The weather remains cold here, and this morning we woke to frost rather than more snow. In fact it looks like hoarfrost in the distance. Of course I can't get out there to get closer pictures, but it was pretty for a couple of hours anyway.
Even the small twigs of the trees in our yard were coated and looking white. It all reminded me of two previous occasions when I've seen really heavy hoarfrost glistening in the sun. I may dig out pictures of those times to share.
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I'm now reading a great book on the search for Franklin and his ships, Ice Ghosts, by Paul Watson. I like the writer's style and I'm finding some strongly expressed contradictory perspectives on Arctic exploration that simply make the story more interesting. Was Franklin really fit to lead that 1845 expedition? Why didn't Arctic explorers have the common sense to seek help and advice from those who lived there? Was it British arrogance that decorated our Arctic towns, islands and waterways with names from Victorian England?
It all makes the whole story ever more fascinating. Watson was actually on the icebreaker CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier which led the expedition that found the Erebus. He tells us the inside story of finding the Terror two years later as well. Most of the book is devoted to describing the century and a half of searches for Franklin, the story of which Watson brings right up to 2016.
I've gained the information to write my series of posts on the Arctic from online historical sources. But there are lots of books on the Arctic and its explorers. Of all those this is the one I chose to read, and I recommend it to you for a good read.
"Ice Ghosts" sounds fascinating. It frequently seems like the Franklin expedition was a tragedy of errors and arrogance, but that's rather easy to say from our perspective. Thank you for re-kindling my interest in the early arctic explorers. In the last several years I've read several books on Shackleton's expedition at the opposite end of the earth -- also a fascinating story.
ReplyDeleteyour pictures are so pretty, you are keeping yourself quite busy!! guess what...i got my snow!!
ReplyDeleteOur local library will get a visit in case they have anything remotely like those you are reading. Still hot here in the day but cool mornings and leaves turning colour are indicative of a changing season down here already.
ReplyDeletePretty scenes. British arrogance seems to be a common thread through history.
ReplyDeleteI can't get it straight in my head what the difference between hoar frost and frost is. Either way, it is pretty on the tree branches and evergreens.
ReplyDeleteStay well and enjoy the read!
Thanks for the great book recommendations. Glad you are doing all the heavy lifting (so to speak) and giving me the benefits! :-)
ReplyDeleteWe are in the grips of winter with a storm on the horizon. It is good to keep busy. A good book helps. Thanks for the recommendation.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful frosty photos! T hat sounds like an interesting book and I will put it on my library list. I like non fiction or historical fiction.
ReplyDeleteIt's so pretty. I love winter photos! I love all the seasons, especially I like the changes.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to look for that book.
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