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!