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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 the Canadian Sunbathing Association. In fact what many thought this was urban folklore but there was a nudist camp on Otter Lake, now within the City of North Bay’s municipal boundaries. It was called Norhaven, started in 1948, and was active for many years, post-World War II. This story is not so much about any of the above but more about enjoying the aftermath of “righting a wrong” or” how a negative becomes a positive.” Jean-Marc Filion says both statements...

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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 has grown in a deformed manner. A burl results from a tree undergoing some form of stress. It may be caused by an injury, virus or fungus. While the bark covered exterior of a burl does not differ from the tree, the inside is often a beautifully patterned grain. Hand carving and working a burl on a lathe are the most common ways of making a keepsake out of burl. Because of the rarity and difficulty of finding and working...

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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 you pick up these vibrations whether you are consciously aware of it or not. You begin to resonate with the tree’s energy and you become more centered and grounded. This can help explain the comfort many people feel when they sit down under a tree. When was the last time you climbed a tree – that was fun. Most likely one of largest trees in Northern Ontario, is located within the City of North Bay. It is massive at the...

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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 scenic accessible but unknown waterfalls is about to change and it is going back to what it once was. It won’t be long until construction for a new hydroelectric development will be approved for New Post Creek, north of Smooth Rock Falls. In April 2006, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG) and the Cree, Taykwa Tagamou Nation (TNN- pronounced tay-kwa tag-a-moe) to jointly explore hydroelectric development opportunities within the Abitibi River drainage basin, north...

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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 less; and together they collected pounds 21.5 kg (47.5 lb.) of lunar material for return to Earth. During subsequent Apollo surface excursions, 2,415 samples weighing 382 kg (842 lb.) were collected, the majority by Apollo 15, 16, and 17. Those rocks are now important to northern Ontario. We also know it has taken Sudbury along time to shed its lunar image. During the Apollo exploration program, NASA (North American Space Agency) astronauts trained in Sudbury to become familiar with rare...

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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 hike allows for a cool stroll through a mixed forest and a red pine ecosystem. You will not want to miss the spring freshet. It always amazes me that more people “haven’t been to” the picturesque Eau Claire Gorge. It is just off Highway 17 and is a Northeastern Ontario treasure. This scenic gem of the Bonfield-Mattawa region is very accessible and offers an easy walking tour, with options, for a wide range of demographics.   It is not often you...

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