I have always wanted to visit Point Pelee National Park. Not so much to watch the birds as what most people go there for, but more to visit the southernmost tip of Canada. I almost went there last summer, but changed my mind after reading that they have flies that bit. Ugh – that’s just it for me. Bugs love me, and obviously the feeling is not mutual. I kind of forgot about it until winter came. I figured the flies would not be there in the winter, so that’s when I should go!
It was a beautiful warm winter day at 10 degree Celsius. I was not the only one thinking about going to the park. There were cars lining up into the park entrance, and it took me almost 30 minutes before I finally passed the entrance. But it was not too bad inside, and it was well worth it.
My first stop was at the Park Orientation area. It was a small beach, with some map there. While the parking lot was full, nobody else was around at the time. But as I got to the beach, I was stunned by what looks line an ice sheet formation on the beach.
Looking at the piles of ice sheet on the beach, on a sunny day was just amazing. They were probably brought to the shore by the wave and formed a long “barrier” on the beach. There was still some ice on the surface of the water, creating a view I never thought I would see on a beach. I don’t think I will ever fully comprehend winter, but I will just appreciate the beauty it brings.
I enjoyed my solitary moment on the “ice beach” for a while, with one bird flying around. Was the bird one that embraced the cold and come back early because the winter had been so mild?
I then went on to another beach, that seemed to be more popular. The ice was thinner on this other beach, and there was no ice formation on the beach. There were people enjoying walk on the beach, children playing around, and there was this couple doing barbecue and the girl was wearing short!! Yeah – it was warm enough for some people to wear short (not me, I need my winter jacket, thank you).
The Visitor Centre was pretty nice. and the staff was pretty nice and helpful with the information. They had some interesting displays there but I did not stay there too long because it was crowded. But it sure looked like the kids are having fun there.
The tip was about 2 km from the Visitor Centre. You can drive there, but the parking spot was limited, so they had to control the number of cars going to the tip. I ended up leaving my car on the Visitor Centre parking lot and walk to the tip. It took me about 30 minutes and it was a nice and easy hike. You can walk on the road or through the path. I prefer the path because I could enjoy the view of the water (as well as not risking getting hit by a car)
Near the tip, the ice was at smaller size and floating near the beach, and it was really pretty with the sun reflection on them.
At the end, I was glad I went to the park. It was really nice and now I know how the beach (might) look like in the winter. I might actually go to the beach more often in the winter. Unfortunately I did not stay long enough to see the boardwalk, but hey – that gives me a reason to come back…
The main picture here (on the top of the page) was the tip. With some ice there it is not easy to see.
