{"id":1920,"date":"2021-06-05T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-05T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/syderoad.com\/?p=1920"},"modified":"2024-03-20T13:55:42","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T17:55:42","slug":"cheltenham-badlands-if-mars-visited-ontario","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/syderoad.com\/cheltenham-badlands-if-mars-visited-ontario\/","title":{"rendered":"Cheltenham Badlands – If Mars Visited Ontario"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When I was around 8, I learned about geology and topsoil in school. We were taught how the soil was formed and how different rocks, climate, vegetation, erosion, and farming affected the colour of the soils. We were taught these things while learning about the Great Canadian Shield and how the Great Lakes were formed. As an 8-year-old, learning these things was EXCITING because when teachers taught \u2728 Canadian \u2728 things, it always meant there was an opportunity to go on a field trip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So around this time, I vaguely remember asking my parents to sign me up for a field trip to go somewhere ‘far away’ for geography class. Na\u00efve little me thought we were going to hike in a forest or go to a beach by Lake Ontario. Wow, was I ever wrong!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I first saw the Cheltenham Badlands, it felt like I was transported straight into the movie ‘The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars’. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How could the soil be SO red!? Why was it called the badlands? It’s scorching hot, a part of Mars must have teleported here!<\/em><\/p>\nThoughts I probably had as a kid<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I distinctly remember carefully treading along the edge of the badlands. We were told to keep off the badlands to preserve the fragile land and I was hyperaware of the fact that should I accidentally disturb the bright red soil, it would immediately latch onto my white socks…. and that I’d be in a lot of trouble with my parents later for treading dirt into our home. Back then, the badlands didn’t have any viewing decks established and the only dirt-free path was too narrow for thirty 8-year-old kids to walk in pairs (does anyone remember teachers asking us to find a buddy?). My socks eventually turned a brilliant rust-red shade above the ankles… I can’t recall if I got in trouble or not but the stain never left those socks, a permanent reminder of my strange encounter with the red soil of the badlands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A screencap from the 1998 Movie: The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
Image credit: letterboxd.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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