marsh and ponds created by Ducks Unlimited. Trail also climbs up onto Niagara Escarpment for rugged upland forest walking and wildflowers. Hope you enjoy these images! Best wishes, Sandra J.

Canada geese with new goslings. Very noisy!

Pond lilies and forest springing to life.

Follow boardwalk through marsh.

You can see me!

I can see you!

Stream tumbles through escarpment forest.

Delicate fern fronds.

Sweet violets!

Christmas fern unfurling.

Shades of trilliums.

Escarpment rock garden.

View from escarpment looking south to marsh.

Massie Adventour

Grey-Bruce Adventours: Massie

By Sandra J. Howe for Mar/14 Mosaic

Welcome to a new year of Grey-Bruce Adventours! I am excited to be back at my computer sharing stories and explorations with you. It has been a very wintery winter with lots of opportunities for fun in the snow. I hope you have been out playing. A wonderful place to head out with your cross-country skis is the Massie Hills Ski Trail. Owen Sound Cross Country Ski Club grooms and sets track three times weekly on this beautiful forest tract near Massie. To virtual ski or get details on the club, visit their website at www.owensound.org/ski.

On March 30 at 1pm, I invite you to join me in cross-country skiing these excellent loop trails. Meet at the front trail entrance on 6^th concession south, and bring $5 per person for trail fee. We will explore upland and lowland deciduous forest, as well as mature pine plantations. Trails are suited to a range of abilities. Pets are not welcome on the ski trails in winter. Snowshoes are welcome but please stay off set ski tracks. In spring, summer and fall, the Massie Trails are multi-use, for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The Bruce Trail and Spey River Forest Side Trail run through this property, and it is part of the Sydenham Bruce Trail Club’s Looping through Sydenham Challenge.

Continuing south from Massie Hills Ski Trail brings you to the scenic Hamlet of Massie. According to W.W. Smith’s Gazetteer and Directory of the County of Grey, 1865-66, Massie contained “a post-office, gristmill, sawmill, blacksmith shop, horseshoe nail factory, and school house”. “There is an air of thrift and enterprise about the place, which promises well for its future growth and prosperity.” Today there remains a strong community spirit, an active church, several homes, and Massie Hall where a wonderful concert series is held annually.

Massie, like most pioneer settlements, is situated on a river for access to waterpower. The Big Head River flows through the hamlet with the mill dam and pond still in place. The Historical Society of Holland Township’s fascinating book, “The Paths that Led to Holland” features several pages on Massie. Apparently fishing was very good on the Big Head in early years: “People along the Big Head didn’t require any meat in summer as they could get all the trout that they needed. A man could go down to the river at noon hour while the oxen were feeding, and in an hour’s time he could get enough trout to do his family for two days.” I don’t know about the fishing now but it might be worth a try.

Gary Running Ski Trail Groomer

Downtown Massie

Big Head River

Massie Millpond

Map of Massie Hills Ski Trail

No matter the season, Grey-Bruce offers endless opportunities to learn and explore. Grey-Bruce Adventours encourages you to take a tour today. Have fun!

Wiarton Wonders

Grey-Bruce Adventours: Wiarton

By Sandra J. Howe for Aug/13 MOSAIC

Wiarton has long been a favourite destination for me, not only as a gateway to the Bruce Peninsula, but as a lively, historic community.  It retains much of its pioneering feel: fisheries, agriculture, and quarrying are still active industries.  Lumbering and furniture-making, which were critical in Wiarton’s early development, have been largely replaced by tourism.  For me, it is among our most scenic towns, nestled along the Niagara Escarpment with limestone cliffs rising above the natural harbour of Colpoy’s Bay.

On August 9 and 10, Wiarton plays host to the Bruce Peninsula Multisport Race (www.brucepeninsulamultisportrace.ca ).  This great family event encourages athletes of all ages to get outdoors and active.  Kid, youth, and adult races involving run, cycle, and kayak events engage participants.  Incredible community support sees local businesses, and volunteers rallying in the fun.  Peninsula Adventure Sports Association (www.peninsulaadventure.ca) sponsors the event, and funds raised provide support to outdoor sports, infrastructure, and athletes in the Bruce Peninsula.

Wiarton is a spectacular hiking destination with the Bruce Trail passing right through town.  My favourite walks include Bruce’s Caves and Skinner’s Bluff along the south shore of Colpoy’s Bay.  Best is the Spirit Rock Loop: following Colpoy’s northern shoreline pass the water plant and follow the white blazes to the spiral staircase; on top visit the ruins of the Corran; the blue blazed trail leads to Spirit Rock Lookout, and brings you back to town.  The Corran was a 17- room mansion with the most extensive private library north of Toronto in the early 1900’s.

Downtown Wiarton offers great eating.  Lloyd’s Smoke Shop, owned and operated by the Nusko family, serves homemade ice cream, and you can play pool on the massive billiards table in back.  Red Fish, Blue Fish-remember this Dr. Seuss book?-offers a superb local whitefish and chips dinner.  Cocoa Vanilla provides tasty meals, live music, and a rotating show of local art. Shopping ranges from whimsical to practical, and service is friendly.  Friday is the Farmers’ Market, and Saturday is the Historic Walking Tour; details at www.visitwiarton.ca

Grey-Bruce Adventours (howesandraj@gmail.com) invites you to explore the amazing variety of our area.  Let me know if I may be your guide.  Happy Adventouring!

Me punching my Explore the Bruce Adventure Passport

My photos on display at Cocoa Vanilla Cafe

Bruce's Caves-a cool place on a warm day!

My Dad exploring the caves

Bruce Trail spiral staircase on Spirit Rock Loop

Little green friend on cliff face

Mark Nusko scooping my ice cream- Yum!

A colourful history!

Explore Neustadt

Grey-Bruce Adventours: Neustadt

By Sandra J. Howe for July/13 MOSAIC

July 13 is a great day to visit Neustadt (www.neustadt.ca ) in the scenic West Grey farming country south of Hanover.  The Neustadt Fibre Arts Festival takes place throughout the community’s shops and churches, and features displays and demonstrations of weaving, spinning, knitting, rug hooking, quilting, and all things fibre art.  Andre’s Alpacas (www.andresalpacas.com ) will show their beautiful animals with the softest wool.  Also on July 13, the Neustadt and District Horticultural Society Summer Flower Show is on at Hillside Manor.

Neustadt was named “one of Canada’s ten prettiest villages” by Harrowsmith magazine because of its lovely stone buildings.  One of the most historic is the Neustadt Springs Brewery (www.neudtadtsprings.com).  Originally built in 1859 by Henry Huether with the aid of 40 German stonemason immigrants, that structure burned.  The present building was constructed in 1869 with local farmers trading fieldstone for beer.  Tours of the brewery caverns and springs are available on summer weekends, and are a great way to get cool on a hot day.

Neustadt, meaning “new town” in German, was founded in 1855 by David Winkler.  Prime Minister John Diefenbaker was born here, and the Diefenbaker Home is a local historic site.  It is great community for exploring by foot, with the Lion’s Park offering a creekside picnic area and playground for the children.  Fresh baked goods, sweet and savoury, are excellent at It’s My Pleasure.  Neustadt has a fun and fanciful mix of shopping with local handicrafts, antiques, books, and treasures; you will find something for all interests.

For artists’ studios, check out Richard Mund Pottery and T. Wegg Photography.  For antique browsing in an 1857 grain mill with original machinery, stop by the Neustadt Mill Antiques Market.  Best of all, don’t miss the great sights, smells, and tastes at Granny’s General Store, featuring ice cream, fresh pies, garden center, quilting supplies, movies, preserves,…It is an old-style general store in the best sense!

Grey-Bruce Adventours (www.howesandraj.blogspot.com) invites everyone to get out and explore the bounty of adventures available in our rural communities.  If you need a guide, be sure and call me.  Happy Adventouring!

Neustadt Springs Brewery

Noah's Inn-Great Food!

Neustadt Library-Great Books!

Fabric Art Curtains

Fabric Art Sweaters

MMM!!! Pies and Ice Cream.  Also Lovely Flowers.

Tasty Treats

Antique Shopping in old Mill

Explore Kincardine

Grey-Bruce Adventours: Kincardine

By Sandra J. Howe for June/13 MOSAIC

Kincardine takes its Scottish heritage seriously, so for all things Scottish this is a great daytrip option.  Starting June 22, Saturday evenings at 8 pm in Victoria Park downtown, everyone is invited to join the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band for the march along main street.  This tradition has been on-going on Saturday summer evenings since 1948, and makes a fun outing for the whole family.  Kids of all ages love it!  The Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band first appeared in 1908, and has the longest unbroken service record for all Ontario pipe bands.  Across the street from Victoria Park, at Kincardine’s Scottish Shop you can rent a kilt for the occasion, or sample such delicacies as haggis, black pudding, bridies, and scotch eggs.  Take your taste buds on an adventure!

Kincardine has excellent walking trails with a beach boardwalk bordered by community gardens, and an extensive system of inland trails.  Geddes Environmental Park features the Labyrinth Peace Garden, providing a meditative walk through rainbow shades of flowers.  Parks, beaches, and picnic areas are abundant, and well-maintained; these make great places to relax with a book on a quiet day.  Two bookstores downtown offer a vast range of reading options: Condor Fine Books focuses on used, antique, and out-of-print books in good condition.  Finchers, across the street, specializes in new books, and has a wonderful selection of local authors, and interests.

A thriving arts scene focuses around the old townhall, now The Kincardine Centre for the Arts.  This historic building was completed in 1872 for the massive sum of $8000, and is still quite elegant.  It houses galleries, theatre space for both the Little Theatre Guild, and the Bluewater Playhouse, the Wood Turners Guild, and the Kincardine Scottish Festival and Highland Games headquarters.  There is lots happening so check out the website for event details: www.sunsets.com/kincardine

With summer upon us, there is so much to see, and do in Grey-Bruce.  Visitors come from around the world to enjoy the bounty of adventures in our playground.  Grey-Bruce Adventours encourages you to get outside, and appreciate our cultural, and natural heritage.  If I can be of service in guiding your adventures, let me know.  Sandra J: howesandraj@gmail.com  Have fun!!!

Colour Angel Stone at Labyrinth Peace Garden

The Labyrinth

Historic Centre for the Arts

Kincardine Marina Run by Yacht Club

Beautiful Lighthouse Contains Museum

Shipwreck Remains at Station Beach

Renowned Sunsets

Treasure Hunting on Misty Beach

Explore Tobermory

Grey-Bruce Adventours: Tobermory

By Sandra J. Howe for MOSAIC, May/13

Tobermory wakes up from its sleepy, off-season state to a lively, harbour town in May. The ChiCheemaun, and other boat tours resume their excursions, and are a great way to explore the islands, and shipwrecks of these crystal, clear waters.  Since childhood camping trips to Cypress Lake, Tobermory has been a favourite destination of mine.  Be sure to drive all the way to road’s end at Big Tub Lighthouse.  Built in 1885, it is looking fine in a new coat of paint, thanks to the Spruce the Bruce program. 

The Bruce Peninsula Orchid Festival (www.orchidfest.ca) runs May 31 to June 2, highlighting the abundance, and beauty of our native orchids.  Talks, walks, and workshops for the whole family invite active participation, and learning.  Some activities take place at the Parks Canada Visitors’ Centre.  Did you climb the Lookout Tower for spectacular island views?  The Bruce Trail also passes through, offering a light stroll into Tobermory, or a rigorous workout along the Niagara Escarpment.

Tobermory, named for a seaside village in Scotland, has a fascinating mix of tourist, beach, and wilderness outfitter shops.  Plus eateries ranging from fresh, local whitefish to wood-fired oven pizza to tasty, fruit smoothies.  Walking the compact downtown is a sensory adventure- children feeding ducks in Little Tub Harbour, boats from kayaks to yachts, art galleries, fish frying, fresh fudge in the making-its all here!

My favourite stops include the Reader’s Haven Book Store (www.readershaven.ca) for what’s new to read, gourmet popcorn, and a chat with Susan.  A Mermaid’s Secret Boutique (www.amermaidssecret.com) offers fun, and funky handcrafted clothing, and accessories, and is expanding their local Native clothing, and craft selection this year; Janet is an adventurer with a deep commitment to supporting fair-trade initiatives. The KukuHut (www.kukuhut.com) imports hand-crafted, ecologically-sourced gifts from Africa; Amanda shares powerful stories of the people who craft these goods. I always finish with ice cream at The Sweet Shop ( www.sweetshop.ca ).

Happy spring adventures to you from Grey-Bruce Adventours!  For more trip ideas, visit my blog at www.howesandraj.blogspot.com .

 

Big Tub Lighthouse

Janet English at A Mermaid's Secret

Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchids

Beauty of Rocks and Water!

Little Tub Harbour in downtown Tobermory

Don't miss lunch- Delicious!!!

Bruce Trail North Terminus

Yummy fudge at Sweet Shop

My Dad after Ice Cream

The Big Canoe.  Try a round-trip to Manitoulin Island for Scenic Touring