Written By Alan Good
TRAVEL - In the last edition we went to Manitoulin Island and this time we headed north again but only drive 30 minutes from home. You are not mistaken. This writer has scribbled about Stonetown before. In fact, several times. But we never plied the Upper Thames River before.
Once we dug our canoe from the weeds at our son’s farm—where it had been encased by vegetation and covered in dirt for about seven years—and gave it a cleaning, our jeep took us back St. Marys. We went into Milt Dunnell Park (also called The Flats) a great park for sitting, walking, or picnicking.
Children were playing on the climbers while people walked overhead on the abandoned train trestle. One can walk 25 kilometers of trails in St. Marys. We were delighted to see an accessible dock as we both are not totally limber of limb.
Kayaks and canoes can be safely placed on a ramp of wheels or a low-grade slide, depending on the craft you are using and your flexibility. Once aboard, we drifted into the river and were immediately overwhelmed by a peaceful aura. After missing out on canoeing these past years, it was a balm to our souls to just drift a while.
Also, a pleasure, we viewed ducks and geese along the way, as well as lily pads aplenty. We plied the river for about an hour before turning back. Along the way several nice homes were seen but mostly bush grew along the shores. Although it wasn’t a northern Ontario adventure, it was quiet enough and good for our first foray in years.
But you can also travel to St. Marys for the arts, see the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, for the food and more. And architecture. The Town is known as, “Stonetown,” due to the abundance of limestone in the area. St. Marys two large trestle bridges sit across waterways on limestone pillars.
Along the banks, limestone was close to the surface and could be quarried for building materials. That’s why you can find many limestone buildings and homes—large and small—as you tour the streets, many dating back to the 19th century. One, the Opera House, is currently used as an apartment which overlooks the river and falls.
St. Marys offers a picturesque experience anytime, but in winter you can bundle up and traverse one of the trails on snowshoes and enjoy the light show at the falls.
Have we tired of going to St. Marys yet? No! There is lots to see and do and a drive there anytime is recommended.
