I am a born-and-bred urbanite. I have spent most of my life living in Canada’s largest city. A city that, in my lifetime, has grown to almost six million people when you take the suburbs into account. Although we have many parks, a wonderful waterfront, and a vast ravine system, most of my rambling is done on concrete.
Three years ago, my partner Brian and I bought a modest cottage with my sister and her husband. It is three hours north of Toronto in what is known as the Near North in central Ontario.
There is a lot of very accessible wilderness close to where our cottage is, and we take advantage of the trails whenever we can. My dog Odin really appreciates that.
This area, known as the Almaguin Highlands, is large. It is divided into three sections: South, Central, and North Almaguin. Our cottage is in the southern section, but Brian and I have driven to and rambled in all three sections. We encounter numerous lakes, rivers, and creeks when walking through the woods.
Depending on the season, we have come across creatures both big and small, like deer, black bears, porcupines, turtles, Beaver, otters, squirrels, chipmunks, eagles, falcons, wild turkeys, turkey vultures, grouse, and blue jays. We have yet to see a moose, but my brother-in-law has, so that counts, doesn't it?
In spring, the wildflowers are everywhere. I especially love the lupines that abound along the side of the road. They are a riot of purple and pink. The Trillium is Ontario’s provincial flower. They are exceptional and blanket the ground in early spring. They are predominantly white but can also be a deep red and a light pink.
Other flowers, such as Daylilies, Coneflowers (echinacea), Black-eyed Susans, Ferns, Lilies-of-the-valley, and milkweed, bloom throughout the spring and summer, lending color and pollen to an otherwise very green landscape.
In the early autumn, fungi are everywhere. We have even spotted chanterelles, which are a delicacy, although I have been too afraid to pick them, just in case I’m wrong.
The Great Canadian Shield is the world’s largest rock formation. The Shield stretches north from the Great Lakes to the Arctic Ocean, covering over half of Canada and most of Greenland; it also extends south into the northern reaches of the United States. In many cases, there is only a very thin layer of soil over the top, with much of the rock exposed.
The exposed Shield rock is one of the things that I love most about this area. Veins are running through the rocks that reveal many different colors and textures, giving the landscape around here a special feel.
Another thing you will see around this part of Ontario and many other places around Canada is what’s known as glacial erratics. A glacial erratic is a rock, or cluster of rocks, that was picked up, carried away, and deposited elsewhere.
Generally, the glacial erratic is different from the bedrock rock on which the erratic sits. It is a foreign rock that normally does not come from the immediate area. The erratic was transported from some other place, and they look out-of-place. Brian and I found a very interesting one this autumn when we left the trail to go deeper into the woods that we now consider “our rock.”
Beyond the nature that abounds in this area, there are lovely, charming towns and villages, like Parry Sound, Dunchurch, Magnetawan, South River, Sundridge, and North Bay.
This region is steeped in Ontario's logging, trapping, and mining history. Towns and villages that used to be more significant hubs when these industries thrived 100+ years ago are now smaller and struggling. Their populations have dwindled, but there is still much to appreciate about them.
Many artists and artisans live in these parts, and the people I’ve met exude a deep sense of community and resourcefulness.
Microbreweries, specialty shops, and art galleries are popping up here and there. I have also met many transplants from larger urban centers looking for a quieter, more peaceful existence away from the chaos.
To say that I love rambling around these parts would be an understatement. I have only scraped the surface of what it has to offer. Each year, we explore more. My goal is to become more knowledgeable about the trails, towns, shops, and restaurants to share the beauty with those who visit us and this lovely region.
READ MORE > Ramble Logs, Rambler Cafe Newsletter
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