Bridge out over East Humber River

Photos by Barry Wallace

Part of Humber Trails is closed

If you haven't been a regular visitor to Humber Trails Conservation Area this winter, then you're in for a bit of a surprise.   The bridge over the Humber, at the halfway mark on the property was substantially damaged this winter and the bridge, and the remainder of the trail beyond, are closed to pedestrian traffic.   While the bridge did not collapse completely into the river, it would appear a complete replacement is probably the solution.

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Barry Wallace

Maple Syrup sap by the barrel

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Maple syrup-making is upon us throughout many forests, lane ways and backyards in King.   Pots hanging on trees have sprung up everywhere.   The maple forest pictured above and below, on the south side of King City, is a little different in that the sap is collected by hoses and stored in barrels.   The entire woodlot is on an incline and slopes towards its south-west corner.   Gravity does all the work of getting the sap to the barrels for collection, by the sap-maker.   The sap is then transported to the nearby syrup-making site.   A highly efficient operation, indeed.    

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Barry Wallace

Daughter's novel hits bookstores

My younger daughter's first paperback print book, entitled SKINNY DIPPING WITH MURDER hit bookstores on March 1st.   It is the first of three books she has written in the 'cozy mystery' genre.   Local booksellers include Walmart, Chapters, Indigo, Coles, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Book City.   The book is also already in many libraries in Canada and the U.S.  The second book in the series is called PUMPKIN PICKING WITH MURDER which will be published on August 30th of this year, followed by the third in the series to be published in early 2017.   Publisher for all three books is St. Martin's Press/MacMillan Publishing.   Two online books have preceded the three cozy mystery books.   They were published by Harlequin and are entitled SIDEKICK and SIDEKICK REVISITED.   Both are in the 'urban fantasy' genre.   Auralee was born and raised in King City and attended King City Secondary School, Guelph and York Universities.   She has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a Masters in English literature. 

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Barry Wallace

Spotted at Humber Trails...

 Photo by Barry Wallace

An Australian Shepard named Maple

With just a week to go 'til spring there was anticipation in the air at Humber Trails Conservation Area on the Mill Road, south of the King Road on Sunday.   Above,   this beautiful Australian Shepard (or Australian Sheep Dog) was on a ramble with its owners, the Dobsons, well-known King Township and Nobleton-area residents.   Just for the record, this breed was not developed in Australia, but rather on ranches in the western United States in the early 1800s.   Below are other shots of Humber Trails where winter has faded and the new season beckons. 

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Barry Wallace

Prairie views

                                                                                                                      Photos by Diane Wallace

My oldest sister, Diane, is currently on a sabbatical-type leave in southern Alberta and has re-embraced her lifelong interest in photography.   Pictured here are a couple of scenes that caught her eye recently.

My recent heart surgery is behind me now and I am able to get out and take pictures again.   I really forward to filling this space with the face of this place we call King.

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Barry Wallace

New signs at Kettleby Cemetery

Two new signs have appeared at the Kettleby Cemetery recently.   The larger of the two (near the main entrance) warns that the driveway is not maintained January 1 to March 31.   It advises using the driveway at your own risk or parking at the bottom and walking up.   The driveway is uphill from bottom to top.   For the adventurous, or anyone with a 4-wheel drive vehicle, the cemetery driveway can be regarded as one of the better local, winter,  auto hill-climbs in the area, especially when it is ice-covered.   Once starting up, the way is narrow, with no turning around.   Backing down is definitely not for the faint-of-heart.   At the top of the cemetery, the driveway forms a large loop and one heads back down the same way you went up.   In winter, pay your respects at the funeral home and visit the cemetery in the spring.   You have been warned.   Many have learned the hard way.   The second sign, by the way, is about halfway up the hill and concerns much more mundane matters regarding cemetery rules.   If you're on ice, don't stop to read it!

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Barry Wallace

Spring arrives in 10 days

                                                                                                                                                  Photos by Barry Wallace

Trumpeter Swans herald new season

A pair of Trumpeter Swans has landed on the pond, in the field, on the north-west corner of Weston Road and and the 16th Sideroad.   Will they stay or are they en route further north.   It's only a few years ago that this pond did not exist but slight depressions in the field and ongoing wet conditions combined to create a pond that now flourishes with ducks, geese, herons, songbirds such as Red-winged Blackbirds, and now swans perhaps.   Muskrats are a regular feature now also.

It's been my experience that while Canada Geese can seem quite normal when picking nesting sites, many others seem to decide to set up housekeeping wherever their flights happen to land. It can be in the middle of a busy park (or even a parking lot, for that matter), on a roof-top, atop a muskrat den...wherever.   And once eggs are laid, well forget about ever seeing the nest abandoned.   Just steer clear.   The geese above are on the Love pond, at the 7th Concession and the 16th Sideroad.

Also on the 17th, near The Oak Ridges Trail, is a small pond that has almost thawed, and which by June or July will likely show its ephemerality and disappear, until a wet fall.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace