Padakun Pages

Saturday 26 September 2015

BLUEBERRY MOUNTAIN WALK, OCTOBER 4

 


Our September KAPPS walk is a Special Event, only partly because its not in September! We will bump the September walk a week forward to October 4 so we can join an important walking and environmental day in this region, the Annual Fall Walk to Blueberry Mountain on Sunday, October 4th, at 9:30 a.m. (rain or shine)

Each year the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT) offers its annual Fall Colours Nature Walk at cliffLAND. Registration for the Nature Walk begins at 9:30 a.m. and a guided, interpretive tour will set out at 10:00 a.m. sharp. A donation of $10 per person (children under 12 are free) will go towards maintaining the Land Trust's protected properties. As usual, refreshments will be served following the hike.

For more on the MMLT and cliffLAND, including a map, go to
http://mmlt.ca/event/fall-colours-nature-walk-on-blueberry-mountain/
For info, call Ray at 433-9405.

Sunday 13 September 2015

DISCOVERING THE CITY SECRETS

In the last few months I've been reading about the modern history of walking in city environments. This walking practice has to do with discovering aspects and subcultures within the city that are either invisible to vehicular traffic or at risk of being erased by urban development. It might seem a stretch to be considering this kind of walking in a small rural town, however that has proven not to be the case.

Over these last few weeks, partly in combination with my Blue-Box Walking,I've discovered two or three secret places in our small town. It's easy to see how people could ignore these places. They're not very well developed, but they clearly provide a getaway for certain citizens of our town. You can call them secret patios,since what they seem to provide is outdoor social space where people will meet. I have no idea who these people might be, they could be youth or homeless or secret drinkers. There doesn't seem to be the usual kind of evidence that one sees with a secret drinking place - no beer cans, wine bottles or the like. My guess would be this is a secret meeting place for young people who probably have no similar place to meet. These are the kind of people also see hanging out in schoolyards or on Main Street. Further, since our municipal government has removed all public seating in the main public spaces,young people or people limited to very small or shared housing have few options but to create personal social space where they can. What I believe that I see are such spaces.

These are not random places either, clearly they have arranged seating and cleared away brush to make room for sustained visits and conversation. And in some of them there are even small fire pits where I would guess a small inconspicuous fire has been set, partly for warmth and partly for social ambiance.


Yours , on the journey,
Ray
Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet
Thich Nhat Hahn

Sunday 6 September 2015

CELEBRATING THE HILLS

Sunday, September 13, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
150 Donald B. Munro Drive, Carp
A donation of $5 per person, $10 per family is requested.


Join the Friends of Huntley Highlands in “Celebrating the Hills”, a public event on a 50-acre private property in the Carp Hills near the village of Carp.  Surrounded by an old forest with rocky outcrops of rugged Canadian Shield, participants can enjoy many activities, explore nature trails, and climb to an exceptional view overlooking the Carp River valley. An art show and sale, guided and self-guided nature walks, music, refreshments, and children’s activities are planned.  The West Carleton War Memorial sculpture by artist Ron Cowle will be on display.

Celebrate the Hills has two purposes:  to raise awareness about this scenic and ecologically important wilderness area and to raise funds for the Friends of Huntley Highlands.  First and foremost is to show people how special the Carp Hills are.  These hills comprise the only expression in the city of Ottawa of the billion-year-old Canadian Shield, the oldest rock on earth and a Canadian icon worldwide that inspired the famous landscapes of the Group of Seven. The Carp Hills are also acknowledged by the City as one of its most important natural features and by the province of Ontario as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest hosting provincially significant wetlands.

Dr. Owen Clarkin will lead nature walks along paths in the forest and up onto the Carp Hills ridge. Dr. Clarkin is the conservation committee chair of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists, and is well known for his expert knowledge of trees. We are excited to welcome him back to explain the special ecology of the Carp Hills. The old red oak tree that was the winner of our recent Biggest Tree contest will be just one of the highlights of the nature walks.

A call-out has been sent to artists in the region to display their work at this event.  The art on display will be inspired by nature and depict the landscape of the Carp Hills:  hardwood and coniferous forests, wetland and rocky outcrop vegetation, spectacular igneous and sedimentary (including glacial) geology, and wildlife, including species at risk. A marketplace table will be selling small or donated items such as pins, cards, books, small trees, etc, and refreshments from local establishments will be available.

This will also be the final day to bid on Autumn Splendour, a oil painting by by the late, renowned Canadian artist, John Mlacak, donated by his widow, Beth.

Bring your family, enjoy the scenery, and discover the Carp Hills.  For more details, go to www.huntleyhighlands.com

Yours , on the journey,                           
Ray
Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet
Thich Nhat Hahn