2010
And in my Mind I Still Need a Place to Go
How much has music played a part in your cottage or camping experiences? Or maybe its the road trips singing along with the stereo cranked.
Music has been a huge inspiration to me with so many powerful memories that connect. Old friends, new friends and the ones that left before their time. Sitting around the fire with friends or family groov’n to some cool tunes – does it get any better?
I must confess that I’m a huge Neil Young fan, yes a Rustie as we are referred to. I can hear Neils lonesome voice now around a blazing fire with a zillion stars in the sky and the Loons cry echoing through the night. What moves you?
There is a town in north Ontario,
With dream comfort memory to spare
And in my mind I still need a place to go
All my changes were there
Neil Young’s, Helpless
2010
A New Year a New Decade
As I stood on the shores of Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman Island at midnight continuous fireworks and yelps of joy shot off into the warm Caribbean night. I think for many we were happy to wave bye bye to 2009. I have now arrived back fully energized and ready to kick-off the new year. I want to thank the many people who have visited this blog over the past year. I appreciate your suggestions and comments as they are always inspiring. A happy, healthy 2010 to all!
Seven Mile beach Grand Cayman Island January 01, 2010
In: uncategorized
2009
Baby, Its Cold Outside
Someone flipped the switch and we turned into Baffin Island.
Most cottagers have vanished now with only the retiree troopers and the local yokels left to hold down the fort.
The deer will soon be trotting across the lake looking for dessert. Yup cover up those cedar trees Mable.
The bubblers are in – let the season begin (and end soon)
2009
HDR Spotting
For those of you that enjoy High Dynamic Range Photography there is a new website that features HDR Photographers from all over the world. HDR Spotting was started by Trey Ratcliff one of my favorite HDR photographers. I have been fortunate to have a few of my photos featured on this cool site. 🙂
In: uncategorized
2009
Torrance Barrens – There’s a Darkness on the Edge of Town
I finally found the Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve just south east of Bala, Ontario. This conservation reserve is made up of about 5000 acres of Precambrian rock, wetlands and modest tree growth making it ideal for astronomical instruments. It is Canada’s first Dark Sky Preserve. I plan to dust off the telescope I received as a gift many moons ago and return here one night to check out the skies, which are apparently mind blowing. This is a photo of the Highland Pond near the parking area off district road #13.
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Info on Torrance Barrens
2009
Look up … Look Way Up
Things are looking up in Parry Sound, Ontario the hometown of one of the greatest hockey players ever Bobby Orr no less. This is a shot looking straight up from under the Canadian Pacific Railway train trestle. Its quite an engineering feat from the early 1900’s.
Please click for a 1280 pixel sized photo
Click on the image for a biggie shot
In: in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns, uncategorized
2009
Happy Canada Day Eh!
Canada turns 142 years young! Happy Canada Day!
and for you old timers (pre-1980’s) Happy Dominion Day Eh!
Click on the image for a large sized photo
2009
Feels like Summer – Finally!
Its starting to feel like summer has arrived – finally!
This is the interesting and ever changing antique shop up in Rosseau, Ontario.
Please don’t forget the Rosseau Market is open every Friday starting July 03 and until Sept. 04, 2009. If you have not checked it out I would highly recommend it.
Please click on the image for a larger size
2009
Trucking through the forest
Why do people leave vehicles in the woods? While driving north bound on highway #69 towards Parry Sound we spotted this old pickup truck (well not that old) through the trees in early spring. I think its a Dodge? It had a 1982 license plate sticker on it however I don’t think its that old with the square head lights and such.
Please click for a larger sized photo
Please click on the photo for a truck sized 1280 pixel image
2009
Muskoka Bloggers Featured in The Muskokan Magazine
From the shameless self promotion department –
Myself, and a bunch of other Muskoka blogger’s were recently featured in a popular Muskoka magazine called “The Muskokan” The story covers the many different types of blogs, why they blog and the personalities behind them. You can pickup the print version almost anywhere around the Muskoka area. For the digital version see the full story here.
This is a photo of reporter Kerri MacDonald attempting to take my picture without breaking her camera 🙂
… thank you Thelma
Click the photo for biggie size
2009
Let the Cottage Season Begin
There are signs of life in Muskoka as we approach the May 24 (Victoria Day) weekend which is actually on May 18th this year. Many birds, frogs and night crawling creatures as well as a few of the Homo Sapien varietal are scurrying about. I have not seen any signs of the dreaded black flies as of yet but have heard they are out there.
I was a little slow on the draw trying to snap a shot of the two ducks that took off in this photo however they left some nice rings in the water. Please click for a larger size
Click the image for a larger size
In: boathouses of muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, uncategorized
2009
Rocky Roads of Muskoka
As you drive around in Muskoka or anywhere within the Canadian Shield areas you will see these rock cuts with giant icicles oozing out of them. This only takes place during winter of course but they do tend to hang on for a bit into the warmer spring weather. This photo was taken on Highway # 169 between Glen Orchard and Bala, Ontario. Please click on the photo for glacier sized images.
A close up of the oozing ice that comes out of these road side rocks.
Click image for glacier sized photo
In: in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns, uncategorized
2009
Blue Muskoka
After a few days of mild temperatures and a February thaw we are back to more snow. Well it sure seems like its been a long winter. It won’t be long now until we shed the winter bleakness.
Can you see the ghost in the window?
click on image for larger 1280 size
2009
The Muskoka Sleds chill’n at Bass Lake House
Driving down Hwy #169 towards Port Carling you can’t help but notice the many snowmobiles around. The trails are busy. These guys were settled in at the Bass Lake House which is a great place to hang for some wings and pints. Glad to see people are doing their part to keep the economy going.
Click on the image for SkiDoo Sized Photo
2009
Strip Searched to the Bones
I am not sure if there were any recent boxing day sales on barn board. I noticed this place on Highway #27 just south of Nobleton, Ontario has been slowly picked apart like a turkey dinner exposing only its bones. Remember these images are scaled down to 72DPI and are only about 60k in size so they do not reflect the true quality of the photo. Clicking on the image will bring it up to 1280 resolution but still I wish you could see what I see in extreme high resolutions.
Click the Image for Farmer John Size
In: uncategorized
2008
Scaled Down Santa
I saw Santa !
He was just outside the LCBO down in Niagara-on-the-Lake. No he didn’t have time to stop. Old Mr. Claus seemed his jolly self but there was something missing. There were only 5 reindeer powering the sled this year. Also, not an elf in sight. The recession has hit Santa hard however there are rumors of a bailout package coming soon.
Santa Clauss
Click Photo for Super Santa Size
In: uncategorized
2008
Sun Trees
In the middle of snow flurries everything stopped for a minute and the sun peaked through the clouds. I was hoping it would drop so I could shoot it between the trees but it disappeared and continued to snow again.
Click on the image for a larger 1280 pixel size
2008
Snow Horses
It was snowing pretty hard when I approached the fence and these two zeroed in on me with blank stares almost immediatley.
2008
The Tours Over
Stumbled upon this Bus parked in a wooded area. It appears the road tour may be over for a while. Not sure if anyone was living in it or not. Please click for a larger size.
Click on the image for a bus sized photo
