February 5th
We head east to the town of King East along the steep slopes of the Moraine. You kneel down and run your hand through the sandy soils. We are surrounded by abandoned farms and you notice something interesting on top of the rusted silo.
February 8th
The steep and rolling land takes you through various wooded swamps and minor wetland areas. As you head east, you walk downhill. You hear the sound of a lone bird.
February 11th
You have found the source of the sound. Make your way through the trees for a closer look.
February 15th
February 19th
After passing through Happy Valley Forest, you cross the route of the Toronto Carrying Place Trail. This 45 km portage was a vital link in the route from Lake Ontario to Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay. It followed the Humber from near the River's mouth to Hackett Lake, then climbed over the Moraine to the Holland River.
The Trail was used by the native people and my family for centuries. European explorers, fur-traders, missionaries and colonizers used the Trail until Yonge Street was opened in 1796. No trace remains today .
February 21st
You notice a small body of water east of Happy Valley Forest. It is called Mary Lake and it is one of many kettle lakes on the west end of the Moraine. Each was formed by a block of ice buried in glacial deposits at the end of the Ice Age. The ice melted to leave a deep hole. Mary Lake and Hackett Lake are 17 metres deep, and Eaton Hall Lake is 15 metres deep. Kettle lakes are very sensitive. So little water flows through them that any pollutants getting in are not flushed out.
You approach a man painting on the water's edge. Upon your return, I will meet you at the Chapter 3 crossroads.
