Pelee Point - Canada's most southern tip (so cool) Plus Wheatley Provincial Park

Turkey crossing

We are on the road by 8:30 am as Pelee Point is almost 2 hours away and we want the most time possible there. As we are leaving Pinery Provincial Park a couple turkeys mosey across the road...yesterday's animal crossing sign didn't warn us to watch for turkeys :)

Thames River in Southern Ontario

There is no real direct route to Pelee Point, so we meander the little country roads and enjoy the scenery. Once again the towns are often named after UK towns such as Essex, Chatham and Kent. We even cross the Thames River.

Canada's most southern point

Cool map of Canada - we are far south

We head into the visitors center for a quick look around and get oriented. 

Picture of a picture - spring song bird

We watch the 25 minute film and learn Pelee Point attracts around 250 species of songbirds during the spring migration. It acts as a rest stop for 100's of migratory birds during their journey north. Being fall, the song birds are long gone but there are birds of prey still hanging about. 

Picture of picture - Point Pelee reclaimed

There was a time in history where this point was severely over used and natural habitats destroyed. When one species was wiped out, they would hunt and kill another. Thankfully good people stepped in and Pelee Point became Canada's 9th National Park and the 1st one created for conservation. They actually took the land back from people and made them haul out homes that had been brought in. 

Indigenous Art in Visitors Center

Rare frogs outside visitors center

We unload the bikes and head to 'The Tip'

Moses Lunham

This 'Welcome to the Tip of Canada' sign is actually being replaced next week by a painting created by Moses Lunham, an Anishinaabe (Ojibway/Chippewa) First Nations artist from the Kettle Point First Nations reserve. We talk to him and he's very happy to have his photo taken with one section of the sign he is working on. 

On the way walking to the tip are these cool signs...shocking how far south we are at this 42nd Parallel sign. The tip is even a bit further walk south. 

42nd Parallel 

Such an amazing location - really nice being here :)

North 4600km, West 4400km, East 2400km

So close :)

Almost at The Point we take our shoes off and walk in Lake Erie :) 

This whole group of people leaves and we have the tip to ourselves. 

Pelee Point - 49.910 latitude 82.512 Longitude off our phones

We talk to a local who visits the point regularly and interestingly depending on the weather and sea state, the point moves around and once after a huge storm it was gone! Eventually the working waves brings it back again. 

Pelee Point

On the way back to our bikes we find this giant look out structure and head up for some views. 

Viewing structure we climb up

Last view of Pelee Point

Kayaks ready to go

We load the bikes and head to the Marsh and launch our kayaks for a quick trip out in the lagoon. 

Pelee Point Marsh - Wetland of International Significance

Marsh viewing platform

After our kayak we go up the marsh viewing platform. 

Sea of Cattails

This extensive wetland is a sea of cattails interspersed with ponds and channels, which support a vast array of life and it's a critical stopover for migratory birds. 

View of parking lot a boat rental site

We quickly walk the marsh loop boardwalk and then get on the road to Wheatley Provincial Park, our next staging area for 2 nights. 

It's after 7pm by the time we get set up so it's a quick supper and that's a wrap to this day :)