Lots of Life at Pink Lake

Pink Lake is one of the best trails for early hikers - those walking on their own who have a good bit of energy to burn - try them out around 3 or 4 years of age and up.  It's also good for babies in backpacks though there is a reasonable amount of climbing so be prepared for the extra workout (yours, not the baby's!). 

The hike takes about an hour to complete.  It has one path that is easy to navigate with wooden stairs up and down many of the hills (they also protected the sensitive shores from erosion), lots of lookouts, interpretative panels and benches along the way for a quick picnic.  

Best of all.....there is an abundance of life.  The water is typically teaming with tadpoles and tiny fish schools, there are plenty of frogs along the shoreline and if you're lucky you'll see families of garter snakes (there were lots today) and the odd turtle or two.

Garter snakes - totaly harmless, lovely to watch.    

A few facts (to impress your children):

• they are common throughout North America and can be found as far north as Alaska
• they were long thought to be non-venemous but do in fact produce a mild venom
• they have "large" teeth in the back of their mouths that help spread the venom
• they are meat eaters like all snakes.  They aren't fussy and will dine on anything they can overpower. 

The garter snakes can be found near the water and on the banks on the inland side of the path. Be gentle if you touch them and don't put them in your pockets! They should remain at the lake. According to Wikipedia (I'm no expert on garters) a bite can result in mild itchiness and swelling.

Frogs....many, many, many frogs.  Sitting on rocks, on logs, deep in the grass and swimming in the water.  Listen for the jumps and watch them carefuly - they're fast.

Turtles - sorry, no photos, though someone with a much better zoom than mine got a great shot of one sitting on a long about 15 feet from shore.

Practical Tips

• the best things are free (like this!)
• the Parkway is closed on Sunday mornings through the summer for bike days
• this is a sensitive environment and the Park works hard to deal with the erosion of its banks - please stay on the trail
• it is a very unique Lake and there are lots of interpretive signs with information
• there is also an abandoned mine!
• as anywhere, leave any critters you see in their wild home - they'll be happier
• you can access it from Gatineau Parkway off Tache Boulevard in Gatineau (about 1/2 hour drive to the hike from Kitchissippi)
• it is the turn just past the one for Pink Lake lookout
• it's about 2.5 km long and takes about an hour (more if you see a lot of critters!)
• there is a parking lot (that sometimes fills up)
• there are outhouses at the trailhead
• It is always very busy on Thanksgiving weekend - go very early or head just a little farther into the park to either King Mountain or Lariault Trail (equally good for a short hike with young climbers)
• for lots more information about Gatineau Park see http://www.guidegatineau.com/.

Things to bring when hiking (and particulary with kids)

• plenty of water and some snacks
• bug spray
• suntan lotion
• a couple of band-aids (it's easy to scrape a knee)
• binoculars (my most frequent forgotten item and the one the kids like the most)
• camera (try letting the kids take some shots if they're not too young)

Young kids are fast and with their light weights they climb easily.  They may leave you behind sooner than you think!

Doors Open Ottawa - Kitchissippi Style, June 5th and 6th

(For a paper list of Kitchissippi participants see my blurb in today's Kitchissippi Times)

In the spirit of discovering more of our own neighbourhood try out some of these local locations (photos appear at the end): Both Lemieux Island and Traffic Operations are on the city's "kid-friendly" list but don't let that stop you from visiting the others as well. Kids have a remarkable ability to appreciate unique environments whether they're deemed kid-friendly or not!

• the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral at 1000 Byron Avenue, (closed Saturday, open Sunday noon-4)
• the Keg Manor on Richmond Road, 529 Richmond Road (closed Saturday) and MapleLawn Gardens at the same location
• Lemieux Island Water Purification Plant at 1 River Street.
• the Ottawa Mosque at 251 Northwestern Avenue
• St. Francois d'Assisse Church at 20 Fairmont Avenue
• The Standard Bread Company Building which houses both the Enriched Bread Artists at 951 Gladstone Avenue and the Gladstone Clayworks Co-op Pottery Studio at 949b Gladstone Avenue
• Traffic Operations Public Works at 175 Loretta Avenue (virtually across the street from the Standard Bread Co.)

My other further-afield picks from the kids' list are Sun-Tech Tomatoes together with Watsons Mill in Manotick (see my blog posts on these from 2 weeks ago), the Diefenbunker, the OCTranspo Walkely O-Train maintenance facility and the Ottawa Mail Processing Plant.

Sunday Excursion - Sun-Tech Tomatoes

On Sunday we went to viisit the Sun-Tech greenhouses (http://www.suntech.ca/). I had thought of it a while back in the context of learning about local produce and researching where to buy fresh food - they grow tomatoes, cucumber, eggplant and beans. We learnt a few things (1) Sunday is actually the worst day to go because very few people are working and so there is really no one who can show you around.  Any other day is better - Saturdays are fine. That being said the 1 person who was working was willing enough to leave the shop and take us into the greenhouse...and she knew what she was talking about..  (2) Don't go if you're allergic to bees.  There are hundreds of bumblebees in the greenhouse.  They're friendly bees because they live in a great bee environment with lots of plants, but they are bees.  (3) Sun-Tech will be part of Doors Open Ottawa on June 5th and 6th.

If your children want to run around outside there is lots of space but I would still recommend combining this outing with something else - our choice was Watson's grist and flour Mill in Manotick (http://www.watsonsmill.com/).