I’m with my friend Nigel on this weekend trip to explore the Bruce and attend the Orchid Festival in Tobermory, Ontario. We’ve decided to go on a sunset cruise with Blue Heron Cruises. The only time I’ve taken one of the Blue Heron Cruises was to get to Flowerpot Island (which we’re doing tomorrow!) so this will be an interesting experience.
Bruce Escarpment
As we puttered down the coastline I wondered to myself where the Bruce Trail would be in all this beauty. I know that some of it was along the shoreline and occasionally I would get a glimpse of a possible trail. Hmm…one day soon I will be hiking there.
Cave Mouth
When you see a cave, do you wonder what’s inside? Do you want to get over to it and explore more? I wonder if anything lives there – maybe a bat colony? Maybe a bear?
Sunset Cruise
I wanted to capture something a little different during the cruise. I was on a boat after all so why not do a shot through the boat of the other passengers enjoying the sunset. This couple was in the perfect position to allow that sunburst to come through.
Boat Cruise
Look at those lovely colours! We had a great time on the cruise and it was a different way to see things that we might not normally get a chance to see.
I received a text from a photographer friend of mine who had recently done a photo shoot up in Meaford. He told me that a rare phenomenon was happening in the harbour – Blue Ice. So you know I had to get my butt up there stat.
Grounded
I found this shipwreck in the parking lot of the lunch place. Okay, it’s not really a shipwreck – just a boat someone put there cause it looked cool. Anyhoo, after some grub, I headed to the waterfront.
Blue Ice Phenomenon
So here is what happens according to science: Blue ice is formed when there is a lack of bubbles inside the ice and the ice is dense and thick. It also absorbs blue wavelengths which means when the light is reflected from the ice it appears to be blue. Regular white ice has bubbles inside and absorbs all the colour wavelengths which give it an appearance of white or clear. Intersting, no?
Okay here’s an interesting side note: When scuba diving the last colour wavelength to disappear before total darkness descends upon you is blue. Red is the first to go.
Moving on:
The light was a little harsh for photos and every time the sun hid behind some clouds all the blue went away and things looked dreary. I did meet some nice people out on the beach photographing the ice but eventually the cold and lack of ideas on how to shoot this called me back to the car. I mean really? All this great ice and nothing was inspiring for me? I really wanted this to work but I got nada.
Ye Ole Door
So instead I give you Ye Ole Door instead. Talk about inspiration dying a slow death. Argh – some days just suck.
My friend Nigel and I headed up to Owen Sound to check out the Bruce Trail. The trail has some great views from the top of the Centennial Tower located not too far from the parking lot.
Centennial Tower
We didn’t last very long on this scorcher of a day on the trail. I think we barely got through a kilometre before we decided we were too hot and just not up for the hike. So instead we did the next best thing. We headed over to the main street in Owen Sound to find a big duck. It wasn’t long before we found it. I mean, it was bigger than a boat.
Bigger than a Boat
We had some fun taking photos of this large duck that is making its way around Ontario. (You may have seen it if you visited or lived in Toronto, its first stop).
Reflections on the Big Duck
Even though we didn’t make it far along the trail we had some fun photographing the duck before we headed home. Sometimes you have to go with the flow of the day.
It’s our last day in Newfoundland before we head out on the ferry tomorrow to the mainland. We leave Gros Morne behind as a light drizzle falls.
The National Parks have put a campaign together involving taking photos of a pair of red adirondack chairs. One has to first find these chairs then take a photo and share on social media. Today, on our way out of the park, we found a pair of chairs.
Two Red Chairs
Rain and cold temps keep us bundled up and in the car with the occasional “Stop!” yelled out to grab a roadside shot. We did plan some stop at lighthouses today as we take the long way back to Port aux Basques. Cape Anguille lighthouse is our first stop and we actually get out of the car to explore.
Cape Anguille Lighthouse
Unfortunately the lighthouse and office are surrounded by a gate which makes this one not so picturesque as it could be. I found an angle that with the use of an old fence mostly hid the chain link fence.
As we continued along the coast and the rain started in a little harder I made my friend Nigel stop the car so I could explore a path that looked to head to a small beach. Not everyone was thrilled about getting out of the car but it was well worth it. As I crested the small hill a beach came into view and along the shore about 50 small shore birds were playing in the waves.
Sanderling
These little sanderlings were following the waves in and out to find little morsels to eat. It was amusing to watch – those little birds are quick. I took some video but they were way too fast and I couldn’t keep up with them.
Our last stop of the day was Cape Ray where another lighthouse stands. With the heavy fog it was hard to get a great shot of the lighthouse so we settled for taking photos along the coast. As we drove away I noticed an old boat along the road with an impressive view and I knew I had to photograph it.
Discarded
This was my final photo of the day and I fell in love with it. Tomorrow we start the journey home – first with our trip on the ferry and a long drive back to Truro. No photographs tomorrow but we get one or two on our final day through New Brunswick and Quebec.
Back on the road again and this time we’re headed from Corner Brook to King’s Point. Before leaving the Corner Brook area we went to check out Lark Harbour, a small cove surrounded by mountains. A small overlook is part of a trail system called Cedar Cove.
Cedar Cove Trail
King’s Point is a town north of Springdale in the central part of the island. After checking into our rooms we decided drive up the peninsula before heading to dinner. Heading north we found a couple different rocky beaches before getting into the town of Harry’s Harbour. There we met a gentleman who told us to climb down a short path to a small beach where a sea stack stood with its lone tree.
Harry’s Harbour
We couldn’t believe our luck! After spending about an hour here exploring the beach we knew we had to get back to the hotel to get some dinner in us but as we pulled up we decided to explore the area before the beautiful light vanished for the day.
Fishing Pier
The late day sun was spectacular and during dinner a small rain shower appeared and we were shown a double rainbow. I think Newfoundland was tempting us to stay.
