Out & About #1129 | Cold Creek Conservation Area + 19th Ave Farmer's Market

All of my hiking adventures share similar schedules: The first stop is a bathroom, usually the closest fast food franchise to the scenic destination.

As of late, I've also been incorporating an early lunch into the plans, for continuing into the early to mid-afternoon hours on a breakfast of strong cold brew and oatmeal simply wasn't sufficient.
Shaky hands and a quivering body were experienced previously, consequently impacted my physical endurance and ability to capture images with stability.

​The second similarity lies in the conversations exchanged. Lengthy are these drives, so it only makes sense for catch-ups to happen along the way.

With a former coworker joining me for the day, we happily engaged in our respective work and life updates. The conversations truly never stopped, despite the duration spent together.

A longstanding location of Tims in a tragic parking lot was our first stop. There, we obtained Old-Fashioned Plain Donuts - a highly underrated menu item that we equally enjoy - and sustenance to fuel our journey.
While my former coworker's croissant with cheese and butter arrived in record time, my mobile order was nowhere to be seen for at least twenty minutes! Only when we approached the staff did they confess that the item could not be prepared since they did not have scrambled eggs in stock. A round egg was an easy swap that took far too long to execute.

The seasonal Maple Brown Butter Sausage & Bacon Double Stacked Scrambled Egg Loaded Wrap had set me back $6.99. Despite being just slightly longer than the length of my palm, the creation was quite tasty. Boasting the inclusion of egg, sausage, and hash brown, I had anticipated the wrap to be satiating. To my surprise, not only was it hearty and gratifying, but the comprehensive drizzle of maple syrup and synthetic "butter" truly elevated the overall composition.
My Small Original Protein Iced Latte paired well with the Wrap, for its cool creaminess assuaged steam escaping from the inside of the wrap.
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The facility itself was quite dated, though I appreciated that the single washroom stall was spacious and tidy. Of course, its status could vary drastically following the mid-day lunch, complete with soccer moms and senior citizens.

​Around noon, we continued on our way. Google Maps warned me of a road closure, even directing me away from our destination to avoid the supposed blockage.
The posted sign on 11th Concession read "Local Traffic" only. For my purposes, the fact that the entire access hadn't been blocked by TC-54s was confirmation enough.

I found the conservation area with ease, then followed the path into a gravel lot. The vicinity was heavily populated with vehicles.

Soon, we learned why: There was an event taking place within the nearby Education Centre, which had led to the building remaining open for the public to access.​

​On the basement level was a wall of hooks, likely present to facilitate school field trips, as well as the blessed sight of indoor plumbing. In addition to a shower stall with a wooden bench positioned in front, the facilities featured a row of narrow but clean stalls. Thank goodness! I was praying for more than just a portable potty.

​The hike commenced from the South Connector Trail. 

​Consistent with the forecast, the day started off humid, but a splendid breeze eventually filled the air. The shaded areas of the trail also contributed some much-needed respite from direct sunlight.

View the full album HERE !

​At 1 PM, sunlight was harshest and mercury levels reached their peak. I quickly grew warm, thus encouraged heading back into the shaded trails as soon as possible.

​Albeit positioned at every major vertex, the trail maps offered little in terms of wayfinding assistance. Labels were lacking and the arrows didn't give clear direction at all! Moreover, there were multiple forks in the path, many of which not depicted on the maps.

​Distances between stations was minimal, thus we practically covered the entire area, save the Bog Boardwalk that was closed, in just 90 minutes. Some sections were steeper than expected, while others muddy with slick and broken boardwalks. As a testament to the claim of slickness, I almost slipped on one of the aforementioned overpasses, but caught myself in time and settled on walking around and into the mud.

There were plenty of protruding tree roots, along with some narrow sections with a lateral incline. In spite of being more compact of a conservation area than CVC grounds or Ontario Provincial Parks, there was greater variance in its difficulty level. Many sections were easy to moderate, though stretches under direct sunlight and those with obscured trail paths posed greater challenge. (That said, nothing could outdo climbing over and between slippery rocks.)

With the persistent precipitation as of late, waterproof shoes were definitely a must for the trail. Wet leaves and sodden, mucky grounds would not have been enjoyable without appropriate footwear.

​Along the way, we spotted a small snake, the native Ontarian orange-black striped caterpillar, and plenty of fecal matter piles throughout. I warned my hiking partner countless times regarding the piles, for their frequent presence wasn't a customary element of rural-suburban hikes.

Contrary to the previous weekend's staggering visitor volumes, Cold Creek made for a quaint, tranquil trail. We encountered no more than four people during our time - although, I'm not sure whether I should include the two who had parked their vehicle at a trail entrance, partially obstructing the path, and lay resting in the trunk with their socked feet dangling out.

"How do you determine which hiking spot to go to?" was posed towards me.
This was, in my opinion, a question that did not entail a straightforward or singly correct answer. "Well, depending on the day we decided on, I'll check to see whether I can obtain a CVC or Ontario Parks Pass." I started. "Next, I'll check the Fall Colour map to determine which area is at its peak. That way, even if I can't obtain a Parks Pass, I'll known the general area where colour change is anticipated. Then I'll check the trail map and photos to see what the trail looks like, since I need to factor in the difficulty level for whoever I go with."

I recognize that my decision-making process may be far more meticulous than one would expect, but my hiking partner simply marvelled at the depth of my contemplations.

​Cold Creek Conservation was regulated independently and neither part of CVC nor TRCA lands, thus both admission and parking were free. I had succeeded in obtaining a Lucky Day CVC pass for the weekend, but ultimately did not use it.

Although it may take a bit of probing, there is an abundance of nature reserves and trails located immediately north of the GTA, most of which are entirely free to access. The late autumn season boasted beautiful fall foliage with leaf showers.

​Old Meadow Trail between stations 9 and 10 provided the most serene and breathtaking views. By this point, my internal body temperature had risen tremendously, yet the situation was quickly appeased by a refreshing breeze that took away perspiration.

​Concluding the trip was another stopover at the Education Centre for indoor plumbing. The past 98 minutes had been restorative and fulfilling.

​Just short of 2:30 PM, we commenced the trip eastward. I had proposed to head towards the Markham/Scarborough area for food and other fun shenanigans.

The first stop was the 19th Avenue Farmer's Market.

​Often are farmer's market a wonderful amalgamation of local vendors, independent bake shops, and small businesses. However, the cramped quarters of the 19th Avenue Farmer's Market strictly comprised of produce and a chaotic situation for vehicular circulation. Despite operating as a one-way, U-shaped corridor, access and egress had not been made easier with the posted signage. Finding parking on the paved lot was another travesty, for many visitors parked at an angle, ignoring the delineation markings and occupying two spaces.
Thankfully, turnover was high and I was able to find a spot within minutes of entering the premises.

The farmer's market could be described as a Costco for local produce, but excluding regard for economic benefit. The shelves were stocked with bulk quantities of seasonal fruits and vegetables that originated as close as nearby fields to Muskoka (cranberries) and Niagara (Mutsu apples). Strands of fresh chilli peppers and 25 lb bags of carrots and beets had not piqued our interest, especially not at their respective prices of $17.99 and $29.99. The produce was diverse in assortment, but priced steeper than expected while failing to embrace peak freshness.
For example, one could obtain a stalk of Brussel sprouts for $9.99, however the leaves were already wilted and the stalk dry, shrivelled, and cracked. For this reason, I could not comprehend the market's hecticness. The average family would not benefit from such large quantities of produce, particularly those harnessing a reduced shelf life.

Readymade items were limited, if available at all; the focus primarily lay with produce.

Dismissing bruised apples, giant zucchini, and trays of shrink-wrapped fresh cranberries, I turned towards seventy-five cent decorative pumpkins instead. Curiosity got the best of me and I also succumbed to a trio of squashes:

• Butternut squash at $3.99 each (or 3 for $9.99)
• Acorn squash at $1.99 each (or 3 for $5.50)
• Spaghetti squash at $1.99 each (or 3 for $5.50)

Note that mix & match was not permitted even for items priced identically.

A 3L jug of apple cider set me back an additional $7.99. The 19th Ave Farmer's Market rendition was sweeter than Al Ferri's and less aromatic than Williams' Orchard, but nevertheless bodacious and enjoyable.

​The market detour, inclusive of travel and parking delays, had spanned about one hour. After successfully negotiating a washroom stop at the Honda Visitor Centre, we continued on our way.

Read Part 2 HERE !