A Rainy Drive by Susan L.

  H. and I went for a long drive yesterday to admire the autumn colours. It was unfortunately a rather miserable day, rainy and blustery, so we didn't get to stop and hike anywhere as was our original plan. Although because everything was soaking, the colours were more intense. There were spots where the road narrowed and we drove through golden woods bathed in an iridescent light. There were some beautiful spots as we wandered up gravel side roads undiscovered and into small villages that seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. And at the start of our travels, a rather faint rainbow made an appearance, the promise of a sun that never appeared. We stopped for lunch in Creemore, a touristy town with gift boutiques, a microbrewery, and many deli/bakeries that offer their delicious goods.
  On the way back, we ended up on a road that had no winter maintenance. Glad of my little SUV, we bumped our way along it admiring the scenery. We also ended up a bit disoriented but H, being the excellent navigator she is and armed with several maps, soon found our way again. I swore we were going west but we were actually heading south. With no sun in the sky,  it was easy to get turned around.

  We live in the area called the Headwaters of Ontario. Somewhere nearby is the highest point in Ontario so there are many small rivers and bubbling creeks that begin high in the hills. They have names like the Noisy River, the Pretty, the Boyne, the Nottawasaga. Some head south to Lake Ontario, others discharge north into Georgian Bay. The Niagara Escarpment, a World Biosphere Reserve, cuts through the landscape and provides amazing views. At least they would have been amazing if the rain had stopped.

Still, because of the altitude, it felt like we could touch the clouds.

  Following a winding, undulating road, we discovered future potential hike sites in the Pretty River Conservation area. There's no main entrance for parking, the road simply widens so there is a place to pull over. The trails wander up, down and around the Blue Mountain. I'd never seen that area before and look forward to nicer days when exploring on foot is possible. 
   "All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; To the place from which the rivers come, there they return again." Eccl 1:7