Belleville's Marinas - Victoria Park Marina and Bay of Quinte Yacht Club

There is a quiet little spit of land running west then south off of South Front Street, Belleville’s main downtown street.
When you turn onto it , you are overcome by a gentle feeling as the mouth of the Moira River comes into view. Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of Belleville’s main intersection, you gaze suddenly on wide open space and giant old maples and pines. You are surrounded by water.

Waves gently lap the shore and the scent of the River's spray fills the air. A heron takes flight from one of the small wharves as you continue down the narrow roadway. As you gaze towards the mouth of the Moira River, you see an island.
You notice it is covered by a myriad of water birds. Cormorants, Gulls, a Heron, the odd Canada Goose family and Mallard Ducks forage nearby.

You breathe a deep sigh and are thankful for this small oasis in the middle of the city where you can escape, temporarily, the stresses of your day.

To your left you notice a harbour filled with sailboats, small houseboats and powerboats.
Boaters are relaxing on the docks, visiting with friends and sharing in a cool drink. The shade under the giant old trees that grow on the spit invites you to step out of your car, spead an old blanket and rest awhile. You take off your sandals and dig your toes into the cool grass. As you rest your head back and let your eyes wander upwards to the twisted shady branches, a glimmer of blue sky catches your eye and the breeze gently caresses your bare ankles.

This is Victoria Park and Victoria Park Marina in Belleville, Ontario. It is my favourite place to take a break during my busy day or when I have deep thinking to do and need to be in a nearby place that has all the elements of so many things I love; old trees, stone buildings, boats, water, people enjoying being alive, gull cries, quietude and open spaces.

If you arrive in Belleville by water, Victoria Harbour is found on your starboard side just as you enter the mouth of the Moira River. Victoria Park is the spit of land that shelters Victoria Park Marina and the
Bay of Quinte Yacht Club.

Within walking distance of Victoria Park Marina are many wonderful restaurants, banks, quaint shops of every kind , the Belleville Farmer’s Market and the waterfront trails which run along the Bay of Quinte waterfront and the Moira River waterfront.
The Boathouse Seafood Restaurant is a lovely waterfront restaurant that sits on the east shore of Victoria Park Marina. There are plenty of dockside seating areas where you can enjoy a meal of fresh pickerel or the catch of the day while you sit under the shade of an umbrella and watch the boats coming and going. I highly recommend it. The service is excellent and the menu is extensive.

If you are considering retiring or moving to a waterside town with excellent boating facilities, I would be happy to send you a Belleville and Quinte Region Relocation package, free of charge. Mention the type of properties you may be interested in and I will be sure to include a full list of all currently available listings that meet your needs/desires.

Have a safe and happy boating season and I look forward to one day meeting you !

JoSmith©

At What Price, A Waterfall ?

How do we place a value on a natural feature of a property that not only enhances the beauty of the place, but contributes greatly to the well-being of anyone who spends time there ?

I am in the process of listing a number of pieces of vacant land near a northern lake .
Each is unique and wild and beautiful. One has a granite ridge that looks out over a small tranquil harbour on the lake. Two of them have very large ponds that I would be comfortable calling small lakes. On one of them a number of dead elms are in the centre of the pond and a heronry can be found.

The smallest one of the 5 is a magical, tucked away triangle with it's own gentle series of waterfalls cascading down the granite ridges. What is it worth to sit on your stone patio at the end of a stressful week and gaze dreamily at the trickles of water and little whitecaps, the sounds reaching through to your soul and soothing all the sorrows of the world from your aching being ?
These are magical pieces of land. Filled with earth sprites and glimmering greens of dancing, white birch branches and the rustle of old oaks.
The scent of pine and moss infuses your being as you sit on your patio. Easing back into your old lounge chair, you begin to drift away.
An oriole sings from a distant elm top. A loon calls to it's mate across the lake in the distance. All is right with the world here.

I have often thought of the steadily growing numbers of people, including children, who are prescribed anti-depressants in today's society. I have wondered and wondered why depression is on the increase in such massive numbers.
Then I remember, we have lost touch with the natural world.

Our souls cry out in thirst on city streets and grasp what flits and glimpses of nature they can from what the city has to offer . It isn't much.
We plant roof-top and balcony gardens. We sit in the evening and gaze across the cityscape through the smog of ten thousand daily commutes and our eyes rest on the soft peach glow of the clouds in the distance . The sun is setting for another day.

Tomorrow it will all begin again. For now, I must get back to putting a price on a waterfall.

JoSmith

Belleville's Marinas - Meyer's Pier

I recently had a friend contact me to tell me he is thinking of retiring in Belleville. He currently resides in a suburb of Toronto. One of his main considerations for choosing Belleville is the Belleville Harbour and marina facilities.
My friend is the Captain of a sailboat crew and relishes his time spent on the water smoothly slicing the water's crest, the breeze ruffling his hair and his shirt unbuttoned as he feels the cool, clean air caressing his chest.

This is his version of heaven. It happens to be mine also, so I can well appreciate the exceptional boating facilities Belleville has to offer.

Belleville , Ontario is a main stopping off point for boaters travelling the thousand islands through to Georgian Bay. The navigable season runs roughly from Victoria Day weekend to Thanksgiving each year.

Along Belleville's waterfront you will find a number of government run marina and docking facilities as well as a few smaller privately run ones.

Starboard of Belleville's main harbour, you will find Meyer's Pier Marina. It is owned and operated by the City of Belleville and is a fully equipped marina with plenty of docking facilities for overnight travelers. Dockage may be had by the day, month or season as well as there being a number of transient slips for boaters stopping by to refresh their stocks. Boaters will find water, power, washrooms, showers, pump-out, gas, diesel, and laundry facilities here . Sail repair can be had nearby. (613) 967-1906

There are good channel depths as you enter the Meyer’s Pier Marina.

Meyer’s Pier dates back to 1789 when Belleville was first known as Meyer’s Creek after John Walden Meyers, a prominent settler and industrialist of the day. Meyer’s Creek was built around the original Native settlement of Asukhknosk at the mouth of the Moira River .

Within walking distance of Meyer’s Pier you will find Belleville’s downtown with numerous fine restaurants, a pharmacy, general purpose stores and boutiques. There are a number of small grocery stores not too far away by foot in case you have run out of a few essentials.

If you enjoy the wind in your hair, the sun warming your bare skin, heading to the boat at the end of the day , even if it is just to sit in the harbour and visit with friends, Belleville is the place to consider when deciding to relocate or thinking of a beautiful stop on your boating itinerary this summer.

JoSmith

A Measure of Success.

It seems I have to work harder at writing a good real estate blog post, then I do a post about life. Most of the posts that come naturally to me are about feelings, observations, people, relationships, journeys and serendipitous occurrences.

I’ve been thinking about that quite a bit this morning . Thinking about it while I mixed my blueberry muffin batter. Thinking about it as I gazed out the window beside my desk at the gently waving Sugar Maple leaves and clear soft blue sky. Thinking about it as I talked with people who called me about properties in my latest Real Estate Today ad . Thinking about it as I prepared my open house packages.

I write about life. Focusing strictly on a real estate article takes extra effort for me. It does not come naturally like writing about life does. But then I also find that the way I operate my business is that way.
It is not strictly a business, but moreso a feeling of being immersed in the lives of my clients for a temporary basis as I assist them in the transition they are making in their lives.

To me it is more about finding a place with giant trees and a garden fence for the client who values her privacy and loves nature, finding a safe area and a decent house that is not too expensive for the young family I am working with who has just had their first child, being as gentle and as caring as possible with the person who has just lost their spouse of 40 odd years and now has decided to sell the old homestead that holds too many memories and is far too large .

Real estate, I realized after much thought, is life. We deal in lives. Dealing in real estate, the concrete aspect of it, may seem like the largest part of what we do. But is it really ?

The true measure of my success is not the home that I have just sold, or the perfect property I have just found for my clients. No. The true measure of my success is when I see a small tear escape the eye of someone I am working with because I have touched a deep part of them and have understood. The true measure of my success is when a client reaches out and hugs me at the end of our search for a home or when I have sold their home.

This is how I measure my success. It is how I have touched my clients lives and made the steps they take in their daily journey a little easier for them.

In recent years I have received more and more heart felt hugs from my clients. These are the motivation that keeps me knowing that being a Realtor® is what I am meant to do.

Jo

Buying Waterfront in the Quinte Region

Thinking of moving to the Quinte region ? Perhaps you would like to consider one of our lovely waterfront properties. Waterfront in the Quinte area is still reasonably priced compared with other areas of Ontario and the nearby amenities make purchasing here very attractive and a lucrative investment when looking at the long term.

Vacant Land -Waterfront There were 10 waterfront vacant pieces of land sold in the Quinte District in the month of May. The average selling price was $83,190.00 . Waterfront lots (deeded water access lots are also included in this
category ) can still be had at a reasonable price in the Quinte area. 17 waterfront vacant lots were listed in the month of May at an average list price of $171,064.71 .

Residential - Waterfront There were 53 waterfront properties sold in the Quinte region in May that were classified as residential. This includes condominiums, homes and seasonal cottages on the water or with deeded water access. The average sales price was $300,419.32

The higher end waterfront properties in the Quinte region are usually those found on the Bay of Quinte or on Lake Ontario. There are numerous Lakes in the Quinte area and it's surrounding regions (all within 45 minute drive from Belleville , Ontario). Moira Lake continues to be a destination of choice for many tourists and cottagers in the summer season and many people from the cities of Belleville and Trenton have cottages there. There are also many permanent residences on Moira Lake. Waterfront properties can still be found at a very reasonable price on the lake. For a complete list of properties presently available on Moira Lake (and/or all waterfront properties in the Quinte Region ) send me your email . I will be happy to forward you a list with links that will give you extensive information on everything currently available there.

Lake Ontario waterfront continues to be one of the prime choices for people moving to the shore in our area. Vacant land on Lake Ontario generally commands a price well over $150,000. Many fine homes have been built along the Lake Ontario shoreline in Prince Edward County and also in the Brighton region.

When buying waterfront property in any area, it is a good idea to first do extensive research on the community itself and most importantly on the qualities of the lake and it's history. For a complete list of the lakes in the Quinte and District region and a description of their qualities, please contact me. I would be happy to send you this information.

Head to the Beach !

Rob, my 19 year old son, breezes into the room
and announces 'I'm going to the beach , Mom !'.
'Oh, that's nice.', I reply as I turn my head and gaze out at the warm, late spring day.
My eye wanders over to the pool area where the workmen are readying it to be opened. Yes. Summer has almost arrived .

It already feels like summer here in Southern Ontario with temperatures regularly reaching into the high twenties . I turn my attention back to Rob and ask 'Which beach are you going to?'.
'Sandbanks', he cheerfully replies.

'Who are you going with?'
'Kyle, he is waiting outside. It's Beach Day in Ontario.', Rob announces. '

'Beach Day?' I ask. 'What's that?'.

'It is a day when all university, college and high school students across Ontario head to the beach. There will be thousands of us at the various beaches across Ontario today. ' , he explains.

My heart skips a beat and I find myself feeling a degree happier than I did before Rob explained this to me. Beach Day ! What a wonderful idea !

Ontario + Beaches + Celebrating Life + Young People. Yes, as I think back to my own teenage days, the tradition continues. Only now they have a name for it !

Happy Beach Day, everyone !

A Story In The Making.

The morning sun peeks mischievously around the corner of your breakfast cove window and falls upon your hand as you reach for your morning newspaper. A friend sits across from you and gazes out the window to the gently waving maple branches that grace your side yard. Your friend has never been to Belleville before and you are anxious to show them all the beauty that can be found here. Where should you take them ?

As you gaze in deep reflection at the tiny pink roses on your Tranquility coffee mug, an idea
enters your mind . Why, you’ll take them to The Corby Rose Garden !

This time of year is almost prime for viewing the hundreds of varieties of roses in the garden as their flower buds swell and begin to open. And the scents ! Did I mention the scents ? They’re glorious ! Yes. This is a perfect place to plan to spend a few hours today. You exuberantly tell your friend about The Corby Rose Garden and she agrees she would love to see it ! You decide to pack a small lunch to bring along. There are so many comfy old wooden benches resting serenely beneath the cool shade of giant old tulip trees, and the two of you have so much to catch up on . What better place than an old garden surrounded by beautiful roses and graceful trees ?

The 'Belle' in Belleville .

This is the time of the year when Belleville oversteps it's own name. It is beyond beautiful. Ancient crabapple trees with gnarled trunks greet you majestically around every corner ....their soft pink blossoms bring a gentle glow to your inner being and just one gaze eases the day's tensions. The lilacs are in bloom ! Here and there I see smiling women and girls and little boys carrying home their treasure of an armload of lilacs. I imagine the glorious fragrance that precedes them as they walk determinedly home, the bounce of spring in their step.

The gorgeous homes in the Old East Hill proudly declare 'Spring has arrived !' with their gardens of tulips and phlox and freshly planted geraniums. The gardens are so beautiful that mere words won't depict the visions...so, I will take some pictures today and post them later.

The shore birds have come back home for the season ! A few weeks ago I heard a loon call as he flew past my window in the early morning light, gracefully heading for the Bay of Quinte where Great Blue Herons and Grackles walk peacefully along the shores .

There is so much natural beauty here, the meandering Moira River under the jurisdiction of Quinte Conversation , graces the centre of the city with it's rapids and twists andold stone bridges . The waterfront trail runs along it's border and is the perfect way to spend a peaceful few hours resting your soul while you not only exercise your muscles, but rejuvenate yourself while gazing on fish playing in small riverside bays, swaying willows with perfectly placed benches, herons scanning for their next meal, and fellow journeymen/women passing by as they smile and say a friendly 'Hello, beautiful day, isn't it?' . 'Yes, it is' you softly answer, and continue on your way.

The Place That Was Enough

Have you ever noticed that if you give your subconscious mind a job to work on before you fall asleep, that it will work on the problem during the night ? For instance , when you have to get up at a certain time, and you set your alarm, you usually wake up before the alarm goes off. This is your subconscious mind at work. It never sleeps, has no need to. However, that being said, it does have SOME requirements. Number one is that you acknowledge it and it's inherent wisdom. It is one of those things that goes by the adage 'use it or lose it'. Then again, some people never lose it, they just don't bother paying any attention to it. I have often been guilty of this myself.
Consulting your subconscious mind when you are in a new place and asking it to come out and give an opinion, can lead to your deepest thoughts and feelings being revealed. This can also apply to meeting new people. Your subconscious mind has access to places within a new person that your conscious mind has not the merest inkling of.
Trusting the message that your subconscious mind gives can save you a lot of grief.

This morning I awoke before my alarm went off. Showered, dressed, quick coffee and I was off driving the long stretch of shimmering asphalt through rocky terrain of beaver dams and small lakes.
I arrived at my destination an hour early so headed into the nearest town to seek out the public beach and daydream. I have always marveled how each little town in Ontario has it's own little sandy beach and lakeside park. Usually there is a restaurant nearby overlooking the long view of the lake. The names of these restaurants are always synonymous with comfort, home, warmth, peace… The Sunset Patio, The Kozy Grill, Dockside Bar and Grill , The Dew Drop Inn.

As I gazed across the slate grey surface of the lake, I felt a sense of hardship; of people who had come together and made a go of it not because of the initial beauty of the place, but because there was nowhere else to go. This place, this place carved out of glacial ridges and granite outcrops, was enough. They could make a home here and be left alone. Left alone because the beauty of this place was not a beauty that would attract tanned summer visitors by the scores and worldly city people who wished to set up summer shops and tea rooms. No. The beauty of this place lay just below the surface and had to be found. All that was known about this place was that once you had spent some nights and days here, it lodged itself in your soul. You wanted to come back. Not only wanted, you HAD to come back. And once you did, you stayed. This place provided a skein of fine thread that completed the fabric of moments that comprised the tapestry of the time you had been given here. This place was enough.

If you chance upon.......

I once watched a film on television, many moons ago, called 'Brigadoon'

It was an enchanting tale about a mystical hidden village in the highlands of Scotland that only came to life once every hundred years .

Two men chanced upon it and one of them fell in love with the village and a woman there. He wanted to stay. The villagers knew a secret and they were always happy . I remember the film gave me such a great feeling deep down in my heart and soul and even today when I think of it, that feeling overtakes me once again.

I have often thought Belleville, Ontario is a larger version of Brigadoon . The people here are 'go-out -of-your-way' friendly and the general mood is one of peace, laughing children, singing birds, ancient tree-lined streets and gentility.

One never lacks for things to do when one either lives in or is visiting Belleville . There are numerous white sand beaches within a 20 minute drive of the city . Listed below are the most popular ones and they each deserve to be put on your list of '101 things to do before I leave earth' ~

Sandbanks Provincial Park

North Beach Provincial Park

Presquile Provincial Park

Make sure and pack your wicker picnic basket with crisp cool carrot sticks, salmon or cucumber sandwiches, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, and an assortment of drinks ...once you get there and are out enjoying the fresh lake breeze and soaking up the sun, your stomach will begin to rumble ! So pull out the old plaid camp blanket (that you remembered to pack) , set up a beach chair and an umbrella, and sit down to your own gourmet lunch in Nature's Paradise Restaurant . You might have to share the odd crumb with a ring-billed gull or two.

Stay tuned for more of 'things to do if you chance upon Brigadoon', err I mean , Belleville, tomorrow !

Have You Bought Your Petunias Yet ?

The cultivations of gardens is an ancient practice. Streaming, colourful glazed pots of lobelia and dianthus resting majestically on the creaky old wooden stairs leading to the porch of a century home can make all the difference when trying to sell.

Curb appeal sells ! What better to say 'HELLO!' and 'WELCOME' than baskets of healthy herbs and old stone paths sprinkled with johnny-jump-ups ?

Yesterday I made a visit to my neighbourhood nursery and bought the elements of the planters I made up today. Cosmos, petunias, lobelia, marigolds, nicotiana, and others are now happily lounging outside my windows.

Have you ever noticed how houses with healthy and well-loved, colourful gardens
sell so much quicker ?
We are natural beings...our restless souls are soothed by gazing on soft petals and breathing in the scent of illusive blossoms.
Gardens help us to feel good, when we feel good, we like where we are so much better . Perhaps this is why seller's who take the time to carefully weed their flower beds and place attractive pots of flowers and greenery near their entrance, entice more buyers and sell quicker.

Drive down any street..which houses do you notice the most ? Why the ones with gorgeous and varied landscaping , of course ! Cultivating your flower beds and adding colour, shining your windows and making your entry inviting, is the best way to say to potential buyers '' ! First impressions are afterall, very important.

Happy Gardening !

Lazing Under the Old Willow....

It's a misty evening here in Belleville, Ontario. Outside my window soft spring rain lends a hush to the night air. The stately brick homes of the Belleville's Old East Hill rest peacefully wrapped in the gentle embrace of giant Oaks, Maples, Beech, Spruce and Pine. The trees bring so many gifts to the city and it's inhabitants, season after season, without ever asking for anything in return, other than to be admired and thanked now and then.

Many of the old trees that line the streets of Ontario's heritage towns are dying. They are dying not because of neglect or disease. Their decline is a gradual and natural process due to aging. We often forget that trees grow old and die too. Perhaps this is because they live so much longer than us and in some regions of the world some species can live thousands of years.

Kathleen Wolf of the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture points out that studies show homebuyers will pay 3-7 % more for properties with an abundance of trees. I would estimate that real estate sales in the Quinte region not only prove Kathleen's point, but that here the percentage is likely much higher. Not a week goes by that I don't have a call from someone looking for a vacant piece of land to build on, not too far from the city and what is their number one desire in their search ? Trees ! Trees sell ! Trees are the ultimate home stagers. They give shade and cleaner air on hot muggy days. They cut the harsh winds on stormy days. They attract squirrels and all manner of our bird friends.... refreshment for the soul and a connection to our natural roots.

The Elms are making a comeback. Disease resistant varieties are now being planted in many towns . Elms are stately trees that grow over 100 feet tall and send deep roots down hence making them better to withstand the harshness of life on a city street . The salt run-off, limited soil cover, pavement and sidewalks blocking water from penetrating the soil, pollutant laden air and rain and not enough nutrients since we gather their fallen leaves each fall and cart them away, all work towards a very stressful life for a city tree.

Be kind to trees and they will be kind to you. It may be a good idea to plant young trees in your yard now, that way as the older ones slowly die off, the youngsters will be there to take their place. Since they can't be in the forest propagating their own offspring, maybe we can give them a helping hand !

One of the finest places to experience 'a forest in the city' atmosphere, when in Belleville, is to take a walk down the Parrott Riverfront Trail . The trail winds through a myriad of old and stately trees and wildish areas filled with bird song . On a hot day in the city you can find respite if you pack a picnic lunch and a blanket, and stay cool under the shade of a giant old pine or one of the grand maples that line the walk. You will leave feeling refreshed and looking forward to the next time .

Community Involvement ~ The PHOTO-NAT CLUB

The Quinte region has a wonderful array of groups to be a member of. Becoming involved will not only enable you to partake in an activity you enjoy, but also you will meet many wonderful people who share interests with you !

Opportunities for photographers abound in the Quinte region. PHOTO-NAT Club Belleville is your place to meet other amazing photographers and share and learn about photographing nature .

In their own words they are :


“Photo-Nat Photography Club is dedicated to photographing and enjoying the natural world. Our members are a mix of nature photographers, nature enthusiasts and amateur naturalists. Some of the members are naturalist who enjoy photography and some members are photographers who enjoy nature”

Sounds like my kind of group !

Some of the members even have their own websites . Check out these sites and feast your eyes on some of the indescribably beautiful images of the natural world around us as seen through the eyes of these amazing photographers !

Images of Photography by Terry Carpenter

Adventures In Photography by Tony DeGroot

Dick Kane - Photography

They meet at Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario in Room P10 of the Pioneer Building (the building closest to the Road) at 7:30PM on the last Wednesday of every month . Here is your opportunity to learn about recognizing and photographing Ontario’s indigenous plants ! This Wednesday’s meeting features Court Noxon ~ Indigenous Plants of Priince Edward County Up Close and Personal .

The group often organizes outings to beautiful local places to partake in the abundant opportunities to capture outstanding photos. This past Saturday they had an outing at Goodrich Loomis Conservation Area .

Goodrich Loomis Conservation Area Education Centre

Cedar forest at Goodrich Loomis

I welcome any Quinte region photographers (or residents outside our area who have photographed here ) who have photos they would like to be dislayed in my Belleville and Quinte Real Estate Blog, please email me here roylep@gmail.com with your photos and you will see them in a post or two (duly credited of course ).

This September the PHOTO-NAT club has a 3 day adventure in Algonquin Park planned ! I just may have to upgrade my camera,
dig out my camping gear and become involved with this group !
I’ll meet you on the trail !

The Old East Hill

I started one of my community blogs tonight. It is called 'The Old East Hill' and is a blog covering stories and information about The Old East Hill, one of Belleville's oldest neighbourhoods.
I decided to do a separate blog that covers just Old East Hill stories , since there are so many and I love this neighbourhood so dearly.

Now as I make the daily trek along the streets of The Old East Hill, i spot a million stories waiting to be told. Like today I thought of what the story behind The Super Duper, the small corner store transformed from the gullet of one of the old two storey houses here, might be. Like, 'Who Started That Store?'. 'Who Owns It Now?'. 'How Long Has It Been In Busness?' and so many more. I am seeing my community through whole different eyes now. Hmm, who knows where this might lead......

Time to hit the hay. G'night all !