(Day 125) Don't pass me by ...

For almost 7 years (!) I've been driving past this particular area on my way to and from the town nearest to us (about 23 km / 14 mi). And do you know what I've said so often as I fly by ? One of these days I've got to stop and take some photos here! Ok, raise your hand all of you who've done the same thing. Now it's not that I didn't have my camera with me or that the opportunities to stop weren't there. The thinking was more along the lines of - I go by here almost every day so I can always get some photos, just not right now.

Well I made up my mind today that this was the day I really would stop here - carpe diem! The light was right, and as lots of traffic whizzed by, I finally got some shots. Hope you can see why I liked this place.

(18-55mm  f16  1/13 sec  ISO200)

(18-55mm  f8  1/20 sec  ISO200)

(18-55mm  f16  1/13 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f8  1/50 sec  ISO200)

(Day 124) Take cover

The weatherman had predicted some thunderstorms for this afternoon. However, they were also predicted for yesterday and nothing happened - and you know how quickly we can become inured to predictions that don't come true. But as I was waiting for my vehicle to come out of the shop this afternoon I looked up and saw quite a threatening sky. There were a few sporadic flashes of lightning and it rained briefly but then nothing further.

However, as I left town I noticed that wipers on some of the approaching cars were still going furiously, even though it was only dripping a little. I found a place to pull over and took some shots of the ominous-looking sky. Within a few minutes I found out why those wipers were going fast as I came into the heavy, lashing rain, accompanied by frequent lightning flashes. And even though it was 3:00 in the afternoon, it felt like 9:00 in the evening. I'm glad I wasn't caught out in the open.

(18-55mm  f11  1/30 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f11  1/400 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/400 sec  ISO800)

taken through the windshield (I was stopped)

(Day 123) Apple blossom time

Who would have believed that less than a week ago our weather looked like this! Well, it's made a 180 degree turn and the apple trees have suddenly burst into full bloom - another reason why "it's the most wonderful time of the year!" (I'll bet you sang that line :-)

Rather than blather on, I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

(70-200mm  f8  1/250 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f8  1/160 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/2000 sec  ISO200)

(Day 122) Two gifts today

I always find it amazing how quickly a newborn goes from being little more than a completely helpless baby to a (still) little human being who can react to and interact with their environment. Today our almost-4-month-old grandson, Graydon, came over for a visit (he's 17 lbs and doesn't drive yet, so yes, his parents brought him). Of course we had a great time with him - it's always great as grandparents because someone else gets to feed and clean him and take him home again :)

His surname, translated literally from Dutch, means 'the sweet one'. I think you'll agree, based on this photo, that he lived up to his name and underscored the point in my first sentence (that's his dad's dessert he's eyeballing).

(50mm  f2.8  1/80 sec  ISO200)

gift no. 1

Now, I don't know if you're familiar with Scott's blog 'Finding Another View'. Scott celebrates and invites others to celebrate Sundays by posting a sunset shot. Where I live we're not blessed with fabulous sunset opportunities on the same regularity he is, but I thought this evening's was worthy of being posted. So to make up for lost opportunities I'll post 2 shots.

(70-200 mm  f11  1/13 sec  ISO200)

gift no.2

(50mm  f11  1/160 sec  ISO200)

(Day 121) For the 178th time

The Rideau Canal will be opening shortly as it's done for the past 177 years, except no military vessels are expected to come through - it's been strictly for commerce and pleasure for most of its existence. Soon the upper sluices will be opened and the locks will be filled to allow pleasure boats to again take their passengers along the very scenic route. It's notable that all the locks along the 222 km. (125 mi.) are hand-operated.

We are fortunate to live so near to this UNESCO World Heritage site. (see also this post about the Rideau River).

(18-55mm  f8  1/100 sec  ISO100)

the machinery to operate the locks is all manual:

(18-55mm  f8  1/100 sec  ISO100)

the lower locks at Merrickville: