Windy Pines Conference Centre

Windy Pine Conference Centre on the shore of Lake Kushog consists of 6 cabins owned by the Canadian Studies Department of Trent University.  For more information, please visit the official site.

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to help out with season-opening of the centre, as well as exploring this area for the first time.

Back of the main cabin.  The cabin has a very homely feel to it, with a functional kitchen, bathroom, fireplace, bedroom, and more.


Directions.

The woods.

Accompanying us were two dogs - Bronte and Noble, both provided endless entertainment for us humans.

Bronte

Noble

The two dogs sharing a stick together




Both dogs enjoying the view, I think.


Bronte found a dead Lake Trout, which we had a hard time trying to coax her to drop it.


One of the rare moments when both dogs are actually still, even if it's just for a second.

Even though it's a bit early in the season, there were several species of plants flowering already.

Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)


T. grandiflorum

Unknown flowers.


Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens)


Fly honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis)


Skunk currant (Ribes glandulosum)


Forget-me-nots

Leaves of Canada Mayflowers (Maianthemum canadense)


Blueberry flowers (Vaccinium sp.)

When we first arrived, the weather was overcast and cool.

Lake Kushog




But once we started our hike, the clouds started to break up.


Walking along the lake shore






Love the textures of the Red Pine bark

We came across a pretty little waterfall

Our endpoint - one of the highest points in the area


Sporangia


Field cricket

Walking back down with the dogs leading the way

Water droplets on spider web

The centre also has canoes, paddles, and life-jackets to borrow and use.

The weather is turning out to be beautiful

One of us brought their own kayak


Property belonging to the Leslie Frost Centre

Because it's still early in the season, there was very little traffic on the water.  But once May long-weekend and summer begins, this place is going to be packed and noisy.

What a beautiful area

Colours of the dusk as we finished dinner and headed back to Peterborough

What a beautiful spot, and I can't wait to come back again!