Departing Algonquin

It’s our last day in Algonquin. It’s time to go home. How has this time already come? I’m not ready to go back to the city just yet. *sigh* I’ve packed my gear into the car but it’s not over just yet. We have one more trail we’re going to check out – Peck Lake Trail.

Green Eyed Dragonfly

Green Eyed Dragonfly

Just like the other trails we were inundated with the mosquitos but we had some help in controlling the numbers. There were dragonflies aplenty on this hike.

Just Chillin

Just Chillin’

We also spotted a snapping turtle taking a daytime nap on a log by the side of the trail. I wish I could spend all day by the water enjoying the summer sun but unforutnatley it was time to head home.

Unexpected Find

The last time I drove by the ditches filled with Purple Loosestrife it was overcast and very different than today’s beautiful blue skies. That means that I must stop again for a photo op. 

Bullrush

Bullrush & Loosestrife

As you can see there is quite a difference. In the last post the loosestrife was evenly lit while today you can see some harsh shadows. Overall I don’t mind the effect of the brighter sunlight but you have to be careful when shooting in this type of light.

One of the things about the Bruce Trail is that you never know what you will come across. Even when you’re not on the trail itself. This morning on the way to the trail I noticed something slowly shuffling along the road. As I got closer I noticed it was a snapping turtle.

Turtle on a Mission

Turtle on a Mission

I hoped that I could get a photo of it walking along but as soon as my car approached it and passed, it stopped and lay down. So much for that shot. I settled on getting this shot of the little guy/gal with my telephoto lens which kept me a safe distance away. Although those claws look dangerous its the mouth you have to stay away from if you want to keep your digits intact. Don’t get too close when photographing these creatures. With a telephoto lens you can stay back so as not to aggravate or stress the turtle. What an unexpected find!

Backroad Bonanza

It is always sad when the weekend ends so quickly but, I guess it eventually has to end.  Now that didn’t mean we couldn’t take our time leaving the area by taking the scenic way. Driving the backroads along the west side of the peninsula it wasn’t long before we found something to photograph.

Laying Some Eggs

Laying Some Eggs

This snapping turtle was hanging out, just laying some eggs by the side of the road. Of course we only discovered this once we got out of the car for a closer look. We didn’t stay too long so as not to stress her out. As we continued down the road we noticed large bunches of Yellow Lady’s Slipper orchids all along the edges of the road.

Bunch of Slippers

Bunch of Slippers

I don’t know why this area seems to have these large groupings but I was happy to have stumbled on them. I think we spent a good part of an hour (maybe even two) going from bunch to bunch, photographing to our heart’s content. We couldn’t get enough of them but we couldn’t stay much longer so off we headed to the main highway. We didn’t expect to see much along here but it wasn’t long before we noticed the roadside covered with Indian Paintbrush.

Field of Red

Field of Red

In all the years I have been coming up to the Orchid Festival (okay it hasn’t really been that many years – maybe five) I have never seen so many of these flaming red flowers. They were everywhere. It was a great way to end our time here in the Bruce Peninsula.