I'm just curious to know if anyone has done any other type of exploration. By that I mean exploring things other than man-made structures.

Yes,i love hiking around my neighbourhood and there are alot of meadows and clearings that arent touched by any houses, so they are just these big feilds with trees and rivers surrounded by houses and away from any trail or beated path.

mostly woods and stuff like that i love to walk around.

Posted by Snail ...alot of meadows and clearings that arent touched by any houses, so they are just these big feilds with trees and rivers surrounded by houses and away from any trail

So you're in Markham, right? North of highway 7 is nice but I'm not too fond of anything further south. Old Markham Village is nice too.

Do you ever travel out to Durham? There's a series of hiking/biking trails in Durham Forest (http://www.canadat.../durhamforest.html)...nice for just nature but also a couple of odd locations I found along the trails that I'm curious to get people's opinions on.

I like to explore nature. I've been camping many times and it's always interesting to me to find what's around the next bend on the trail or river.

Posted by CowboyPenner I like to explore nature. I've been camping many times and it's always interesting to me to find what's around the next bend on the trail or river.

Is that really a picture of you on horse there? You live on a horse farm/equestrian centre? Pretty cool. So do you have any suggestions for nature exploration in Durham? I've gone up Duffins Creek for a few clicks, and the usual RE of course.

Posted by jB So you're in Markham, right? North of highway 7 is nice but I'm not too fond of anything further south. Old Markham Village is nice too.

Hey yeah there are alot of parks and hidden areas that the rougue river cuts through and there are alot of wide open feilds (with cool farmhouses) between 16th avenue to major mac which is in the process of development. those durham, pikering trails sound intresting, i wish i had the chance to go there more often.

Posted by jB Is that really a picture of you on horse there? You live on a horse farm/equestrian centre? Pretty cool. So do you have any suggestions for nature exploration in Durham? I've gone up Duffins Creek for a few clicks, and the usual RE of course.

Yes thats me. No that's not my horse...it's cheaper to ride other people's horses.

The only local nature exploring I've done around here is the Long Sault Conservation Area trail. It was a really nice walk. I've also been on the 4x4 trails north of Mosport...at the end of Murphy Road. Even though I was in my truck I was going slow enough to enjoy the scenery which was really nice too.

Other places where I've explored nature.....Grand River...French River...Algoquin Park...Quetico Park...and a few others.

Posted by CowboyPenner Other places where I've explored nature.....Grand River...French River...Algoquin Park...Quetico Park...and a few others.

Hmmm...Quietico (sp?) seems fantastic. I've read a bunch about it and the more I read the more I want to visit. Ditto for Algonquin, although I was there many many years ago.

Have you found any unusual spots on your travels?

I did find some old indian drawings on some rocks in Quietico. I've seen lotsa wildlife...some interesting rock formations etc.

Posted by CowboyPenner I did find some old indian drawings on some rocks in Quietico. I've seen lotsa wildlife...some interesting rock formations etc.

I guess wildlife goes without saying, but aboriginal drawings sounds pretty cool. Whereabouts did you see them?

There's a park near Havelock called Petroglyphs. I was there but they were closed. I've gone into abandoned buildings but didn't go there...go figure! I guess I should check it out at some point.

I was in Quietico years ago so I can't remember where I found them but I'm sure there's other locations where you might find them. I'm not that far from Havelock so I'll have to keep that in mind.

I've been thinking about it for a while...I'd like to explore a couple local spots that HAD some old homes on them with a metal detector.

Posted by CowboyPenner I've been thinking about it for a while...I'd like to explore a couple local spots that HAD some old homes on them with a metal detector.

Hmmm, that sounds like a really good idea. I bet there's stuff left behind on every site that was once inhabited. How far down do metal detectors "see"?

Posted by jB Hmmm, that sounds like a really good idea. I bet there's stuff left behind on every site that was once inhabited. How far down do metal detectors "see"?

I have no idea who far they "see" but I guess the more you spend the farther down you can "see". Two of the houses were demo-ed 'cause of the 407 that's supposed to be coming through this area and the other two were burned down.

The 407's a threat here too, as is the proposed airport, although that one's been kicking around for quite a while. I've found it's mostly new development that bulldozes over everything. When you travel along the edges of new/planned subdivisions, you almost always find at least two boarded-up houses. Unless they look older, they're going to be demo-ed.

My best friend lives in an old farmhouse on Pickering Airport land. He sublets from a fella who's lived there for twenty-something years and the house has been govt owned the whole time.

I'm not ready to part with my hard-earned cash just yet to buy a metal detector. I wonder if they can be rented somewhere?

I can't believe how many houses I've seen being moved. There were several in Brooklin and Oshawa. One ended up in my neck of the woods.

Posted by jB The 407's a threat here too, as is the proposed airport

If you drive up the north/south sideroads north of Taunton throughout Durham Region, you'll see abandoned/bought-out homes/buildings at precisely where the "desired" 407 right-of-way will be...

Posted by fedge If you drive up the north/south sideroads north of Taunton throughout Durham Region, you'll see abandoned/bought-out homes/buildings at precisely where the "desired" 407 right-of-way will be...

The 407 is still several years away as I recall because they are doing more ecological and enviromental studies. The houses that are around here were bulldozed in speculation of construction starting soon. Now the properties have been sitting empty for a couple years 'cause construction was delayed by the previously mentioned studies.

Posted by fedge If you drive up the north/south sideroads north of Taunton throughout Durham Region, you'll see abandoned/bought-out homes/buildings at precisely where the "desired" 407 right-of-way will be...

Surprisingly not so many. I frequent many of those sideroads and haven't found too much. That's not to say *nothing*, just not as much as I would like to.