Rondeau

Rondeau Park Ontario Earl Plato
Take a little walk with me? I am often a repeat visitor to certain places in nature. I mainly like to return to settings I have enjoyed in previous walks. I have numerous albums with photos to refresh memories. This memory walk was realized this summer when Elaine and I returned to Rondeau Park on the shores of Lake Erie. This time we did not have our deceased little Sheltie with us. No staying for a few days as before. This was an afternoon stroll. on he Tulip Tree Trail. It was a perfect August summer day at Rondeau. If you have been there no need to read on further. This is my attempt to lure Niagara readers to his great sand spit.
Rondeau lies at the meeting place of two lake water currents. Look at your map and you can asceratin that one is from the east - the other from the west. As these two currents meet they slow down and drop the sand and gravel in parallel sandbars off Rondeau’s shore. Eventually a sandspit was formed.
The Rondeau spit grew over thousands of years and the sand bars once off shore now here in 2001 are found in a series of ridges along Tulip Tree Trail. That’s right we were walking on the old lake bed.
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“What are you doing Earl? “What are you doing George?” Tuesday, October 9th Rob Eberly called me and George Sherk and asked the above question.
No problem, we two old timers were ready to go.
Noontime we headed northwest from Ridgeway. We three are bird watchers and we kept our eyes open. First destination- Rob is a tree lover. He laments when apparently healthy trees are cut down. As we approached our nature site I could see the towering branches of the giant maple, The Comfort maple is believed to be Canada’s largest Sugar maple (Acer sacharum). Believe it. All three of us had been here before. Rob and I tried to capture the full dimensions of the Comfort maple. Step back. Step back. You know the story. Where was my wide-angle lens? We took snaps from different angles. Like trees? Visit the Comfort maple and thank those who have preserved rhis great tree.
We headed formtheVineland Experimental Station but first made a detour into the McKeever Owl Foundation Centre. This is a private setting on the west bank of Twenty Mile Creek. Rob spotted a Snowy Owl in one of the structures as we drove out.
Next stop. Into theVineland station. Purpose to see Rhododendrons and Azaleas and their seed pods. This Rob acomplished. This place is worth the visit during the flowering season. Remember to walk the tunnel to where the magnificent Rhododendrons will be blooming. No charge and plenty of parking.
Jordan Harbour and Jordan Station not far away. Let’s see if the salmon are running. We walked down o the water;s edge. We found one lone fisherman casting his line. I asked if he had seen any of the large fish. “Five or six.” He said in two weeks they should be heading up the Twenty-Mile Creek in force.
Final stop. This is Paw paw time. These trees develop fruit the size of a large plum. On this side road near the Queenston Golf course Rob retrieved a half dozen of the fruit of the Paw paw tree. Ever smell the fruit? It has a custard-like odour at least in my description.
Thanks to Rob we accomplished this Niagara Peninsula outdoor survey on a sunny afternoon.