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.,Local area virtual haven for outdoor enthusiasts Conservation Halton offers spots idealigr both hiking and biking By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion S pring is in the air -and outdoor enîth u si as ts couldn't be happier. 1-spectally Milionians -or ai leasi ihose ihat know about the vast array of iiearby desti- nations perleci l-or recreational excurstions. For those that don't - and are hoping to shake off the inactive nisi of a lengthy winter ¶- the oullyîng area boasis sv eral spots ideal for hikiiig and biking. Something for everyone tUnder Conservation Haion's umibrella, ihese parks olfer soineihing tor everyone - wheîher it be a fiiness junkie loiking for a labo)ur-intensive workoui or a tamily jus, hoping to take a leisurely stroîl through scefltc surTouiidings. -We've got some widc wheelchair accessible traits ai Mountsberg, white some trails ai Rattlesnake Point and Crawlord Lake can take up to a couple of hours and are great l'or the more advanced hiker,' said Susan O'Ncil. marketing coordinator for Conservation Halion. ,Wc'rc well known l or our hiking, no matter what the dif- licully level.' Stiniulating experience And white uts truc a bnisk walk aîîywhere o)ffers signili - cant physical benefils. a trip through a picturesque conser- vation area can stimulale a per- so s senses as well as their muscles. Said Ms O'Neil, "Ai Mount Nemo for example, there's sOrne greal look-ouls of the escarprueft white ai Hilton FaIts yoo'vc gol a perfect relaxing po)int aI the faits." Meanwhile. Conservation 1laiton has just as many oppor- tuflittes lor those looking to pedal their way int spning. iliton Falls Conservation Arca is geared towards the beginner cyclisi while more advanced traits can be found at Kelso and Mountsberg conser- vation areas. The nearby parks flot only otier recreattotial varicty, but value as well. Conservation Halton has season passes for $4.5 a person or $75 a tamily ihat provide access to every park. -Tbat's about a quarter of the price of a gym memhcrship," said Ms O'Neil. "We've also got value packs for $301 that include tour one- day passes so people can see what they like before commit- ttng bo a season pass.- Rock climbing at Rattlesnake Point Conservation Halton even ofl1ers rock climbing ai Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area and when the weather gels a litle warmer will have swimming and sailing opportu- nites available ai Kelso Conservation Area. For the animal lover in the tamily, Mountsberg Conservation Area oflers the chance to sec plenty of birds of prey plus bigger creatures like bison and elk - no( to mentionî a number group excursions like ils upcomiîîg frog watcher's bike. Said Ms O'Neil. There's s0 many îhings available aIl with- in albout 15 minutes (of cdown- îown Milton). -There rcally is something for everone." To find oui more about spe- cifie evenîs ai any of the local sites, visil the Conservation Halion's websile ai www.con- s-ervationhaltonion.ca. Iwon 't be tip-toeing through the tulips anytime soon My big toc horts. My big toc hurts a lot. My big toc hurts ail thc lime. and my big toc han been hurting for almost a month. Il ail stared wîi a rather innocent exhibition of strength and skill. At certain hockey arenas, 1 cas bold onto lIme railing and nîretch straight oui so that my feet are fiat against thc watt off Uic groond. It's pretty impressive. if I do say so mysîlf. Usually. 1 only do it 10 impress the kids, bccause îhcy're no( big enoogh to reach the wall, and because thal's ail I cas usually împress. But Ibis parlicular lime. 1 was showîng Uic adults my gecat skill as wc waited for lthe tcams 10 retors afier intermissioni. Somnething wasn't nighl - the watt was cither weî or oneven, because I came crashing down on my foot, which of course is headed up by lhe big toc. After everybody tiniished laughing, some- body asked mie if I was okay. 1 wasn't, but 1 was- nIt letting on for a second. Later that night, il hurt so badly 1 couldn't slep. The same the nexi day. I didn't go 10 dic bospital, for a nombe of reasons. Actually. for a lot of reasons. Tise tirst was that il hurt ioo much. and if somnebody there tooched il. it ssould hurt even more. Thal's the reason 1 didn't put ice on it. as well. 1 don't putlice on anything, because I don't like the way il feels. usoally worse than the pain isell. Another rea- mother tells you t0 make sure you have on ciean underwear in case you gel in an accident. Weil, 1 hadn't cul my îoenail and I couldn'l do it then because it hurt too much. On the Finally, the last reasn I didn'l go abeus my experience is thal pain always gocs away loose evenîually. Unless something is broken, but ee if a 10e il broken they don't put a casi on it. vvith~ ~ MURY*ONE Sitting around in the emergency waiting room for themn îo tell me somnething 1 already knew son was Ihat l'vc burt my toc in the pasi and didn'i make a lot of sense. know there's not much îhey can do wîth il. Truc 10 my philosophy, withîn a fcw days 1 Thirdly. when 1 pulled off my sock 1 could sec could put on my shoc in less than 10 minutes. that 1 had flot eut the nail on thal particolar toc - mee MY BIG TOIE on page 15 --- - - - - . . . . - . . . .