Walking at Samuel Wilmot Nature Area

 This time of year can be pretty sucky for some people, myself included. The older I get, it seems the reduced number of daylight hours each day affects me more and more. This week I started to take my vitamin D supplements and I hope that will help stave off this inevitable bout of Seasonal Affective Disorder. 

Logically, I know that getting outside and getting some fresh air and exercise will make me feel better, but it feels really difficult when I'm in the thick of SAD to get up off the couch. 

I reached out to my good friend Terri to see if she'd like to go for a walk, and was really glad she said yes. I picked her up, stopped off for a coffee (Regular Cinnamon Bun from Skylight here in town) and we headed toward Newcastle.

Samuel Wilmot Nature Area is pretty easy to get to...just hang a right off Highway 2 if you're heading east from Bowmanville toward Newcastle. There's a blue sign that will show you where to turn if you're not sure. Head down Cobbledick Road and the parking lot is on the left, near the back entrance to the Wilmot Creek retirement community.

There's ample parking, although the lot isn't paved. Lots of folks walk their dogs on these trails, so be prepared if this is a problem for you or your family members.

The trail is pretty well maintained this time of year, and there's lots of potential for seeing some interesting birds. You could walk, jog or even ride a bicycle on the gravel paths. 

There are some huge maples along the creek, and the orange colours are really vibrant, still. 

The trail veers off in a couple of different directions...in one direction you'll find a look-out deck, where you can look at Wilmot Creek and the water birds below. If you head toward the lake, you'll find...well, the lake! Be careful, though, the edge of the cliff is not fenced off in any way, and it's a steep drop to the stones below. I sure wouldn't want to fall off that edge. 

Lake Ontario looked beautiful yesterday. It's amazing how we manage to forget just how close to the shore of Lake Ontario we live. 

If you look west, you'll see St. Mary's Cement and Ontario Power Generation. On a clear day, you might even see all the way to the CN Tower in Toronto.

There are benches and garbage bins along the trail, so bringing a snack or picnic lunch would be a snap. There are no washrooms at this location.