What a time of the year for change, especially in 2020. Below is a hiking tour video of Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, northwest of Toronto. The footage was captured shortly after the parks reopened after being closed due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Along the way, I noticed a tree at the end of the park’s kettle lake that I thought would make a great photograph. The buds of the willow were just starting to burst with that great springtime lime green. The tree was isolated at the end of the small lake and sat right on the edge of the water.
I resolved to return as soon as I could. And I did.
Less than a week went by before I made my return. I started my hike in before sunrise, although arriving shortly after the orb popped up over the horizon. The skies were completely cloudless and the steep grade on the east side of the lake ensured no harsh light for some time after the sunrise.
But, the scene I expected had changed. For the better. The tree was considerably further along in it’s leaf growth but still attractive. But, it was no longer the highlight. The black cherry trees had started to blossom since my last visit providing blasts of white, mixed in with the other spring colours. Plus, a mist was hovering on top of the glass-like waters of the kettle lake.
More details below the photos and video…
Forks Of The Credit Kettle Lake Image Gallery
The photos below may be slightly cropped to fit the gallery format. For full-size versions, simply click on the individual pictures. At the bottom left is the tree I originally went to photograph.
High resolution versions of these images and other photos from the same day are available at Dreamstime. Want to earn cash from your own photos? Why not sign up for free with Dreamstime and start submitting now: Become a paid photographer!
Forks Of The Credit Trail Video
The following video was captured just a few days before the photos above were taken. If you like what you see, please give it a ‘Thumb’s Up’! We would be forever grateful if you’d consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel.
Video edited with Corel VideoStudio Ultimate 2018.
Sometimes Change Comes Fast
It was an interesting week at the end of an interesting couple of months. Just when it seemed the lockdown and winter would last for ever, places began to open up and spring sprinted towards summer.
But, with the opening up of open spaces like this day-use provincial park and the suddenly pleasant weather, the inevitable crowds arrived. On the weekends, parking lots were packed tighter than the height of fall colours season. Trails that rarely see much human traffic were now looking like pedestrian highways.
Change is fast. Trees went from barely budding to full leaf in just a few weeks. Temperatures changed drastically, altering the chances for early morning frost (see this article on Hockley Valley Provincial Nature Reserve) and mist on the water. The sunrise times sped earlier and earlier until wakeup times were pushed as early as 3:30am if you wanted to actually be somewhere photogenic for those pre-sunrise colours.
Then, it all seems to slow right down. Leaves were out, just as they’d be for the rest of the summer months. The sun seemed to freeze it’s route across the sky with the sunrise and sunset being relatively the same for the next few months.
Over that short two weeks or so, there really is a limited time to capture the beauty of springtime in Ontario. And then it’s gone for another year…
Social Distancing Lifestyle
We must keep two metres or six feet apart. Well, I’ve been practicing this for most of my life. Stay to the perimeter. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. If you’re heading into the crowd, be prepared. Know your exit plan.
In fact, when I travelled to the Northeastern United States in August, 2019 for three days to capture video, this lifestyle came to light when I crossed back into Canada. I was gone for three days. One of the first questions that was asked (and one that I’ve never been asked before) was if I’d talked to anyone.
I chuckled a bit at that one. Two gas station attendants. Two fast food restaurant employees. One homeless man in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts who I gave a few dollars to while stopped at a red light. Other than that, I travelled through many major U.S. cities, including NYC, in my own personal isolation bubble.
And that’s the way my family works. We travel a lot and experience a lot but we are simply natural social distancers. We’re not anti-social, by any means. We just feel much more comfortable and secure when we have our space.
