Quelle surprise !

I had always thought of Hamilton, Ontario as being a bit of a dirty industrial town, owing to the steel mills on the waterfront, smoke belching from their stacks, leaving a layer of soot everywhere.

Yesterday I had occasion to visit Hamilton to help my brother and his wife celebrate 40 years of God's faithfulness to them in their marriage. Before I made the 4-hour return drive home, I decided a quick side trip to a nearby conservation area (on a tip from a restaurant waiter) would allow me to stretch my legs first.

It had rained earlier in the day which must have discouraged other visitors and I had the muddy trail to myself:

After crossing a couple of bridges, the short hike brought me to this:

This wasn't what I had expected to find in the city. When I got home, I googled this place (named Tiffany Falls) and was surprised to discover that Hamilton lays claim to the title 'The Waterfall Capital of the World'. Check it out for yourself here.

And now for something completely ...

I would like to have said 'different' but that's not the case. The drought in our area continues unabated. As recently as last Saturday the forecast called for significant rainfall with a 100% probability of precipitation. Turns out that the 100% was right on the money - we had an intense 10 minute torrential downpour and that was that.

Come with me on a short hike and I'll show you how that has affected the watershed.

Here is a nearby stream which in the springtime is frequented by kayakers ! You can imagine how much water would be required to submerge these rocks  again.

In the spring, or after a particularly heavy rainfall, water would cover the rock flats to the right.

Purple loosestrife (a noxious weed despite its colourful appearance) has taken root on the stream bed.

Boulders like these can be moved when the stream is at its peak.

Everything is parched ...

Normally 3 - 4 feet of water flow under this bridge.

Industrious beavers dammed the stream about a half mile up from the bridge. With little or no inflow, they've made their dam almost watertight - looks like they're prepared for the long haul until the rains return. Perhaps there's a lesson in there for us - when we're in a drought, sit tight ("those who wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength ...").

Up the creek - no paddle needed

We're experiencing a vacationer's dream summer - hot, dry, sunny weather. Other than a quick downpour from a thunderstorm yesterday it has been bone dry for weeks, with temperatures in the 32-35C/90-95F range.

This evening I went to see just what the effect has been on a little nearby creek - judge for yourself.

Looking back at the bridge from the middle of the creek

Looking 'upstream'

There's no more debris floating by for these branches to grab

The wildflowers haven't been affected. yet

Although these were more plentiful in previous years

Here and there were pools of now stilled water 

 It remains to be seen whether these pools will also dry completely before the rains replenish the creek. In the meantime, vacationers aren't complaining.

He restores my soul

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
   He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul.
   He leads me in paths of righteousness
   for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
   I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies;
   you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
   all the days of my life,
   and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
   forever.


(18-55mm  f11  1/40 sec  ISO200)

Just a Closer Walk With Thee

Press the 'play' key below the last photo, then come back up here and take a walk to ease your mind and enjoy His creation ...

Winter Wonderland III

I've seen from news reports that winter has arrived across much of the North American continent. I mean really arrived, which those of you driving in it daily don't need to be reminded of. While we were back home in the north over the Christmas season we were fortunate not to have to drive in any adverse weather. In addition, I was able to go out several times to capture the beauty of the creation enhanced by a dusting of snow, before real winter had arrived.

Join me as I traipse through a secluded wonderland not far from home.

This is the creek that flows below the waterfalls I posted recently and which you might have visited with me last spring

A small creek which tumbles from the hill on the other side yields these ice formations

A few hundred yards downstream we come across another waterfall - don't get too near the edge - it's a bit slippery

The snow-covered ice that's formed across the rocks reminds me of cauliflower

At this point it hasn't been cold enough long enough for the ice to completely conceal the stream

The stream disappears around a bend below this waterfall. We have to scramble through the forest, away from the waterfall, and find our way down a side gully to find the stream again. The sides of the gully are coated with ice built up by dripping water - winter must have surprised these plants

Another few yards through the underbrush and we see the stream as it tumbles around the corner. From here it disappears to our left but the steep gully side means we'll have to bid it adieu, and we'll make our way back

 And throughout our trek Sasha has been patiently accompanying us - whenever the camera bag is unzipped she knows it's time for a rest in the snow. But she doesn't mind - she's in her element

Coming to an end

There's a trite but true saying that all good things must come to an end, and so it is with the spectacle of autumn's magnificent colours. I'm sure that there are still places where the rain and strong winds haven't left barren limbs reaching for a gray sky, but those are disappearing quickly. I had a last opportunity to load up a memory card with autumn memories this past weekend. Accompanied by one of my daughters, who has recently taken up photography, and 3 canine friends, we braved sullen skies and a steady drizzle to make a trek into the woods.

The leaves will continue to fall and carpet the ground until a hard frost is followed by the first snowfall which in turn will cover everything under a soft blanket. Then life will slow down and rest for several months, until the cycle begins again. And we can be as assured of that as of His faithfulness.

Dry enough for you ?

On my way to Ottawa today, I made a mental note of this creek which I'd passed before but hadn't had time to make some shots of. Later this afternoon I found myself standing on the mostly dry bed of this creek. A small trickle still meandered along the solid rock bed, and here and there stood small pools of water in which I saw a few minnows. It's hard to believe that in the spring time this creek becomes a fast-flowing river - I've never seen it like this before.

[no, my internet issues are not resolved; last evening it was virtually unusable. I'm told that technicians ARE investigating. In the meantime I've stayed up rather late to post a few shots. We'll see if they load. tonight.]

(these shots were made with a 10-22mm lens at f22, ISO200, and a shutter speed of 1/4 or 1/3 sec. HDR processing was done using Photomatix).

click on photos for a better view

The hike ... continued

You might want to freshen up your mosquito repellent - seems they really appreciate visitors to their neck of the woods.

After walking down the trail to get nearer the river, we'll scramble over a few moss-covered rocks to get down by the water.

(18-55mm  f11  1/5 sec  ISO200)

Now we can see the waterfalls from below.

(18-55mm  f11  1/125 sec  ISO200)

Scrambling back up over the rocks we rejoin Sasha by the trail, and start following it again as it meanders along the river. A few people had come along but now we have the place to ourselves again. The river seems to disappear around a corner up ahead. After avoiding some very muddy areas we come to solid rock. Bushes block our view but we can hear rushing water. We work our way around the bushes and then come upon this sight.

(18-55mm  f14  1/40 sec  ISO200)

This explains why the river 'disappeared' from our earlier vantage point. After tumbling over these falls, the river enters a narrow 'canyon' with steep walls that make access difficult. So we'll content ourselves by lingering awhile and looking at some of the wild flowering bushes that are in their spring glory. No need to hurry back to civilization.

(both of the following shots: 70-200mm  f5.6  1/60 sec  ISO200)

Come join the hike

Watch your step and I'll continue the tour I started Saturday. After following the path from the road for a short distance, we come upon a cliff and we see the first waterfalls through the trees. We don't get too near the edge - the rocks are slippery and it's a 6m/20' drop to the rocks below.

(18-55mm  f8.0  1/320 sec  ISO200)

After watching the water cascade over the falls for a while, we'll pick our way to the left down a wet path to the river side, stepping over fallen logs as we go. At the far end, another surprise awaits us, but we'll save it for another day.

(10-22mm  f11.0  1/20 sec  ISO200)

On the other side of the river, a small tributary has found a channel through the rocks and is hurrying to be part of the mainstream.

(70-200mm  f11.0  1/20 sec  ISO200)

Tips

I always appreciate a good tip, especially one that pans out. Well, I received one a couple of days ago from my daughter-in-law, Nadine, who said she'd found a very scenic hike through quiet woods, along a serene - in places - river, and overlooking a beautiful waterfalls (actually she only told me about the waterfalls, but that was enough ...).

The first (dry) opportunity to check it out came this afternoon, and I was not disappointed. Sasha and I spent the better part of 2 hours there, taking it in and making some shots. I'll share them over the next few days and you can let me know if this was a good tip.

(10-22mm  f11  1/30 sec  ISO200)

No, these aren't the falls - they're rapids just above the falls.

(70-200mm  f18  1/25 sec  ISO100)

When wrong feels right

I guess weathermen (weatherpersons ? ok, meteorologists) are somewhat like economists - they quite often have a gloomy forecast and we love it when they're wrong ! Well, ours turned out to be quite wrong today. for the most part.

Yesterday's forecast calling for another rainy day went out the window already early this morning. The sun shone through some broken cloud cover and the temperature soared to 30C/86F, a tad (that's a technical term in meteorology meaning we were way off) warmer than the predicted high of 20C/68F ! We weren't complaining - even though my wife had chosen today for us to repaint the living room.

Now I suppose the weather people could claim a moral victory of sorts - we did catch a 15-minute thunderstorm this afternoon, and another this evening. And as you can see from this photo, our little 'creek' - which is dry about 9 months of the year - was still flowing with runoff from April's abundant showers.

I don't like to wish anybody ill, but I sure hope these weather gurus are wrong for the remainder of the week.

(10-22mm  f11  1/60 sec  ISO200)

The cycle continues

It was apparent as I wandered through the park this week that things were being left pretty much alone. The trails were rough and in places muddy. The only concessions to human traffic were the occasional boardwalks which crossed otherwise impassable stretches of swamp, and the removal of sections of large tree trunks which had crashed onto pathways.

Everything went through the cycle of life and returned to the ground from whence it came.

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.

("The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam translated by Edward J. Fitzgerald")

(10-22mm  f22  1/2 sec  ISO800)

Project 365 - 'rule' #2 or carpe diem

Our recent 'balmy' weather, which was responsible for the little snow we had to completely disappear, has in turn been replaced by more winter-like weather. Not that I expected it to remain, but it reminded me of this song. Of course, like all of you would, I saw this as an opportunity to capture the beauty of a fresh snowfall.

Now I didn't rush right out, camera in hand and Sasha in tow. I was fortunate to pick up a bit of paid photography work this week - I've been asked by the business where my son designs kitchens to build a photo portfolio of their finished work; I'd shot some of their work on a trial (read 'non-paid') basis and it looks like they've liked it enough to pay me for some more shoots. So - on my way home early this evening from a shoot I spotted a scene, right in town, that I hadn't really noticed before (yep - even after all I learned from doing a 365, I obviously still have to practice closer observation !). At least I put rule #2 into practice.

(18-55mm  f9.0  30 sec  ISO400)