Tuesday, September 16

The Grand River Valley

I was looking through some old photos today and came upon these of locations along the Grand River.

The Grand River is a large river in southwestern Ontario. From its source, it flows south through Grand Valley, Fergus, Elora, Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Paris, Brantford, Caledonia, and Cayuga before emptying into the north shore of Lake Erie south of Dunnville at Port Maitland.

The Grand River's source is in Riverview, Ontario. It starts more like a stream but as it flows south, it becomes wider and more powerful. Some scenes of the river are serene and it looks so peaceful. At other places, it has a swift current and looks mighty.

The above picture was taken in the spring of the year. The water is high here and the current is swift and strong.
Elora Gorge is a pretty spot. I love going there. The river is so pretty as it narrows to flow through the gorge.
At West Montrose, Ontario, the Grand runs under this beautiful covered bridge. Locals call it "The Kissing Bridge."
The beautiful canyon above is near Cambridge, Ontario. Isn't this a beautiful place with the water running through the rolling hills and forests?
This spot in Cambridge, Ontario used to be an old mill, I believe. Before the towns of Hespler, Galt and Preston were amalgamated and became Cambridge, this was located in Galt, Ontario.
It is a quaint little town situated on the banks of the Grand.
Another of Galt/Cambridge. This town was founded in 1817 and many buildings are stone, which reflects the architecture of that era.
Paris, Ontario is also a quaint little town. It was established by Hiram Capron in 1829. Many of the buildings (shown here from the back) are still original from that era. This area often floods into the basements of small businesses in the spring.

A great fishing hole along the Grand. It could be one of hundreds. A beautiful spot to be sure. Great Blue Herons and Bald eagles can be seen at some spots along the Grand.
This is the Grand River near Dunnville, Ontario, where it empties into Lake Erie. The Grand is almost 200 miles long and there are many walking trails along its banks. Fishermen love the Grand, as there are a wide variety of fish species found here, including catfish, northern pike, perch, pickerel and others. It's seldom that you cast your line into the Grand without catching a fish. Rock, smallmouth and black bass are also found here. Almost 1,000,000 people live along its banks.

I hope you enjoyed your tour of the Grand River. Once the leaves turn, I'm going to go for a drive and take some pictures of the beautiful autumn foliage. I do hope there are a lot of reds and oranges this year. ~Blessings, Mary~

17 comments:

  1. The photos were great and the tour was splendid. I can understand why it is called "Grand".

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  2. Mary, thank you for taking me one the tour. Hugs and Blessings.Mike G. said taht!

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  3. What beautiful pictures. I love rivers any way and that one looks so clean and refreshing. Thank you for sharing with us.

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  4. It's a beautiful river and I love the bridge too. We live about 3 miles from a large river that runs through southwest Michigan. It is also the Grand River!

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  5. Thank you Mary for a grand tour of your Grand River! The photos are breathtaking! Beautiful country up there. Also thank you so much for the Autumn Friend award, he is so cute, I will post him in the morning. You are such a thoughtful doll! Hugs!!!

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  6. I was hoping to plan another summer vacation to your neck of the woods and you have given me some ideas to consider visiting. Thanks!

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  7. Gosh no wonder they call it the Grand River - it's huge and also beautiful :-)

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  8. Mary, you know how much I love this river. Your pictures are great! It would be a good trip following it from its source to the mouth. (especially in the fall....hmmm)

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  9. What wonderful photos, Mary. There's something about a river that is so enchanting to me.
    And, I have always LOVED covered bridges and never, ever got to really see one.
    Thanks!

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  10. I did....I absolutely did enjoy the tour. As I've never been to Canada this show of such beauty makes me want to go someday.

    Love the covered bridge...makes me think of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and Icabod. But, if it's known as the 'kissing bridge' by the locals, I can kinda figure out why. LOL

    Lovely lovely tour.

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  11. Thanks for the tour of the lovely Grand River … methinks I’d love to see it in person, but enjoyed all your beautiful pictures. I’m almost wordless at Sacred Ruminations this morning but have shared awards (rather wordily) at Small Reflections. Hope you’ll find time to visit.
    Hugs and blessings,

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  12. You know I love your tours. And that one was great. Love the pictures of the towns along the river and the history behind them.
    And of course you know I love fishing....show great to be able to catch all those different fish...meanwhile not fun for those who live close by and have those fish come for a visit in their basements. I know how that feels and smells.
    Thanks for the tour.

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  13. I didn't know much about the Grand River until Steve and I went to Cambridge and started driving around all the little towns around there. We've been to the Kissing Bridge a few times now and even had a picnic near it earlier this summer:-) Such beautiful pictures you share with us, dear Mary, and I loved learning even more about the mighty Grand River!! xoxo

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  14. Thank you for sharing such great pictures of the Grand River! They were beautiful!! I felt like I had been on a tour!! Love Grams

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  15. I loved seeing these photos. Such a lovely place to live. I love visiting little towns like that.
    Mama Bear

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  16. What a beautiful area. I remember seeing that bridge is one of Pea's posts (maybe this summer?)
    Loved reading about this area, Mary!
    hugs))

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  17. Mary,

    What a beautiful area! I love this tour. Thank you!

    Hugs,
    Tina

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