Welcome to my blog, in which I post photos from recent travels and photography ideas.
These are posted irregularly, so log in at your leisure to catch my latest ramblings.
May 10 - Recent Photos
As I was relaxing by the living room window, enjoying the sunshine with Heidi, I realized that it was time for a new blog post. After all, these posts have been rather infrequent lately. That is partly due to the time of the year, opportunities for nature photography being meagre. Maybe it's due to the fact that I have not felt very creative lately. So I'll have to get off my butt and work at it.
So last week we spent some time in Toronto. While there we fought the crowds and visited High Park at cherry blossom time.
Two visits to High Park yielded a number of good images. I also went to the Shops at Don Mills, where I found this colourful artistic display of umbrellas. I also made two different trips here.
Speaking of colourful - this sunset photo I made from the hill right behind my house.
April 11 - Homeward Journey
After three months in the Okanagan, we left for home on April 3. This photo shows us departing after breakfast at Helmut's in Vernon, with Maureen and Dennis Hunkin, with whom we travelled in tandem to Ontario.
Most of the travels were in great weather with dry and bare roads. This image below I made along the Trans-Canada Highway in Revelstoke National Park.
This photo is of the spectacular view as we approached Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park.
We stopped for our first two nights in Canmore so that we could tour Banff National Park. I went to the Vermilion Lakes area near the town of Banff for sunset photography. Unfortunately the light was not great, but I made this photo of reflections in the lake.
The next morning I arose early to look for sunrise conditions. Again I was skunked as the sky was clear with no clouds. So I decided to try Two Jack Lake, hoping for side lighting on Mount Rundle as I was not going to get anything colourful. This is my image from that morning.
Later that day, which was bright and sunny, we drove the Bow Valley Parkway, and then up to Lake Louise. After we returned to Canmore, but the sky clouded over completely. There was no point in just sitting in our hotel room. We decided to check out the Minnewanka Lake Road. In a meadow along this road we encountered four male elk.
The next day, before stopping in Medicine Hat, we detoured north to Dinosaur Provincial Park. There I made these two detailed images of the erosion patterns in the badlands.
The next couple days across the prairies were uneventful. We did stop in Winnipeg to visit the Museum of Human Rights - a fantastic building with interesting exhibits. I would recommend a visit whenever you are in that area.
My next photo stop was at Kakabeka Falls, just west of Thunder Bay. Spring melt waters poring over the falls made for some unique photos.
I have not had any luck being along the eastern shores of Lake Superior and finding the ice piled high. This year the ice had melted and there were only a few accessible spots with any ice. This photo I made at Pancake Bay.
Just south of here, we stopped in to visit Denise and Dave, had a pleasant dinner, but then drove through extremely thick fog patches and rain to Sault Ste. Marie. The next day, Monday, after a visit with the Gallaghers in Blind River, we reached home in mid-afternoon.
So our journey was eight days, but why rush. We saw some interesting places in Canada, and drank many a bottle of very good B.C. wines in our rooms each evening.
April 2 - Time to Head Home
Our ski season here in the Okanagan has come to a close. Skiing at Silver Star was very good, though we did have a spate of unusually cold weather. But the good part of this was that the snow remained abundant and good for skiing. Most of our ski buddies have already headed home. That is what we will be doing tomorrow - beginning our drive back to Sudbury, taking the roads through Canada.
This photo shows our vehicle packed for the journey.
Earlier today we went for a drive with Mo and Dennis Hunkin in the North Okanagan. Here are three images I made on this tour. The first shows the flooded fields near Otter Lake.
These two images come from the Salmon River valley.
February 24, 2017 - Ontario Day at Silver Star
This was Ontario Day at Silver Star Mountain Resort, here in Vernon.
All the participants gathered at the top of the Comet Chairlift, and then skied down to gather again at Renegade Ridge.
After the photo session at Renegade Ridge, the Ontario skiers met for lunch in the village at The Antler.
February 8 - Memories of Kayla
On Monday, our hosts Marian and Garth flew home from Southern California to attend to their dog, Kayla. Unfortunately the vet's examinations of Kayla revealed a growing and incurable cancer. So yesterday was Kayla's last day on earth.
Kayla was a Vizsla, a breed originating in Hungary. She was a very gentle and affectionate dog. Veda and I had the opportunity to look after her for parts of the last two winters.
We will always remember how easily she accepted us into her home and her life, almost as is if she had been ours. We'll remember her greeting us at the door when we returned from skiing, one of her stuffed toys in her mouth and enticing us to chase her. When we'd lie in bed, memories of her looking longingly awaiting an invitation to jump up and join us, which Veda was seldom able to resist, will remain in our hearts. How can we forget how she learned the way to get a treat from Veda - sit by the door asking to go outside to do her business (more than necessary) and quickly return for her cookie. She was so affectionate and wanting to please.
Thanks, Marian and Garth, for the opportunity. Thanks for the memories, Kayla. R.I.P.