I had an interesting mystery to solve for BayToday this afternoon. I was working on a story from the Conservation Authority about flood mapping and one of the waterways was Lansdowne Creek in the Municipality of Callander. I needed a photo, and being one of the nicest days yet, I took my motorcycle, so I'm not complaining. I had a map that showed the creek and I kept my eyes peeled for anything resembling a waterway. I slowly drove from one end of Main St. to the other...nothing. A man was walking his dog so I stopped and asked if he knew where the creek was. He'd never heard of it. Undeterred, I rode down Main again stopping to ask a woman with a stroller if she was a local, and if she knew where Lansdowne Creek was located. She was, but had never heard of the creek. I checked my map again and it showed the creek emptying near the town's marina so I pulled in. The receptionist was very pleasant, but looked at me quizically when I mentioned I was a reporter looking for Lansdowne Creek. She'd never heard of it either. This mystery was driving me nuts!!! I figured if anyone knew where this friggin' creek was, it must be someone at the town office. The gentleman at the desk was very helpful, but didn't know either. Luckily, he said he knew of someone who might know and disappeared into a rear office. When he reappeared a few minutes later he was holding a map showing the route of the creek through town. The mystery was solved when he said the creek was underground and only visible at a couple of short openings in an area a few hundred yards from Callander Bay. Sure enough, there it was. If you blink you miss it. It's more a series of culverts than a traditional creek but there it was. I took a couple of photos, got back on my bike and enjoyed a ride back to the office. Here's a challenge. Next time you are in Callander, see if you can find Lansdowne Creek, or more fun, ask a local to tell you:) You can find a photo and the story below.
I had an interesting mystery to solve for BayToday this afternoon.
I was working on a story from the Conservation Authority about flood mapping and one of the waterways was Lansdowne Creek in the Municipality of Callander.
I needed a photo, and being one of the nicest days yet, I took my motorcycle, so I'm not complaining.
I had a map that showed the creek and I kept my eyes peeled for anything resembling a waterway. I slowly drove from one end of Main St. to the other...nothing.
A man was walking his dog so I stopped and asked if he knew where the creek was. He'd never heard of it.
Undeterred, I rode down Main again stopping to ask a woman with a stroller if she was a local, and if she knew where Lansdowne Creek was located. She was, but had never heard of the creek.
I checked my map again and it showed the creek emptying near the town's marina so I pulled in. The receptionist was very pleasant, but looked at me quizically when I mentioned I was a reporter looking for Lansdowne Creek. She'd never heard of it either.
This mystery was driving me nuts!!!
I figured if anyone knew where this friggin' creek was, it must be someone at the town office.
The gentleman at the desk was very helpful, but didn't know either. Luckily, he said he knew of someone who might know and disappeared into a rear office.
When he reappeared a few minutes later he was holding a map showing the route of the creek through town.
The mystery was solved when he said the creek was underground and only visible at a couple of short openings in an area a few hundred yards from Callander Bay.
Sure enough, there it was. If you blink you miss it. It's more a series of culverts than a traditional creek but there it was.
I took a couple of photos, got back on my bike and enjoyed a ride back to the office.
Here's a challenge. Next time you are in Callander, see if you can find Lansdowne Creek, or more fun, ask a local to tell you:)
You can find a photo and the story below.