Image
While driving home from a weekend in Belleville, we stopped at this fascinating little cemetary. I had noticed it on our drive down, and made a mental note to stop on the way back for a closer look. I'm happy I did.
Ontario
Image
It was already getting quite warm as we reached the mine site, spoke with the security guard and proceeded inside.  I was being granted one of the last looks around the Lockerby mine before it is demolished.  I get out of the car, don my work boots, high-viz vest, and hard hat, surveying the buildings around me to figure out how I want to tackle this.  I’m like a kid in a candy store.
​
​I first noticed this property several years back at which time it was, apparently, for sale. Aside from being close to the highway, it seemed ideal to me. It was a real handyman's special, of course, but even without going inside, as it was locked tight at that point, you could easily see in your mind's eye what this could become. A large private home, with an additional guest house? A rental property? The possibilities, given the location, seemed endless.
Image
History:Â
HMCS Haida, a Tribal Class destroyer, served with the Royal Canadian Navy from 1943 to 1963. During World War II, Haida destroyed more tonnage of enemy ships than any other Canadian Navy vessel. At 337 feet in length, 36.5 feet at the beam, with a draught of 13 feet, Haida was designed to be more of a small cruiser than a standard destroyer.
I had known about this place for quite some time, as I had been visiting nearby several times per year. It hadn't been accessible, however, and I assumed it still wasn't until I saw photos from another explorer, and instantly recognized the place.
Construction of SS Norgoma was completed at the Collingwood Shipyards in 1950. She would join a fleet of ships that provided packet and passenger service around what was known at the time as the Turkey Trail. This trail started at Owen Sound and wound its way through communities like Killarney,Â
There was a skiff of snow on the ground as we rolled along Highway 101 and pulled up to the closed gates. As we began walking along the road into the park, I thought back to my earlier visit to Greenwater Provincial Park and wondered if it would be as well preserved.
In little time we were greeted by a ruffled grouse, another similiarity to the aforementioned park. I was suprised, however, to flush about 5 more before we left.
As one who frequents Provincial Parks for camping, when I heard that there were a few that had been closed, permanently, I knew I would have to take the opportunity to have a look at how nature reclaims these spaces. I spend a lot of time in Gogama, and that seemed the perfect jumping-off point for a trip to the former Greenwater Provincial Park. As it turns out, once wouldn't be enough.
I cannot count the number of years, let alone the number of individual times, that I've passed this location and thought to myself, "I really should stop there at some point and have a look around". Â Finally, I took the opportunity to do so on the long weekend of September.
