Saturday morning i went to the Purple Woods Conservation Area Maple Syrup Festival.

I was driving along the 7th concession north of Hampton, when i saw this small... pond? lake? flooded area? I had to stop for some pics.

A composite of 4 shots - stupid tell-tale wire, lol.

The conservation area was so busy, i had to park on the road, rather than the parking lot.

I started on the trail down to the sugar shack. I think is is some sort of traditional native shelter.

A tap and pail, but no tube (the plastic behind is a barrier to keep people on the trails).

The sap isn't running! Need to have cold nights and mild days.

More learnin'.

The sugaring area (sugar shack to the left).

Looking back up the trail.

What th'?

Seriously, what th'...

Inside the sugar shack. Turns out that's not sap boiling down, it's water. D'oh! They haven't got any sap.

Well, they did have some stuff mostly boiled down.

A picnic area above.

The sugar shack from the outside.

Pioneer sugaring, i believe.

I followed the trail behind the picnic area.

Here comes the horse rides from back at the sugar shack.

Kind of wish they looked like a Cornelius Krieghoff painting, lol.

Hey, this is where Russ and i took photos back in January! No snow now.

Back down towards the main trail - that's the railroad from the side (it's pretty high compared to the sugar trail).

Back down beside the sugar shack.

The pioneers' fire. Wait - later on is Earth Hour, lol.

On the trail back to the entrance.

Looking back.

Looking up again.

Back at the top, looking south from a lookout towards Lake Ontario, about 20 kilometres away (composite shot).

There was a tent serving pancakes with maple syrup.

Okay, it appears to be swimming in maple syrup, but i didn't eat it all, lol. I hate dry pancakes. They had an odd smoky taste, but were better than McDonalds, lol.

Later the same day, i read a travel article about a bigger, more touristy maple festival in Quebec - i think i'd like to try something like that.