Our destination last sunday was the old pier and shipyards of Collingwood's Harbour. I knew the shipyards had closed and development for townhouses was taking over, but I didn't know how much public access was allowed. Turns out, quite a bit.
Heading east we passed below the Georgian Peaks Ski Club, the highest and steepest of the slopes that make up the 'Blue Mountains'.
It didn't take us long to get over to Collingwood's Harbour, though there's not much of a harbour left compared to 50 years ago.
We discovered immediately that you could drive out along the long pier sticking out into the bay, on a now public 'Heritage Drive' that ends in Millenium Park. Along the way we passed the ole now-unused grain elevators.
The backside is not nearly as clean as the front. The elevators have stood empty now since 1993, but the town hasn't decided what to do with them. Dismantling a huge cement structure like this is not easy or cheap!
In the distance we could see a number of the ski runs at the Blue Mountain Resort, the only remaining public ski hill here.
They have saved a few bits of old machinery from the shipyards, but not much! Tomorrow we'll look at the sad remnants.
I wonder where the wheat came from when, in the 1960's, Hugh took his truck into the wharf in Auckland and loaded up 8 ton or so of wheat from the Canada shipment, this was once a month for some time. Then we both shovelled it off, with hand shovels!!! No-one does that today, all done with hopper trucks. I love the sign on the huge building. Beaut photo of the ski runs.
ReplyDeleteWe visited the Collingwood Harbor last summer. It was really lovely there. A children's sailing class was just coming in from their instructions on the water. It was so joyful.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a nice day out, and you actually saw the sun!!
ReplyDeleteToo bad the grain elevators can't be repurposed, but ...
ReplyDeletewow...it's been 40 years since I've skied
ReplyDeletenice mood in those shots
It's been years since I've been up at Collingwood. Beautiful captures.
ReplyDeleteHi Furry....
ReplyDeleteQuite an ice show down at the cottage yesterday...lovely to photograph!
Glad to see you are making progress...
Cheers!
Linda :o)
That is a big ski area! Looks like a nice day out exploring! :)
ReplyDeleteI just cannot believe that these structures cannot be turned into new use in some way. They have a history and rustic charm of their own.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the pictures, they are wonderful! I love the ole now-unused grain elevators, maybe some talented youth will paint the back at least with those beautiful murals.
ReplyDeleteLooks like such a nice day to be out...we have sun today, too, for the first time in over a week. I sure would have enjoyed your drive.
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see your photographs :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Owen Sound is one of those places I have only ever driven through maybe twice in my whole life. Must have been interesting around those ship building dockyards and I wished I had been interested in that sort of thing years ago. The interests are here now but the shipbuilding is long gone.
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