It was unusually hot yesterday and no, it won’t last—days are getting shorter, nights are getting cooler, leaves are falling, fall is calling.
But it’s okay because fall can be a lovely season in Canada. The scenery is amazing when trees start to turn red, orange and yellow—the same street looks different every day!
One of the best places to see the early fall colours is Gatineau Park, just across the Ottawa River, in Quebec. It’s so popular that the National Capital Commission suggested in a Friday news release to “get your fill of fall somewhere other than Gatineau Park this year” as COVID-19 cases continue to climb.
I get it. But at the same time… no, not really because Gatineau Park is huge, 361.3 km² exactly. We should be able to take a walk without starting Ottawa’s latest cluster, right? This is what annoys me with current COVID-19’s messaging—everything is “bad behaviour” regardless of the actual risk level. It’s getting confusing and frustrating. I understand why it’s probably a bad idea to go to a crowded bar but I think it’s relatively safe to be outdoors, even if we pass a few strangers.
“If it’s too busy, then we’ll go somewhere else!”
Most parking lots were closed—“yes, Mark, because of COVID”—but we eventually found one close enough to Mackenzie King Estate. I don’t understand that either, wouldn’t it be better to leave plenty of parking lots open to have more trails available where people can spread out?
Anyway, Mackenzie King Estate wasn’t crowded and we were able to do the usual Canadian fall park visit routine—checking out the leaves, fighting off bugs, climbing trees and running around.
When we were camping, many bathrooms were closed because of COVID. Meaning all the campers were going to the same one which was crowded. I mean… ?!? We now call it canadian logic.
Those trees are gorgeous. We were impressed to see they truly change color after every night!
I felt the same when all bathrooms were locked in the spring and summer. Like, isn’t it wiser to encourage people to wash hands???
Les parcs sont fermés en Ontario?
Je ne pense pas, j’ai pas vérifié. Il y a des restrictions, mais je ne sais pas lesquelles. POur nous, à Ottawa, le parc le plus accessible c’est le parc de la Gatineau, techniquement au Québec, mais à dix minutes de voiture.
Wow, the colours are already amazing ! Love those pinkish-orange leaves. And I still love the pictures of you in the tree 😉
Thank you!
It shows in your pictures that you are much higher “up North” than we are. The leaves are only starting to change colors now. But I agree, fall is a beautiful season, as long as it doesn’t start raining too much… I’ve been wanting to go apple picking (such a Canadian fall thing to do too !) but every year we miss the chance to organize the outing !
Yep, and my friend in Montreal was reporting on her own fall colours a couple of weeks ago. That said, Gatineau Park plays the fall rapsody earlier than most places in Ottawa because of the elevation. In my area (i.e. at sea level) it’s just starting.