Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Nokiidaa Trail Link

First Day Of Fall At Nokiidaa Trail Link Boardwalk, Geometric Views

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 19:33:47 +0000

I tell you there is a lot of geometry at the Nokiidaa Trail link boardwalk. Yes the official name is the Nokiidaa Trail boardwalk and not McKenzie Marsh. McKenzie Marsh is the pond on the other boardwalk along the St. John’s sideroad, North side. On the South side you will find Atkinson Park Wetland.

It was first day of fall and I went out around 5 pm to take some evening shots. To my surprise I wasn’t the only one. There were few other photographers along with people going for a walk or a bike ride. Speaking of bikes people continue to ignore the sign telling them to dismount the bike.

For today just enjoy the ride. It is really getting cold and it wasn’t warm either on the first day of fall.

Nokiidaa Trail Link Boardwalk, Looking East

Nokiidaa Trail Link Boardwalk, Looking West

Nokiidaa Trail Link Boardwalk, Looking South

Nokiidaa Trail Link Boardwalk, Approaching Biker

Nokiidaa Trail Link Boardwalk, Almost Looking North

Nokiidaa Trail Link Boardwalk, A Runner

Nokiidaa Trail Link Boardwalk, A Dead Tree

No Motorized Vehicles On The Boardwalk, By Default

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 04:35:40 +0000

I usually do not complain but if I get a small evidence on camera – why not? What does it take to follow the rules? They are not trivial at all.

I think by now you may know that my biggest issue here in Aurora is the failure to obey the rules; but no worries I am not planning to move out.

We do have a sign for almost everything. ‘No Dumping‘ sign with a pile of dump is a classic. No idling cars sign must be new because I saw lady idling her car in front of the Aurora Public Library for over five minutes. Sometimes I wonder if she ever knew that she can play her music in the car and draw radio power from the battery only.

In the same area myself and Matthew once smelled a cigarette smoke. I still laugh at his innocent comment, ‘Mom who is BBQing the chicken?‘.

Walking with Bikes, Nokiidaa Trail Link Boardwalk, Aurora

When Nokiidaa Trail Link boardwalk off St. John’s sideroad was first installed all kinds of things were permitted. Feeding ducks and biking were the two famous one. Then with time the ‘no feeding ducks‘ sign was placed on the railing which in a matter of small time faded due to the UV sunlight.

Walking with a Bike, Nokiidaa Trail Link Boardwalk, Aurora

Recently, swinging gates were installed telling bicycle riders to dismount their bikes and walk on the boardwalk. One cannot miss the sign and yet everyone is still biking on the boardwalk. I just do not understand how can you not see a sign that is practically in front of the biker’s face?

But that one day, couple of weeks ago, I don’t know what happened. People were obeying the rules. Everyone that passed by me was pushing bicycle beside them. Now figure that out. Why suddenly such a change? I don’t know. May be because one of the gates on the north side of the boardwalk was missing.

Another explanation is that I had my DSLR camera with telephoto lens attached. A paranoia of being captured on photo is another theory.

Walking with Bikes, Nokiidaa Trail Link Boardwalk, Aurora

I was happy to see that something worked and it was nice to see different age groups to follow the rules.

Until another day, this man had to ruin my hope, my excitement and my faith in the Aurora people – he decided to ride his motorcycle on the boardwalk. Or may be he is not from Aurora. Still it will not make me feel any better.

Motorized Vehicle on the Boardwalk, Nokiidaa Trail Link, Aurora

I went back to my older photographs and the sign said – oh no he is permitted to ride his motorcycle. The sign says nothing about motorized vehicles. But I think motorized vehicles are not permitted in the parks by default.

Notice to Trail Users Sign, Nokiidaa Trail Link Boardwalk, Aurora

Well there are other things in Aurora that by default are not permitted. A pile of mulch or wood chips was placed on the parking lot near the Fleury Park. While watching Matthew having fun at the play-ball class Saturday morning I spotted this young boy climbing this pile of mulch.

I felt much better when I noticed that the whole action was supervised by the parent. This was quite an ironic site.

Parent Supervised Climb, Fleury Park, Aurora

Nature’s Snugly, Ugly & The Ant That Sucked Life Out Of Him

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 27 May 2012 03:37:06 +0000

The Nokiidaa Trail link boardwalk section of the St. John’s sideroad is now fully adapted – one visit is not enough to discover this short and popular trail on the boardwalk. It is also hard to believe that just last year in March the boardwalk was still under construction. The adaptation process went very well for everyone.

Hello There! Lady Wood Duck With Brood

The population of the lady Wood duck is booming and the ducklings look so snugly and adorable. As a matter of fact this one looking in my direction is reminding me Mumble from the Happy Feet movie.

Hello There Again!

The Lady Bugs found are the real ones, not the Asian one which were released few years ago to get the aphids under control. I still remember when they used to crawl into our house, or seeing a cloud of them flying on our backyard. They were biting as well and had this orange juice coming out of them – yikes.

Beautiful Lady Bug

Who likes spiders? Not me, but they are nice little creatures great to photograph. This one is less than 10 mm in length, including the limbs. Not very big, but good light does help to get nice sharp image, okay, and a good macro lens as well. If you like spiders no worries many many different species crawl everywhere.

Ouch A Spider

I don’t know what kind of insect on the photo below that is but I had to do lot of body bending around to get him to look at my camera.

Used To Be Beautiful

The sad part is that the red ant was sucking life out of him. I didn’t notice at first, but I did notice that he didn’t look too good. For some reason an ant was attached to him and probably trying to kill him, while he was crawling around and anticipating that it will eventually get lost.

Ant Sucking Life Out Of Him

But what I did not notice was that little creature on the stone when I was processing my images. I could be wrong but I think I photographed a tick (bottom left corner photo below), that means I was so close.

Perhaps not all ticks cause Lyme disease. Perhaps the one bit me many moons ago was not the blacklegged tick. I was five or six years old when I was bitten and my mom took out fat tick from my wrist. I did not get any reaction and lost some blood thrown away with the dead tick.

Only forty five minute spent on the boardwalk today yet so much we discovered and only partial journey shared. I will share more stay tuned.

Presumably A Tic

‘Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known’. ~ Carl Sagan

Aurora 1945-1965 An Ontario Town at a Time of Great Change, Milner

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:18:22 +0000

Aurora continues to change day by day. Continues to grow. We will never be a small town on the map and we will never be a population of four thousand of people.

Going about twelve months back, it all began with saving the Petch Log house. On my part that was great experience to explore the deteriorating log house before the restoration and to document my thoughts here.

Aurora 1945-1965 An Ontario Town at a Time of Great Change

Then search for more information about the town led me to Elizabeth Milner’s book, Aurora 1945-1965 An Ontario Town at a Time of Great Change. Being on the photo journey through the town in the past couple of years, the book is a jewel in my pocket.

So what that you were not born between those years. How can you relate? Of course you can relate. Milner’s detailed assembly of 20 years of town’s records will lead you to years before 1945 and beyond 1965. Her compelling book is actually very relative to the past and the future of the Aurora. On the end it is a book about the people of Aurora who made a difference.

Petch Log House

Last year about this time difference was made, Katherine Belrose came forward and Petch log house was saved, probably restored by now, yet future location unknown.

Nokiidaa Trail Link, St. John's sideroad, Aurora

‘The Anglican Sisters of St. John gave St. John’s Sideroad its name when their convent was built in 1931. In 1940s and early 1950s, the Convent was a busy place. The Sisters cared for girls with special needs such as: Downs Syndrome, autism and other problems. …

They came each Sunday to morning service at Trinity Anglican Church, bringing the young girls for whom they cared. They sat at the front, on the north side of the church, under the pulpit. The sisters sat erect, silent and still in their penguin outfits. Usually their wards were silent and still too, but occasionally there was a strange noise wiggle, or turning head that was quickly corrected.‘, 1958, Milner, page 94.

Nokiidaa Trail link boardwalk of St. John’s sideroad is now established and well visited trail.

Wells Street Public School Sold

Wells Street Public School got sold last year. Must mention that Elizabeth Milner was a grade nine student at this school for one year from September 1951 to April 1952.

Yonge Street, What Changed Here?

Next time you pass by Yonge Street and Tyler Street intersection you will notice change, the new commercial and residential complex. On the other hand one might say – the downtown traffic increased.

The Auroran, Sold

‘James Murray cut a ribbon at the old Post Office on Yonge Street in September of 1960 to mark the beginning of door-to-door mail delivery in Aurora.‘, 1960, Milner, page 167.

The old Post Office on Yonge Street is also home of our local newspaper The Auroran that was started by Ron Wallace and recently sold.

Once IGA Store, Now Nothing Yet

‘In 1961, the town’s IGA offered steak at seventy-nine cents a pound and prime rib roasts at sixty-five cents a pound. Oranges were fifty-nine cents a dozen and a cauliflower sold for twenty-nine cents.

Usually cakes were made from scratch, but if the housewife wanted to cheat with a newfangled cake mix, they were selling at two for thirty-three cents. That’s how it was in 1961 at the IGA Foodliner.‘, 1961, Milner, page 175.

Recent closing of the Foodland grocery store was total surprise and shock to the seniors living close by. It is very much unknown who will move in, but last week I read Banner and it was noted that the building was on the list for Youth centre. It may not happen, there were other competing locations.

George T. Browning House, Demolished

The proposed conversion of the Browning house to Montessori school didn’t go to well and it was decided to demolish the house. The Browning house was demolished couple of days before Easter.

Tree Trimming, Yonge Street from the Aurora Public Library

‘In the December third Banner, letters to the editor showed that Aurora people were upset about changes in Aurora. One citizen complained about the trees coming down and the land being stripped down to bare clay near one of the best streams in town.‘, 1959, Milner, page 152.

We continue to cut the trees. Some needs to be cut or trimmed, but some were not given any mercy.

Isaac Petch Farm House, Wellington Street, To Be Demolished

‘Highway 404, the Don Mills Parkway extension, was proceeding north and would pass three miles east of Aurora. John B. Wilkes, an engineer from the Department of Highways, spoke to the Board of Trade and assured them that Highway 404 would reduce traffic through the town by one third to one half. The first section of Highway 404 opened early in July.‘, 1961, Milner, page 170.

Highway 404 most likely will not change, but there is no future for the old and lonely Isaac Petch Farm house on Wellington Street – it will be demolished.

Aurora 1945-1965 An Ontario Town at a Time of Great Change, Milner

Elizabeth Milner in the book’s Afterward wrote: ‘I did not want to write a book about a “wonderful Aurora” of the past. This is often the kind of local history that results from reminiscences. The town was a good place to grow up. The people were good people. They helped one another, supported churches and social institutions as well as the needy in other provinces and countries; but everything was not perfect.

Disputes about having a liquor store in town, the use of open land, the building of a shopping centre, Town Council decisions and other incidences might seem trivial to the reader, but they were heated issues at the time.‘

Perhaps somethings just don’t change in our town – we continue with heated issues to make the difference.

Wacky Weather TALK, I Am Leaving Its Too Cold Here

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 01:18:38 +0000

We have decided to take a small trip to the Nokiidaa Trail boardwalk on the St. John’s sideroad today. We couldn’t believe how cold and windy it was. When we sat on one of the benches, I think I felt the boardwalk moving. Our fingers almost froze, and we both wore gloves.

What a change from last week’s temperatures? Not spring but hot summer like temperatures. My almost four year old Matthew had a blast, but for love of me I couldn’t make him wear shorts. He told me: ‘Mommy they are too short and other children will laugh at me‘.

So today on the boardwalk during this cold windy day he was happy to wear his winter jacket, a scarf and the gloves, and sitting on the bench we overheard the Canada Goose talking.

‘I told you it was too early too come to Aurora‘ – one goose yelling on the other one.

‘How I am supposed to know that, beside stop yelling at me my head is frozen‘ – the partner goose replied.

‘And what are you looking at. You are not helping shooting at us‘ – the yelling goose looked in our direction.

‘I think you are darn funny yelling‘ – I replied.

‘Oh I had it enough. I am leaving. Coming back to Florida with me my darling?‘ – yelling goose took off.

‘Yes, yes, but we have to be back in Aurora next year. There is always a lot going on here and we shouldn’t be missing it.‘ – the partner goose replied.

Thinking About Safety, An Accident On St. John’s Sideroad, Not First Probably Not Last

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:56:37 +0000

Many times it crossed my mind. The ‘it’ is that the St. John’s sideroad is a busy road not just for the motorized vehicles but as well for parents/caregivers walking with their children, walkers, dog walkers, runners and bikers.

St. John's sideroad, Boardwalk

Over 15 years living in the area St. John’s sideroad undergone major transformation – residential development along, schools, addition of major supermarket, water treatment facility, road widening, Community Arboretum and addition of the boardwalk.

Not to mention, all this happened between Yonge Street and Bayview. The transformation was definitely to accommodate increased population and preferably the drivers.

GO Train, St. John's sideroad

Going down the memory lane, I remember this small dead end street right across the St. Andrew’s golf course where we used to go and watch the Canada Day fireworks. Many used that area as dumping ground as well. It was the bare land then.

Atkinson Park, St. John's sideroad, Boardwalk

The nice thing about my neighborhood is that parks, playgrounds, schools and shopping can be accessed via non-motorized means. When weather permits I take Matthew for long walks to the nearby playgrounds, boardwalk, the Arboretum and shopping to the Superstore.

I also have noticed that I am not the only one, especially the increased number of caregivers in our neighborhood taking children to playgrounds or schools in the strollers or just walking with them (they can’t drive, probably not allowed). There is really no point to drive where everything is under your nose.

So I went off on a tangent. Yes, yes, the ‘it’ continuation. St. John’s sideroad has history of accidents. We don’t have to see the accident, but we can see the aftermath results – damaged curbs, damaged guardrails, damaged speed signs, damaged posts, damaged grass, or broken car body parts. Over the few years I have seen it all.

Walking along the busy St. John’s sideroad do I watch my back? Of course. How can you not, knowing that accidents happened there. This confirms my fear.

Knocked Guards, Boardwalk, St. John's sideroad

Last weekend there was accident on the St. John’s sideroad.

A Honda car drove towards the boardwalk knocking couple of guarding posts. Probably a combination of black ice, slopped road and speeding car. To be exact the accident happened near the entrance of the Nokiida Trail boardwalk, a second observation deck on the North side of the road.

Knocked Guards, Boardwalk, St. John's sideroad

So I said above to ‘accommodate increased population and preferably the drivers’. Well when Superstore rose from the ground the driving customers definitely were given the preferential treatment.

I wrote about my request to the town to install a sidewalk on the side of the Earl Stewart Drive so parents pushing strollers will not use the road to access or leave the property. Many months passed and I have not seen any activity from the town. I would have thought that if there is a safety concern then such item would have been flagged immediately – I guess not. I will check with them in the spring.

Perhaps I will talk my five cents on safety. Drivers need to be more responsible and obey the rules. We got to stop designing roads and considering safety last. Pedestrians and moving vehicles should be as far as possible from each other.

Cost effective band-aid solution such as more safety signs don’t work anymore. I prefer more law enforcement people. But then even with police traps drivers do speed along St. John’s sideroad. It all boils down to the driver’s responsibility behind the wheel – Be Responsible Be Aware Around You.

Wildlife Park In Aurora, Yes, Yes, We Must Have One

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:46:55 +0000

I was behind with my newspaper reading this week. It was last night that I finally took the Thursday The Banner/The Era roll of papers from February 2nd and started to look through.

After scanning and finally reading something interesting ‘Town seeks plan for wildlife park‘ by Jeremy Grimaldi, I thought what a wonderful great amazing thoughtful idea and we are one step closer after council approved spending over $200,000 to create the master plan for the wildlife site.

Downy Woodpecker, Nokiidaa Trail Boardwalk

A wildlife park site in Aurora. Just another reason for me not to move, however, I never had any intentions to move in the first place and what would just happened to my blog – so no.

Praying Mantis, Nokiidaa Trail Boardwalk

Provided the location of the proposed wildlife site, north of Wellington Street, between Bayview Avenue and Leslie Street, I looked up the Google map to see where would the block of 100 acres be. It is a stretch of land that looking from the top view it has a nice mix of wetlands, woodlands and grasslands. According to David Tomlinson this combination is a great mix to create an urban nature reserve.

Grass Species, Nokiidaa Trail Boardwalk

The Google map is probably outdated by now (it was at the time Longo’s plaza was constructed) so I must one day see the site for myself. The trees are probably much bigger and probably more overgrown.

While reading, I am also impressed with Mr. Tomlinson’s work in that area – logging the species. Witnessing 150 bird species at the site, and 75 nesting. However, I recall him writing before in the Auroran that we have 100 bird species in Aurora. Well they come and go, like that Pelican that flew over Aurora many moons ago.

My birding list would really improve if I was able to witness this number too. My list is over 110 bird species, but I cheated a bid because I added many birds in captivity I saw at the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore. Someone told me that it doesn’t count and this someone is probably right.

Mushrooms or Fungi, Case Woodlot

So what is in the master plan that excite me? ‘The master plan will include a proposal for bird watching towers, an educational centre (aha may be Petch house?) and trails through parts of the site.’ – The Banner reported.

Can we ask for more here in Aurora? I don’t think so, but may be few more wildlife parks after that. We just have to get one going.

Black Widow Spider Found In A Bag Full Of Grapes, And Free To Good Home, Dahhh

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:45:03 +0000

Few nights ago I was watching the CP24 news about the Black Widow spider that was found in a bag of grapes. This is not a first time I heard that. So they talked about this and that about the spider.

Fall Spiders, Tim Taylor Trail

In the concluding remark of this breaking news it was implied by the news anchor that the owner is looking to find a good home.

What the Wack! A home for the Black Widow spider! Give me a break. Just put them to rest as stated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency: ‘If a spider falls into the sink it is recommended that the spider be killed rather than captured.‘

I don’t care what kind of spider it is, I don’t like spiders. I like photographing them though. This Black-and-yellow argiope (Argiope aurantia) I found right across the Case Woodlot on Henderson Drive sometimes in August. That was a good size spider too. This alerts me also may be I should be more careful going into the high grass area, something I often do.

Black-and-yellow argiope, Case Woodlot, Aurora

When they are small like this one on the rusty bridge railing, they don’t bother me as much. It is the web. Few times I got my self tangled in the spider web, and it creeps me out. Have I ever been bitten? I think so. Once in the neck when we hiked in Cape Breton about 5 years ago. I got small reaction but nothing serious.

Jumping Spider, Nokiidaa Trail Link, Connecting Bridge

And this little creature below I shook off Matthew’s jacket on the Nokiidaa Trail link boardwalk back in November. Not sure what it is but hopefully was harmless.

Spider, Nokiidaa Trail Link, Boardwalk, Aurora

So winter is coming. Days are colder and getting shorter and that means less time outside for us with camera. I took lot of images this spring, summer and fall so I am sure there will be plenty stuff for me to write about living in Aurora.

Pileated Woodpecker, Wow Still Around

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 04:11:39 +0000

It must have been five years since I saw the Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) in the area where the bridge is connecting the Aurora Nokiidaa trail link with Newmarket.

This is exactly in the same area when I photographed a glimpse of him that many years ago. Then I had to venture out to the deep grass and bushes and to only snap a very blurred photo. This time I had little more luck.

I am not sure if it is the same woodpecker from that time but same species for sure. The Pileated Woodpecker is double or even tripple the size compared to the Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens), a more common woodpecker species around.

Pileated Woodpecker, Nokiidaa Trail Link

Now that we have a bridge on the Nokiidaa Trail link it is much easier to spot them, especially during fall, as there are no leaves to hide them.

According to the bird book my photo shows female Pileated Woodpecker. For the bird enthusiasts I found him on my right side of the bridge facing North. To see the woodpecker binoculars will help. I shot this photo at 400 mm focal length and it still seems like far away.

Where Did All The Turtles Go? Autumn, Nature’s Accents & Abstract

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 03:45:35 +0000

Last week I read a story about the 30 lb turtle that was saved in Aurora by the Hadley Grange residents and the police. I never thought that our pond would have something that big.

I saved one may be that was less than 8 ounces. Having ponds near by roads it always will be an issue with animal crossings. I am glad that story had a happy ending after all.

So where were all the turtles today, the usual Red-Eared Sliders? We have not seen even one on the Nokiidaa Trail link boardwalk today. Day care children were looking for them, and could not find them. An older woman mentioned the turtles. No sight of them. We looked for them too on the way in and on the way back and there were none.

Children Looking for Red-Eared Slider Turtles

So where are the turtles, I am asking again? It was a nice sunny and warm day today. Usually they sit on the dead wood logs in the pond, but this time there were none. Well, I don’t have the answer. May be they are getting ready to hibernate.

What a beautiful day turned out to be after all despite the missing turtles. I am sure turtles will be back.

We got to observe other things. There were lot of birds, however, there are still substantial amount of leaves on the trees thus hard to spot them. Ducks were very loud and flying over the boardwalk.

The sky was perfect blue and the occasional clouds thus the occasional overcast created prefect environment for some good photography.

I don’t always have good days, but today was exceptional.

I like autumn photography the most just because of a broad spectrum of colors and earthy tones. I love the winding down and aging aspect of the nature. Very calming.

On the other note, remember it is also a flu season. Getting out on the sun, moderate fresh air and drinking lot of fluids is our way to deal with colds and flues.

A Sneeze

I mentioned my successful photographic adventure and it would be a shame not to share it. Have fun with the titles and imagination. Click on the image to proceed. Enjoy.