Get Out

This pandemic may have put a full stop to fun stuff like travel and eating out. But that doesn’t mean we can’t get outside!

Public health officials are pushing the main message to “Stay Home” but they’re also telling us to exercise and get outdoors so we can strengthen our immune systems, increase our defenses against COVID-19, and give a much-needed boost our mental health. So we wanted to offer a few options fo taking full advantage of the fresh air and wild spaces around us while maintaining our duty of social distancing (which, BTW, we prefer to think of as “physical distancing”). 

Before we continue, let’s cover a few basics.
• All information is based on recommendations as of March 26, 2020. Please turn to the EOHU for the most accurate and updated information. 
• Obey all government directives. Do not venture into areas that have been closed. 
• Keep your distance: Stay a minimum of 6 feet away from others (unless you are already living with them).
• This information is for people who are symptom-free, who have not left the country recently, and have not been in contact with people diagnosed with COVID-19.

Now onto the good stuff: Where to find open spaces, sanity and deep, cleansing breaths.

Take a walk.

Not to get too hippy-dippy on you but… long walks in the woods are good for you. The sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves, and the smell of the musky trees are all stress relievers. We could use a little relief right now, n’est ce pas?

Glengarry Trails, Alexandria: This 15-kilometre trail showcases the woodlands and wetlands of the Garry River watershed. A good place to start is at Alexandria Island Park where you can take in serene views of Mill Pond.

Reveler Conservation Area, Crysler; Cooper Marsh Conservation Area, Summerstown; and the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Ingleside: If you visit any of these three places, bring binoculars. These sprawling spaces support 109, 130 and 150 bird species respectively. 

Two Creeks Conservation Area, Morrisburg and Berwick trails: Be one with biodiversity! According to the South Nation Conservation Authority, of all the ecoregions in Canada, the type of forest found here contains the greatest number of living species!

Lamoureux Park, Cornwall: The crown jewel of the Cornwall waterfront! The playground and exercise equipment may be closed to the public for the time being, but there’s still lots of space to roam freely, sit by the riverfront, and see other people who are out and about.

Ride Your Bike.

This certainly isn’t the time for group riding but rolling with people you live with is just fine.

Summerstown Trails, Summerstown: Explore the spiderweb of more than 20 kilometres of trails. 

Waterfront Trail, Morrisburg to Bainsville: Ride to your heart’s content while taking in soothing views of the waterfront. If you have kids, you might consider riding the section on the St. Lawrence Parkway. It’s still shut down to traffic so you can have a safe and enjoyable family ride. [ UPDATE, April 1: Parks of the St. Lawrence have now closed the St. Lawrence Parkway to visitors. Please visit their site for further details.] 

The Peanut Line, Cornwall to the Quebec border: A fabulous rails-to-trails project with more than 40 kilometres of relatively easy riding (gravel or mountain bike required), most of which snakes through South Glengarry. Interesting fact: The Glengarry & Stormont Railway opened this rail line in 1915 and eventually nicknamed it “The Peanut Line”. 

Plant a Geocache.

Have you heard of geocaching? It’s a treasure hunting game where you use a GPS to hide and seek containers. Given the circumstances, we can’t in all good conscience recommend looking for and grabbing geocaches. But we encourage you to start planting some! 

Step 1: Start by visiting geocaching.com* to see all the existing drop spots in our region then figure out where you might like to place your box.
Step 2: Gather your supplies: a waterproof container (inexpensive plastic containers work just fine) a logbook and pencil (for people to record when they’ve found your geocache), inexpensive treasures (plastic dinosaurs, party favours, any small item you step on regularly at home), found items (shells, lucky pennies, feathers, pinecones), etc. 
Step 3: Plant your geocache in your location of choice and log your coordinates using a GPS (or an app on your smartphone). 
Step 4: Record your geocache on geochaching.com.
Step 5: Wait it out. Once this whole crisis is over, we can all get out and root for your treasures!

* Free signup required.

Feeling inspired to leave the indoors behind? Ready to get some fresh air and sunshine? See you out there (from afar)!