ADVENTURES
Not for Sale – Otter Lake – Hwy. 63 – North Bay
Otter Lake – Righting a Wrong or Sunbathing By Back Roads Bill At the moment you may or may not be thinking about sun bathing, taking your clothes off this winter means moving to more southerly latitude. You are more likely considering a new destination for snowshoeing. In the past sun bathing was the thing to do and at another time you could take it a little further and become part of the social nudism movement. There were enough dedicated nudists around to band together in 1947 to form...
Burls and Deer – Loring-Restoule
Deformities – Nature’s Beauty in Burls by Back Roads Bill A deformity is either actual or moral. It depends on your perception. Whether surveyed in an animate or inanimate object, there is beauty in deformity. To most people, a tree burl wouldn’t look like anything special – in fact, these rounded growths found on tree trunks and branches are actually deformities. They often look like large round tumours growing on the trunk of the tree. What is a Burl? A burl is a tree outgrowth in which the grain...
Cottonwood – Biggest Tree in Northern Ontario – North Bay
Big Tree – A Mystery – Spiritual and Energy Within by Back Roads Bill Trees have an interesting role in the world of spirituality. We may instantly think about the practice of decorating a Christmas tree. Trees like all living things have an energy frequency or vibration and an aura. In many cultures both ancient and modern, our largest plants, are thought to possess energy and are considered sacred. Within these cultures it is thought trees influence spiritual lives. For those that believe, coming into contact with a tree...
Reversing a Change – Naturally: New Post Falls Changes Back
by Back Roads Bill “All history,” the saying goes, is “contemporary history.” People instinctively turn to the past to help understand the present or “it isn’t often we can turn back the clock.” There is one journey to a destination in Northern Ontario where you will enjoy a breathtaking vista, a towering gorge and revel in the sounds of the roaring water as it plunges into a pool many tens of metres below. Because of the narrow gorge it has a great deal of mist. One of the most...
Next Lunar Mission – Moon Rocks and Northern Ontario
by Back Roads Bill We know the moon is not made of Swiss cheese. Neil Armstrong proved that on July 21, 1969 during the Apollo 11 mission. We tend to remember the event or the person more than the date. Some of you will remember where you were on that day others were not yet “thoughts” or Earthlings. To refresh our memories Armstrong became the first to step onto the lunar surface . He spent about two and a half hours outside the spacecraft, his partner Buzz Aldrin slightly...
What a Rush – Eau Claire Gorge, Rutherglen (North Bay-Mattawa)
by Back Roads Bill Throughout the year the gorge initiates an array of feelings and emotions. It is a walking place, very moving. It is oneof those waterfalls where you hear the tumbling water before you see it. There is anticipation and you will not be disappointed when you peer over the edge! Winter brings a snowshoeing trek that allows you to see moving water through a winter wonderland. Fall brings the colours and the spring freshet shows the power of the cascading volume of water. A summer’s day...
Stonehenge Conundrum in Northern Ontario
by Back Roads Bill Myth or belief, maybe it is like the Loch Ness monster? You see what you want to see; you think what you want to think. What’s more fun than a mystery where you can write the ending? On a back road near a unique shoreline is a configuration of huge boulders that pose more questions than answers. The unusual aggregation of these rounded rocks may not have the same visual impact as Stonehenge, the prehistoric monument on the Salsbury Plain in England. No one seems...
Chaga: New Rage in Herbal Remedies – North Bay
by Back Roads Bill “Tea time” is a light meal typically eaten between four and six pm. Observance of the custom originated amongst the wealthy classes of the former British Empire. There is a new, healthy tea on the market; bring out your best porcelain. And the contents for steeping can be found on our back roads. The name “chaga” (pronounced “chuh-ga”) comes from the anglicised Russian word of the dark brown to black, hardened, crusty mushroom, most likely the most unique you will ever see. If you talk...
What a View – Devil’s Rock, Cobalt
by Back Roads Bill It’s hard to believe that one of Northeastern Ontario’s best and most accessible vistas is seldom seen. This view would become very important to one of Canada’s most successful writers. To young detectives worldwide, he was known under the pseudonyms Carolyn Keene, Roy Rockwood and most famously Franklin W. Dixon author of The Hardy Boys series. Author Leslie McFarlane, who passed away on September 6, 1977, was one of the most successful Canadian writers of all time. Working for the Stratemeyer Syndicate, he penned 21...
Wolf Mountain/Blue Lagoon – Sudbury East
by Back Roads Bill It might be winter time and you have just visited Wolf Mountain one of the finest vistas in Northeastern Ontario. Come back for another look and maybe a swim at a place that is almost “paradise.” People often ask where a really neat place to go swimming is. Not a beach but a good ‘ole swimming hole. It is often a difficult question to answer as each location has its own attraction. But Paradise or “Blue” Lagoon comes to mind as it creates an image...
A Dramatic Drop – Sault Ste. Marie/Wawa
by Back Roads Bill There are many waterfalls in Northern Ontario but few have such a dramatic vertical drop as the Agawa Falls. This out-of-the way 25 m waterfall is part of an experience that can be accessed in a number of ways. One is unique amongst the others and it is easier than you think. If you are looking for an experience that combines a short hike and a train ride, this one is for you!. In nature, moving water peaks our interest. If only the Agawa River...