The Comfort Maple Tree, the Shoe Tree, and a little life update, ON

So there has been a change since my last post… We have moved!

We are now in a house rather than a trailer, which is perfect timing as the winter months are drawing closer. We are in quite a unique situation actually. If you’ve ever watched The Holiday you will probably be thinking this sounds familiar, if you haven’t watched it, go watch it! It’s a nice Christmas film best enjoyed with a hot chocolate… Anyway, I’m going off track here… Around a month ago, we were browsing online one evening and came across an advert for a short term rental. The ad was posted by a couple the same age as us, who are getting married in Scotland and then touring Europe for their honey moon (how amazing is it?). They were looking to rent their home whilst they’re away, on the condition that their three cats are looked after. Of course we jumped at this chance and were very excited, especially Mitch as he is a big cat lover. We moved in last week and the house is beautiful and so big! (Although after living in a trailer, everything else feels huge ha ha). The couple are so nice and we really like them and the cats are all adorable, so all in all its worked out perfectly.

We are still working the same jobs so nothing else has changed. I write this every time I mention my job but I’m going to write it again… I love my job!

With nothing else to update, let me tell you about my visit to Canada’s oldest tree and to one of it’s more unusual trees.

Found in the town of Pelham, Ontario, Canada’s oldest maple tree stands proudly at 24.5 metres (80 ft) tall in the Comfort Maple Conservation Area. Estimated to be around 500 years old, this tree is protected by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA).

The tree is named after the Comfort family, who owned the land for 145 years before entrusting it to the NPCA to conserve the tree.

Although loved and cared for, the Comfort Maple’s life has not been an easy one. It has been struck by lightning at least once, and was recently found to be afflicted with rot. In some places the wounds in the trunk have been filled in with bricks and cement, and guy wires have been rigged to help hold up the heavy branches. Although not in it’s best shape, the Comfort Maple defies odds year after year when it produces another show of glorious new leaves.

Over the years the tree has had a few fallen branches which are given a new life being hand made into pens. You can check them out here. I think I will be buying myself one closer to Christmas as a gift from me to me (need an excuse of course ha ha). (Please note, not an affiliate link I just think its cool and love the pen!)

With parking right in front of the tree, this was a perfect place to stop to some of Canada’s history and appreciate the work gone into preserving such a magnificent tree.

The second tree in this post is not even nearly as impressive but it’s fun to see. This is Ontario’s Shoe Tree which is probably exactly as you would imagine. Over the years Canadians have been tying their shoe laces together and getting them stuck in this tree, to remain there for the rest of their days. This is just on the side of a main road and serves as a fun land mark for those travelling. I was wearing flip flops at the time and still being quite early on into my journey, I don’t have any shoes to throw. It reminds me of the shoe fence and abandoned toilet I saw when I visited Wave Rock in Australia.

I write this under the watchful gaze of the three cats. I’m not sure what they want… petting, playing, treats? I’m going to try and find out.

Thanks for reading!