^Now you're just rubbing in the fact I never heard of lostrivers.ca until now
But no matter, because yesterday I ventured away from the Lost Rivers purview, back to some rivers and creeks still very much out in the open...
East Don River - northern conservation
As you may recall, last week I gave consideration to continuing my tour of the
Charles Sauriol Conservation Area, which I left off at Eglinton Avenue about a month ago. I must say I now regret leaving it off there and then, and also putting it off yet again last week (let alone never visiting it in my whole life prior), for I found this stretch of the East Don and its environs to be perhaps the most strikingly scenic in the whole city! So let us begin where I last left off, just north of Eglinton, heading east to the first of 4 rail bridges which span this winding section of the river in quick succession:
You may also recall that last week I mentioned that I had never seen a deer in the city before. Well, ask and you shall recieve! Just past the bridge, about 20 meters away from me, I saw not one, but two - a doe and fawn. I hurriedly went for my camera and managed to shoot about five dark, blurry, unusable pictures before they scampered off. Nevertheless:
On a somewhat related note, a number of years ago I saw a program on television from which I learned for the first time of something called a
pseudoscorpion . I had never seen one these things in my life - let alone ever heard of one - but then, the very next day, in the shower, I saw one in my bathtub, just like that! And, weirdly enough, I haven't seen one since. I wonder what would happen if I hoped to spot a unicorn on my next trip? Anyway, enough about me and my strange Jungian exteriorization phenomena. On with the hike:
At the bend just before the second bridge things start getting really good. A riverside trail cuts through a dense stand of reeds and evergreens, then ascends along the edge of a high valley wall, offering some of the most stunning views in the city to please both urban and wilderness fans alike:
Seriously, don't just take my word, or the word these overcast pictures for it. If you haven't been here before, check it out! And while you're there, check out this little stream which breaks off from the Don just a little further on:
Back on the trail, and signs of civilization:
From the second bridge to the third:
Through the fourth bridge now where things start getting a little more urban and the wilderness starts getting a little less wild:
Along the edge of the DVP:
Heading under Lawrence Ave, then we hook a left under the Parkway:
Out now, into Donalda Country Club, where the next leg of my jouney awaits: