Community Halls

I am on a roll! Two blogs in one night! For those wondering how the efforts to save our community halls is going - a presentation has been officially forwarded for the new municipal council to review. A couple of the new council members that have been elected are compassionate of our cause and hopefully, supporters, and one who was definitely against keeping our Halls open, was not re-elected. So we are cautiously optimistic. Irondale, Lochlin and Gelert all have active community Halls worth saving and as a collective group we are going to do what we can to accomplish this. Many people have stopped me on the street, in the grocery store, and I have even had a couple of phone calls. People care and want updates and if anyone wishes a copy of the proposal that went to council, please feel free to contact me by phone or by email - carr2211@gmail.com and I would be happy to send a pdf of the report.

FoRT update

What a wonderful day! Even though it is now November, the grey, brisk, but comfortable weather made for a perfect outing in the bush! Friends of the Rail Trail hosted a lovely walk through the forest just outside of Haliburton. It was not a long walk, but this time of year you can see so far through the bush it is absolutely magical. At one point, one of our members noticed a fungus high in a birch tree (sorry cannot remember the name - starts with sh....), that she collects to make a form of tea. When she attempted to grab a stick to knock it down, one of the 4 dogs that came on the walk, Possum, thought that was his cue to wrestle that stick to the ground! Margaret was unsuccessful in her collection as Possum was not sharing the stick! The dogs ran full speed as if they were children let loose in the coolest playground ever and never wore out, even during our fabulous pot luck lunch afterward. The pot luck was held in a lovingly restored pioneer cabin and there was tonnes of food! The best part is the company - a great cross-section of people, relaxed and enjoying a Sunday afternoon.

When the walk and food were completed, we had an "ad hoc" meeting, asking attendees what they would like to see Friends of the Rail Trail do for 2011 and there were some great ideas. Along with the incredibly popular Sunday rambles along the trail throughout April and May, suggestions included a hike to a beautiful Falls (that I did not know existed!), located between Tory Hill and Gooderham; a hike on the old Hwy. 60 trail in Highlands East; a hike from Wilberforce on the old IB&O railway; another "Dark Skies" event (last year's had 70 attendees!); and the most exciting - an "end to end" event, held over 2 days where people are encouraged to complete the whole County trail from Haliburton to Kinmount. Apparently, other rail trails have held this event, quite successfully, and the concept intrigues me! Lots of great ideas - lots of enthusiasm, now we just need volunteers to help! Any takers?

Public Hall Meeting

How exciting! I have received my first comment from a blog. Someone reads this! Thank you to the person who commented on our walk at Crests of Kennisis - I do not blame you for loving your cottage. I am a local, so know well the ups and downs of the river and what a great place it is for tubing. This spring was quite disappointing for many, I am sure, with little to no water in the rivers. The river through there is usually rushing wildly, but this year it was almost a mud bog with no spring runoff from winter. It was great to see the water levels return to normal the week before July 1! Thank you for your comments, and I will keep an eye out for your dog "River", in the river!

Last Wednesday there was a community meeting at the Gelert Hall for members of Lochlin, Irondale and Gelert. The meeting went well, although I truly hoped for more attendance from younger age groups - the Halls' futures depend on these people and their participation. But hopefully media attention and follow-up and discussion from the meetings will get the word out to them. The County Voice and the Minden Times were in attendance and I look forward to their write-ups. Lots of ideas came forward and lots of concerns. How do we get the word out that these halls mean a lot to their communities? People shared their concerns, frustrations, and ideas. The presentation for the new council on the halls will be completed over the next week or so and any public members who wish a copy are welcome to contact me and I would be happy to send it to them. With a fast-paced, ever-changing world, one this will always be important - community. These halls are the centres of those communities and we need to pass on community involvement and spirit to our children - lets keep them open!

Circuit of 5 Viewpoints Trail

Last Sunday Christine and I explored the Circuit of 5 Viewpoints Trail, at the end of Little Hawk Lake Road. We didn't go far as Christine had to get back to North Bay, but it was a beautiful day. With just a touch of colour on the trees, and a warm breeze, it was the perfect day for an excursion. The expanse at one of the view points was breathtaking. I felt like I was on top of the world. We didn't just notice the view that day, with leaves starting to turn bright, there was also an abundance of growth on the forest floor - bright red and bright yellow mushrooms and other forms of fungi. Primary colours were everywhere - is it my imagination or are there way more varieties than when I was a child? As a young Gelert girl I spent a lot of time in the bush and I do not remember the sights that you see today.

After our walk, we went to the waterfront at Little Hawk Lake, where there was an abundance of colour of a different sort. Many boats of different shapes, colours and sizes dotted the docks and one boat was unloading as a family with a water-access cottage took home their belongings - even a large plant was brought by boat. It must be quite an experience to own a water-access cottage. There are many in our County - lakes such as Hawk and Little Hawk, Redstone, Drag, Kennisis, Red Pine, Kushog.......and the list goes on! It looked like the family that were unloading the boat were unloading not just for the weekend, but for the season. Perhaps they will have a couple more visits before winter?

It was a fabulous day and difficult to leave the beautiful scenery and nice weather for the drive to North Bay to deliver Christine back to school! I am hoping for an exquisite October for more adventures.....

Our Community Halls

Three community halls within the township of Minden Hills are in jeopardy over the next two years of being closed - Irondale, Lochlin and Gelert. It is a complex issue of budget, maintenance, compliance and liability. Since the townships amalgamated, each hall has worked hard at being self-sufficient, to a great degree. Each hall has it's own board, it's own bank account, and it's own fundraisers. Currently, the municipality covers the halls under it's blanket municipal insurance policy, cuts the grass and maintains the driveways. The communities pay for heat and hydro and any improvements they may wish for. I grew up in one of these communities. From the outside observer, they seem to be old buildings that serve an ever-dwindling population, but look carefully, and you will learn that these are special places that keep these communities alive - they provide community dinners (spaghetti, St. Patrick's Day, socials); they keep the local bridge games going, offer meeting space for small non-profit groups and interest groups, supply parties for the children at Halloween and Christmas, local wedding and baby showers, and the list goes on and on and on......

No, they are not used as much as they once were - but that is about to change, for many reasons! Everything in life is cyclicle. What was once old is new again. Lifestyles are changing, people are jumping off their roller coasters and becoming more community-minded. They are eating and living better, small farms are becoming more popular as people want fresh foods once again, they are teaching their children to be involved too - all very good things. With improved transportation and roads, people no longer care about living "in town" or "way out there". These communities are becoming, once again, a great place to live!

Now is the time to help councillors understand the importance these halls carry. The memories they create for the children, the ability to make "signs on a road" represent a village, rather than a cluster of homes. It is time for the 3 communities to work together as one to get attention. A presentation has been created (still in development) that will serve 2 purposes: one, it will be used by each community as a starting point to beefing their usage of the Halls, with ideas of ways they can be used in the future; the second, is for local councillors - so they can better understand what these halls are to the local population.

Did you know it is incredibly inexpensive to rent these halls for an afternoon or evening? Depending on the hall, between $35 to $75, depending on whether you need it for a couple of hours, a full day, and if you need the kitchen. They offer a place for reunions, anniversary/birthday parties - you name it!

If you have any ideas or comments regarding the future use of the Halls, I would love to hear them. If you would like a copy of the presentation package, please let me know - it can be forwarded in pdf format. My email is carr2211@gmail.com

Our community halls - not just buildings!

I'm Back!

Where has summer gone? A busy season at work, along with a move, has put a crimp in my blogging! But as the seasons change, I must catch up. The real estate market has been "interesting" in the Highlands this Spring and Summer - the residential market has been ominously quiet, to the chagrin of sellers, but cottage sales have been steady but not exciting. There was an abundance of listings this Spring which slowed down buyers as they found it hard to make a decision, and many never bought in the end! But Fall promises to be a busy one as people get back to their lives and realize they still want that perfect cottage - we are also optimistic that the residential market will pick up.

York Street in Haliburton (the "back" street) that has the Rails' End Gallery, entrance to the park, the Lilly Anne and the brand new, beautiful Library, has become complete chaos this week as it undergoes a face lift. Although the official start date is September 7, workers got a head start this week and parking in the town is now at a premium. The construction is to last into November as we receive new sidewalks and curbs to make the back street more user friendly and more an extension of the main street, upgraded sewers, new paving, etc. - it will also make the street safer for the many visitors that cross that busy curb to get to the park and the gallery! It will be a tough couple of months but I am looking forward to seeing the end results!

For those Kushog Lake cottagers - did you see the news last week? The boat launch and access point by Noah's Landing is being closed permanently this month by the MNR. They will be erecting a gate and closing off a great spot where the public has traditionally put in their boats, canoes and kayaks and even taken a swim or two. It is a shame but they are obligated to deal with the illegal use as they have received a complaint by a member of the public. There is also docking there for water-access-only cottagers on the far side who will now have to make other arrangements.

On Wednesday I attended a meeting at the Minden Arena where the public are being asked for their "vision" for recreational facilities and programmes in Minden Hills over the next 15 years. Where are we going - what are we lacking? It is all part of the municipalities strategic planning to meet the public's needs. There is another meeting in the evening on September 13. You are asked to fill in questionnaires and you also participate in group discussions - I enjoyed it! Of course I was there wearing my "Friends of the Rail Trail" hat, my "Save the Gelert Hall" hat, AND my "we desperately need an indoor pool" hat! I will be preparing a proposal to council regarding the Gelert Hall and it's future possible uses, which I believe will also tie into our vision for an enhanced Rail Trail. Wish me luck - and if anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please let me know! The Gelert, Lochlin and Irondale Community Halls are all slated for closer in the future, which will finish off these all-but-ghost towns - it will plummet real estate values even more, and be the final act in the disintegration of these communities.

Well - enough of my ramblings for today! Lots to catch up on, but not all at once - no need to put anyone to sleep!

Hike at Crests of Kennisis Trail

Well, today could not be missed! No rain, beautiful sun but not too hot! John and I took advantage of the day and decided to go for a hike. We headed out to the historic log chute between Hall's Lake and Hawk Lake (see winter photos in a previous blog), and had lunch at a picnic table. The water levels in the area this year are astoundingly low, and the Kennisis River between the lakes - which is usually fast moving, loud and beautiful, was rocks and mud in a lot of places. It was truly quite sad - no kids are tubing into Hall's Lake this year! After lunch we crossed the dam and headed along the "Crests of Kennisis Trail" - a 5km trail (up hill both ways - or so it seemed!) that leads you up and along a ridge high above the Kennisis River. As it was our first hike of the season, and we are not seasoned hikers, we didn't make it all the way, but we did make it to the first viewing point, past the beaver pond. It was spectacular and took about 45 minutes to get there. We then swung our exhausted bodies around and headed back. Lots of mosquitoes, lots of sunshine and an incredibly peaceful, beautiful forest. Sometimes we had to just stop and listen to the silence - an extraordinary day! I wonder what trail we shall try next????

Friends of Rail Trail AGM

This Sunday evening I attended the first ever AGM for Friends of the Rail Trail. It was well-attended and held in our Chairpersons home, Pamela Marsales. Pamela reported on the past year's activities, including Sunday Rambles, education, access, nature and history. One key factor this year is the group's impact on local business. The report listed how many local businesses and organizations were affected by post-walk luncheons, visits by participants to art studios, farms, and non-profit locations. It was an impressive list and membership with FoRT is also growing substantially, with $5.00 per person being the deal of a life time! There are some great upcoming events, including a canoe trip/lunch along the Burnt River (July 13th) - FREE! I will post a complete list of upcoming events within the next few days.

Wild About Nature Gala

Friday, May 28 I got to go to my first ever Gala! The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust held it's annual Gala - a fundraising event to support the Trust, and an opportunity to celebrate Haliburton County's "Enviro-Heroes". The evening was titled "Wild About Nature". Money was raised through silent auctions, raffles and a loonie auction and the Minden Community Centre was packed! There was a fabulous buffet catered by Bonnie View Inn and The Wild Orchid. There were five awards given. Under the section of Business - The Haliburton Highlands Water Trails was recognized for "developing a set of far-reaching education, outreach and stewardship initiatives". Under Education, the Haliburton-Muskoka Children's Water Festival and Friends of Ecological and Environmental Learning were rewarded. In Stewardship, Jerry Walker, a well-known Haliburton County man and business man was noted for his extensive work with Ducks Unlimited and tireless efforts mapping and identifying wetlands in Haliburton County. In the section of Arts, Mary Anne Barkhouse and Michael Belmore, local yet far known multi-disciplinary artists were awarded. Their work has been and is being displayed in museums such as The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, Toronto Sculpture Garden, University of Western Ontario and The Smithsonian's National Museum of the America Indian. For the division of Health, Sue Shikaze won for her vision and dedication to projects such as Share the Road, and the cycling coalition. Sue's vision for a healthy and active community is pushing us forward!

It was a great evening and I wish I had attended before! Good music, good food - great people! It was very inspiring to get to meet even more of Haliburton County's extraordinary human resources!

Red Pine Lake

The long weekend was incredible! On Monday we went on our next excursion. With over 600 lakes in Haliburton County, there are not a lot I haven't been to yet, but Red Pine Lake was one! As a water-access only lake, the opportunity to see the lake is limited, so Christine and I loaded up our friends' canoe and off we went. North West of Kennisis Lake, it took 40 minutes from West Guilford by car, with the road ending at a boat launch at the dam between Kennisis Lake and the river. Lots of room for parking as there are several water-access cottages on the lake. We met a lady at the dock who said the lake has a fabulous sand beach for swimming, so we hoped to discover it! The river was surprising - there were several areas that were narrow and shallow, lots of driftwood, and you could see the bass swimming under the canoe. But there were also lots of quite wide spots with very deep water. The river was quite calm, so it was easy paddling. Once in a while we headed close to shore as weekend cottagers passed in their boats, heading home for the week. There is a sand bar as you get close to the lake which prevents boat travel in early spring and late fall, but the water is higher now and we had no problem. Arriving at the lake, we were taken back by how large the lake is. There are several small islands, a lot of beautiful rock outcroppings and downright stunning. By the time we got up the river, our time was running low (we should have left way earlier in the day!), so we headed for an island, rolled up our pants and enjoyed the water. It was so relaxing it was very hard to leave! Red Pine Lake is one of several hidden gems in the County....we are so lucky to have such fabulous lakes that provide the best canoeing and kayaking one could ask for. We didn't make it around the lake, it was too large, we were too tired, and the day was running short, but have vowed to make a full day of it. There are a few campsites on the lake for the public - as long as you purchase a permit, and we may attempt an overnight stay so we can find the beach and explore all the nooks and crannies the lake has to offer! I found out today from a colleague that the beach is on the far side, where most of the cottages are located so next time we bring our bathing suits!!

I am catching up on blogs - so many things to talk about as the Long Weekend approaches! Town is humming, there are already lots of extra people on the streets, and in real estate - we are working day and night! I love the excitement of the first long weekend of the season - promise of boating, canoeing, hiking, fairs, craft sales, and special events! I am getting excited to attend my first Haliburton Highlands Land Trust Gala on May 28 - I even bought a new dress! This amazing group of volunteers work to preserve our natural areas through donations of land and awareness programmes. At the Gala they award Enviro Heroes each year for their outstanding efforts in protecting our environment. And as a proud Haliburtonian, I love that there seems to be a large list of people to choose from each year for the award!

The Sunday Rambles on different parts of our Rail Trail continue to be a huge success this year! Last Sunday they had a special event after the walk in Donald, with a lunch held at Camp Wanakita, and a presentation prepared by Ute Wright of Friends of the Rail Trail. Ute provided an interesting history of the community of Donald - one of many of our small communities that was once a "hub" of activity with a very rich beginning. I could not make it but have heard nothing but great kudo for the lunch and Ute's presentation. Great job! I hope we can target another community next year such as Gelert or Tory Hill.  The upcoming walk on the long weekend will be in Kinmount (May 23 - 11:00). The walk will start at the Kinmount Railway Station and heads out to Joe's Black Rock. Check out the model railway station while you are there, and if you'd like, join other walkers with a bag lunch afterward at the Kinmount Community Hall above the Artisan's Marketplace.

Well, a broken finger has slowed down my blogging - it is an akward experience, but a flyer in the mail has inspired me to push through! While I sit with my morning coffee, I notice an adorable little catalogue that was in the Echo newspaper this week called "menu". The full title is The Highlands Menu - so I got really excited. We have some fantastic places to eat, and they are spread out all over the County! The booklet is beautifully produced, great graphics and lovely design, but alas, I was disappointed. It truly is a Haliburton restaurant book, not a Highlands book - the name is very deceiving. The only restaurant highlighted outside of the main town of Haliburton is Rhubarb - we have soooooo much more to offer! There is the Algonquin Cookhouse in Harcourt - a bit of a drive to the eastern townships, but a real treat. There is The Peppermill on Hwy. 35 near Carnarvon, Grill on the Gull - a great bistro in Minden, and the list goes on! How about a fabulous meal at BonnieView Inn on their outdoor patio? Sir Sam's Inn? The Chamber of Commerce has a list of restaurants that visitors can pick up, either at the Information Centre on Hwy. 35 in Minden, or in Haliburton, but so many do not think to stop there. Here is a challenge for someone - create a great brochure of every eatery in the County! Complete with a map - link it with some local parks, rivers, places to see, so people can make a lunch or dinner jaunt! There is so much to explore!

Changes in Tourism

I was quite interested reading an article in The Haliburton County Echo this week regarding how tourism is changing and how the County needs to recognize this. Are we adapting? You bet! We are very lucky that we live in a County that is made for active tourists. The article spoke of tourists wanting activities when at the cottage and how we need to brag more about what we have to offer. Wow - can we brag! Another article on page 32 of The Echo (a short article at the top of the page) notes how Sunday Ramblers have doubled this year from last. As a member of the Friends of the Rail Trail I know exactly why this is happening. It is not one single reason. 1. The committee has some great volunteers determined to get the word out and promote these free Sunday events; 2. We were able to secure some funding and received assistance from a local printer to create great brochures - placed everywhere in the County; 3. People love something free to do; 4. People are simply more active than they used to be! Walking, hiking, cycling, canoeing, kayaking is now for everyone - every age, every fitness level, every level of pocket book. The change in the air is electric and Haliburton County has loads to offer! From organized Outdoor Adventure tours for a bigger challenge to meandering rivers, to lovely trails for the whole family. I LOVE IT. Being a person of "significant size" (code word for overweight) myself, and a lover of nature and the outdoors, I am first-hand proof that everyone wants in to this new life style. I agree with the writeup in The Echo this week - this is a new way of life that people are embracing - not just in tourism, but for residents and The County has an opportunity to put our County in the forefront of a new way of living that is here to stay.

Exciting News!

Wow - I have two announcements today!
1. The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust has received a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation for $91,500 over 3 years to hire staff who will increase the organization's capacity to carry out its mission to protect the natural heritage of Haliburton County. That is incredible news and well deserved of a very hard working and committed group of volunteers. Congratulations everyone!
2. HCDC (Haliburton County Development Corporation) announced yesterday that they are providing a grant of $1,700 to FoRT (Friends of the Rail Trail) to assist the group in costs associated with promoting their Rambles programs and developing a website. This is a huge boost to a very small group and on behalf of the Executive - thank you so much HCDC!!

For those wondering how Haliburton County is coming with Spring - it has been rolling along at breakneck speed! Buds are just starting to appear but once they start, it doesn't take long for trees to take on that beautiful lime fresh green they have in Spring time. It is so exciting to watch everything come to life again - I never want to go inside! I cannot believe how early boats have been going into the lakes this year! I was out at Boshkung Lake the other day and there was a line up at the boat launch - unheard of in April. If predictions come true, there will be a lot of beach and boat time this summer. We sure deserve it after the cool, wet summer last year! 600 lakes and counting.....no better place to be!

Friends of Rail Trail Update and Head Lake Park

Our second Rambles on Sunday set ANOTHER record! Over 50 people took part in a walk that left from Sedgwick Farm in Gelert. The response to this programme is phenomenol. Today Pamela Marsalles and myself pre-taped an interview with CANOE FM that will be played on April 30. I talked too much and they have to do some editing to fit it in the time slot - imagine that!

On a different note, kudos to Dysart Council for the announcement in last week's paper that they have been successful in receiving a $1.1 million grant for improvements to Downtown Haliburton. Effective almost immediately, work will be done around the Cenetaph area at the West end of Highland Street to open it up and parking, sidewalks, walkways, etc. on York Street (behind Highland Street) will be re-configured giving a more pleasing area around the Rails' End Gallery and 4C's area. The addition of the new library beside the 4C's has been great and these addition changes will definitely be exciting. As a local "walker", there is nothing better than going for a walk around Head Lake in the evening, and anything that makes an already pretty area even better is welcome!

What a fabulous day yesterday for our first Rambles of the season! The weather was perfect. We headed out at 11:30 from Rails' End Gallery and followed the rail trail to Barnum Lake and back. 27 people came out - from children to seniors. The dogs had a great time too! Some people had cameras and although there was no greenery yet or many birds to spot, the walk was simply refreshing after a long winter! Next Sunday (April 11) we head out from Sedgwick Farm in Gelert at 11:00 am. To get there take County Rd. 1 (Gelert Rd.) to the hamlet of Gelert. On the left is Sedgwick Road - follow until you cross the bridge - immediately across the bridge there is a sharp fork to the right and the farm is right at the Y in the road. After, for those who wish, we shall meet at the Wintergreen Pancake Barn in Gelert to enjoy some fabulous food! See you there!

Busy Spring!

Happy Easter! What a busy Spring it has been....the real estate season definitely started early this year and we are getting into seasonal properties earlier than ever. Marilyn (my colleague) and I were at the Toronto Cottage Life Show on the weekend. We had the Friday evening shift which was quiet but agents that attended on Saturday said it was great! We had collages of all our listings displayed and know that several of our past clients attended the show and enjoyed it.

This Sunday is the first "Ramble" of the season. Everyone meets at 11:30 at the Rails End Gallery in Haliburton. Departure for this week only will be at Noon. So take a look at the exhibits and say hello to everyone! For those who wish a chance to socialize and unwind afterward, we will convene at McKecks - The Blue Line for lunch. If you haven't been since the big renovations, come check it out (even if you miss the walk) - the more the merrier!

For those who know my family (don't wish to bore anyone!).....our daughter Shannon is doing fabulous in Australia. School is going well - she is finding the Masters' programme there easier than the Honours programme here (weird eh?) and she is working hard at a Cafe, plus has a casual position at a Thai Restaurant (they needed someone who could speak Thai and English). Our other daughter, Christine, was invited to speak at a conference at Nipissing last weekend to present her research. She received an award for Excellence in Research and we are incredibly proud of her! She is about to move out of residence and into her first apartment next week and just got her official acceptance at Teacher's College, so things are rolling along!

All for now everyone - I need to go sell some real estate! Happy, Happy Easter!

Sunday Rambles this Spring

One thing I do wish to take the time to note to everyone is Sunday Rambles. These are casual walks through April and May on different parts of the Rail Trail and IB&O Rail Trail. The Friends of the Rail Trail committee has been very, very busy delivering brochures all over the County to restaurants, stores, offices, grocery store bulletin boards - anywhere we can find a spot. The walks are casual and aimed at all age groups - they are free, and start at different parts of the trails each week. Many also have an optional place at the end for people to bring a brown bag lunch, or purchase lunch. Dates, times and locations will also be publicized in the Coming Events of the local papers. It's a great way to enjoy some fresh air on a Sunday! I am also going to attempt to create a link or page on my website with dates and times.

Catching Up

Eeegaads! I have been lax on my blogging and my outdoor excursions (unless you count wading through hip-deep soft snow to price acreage properties) - the Toronto Cottage Life Show is coming up on March 26, 27 and 28 and it creates a busy time for me in real estate. The goal is to get listings in order for the season in time to be advertised in the brochures for the show. This year I am scheduled, along with my colleague, Marilyn Hawley, for Friday night. This is a new time slot for us - most of our past clients go on the Saturday so we will miss seeing everyone, but we are looking forward to meeting the Friday night crowds! After the Show things will settle down a bit again and I will get back to keeping my blog more current!

Friends of the Rail Trail (FoRT)

Here is a photo of the 2009/2010 Executive for FoRT - a group committed to promoting the use of the County's Rail Trail for hiking, cycling, group outings and it's historical value and corridor to nature. At our last meeting in February, we finalized the brochure for the Rambles walks throughout the Spring - these are great. Each walk starts at a different location on the trail, it is a relaxed pace -just a chance to get out, see a different part of the trail and enjoy! There will be brochures throughout the County at different locations, including our REMAX office in Haliburton, and they will be listed in the Community Events columns of the local papers. The Exec committee consist of (from left to right), Front row: Ute Wright, Secretary; Pamela Marsales, Chair. Back row: Wendy Wilkins, Vice-Chair; and myself, Terry Carr, Treasurer.

Well - another excursion! Christine and I are determined to see as much as we can from a winter perspective! On Wednesday we drove to the Hawk River Log Chute - a log chute that was used by loggers and is still in perfect condition today! There are 3 different spots along Little Hawk Lake Road to pull over and picnic or just enjoy the fast-moving river. It is also a popular spot for tubing into Hall's Lake - you come out near the public beach. We started at the end of the road, but the Hawk Lake Marine and moved down to the dam and log chute. This is also an excellent place to access a couple of the hiking trails in the region - well maintained and marked with a kiosk for information and maps. The weather was gorgeous - warm, but very cloudy and we took our time walking around. As the water rushed from the dam into the log chute there was a neat effect on the side of the chute. The water had created a see-through ice wall where you could see the water rushing behind - something that was impossible to catch on camera. We took 140 photos! The rock face on the far side had incredible growths, ice formations and unlimited photo opps - we could have spent hours there. A funny moment when I started to slip on a trail - grabbed a tree branch, and the tree branch broke - I took the whole branch with me to the bottom of the trail - it seems I have more than enough padding of my own to break the fall! We stopped and took a few photos of Hall's Lake on our way home as the clouds grew darker by the minute.

I am trying to create photo albums at the side of my blog but so far am failing - I have posted a question for help in the discussion forum but no answers yet! In the meantime, here are just a few!

I am soooo confused! My original intent for this blog was an opportunity for my daughter and I to share some of our adventures in Haliburton County and to log our quest to check out every part of it! Now I am finding that as I attend a meeting, visit a show, attend an event, I want to run back and type up what I saw/heard or learned. This is definitely a departure from it's original intent. Since Christine is probably the only one who follows my blog anyway, I guess I might as well continue!

Yesterday I visited the Rails' End Gallery as Sheila Ziman told me there was a show by Joe Smith, a West Guilford photographer and camera collector. I am a lover of photography (my childhood dream was to become a wildlife photographer and work for National Geographic!), and this particular exhibit especially caught my eye as the photographs were done by pinhole cameras. When I was 12 I bought a book on how to develop photographs, and how to make your own camera. I made a pinhole camera with a small caredboard box, and developed the photos in my laundry room! Joe's photos are quite unique, several are in black and white and some are in hues of blue, yellow or red. The pinhole camera gives soft edges and a grainy look to the photograph - you would swear they were taken shortly after photography was first born! To top it off, Joe used local places that are easily recognizable. I travel all over the County as a real estate agent, and I recognized the locations of many of the photos such as the Beech Lake farm house, the Gelert Lambs 'n Ivy/Smokehouse business (a must visit on County Road 1 for all visitors to the area!), and St. Peter's Church at Maple and Beech Lakes - another beautiful place to visit! Yesterday was also the Frost Festival in Haliburton, and as I walked up the steps to the Rails' End Gallery there was an amazing smell - hot apple cider, and I hear the Beaver Tails were excellent!

By the way - if anyone other than Christine is checking out this blog from time to time - please sign up as a follower! It doesn't commit you to anything, it's free, only takes a moment - but it let's me know that once in a while, someone else might be reading!

Yesterday I met with Sheila Ziman and Barrie Martin from the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust to see how I can participate and help the organization. I am going to be doing some database work for them, pulling all their information together and organizing it so they can easily keep in contact with their membership. The goal right now is to get as much done as possible in preparation for their annual Gala in May. It sounds like a long time, but nomination forms for their Enviro-Hero awards must go out soon, then invitations, ....so the push is on! If anyone reading this knows of an indvidual, a couple or a business or organization that could be considered an Enviro-Heroe, please contact them!

Barrie Martin is an intriguing man whom I thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet. Barrie was one of the original organizers of Trails and Tours. He worked for the Frost Centre for many years before taking on the trails and tours challenge. Barrie also currently owns an Outdoor Adventure business where he takes people on organized hiking/camping/cycling/canoeing trips throughout the county. He will even create personalized tours based on a person's interests - a great idea and perfect timing as Haliburton County gets more and more known for it's outdoor quest opportunities! I hope I can help this amazing group, even just a bit!

Tomorrow I am looking forward to a phone call from Sheila Ziman, Chair of the Haliburton County Land Trust. We are going to talk about a way that I may be able to contribute, in a volunteer capacity, to the Land Trust. The HC Land Trust is a non-profit, non-governmental registered charity and it's mission is to protect the natural heritage of Haliburton County for future generations. They have been working on some exciting projects in the past, including the acquisition of an island on Kennisis Lake and just recently, a large re-forested acreage outside of the community of Gelert. Their "species at risk" monitoring programme truly has caught my eye. To find out more info on this group you can check out their website at http://www.haliburtonlandtrust.ca/. I am not sure how I can help with my limited abilities, but am game for any suggestions Sheila may have tomorrow! I also think it would complement my involvement with Friends of the Rail Trail quite nicely.

Ritchie Falls - January 2010

While Christine was home over the Christmas Holidays we couldn't resist some winter photography after a beautiful snowfall. If you haven't been to Ritchie Falls, it is about 10 minutes out of Haliburton off County Road 1 (Gelert Rd.). At the Community of Lochlin, follow Ritchie Falls Road to the end. It was a challenge through the deep snow - not your typical time to see the Falls, but well worth it. It was a freezing cold day, but once we started slogging through the deep snow, we soon forgot how cold it was. Hanging from the bridge was a swing rope that had an amazing ice bell swaying from the bottom. The spray off the rapids had created a perfect "bell" that swung freely - it was quite amazing how it formed. The area was magical - a little tricky at the water's edge as you cannot see the rock ledges and were they end, so we were extra careful. When the snow melts there is lots of great rocks that offer picnic areas or places to peacefully sit and watch the beautiful water rushing by.

Canoe Trip October 2009

Well, my daughter Christine and I have finally started our adventures that we have talked about forever! In October we went on a one-day canoe trip (to break in our skills). First we got a great Water Trails map from the Frost Centre, then we were off! We started at Margaret's Lake, just south of The Leslie Frost Centre on Highway 35. The lake was beautiful - we entered into a bay and headed north through a narrows that became very shallow, but well-marked. As we entered into the larger part of the lake we headed West to find the portage into Little Margaret Lake. We realized later that we did not go far enough into the marshy area, and didn't find the portage, so we came back out and pulled up on a large rock for lunch. It was an incredibly sunny October day and getting warmer by the minute -we couldn't have asked for better! After lunch we headed north again and followed the edge of the lake, circling around to the other side until we found the portage to Dan Lake. As an "older", out-of-shape person, with a borrowed, heavy canoe - this was an experience! The portage was 338 metres in length - not super long, but lots of rocks, roots and twists. Dan Lake is a very small, pretty lake - you start out in a sea of dead trees then open up into the lake. We checked out each provincial campsite along the way and tried not to miss a thing! Next was a portage to McEwen Lake - a short and easy 124 metres. McEwen Lake was gorgeous with some rock cuts and great camping sites. At the far end of the lake we stopped for a break (photos enclosed), checked out the park's "facilities", and headed home the same way we came. The whole trip took about 5 hours. We poked along and didn't rush, but it was a fabulous day! We are mapping out our next route for Spring - looking at the Water Trails map, we have hundreds of trips to take - never duplicating a route!!