First Ramble of the Year

Spring has sprung! Tomorrow (Sunday) is the first Sunday Ramble on the Rail Trail of the season. We ramble every Sunday throughout April and May, while ATV's are not able to use the trail. We vary in size from 10 to 35 people each Sunday that show up, free of charge, to take a stroll. Each week we start from a different point in the trail, so we can see all the trail has to offer. It is a lot of fun for sauntering, walking or speed walking - whatever the pace! Tomorrow we leave from the Rails End Gallery on York Street in Haliburton, at 11am. For those that work up an appetite, several plan to return to McKeck's Restaurant after the walk for lunch. For a schedule of events you can email me at terry@remaxhaliburton.com or check the organization's website - www.friendsoftherailtrail.com . I will post some photos this week of tomorrow's walk!

Rail Trail Events

Friends of the Rail Trail has big plans this year! We are continuing with our Sunday Rambles along the trail through April and May. Last year we held a luncheon at Camp Wanakita after one of the rambles and at the luncheon we provided a history of the community of Donald - it was it's 101st anniversary. This year we are going to do the same thing but provide a history of the ghost town of Gelert! The date is in April - I will post a complete list of event dates within the next few days! Another VERY exciting event is our first ever End-to-End. In October we shall host an event where people can, over a two-day period, challenge themselves to walk from one end of the trail (Haliburton), to the other end (Kinmount). Now remember, this is a completely level walking trail - ready for participants of all ages and abilities! Take a full two days and do it in stages, or do it one and challenge yourself. Bring the kids, the dogs, make it an annual event! For those travelling to the area to participate, we are in the midst of working with two local providers to provide inexpensive accommodation packages. Another HUGHE project by FoRt is a new trail map for Haliburton County - the first of it's kind. The map will cover trails of all kinds, from short walking trails to major hikes and will cover all corners of the County! It will be a must-have for anyone visiting our beautiful area. It will also cover items such as the locations of museums, parks, mountain biking, the Wolf Centre......the list goes on!

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?

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.

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!