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Misha happy to get away from the crazy boaters and big wakes we had to cross while paddling Lake Louisa.
Misha extending her nose across the gunnel to check on a gull feather that swept by our canoe. More pictures to follow.
Positioning ourselves behind a fallen branch (aka "sweeper") on a windy Cornwall Canal. The branch reduced the sweeping current on the canal allowing us to gaze at that magnificent sky without us having to stabilize the canoe.
Threatening clouds made us consider a quick return to shore while paddling Lake St. Lawrence. (We stayed to complete our usual 5K paddle).
All the maple leaves are down, this one under water being buried by the rippling sand and broken clam shells created by the flow of water.
A halo of light over the bow.
From Wiki:
A halo (from Greek ἅλως, halōs;] also known as a nimbus, aureole, glory, or gloriole) is a crown of light rays, circle or disk of light that surrounds or hovers over a person in art. They have been used in the iconography of many religions to indicate holy or sacred figures, and have at various periods also been used in images of rulers or heroes. In the sacred art of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity, among other religions, sacred persons may be depicted with a halo in the form of a circular glow, or flames in Asian art, around the head or around the whole body—this last one is often called a mandorla. Halos may be shown as almost any color or combination of colors, but are most often depicted as golden, yellow or white when representing light or red when representing flames.
Shoreline aquatics become visible as we swung our canoe and blocked the reflecting light allowing us to view this exuberant green milfoil in the old Cornwall canal.
A dip for us in the Toronto Marlies hockey rink converted to "The Lake" at the International Boat Show. We were not going to let January go without at least one paddle!
Snow and ice collapsed the sedges but not the reeds that are much taller and able to resist the winter conditions. This why the invasive Phragmites take over the natural vegetation of marches. Hopefully the sedges will bounce back. There's already some green duck weed in the water.
An arctic blast is heading our way with a prediction of minus 16C tomorrow night. These geese were quite high flying over the St. Lawrence River to the southern, American side. It's the annual fall migration back to the southeast coastal states.
Considering two solo canoes, one for the each of us. Mary inspects the Pack 12 made by Swift Canoe. The black one on the right, made of carbon fiber, weighs a mere 20 pounds!
At the Toronto International Boat Show.
A late paddle on the canal, we came very close to sweeping by thorny branches that drop from shore. I wanted to go under the tree but best to avoid this as it could have injured out arms. Misha had it in her sights.
Lots of wind this spring (gusts up to 125 KPH) brought trees down along the shore of the St. Lawrence River. Here's old maple that fell. They can be hazardous when paddling a canoe near shore especially in fast current as they can cause a capsize.
This massive structure sits in about 10 feet of water and rises about 5 feet above. Probably weighs a few tons of wood and mud put together by busy beavers where they likely spent the winter. It now appears to be abandoned except for another creature sitting on top that you will soon see. Best viewed large.
From a spring paddle along shore lit up by the setting sun. The deciduous trees are still mostly in bud with minimal leaf formation. Colour enhanced with circular polarizer.
It was sunny when we headed out on the St. Lawrence but quickly got fogged over and at one point we lost sight of shore. A full moon rose and was visible from above and helped guide us back.
The base of the defunct Domtar smokestack. Still standing 10+ years after the paper mill closed. Not sure why it hasn't been taken down. Possibly because it's full of toxins?
The fog rapidly obscured the shore and we had to try focusing on the water, it's current and wave action to get a sense of direction. The wind was out of the southeast, so we paddled perpendicular to the waves (starboard) heading northeast to where we would eventually reach the north shore but still uncertain as to our location. After the solstice sun had set at 4:18PM it was starting to get dark pretty fast!
Paddled under this Black-crowned Night Heron high up in a tree. Different light and perspective than the previous shot.
While paddling under a pine tree along shore, we spotted this Kingbird hopping from branch to branch as they often do.
Sand patterns about one foot under our canoe near a frozen shore on the St. Lawrence. Recent high winds, waves, ice and directional current created these ripples that are speckled with fractured clam shells. A closer, more colorful photo to follow.
Spotted this raccoon while palling along the shore of an island in the St. Lawrence. Actually the critter is well camouflaged blending well with the sprouting sedges. It took off just after this shot.
During one of our recent paddles we passed over some green aquatic plants. Blurred by our motion and the wake of our canoe, we decided to explore this further.
Sand patterns about one foot under our canoe near a frozen shore on the St. Lawrence. Recent high winds, waves, ice and directional current created these ripples that are speckled with fractured clam shells.
Mid day on a calm and bright St. Lawrence River with the UV exposure intense. No need to wear a life vest, though it is mandatory that each paddler have one in the canoe. Possibly the most dangerous element during this 2 hour paddle was sun exposure. Essential to wear a large cap that covers the face and neck, a long sleeve shirt and pants. Plus sunblock (minimum SPF 30) on exposed skin. I had on a T-shirt and got sunburn on my forearms...big mistake!
As we ended our paddle along the frozen bay of the St. Lawrence River, a separation of the clouds brought some light from the setting sun pointing us to the way home.
Lots of wind this spring (gusts up to 125 KPH) brought trees down along the shore of the St. Lawrence River. Here's a fallen birch. They can be hazardous when paddling a canoe near shore especially in fast current as they can cause a capsize.
A congregate of floating aerated algae, discovered while paddling a stagnant section of the Cornwall Canal. The wake of our canoe compressed it causing it to corrugate in this manor. There have been reports of blue-green algae in some of the local ponds, but I don't think this is it. Hope not, as blue-green algae releases toxins that can kill fish and other critters that drink the water, including dogs.
This section of the Cornwall Canal has trees, aspen and cedar, growing from the concrete veneer. Nature always finds a way.
Out for a dusk paddle on a misty St. Lawrence. Misha was next to me allowing me a great view of Mary’s back. It was a great paddle. Ice is forming in the bays and inlets of the river. Hope we can paddle on into December. Some interesting views to follow.
The glossy green head of the male mallard duck lit up with the low sun while we were paddling behind this mating pair on the Cornwall canal.
We found the shore! As the Winter Solstice sun set, the fog darkened, and we had lost sight of shore. Lost on the river, we had to circled several times. A full moon had risen from the east and was visible through the fog. This oriented us and we eventually saw the lamp at the wharf where we put in. Mary was happy and raised her paddle on high. Nothing worried Misha.