I started with 'V/H/S/Halloween' (2025), a found-footage anthology filled with absurd concepts like haunted soft drink testing. Shaky camera work, jump cuts, and flashing lights deliver equal parts migraine and creativity. Not for everyone, but I respect the chaos. Next I watched 'Get Away' (2024), a surprise gem about a British family vacationing on a remote Swedish island just in time for cannibalism-themed folk festivities. Think 'Midsommar', but with powdered wigs, giant chickens, and more gore than common sense. Genuinely funny and brutal, but also both predictable and surprising. Skip the trailer and watch it blind to find out why.
‘Witch Hunter’ (2024) absolutely commits to being terrible. Very low budget. It looks like it was filmed in someone’s backyard with a fog machine. Bad acting, bad script, clearly fake action scenes, and terrible CGI. Could be enjoyable for being bad, but I recommend skipping this one unless you like watching bad movies. ‘Stream’ (2024) brought things back with pure chaos. Four competing serial killers turn a hotel into a murderous online betting stream. Ridiculous, gory, and entertaining. On the sci-fi side, I discovered ‘Coherence’ (2013), a low-budget multiverse thriller that proves you don’t need CGI when you have great writing. If you love sci-fi, you have to see it. ‘The Invisible Man’ (2020) is a masterpiece. Psychological abuse meets high-tech horror and flips the “invisible stalker” trope into something terrifyingly grounded. One of the best modern thrillers. A must-watch. In the lead-up to Thanksgiving weekend, I also rewatched a few horror staples.
To balance all the blood, I have included photos of painted pumpkins I took while walking Bush Farm Trail in Steinbach, Manitoba, back in Autumn 2022. All photos were shot with an iPhone 13 Mini. Nature trails, bright leaves, smiley gourds. A reminder that fall is both eerie and delightful. If you are hosting your own horror binge, definitely check out ‘The Invisible Man’, ‘Stream’, and ‘Get Away’. Just make sure to skip ‘Witch Hunter’… unless you enjoy suffering. Stay Spooky!
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Western Manitoba • Sept 27–28, 2020 On September 27, 2020 I hiked Reeve’s Ravine on the eastern edge of Riding Mountain National Park. Reeve’s Ravine is a trail where bridges, stairs, and boardwalks climb steadily into forested gullies before opening to jaw dropping escarpment views with prairie in the distance. Autumn colours painted the slopes in gold and rust, a striking contrast against the shale ridges and a beautiful compliment to the distant prairie.  Reeve’s Ravine is a relatively new addition to the park’s network, developed with local partners to showcase escarpment terrain. Tight side-hill singletrack, cutbanks, and lookouts make it popular with both hikers and cyclists. Expect mixed-use etiquette and those classic escarpment ups and downs that gives your muscles a workout and makes those beautiful views feel earned. The trail was relatively quiet that day, with only a handful of other hikers and one cyclist.
The next day, September 28, 2020, I wandered Brandon Hills, a rolling patch of aspen-oak parkland just south of Brandon. From short 2 km family-friendly circuits to longer 7.5 km loops, you can stitch together a route that fits the light and your legs. Trails weave through forest and small prairie openings, offering a gentler but equally refreshing autumn walk. The network is volunteer-maintained and well-used year-round. Watch for muddy sections after rain.
If you’re planning a visit, check Riding Mountain’s Trail Conditions page before heading out. The Escarpment links make it easy to build longer days (Gorge Creek, J.E.T., Bald Hill). For Brandon Hills, the RM of Cornwallis page and local trail maps give good loop details. Sources & Additional Information
Note: All photos in this post were taken by me with an iPhone 11.
In autumn 2023 I took my new Helix folding bike north of Sault Ste. Marie, chasing colour and quiet. This post shares some of my favourite photos from two stops—Chippewa Falls and Pancake Bay Provincial Park—along with a quick sense of each place for anyone planning or contemplating their own Lake Superior adventure.  Pancake Bay Provincial Park - September 23, 2023 Chippewa FallsAbout an hour north of Sault Ste. Marie on Highway 17, Chippewa Falls is a fantastic roadside rest stop: A rushing cascade beside a small park, with rocks to climb and short paths that make it as easy or as challenging as you’d like to stretch your legs and frame a few shots. It’s also home to the “halfway point” plaque of the Trans-Canada Highway (something to check off your road trip bucket list while enjoying the roar of the water and the golden maples in October). Chippewa Falls - October 1, 2023 Pancake Bay Provincial ParkPancake Bay is famous for its long sweep of fine sand and clear blue water, with over 3 km of beach curving along Lake Superior. From the Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout section of the park’s trail network, you get broad, high views over the bay (perfect for taking in the layered hills of autumn colours and watching the effect of shifting wind patterns on Lake Superior). I explored the Edmund Fitzgerald Trail with my Helix bike, cycling most of it and portaging over rocky stretches when needed. These rocky stretches are where the Helix’s weight of just over 20 lbs was especially beneficial. Edmund Fitzgerald Trail (Vertical Photos) - September 23, 2023 Edmund Fitzgerald Trail (Horizontal Photos) - September 23, 2023 Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout - September 23, 2023 Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout - September 23, 2023 Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout Photos Through Prizm Tungsten Polarized Sunglasses September 23, 2023 Why I Love These StopsBoth places reward unhurried minutes: Beautiful rocks by the falls, shifting wind patterns on Lake Superior, vibrant autumn colours, fresh air, secluded sylvan retreats, and the meditative sound of water. Northern Ontario in autumn feels spacious—fewer people, more sky, and expansive views. Secluded Sylvan Retreat - Pancake Bay Provincial Park - September 23, 2023 Secluded Waterfall - Pancake Bay Provincial Park - September 23, 2023 Sources & Additional InformationNote: All photos in this post were taken by me with an iPhone 13 Mini.
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