Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Thank you Edie! I found the address in Sue70 post latter. Sorry that didn't see it. How far from Orangeville are the places we will visit?

Thanks, Eddie for posting the map link. As for the other locations, I'm not sure how far from Orangeville they are. I'll have to do some more figuring out tonight when I'm not swamped with work. If anyone wants to go ahead and try and map out the locations I've already mentioned, I would be eternally grateful as I'm not good at putting all that stuff on google maps and making it a link. I'll see what else I can manage tonight.

Suzanne, I have no idea what time we'll be done. If you have evening plans, then feel free to make arrangements to leave when you have to go. If you're driving up on your own, that should be pretty easy! I was thinking that the group would go out for a bite to eat for dinner, but don't feel that you have to stay if you've got other places that you need to be.

I hope that helps!

Thanks Sue70, that is very helpful. I will see if can make it. Thanks for organizing it too!!

OK, guys, I've put together a Google map listing some of the locations that I'd like to visit on Sunday. I don't know if it's all doable, or if these are places you guys are interested in seeing, but I'm open to suggestion. The one place I definitely want to go to is Old Baldy Lookout.

The map is here: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie ... =9&layer=t

The places in Mono Cliffs and Boyne Valley may be long or difficult hikes, I really don't know. Has anyone here visited either one? I also am not sure if you need to pay for a permit or parking at these locations. It seems that the websites I've visited don't really include that information.

Also, if anyone needs my cell # before the event, send me a PM.

Hi

I have been to both Murphys Pinnacle and Mono Cliffs lookouts.

Mono Cliff is a provincial park and you have to pay for entry if you park in the main parking lot. There is no attendant only a machine (like Forks) but the lot is checked regularly by staff from Earl Rowe. There are limited washroom facilities at this park at the parking lot, and along the trail (thus the fee).

There is a small space where the Bruce Trail enters the park, but I am not sure if you can really park there with out picking up a ticket (and this would require the longest walk to the lookout). Same with the older parking area at the top of the cliff on the old concession road (this would be ideal as the look out is only a short distance from this gate and all flat on an old road). The lookout is about a 20 to 30 minute walk from the fee parking area and not hard hiking (depending on which route you take). But Mono Cliff is an afternoon of shooting all by itself and there are many distractions along the walk to the lookout.

The Boyne Provincial park has free limited parking (about 10 cars as I recall unless they expanded it) last time I was there in 2008. The parking is at the bridge over the river and you walk about 500 m up the road to enter the main trail. It is about 15 to 20 minutes with a very steep climb to the top of the lookout. There are NO washroom facilities at this park

Another lookout that you could consider is at the start of the Bruce Trail where it enters the Hockley Valley Provincial nature reserve. It is about 15 minutes in from the road and not a hard hike, but all up hill. Nice view over the Hockley Valley to the south and east. Parking was free when I was last there in 2008, and there is room for a number of cars. Parking is about 250 m east of the trail entrance on the Hockley Valley Road. Hockley Valley Road is just north of Orangeville and the park is east on the road from Hwy 10. There are NO washroom facilities at this park.

All these trails and lookouts are listed in the current version of the Bruce Trail Guide.

Daryl

Thanks so much for the information, Daryl! Nice to know difficulty levels and fees and parking info that I couldn't find on the web, despite my many searches. How do you get a copy of the Bruce Trail guide? Do regular bookstores carry it?

I'm now thinking that perhaps the Hockley Valley location might be the best one for an outing like ours this weekend....

Yeah you can pick it up at chapters they have a bunch

Hi:

You can get the current (25th edition) of the guide at Chapters (Sherway has it in stock for sure as I saw them there today) or MEC.

MEC is out of stock (paint me surprised - when is MEC ever in stock on anything)

Daryl

Thanks for the info, guys! I may just stop off at a Chapters on my way home tonight!

I'd like to tag along with you guys, if it's not too late already. Still new to the forum and DSLR in general - should be an interesting day!

Wow. This is going to be a big event.

I have put most of the places everyone has mentioned so far into a .csv file to load into a GPS. It's a very rough file, just coordinates, name and a few descriptions.

If anyone wants it PM your email address to me and I will send it. It is formatted for Garmin, but most GPS can probably import a csv file. With Garmin you will need their POI Loader on your PC. Saves a lot of typing on the GPS itself.

I won't have internet access again until Saturday after dinner time, so if anyone wants it I will send then.

Bruce

So at this point the basic plan is as follows:

--Meet at Timmy's in Orangeville
--Head to Hockley Valley for a short hike to a lookout point
--Head back to Hwy 10/24 north to Shelburne
--Drive past the windmill farms, stop for a few shots if people are intereseted
--Head over toward Hornings Mills for a nice drive and another lookout point (driving, not walking this time) if people are up for it
--Head toward Flesherton to go to Hoggs Falls
--Drive to Eugenia Falls
--North to Kimberley to find Sideroad 7B that will take us up to Old Baldy Lookout (there is a bit of a walk there, but I don't remember it being difficult; I believe it was pretty flat ground)
--Head toward Inglis Falls (depending on time)
--Find dinner (either in Owen Sound or head south to Orangeville again)

That's not to say that we won't stop other places en route if we see something that jumps out at us.... But I think that this covers quite a bit of ground, and is still basically easy enough for most people to manage without too much hiking or climbing. All these locations on that Google map I created. If you can print it out or have some other map with those locations marked on it (or use your GPS -- I don't have one) that would probably be quite helpful!

Any questions, please let me know!

Wow! So there is about a hundred km from Orangeville! Will we manage to go before down and still have time for pictures?

Bring a tripod, and LUNCH!

I'll be getting my lunch at Timmy's before we head out....

By my calculations, the trip from Orangeville to Old Baldy is about 130-140km. If we didn't stop, the trip would be about 2-2.5h (including that River Road drive to the NE of Shelburne), so I imagine with some stops, it'll take closer to 5h. Anyway, we'll see how it goes. Should be fun as long as the forecast for no rain holds!

Lunch is half of the problem. My doctor told me always to have beer before 5. But it's ok, I'll break the rule for the first time to have it twice in the next day

Thank you Sue for the information.

Or just have two with dinner?

Sorry, I have only G2 and can only have beer (say G) after they end the strike

this is exciting

Thanks for organzing this, Sue!
(Unfortunately I will be plugging away on my radio documentary...)
Have fun!

I need some advice since I'm not very familiar with the areas are we going to. Unfortunately I need to be back home (Yonge & Finch area) by latest 7pm. Seeing how far north we are going, at what point/time would you recommend I leave at? I was hoping to make it to Baldy Lookout as it looks great (Google images) but I don't think I'll be able to make it.

Any advice is appreciated!

Daniel

This sounds like a great event, thanks Sue for your time in setting this event for us. Anticipating the sensational colours of the Autumn leaves already, but still need that ride to location. So if anyone is in contact with GreatLaker Bruce, please ask him to check his PM. If I can't get a hold of a ride, then hope can join your next outing. Have a great time!

I am late but I want to come on this outing, but would need a ride from downtown I could go to finch or downsview station to get a ride. Please let me know.

thanks

Hi Fotogurl, I could probably pick you up at the Finch station passenger pickup, but you would need to be there by 10:30am. However, I have to warn you that I have to be back home by 6:30pm, so will more than likely have to leave by 5pm. I'm pretty sure you'll be able to find a ride home if you plan on staying the full day.

If interested let me know. I'll pm you with my number.

Daniel

I really couldn't tell you what time you'd need to leave by to make it back to Yonge/Finch (since I'm coming from Brampton, not TO) but if you wanted to make it to Baldy Lookout, you could always skip some of the other stuff we're doing (like one or both of the waterfalls) and just head up there.

I think I saw in a later posting you had mentioned leaving by 5pm. That would probably work even if you were in Owen Sound, but don't quote me on it.

hey~ can everyone who took pics of me "falling off" the cliff pm me so i can pm you my email or something... id like to get a copy of those pics ^^ thanks

Thanks to everyone who made it out to the event today. Hope you had fun! I don't know how we managed to stick together so well, but there were still about 20 of us for dinner at the end. I can't wait to see your photos too!

rinCode, I took some shots of you, but probably won't get around to looking at them until much later. PM me with your email if you want them.

Thank you, Sue, for organizing and everybody for nice company

Zang.

Had a blast today! thanks for organizing it sue .. Thanks Eddie for the drive and the guys who missioned it down to cannings haha good job .. lets see those pics!