Sat, Jul 21 2007 - Lynde Shores & Herber Down Conservation Areas (View Original Event Details)
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I got the feeling that most of the attendees welcomed the relatively short drive to both of our destinations. Most people I talked to said that it was great to get out into nature, and that they didn't miss the usual long drives which take place on most out-of-Toronto trips.
Within 35 minutes we were at our first stop, Lynde Shores Conservation area. I dealt with all of the paperwork donations, and carpool money, so we could all enjoy the rest of the days' activities carefree. We started to hike the trail through an old farm field and we saw a female deer cross the path in front of us. Not bad for a few minutes into our day.
We continued on and walked along the beach along Lake Ontario. We came across a professional bird watcher and his gear staked out near the wetland observation deck. He pointed out a few birds to the novices, including a large Heron. We finished hiking the trail and then packed back into the vehicles to head to our next destination.
After arriving at Herber Down Conservation Area, we spent a while looking for the start of the first trail. We eventually found it, a fence had been built in front of the entrance, no signage was noted and we began. We found all of the boardwalks on this trail had been removed, and when we exited at the other side of the trail we found a paper sign stating "trail closed for maintenance." Now they tell us...
The trail, a little vague at times and with few markings, led us though an abandoned camp ground, past the concrete bases of a once expansive railway trestle bridge, around a small pond, around a gravel pit, and by a model airplane fly zone. We visited an observation deck that gave us a good look at a wheat field, and the power line towers marching across the landscape.
At about noon we had finished hiking the trails and we sat down at the picnic benches for well deserved lunches and conversation. After that we all called it a day and headed back into Toronto.
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.