Monday, April 12, 2021

Driving Home

After we left the marsh it was a peaceful drive home.  We headed east to the village of Kemble, home of the Kemble Maple Syrup Tour (which is cancelled again this year).  Then it was south, with a stop at the Kemble Women's Institute Lookout, a beautiful viewpoint over the bay.

This lookout provides a great view to the Niagara Escarpment on the far shore, though it was a bit hazy by this time.

I always think the combination of the red farm buildings and the bluff in the distance makes a good picture.

The monument celebrates the Kemble Women's Institute which was the third formed in the world.  It's now the oldest operating group in the world.  It takes the form of a huge limestone table set for tea.  Quite appropriate I always think!

I was watching for evidence of spring ploughing and crops coming up, and did see a number of ploughed fields plus this one field of winter wheat.

I've been trying to catch a picture of this old barn right on the edge of Owen Sound where a new subdivision is going in.  Another inevitable demise.

Then a little excitement!  We saw emergency vehicles at the side of the road and slowed down cautiously.  It turned out to be a field fire, as you can see by the blackened hillside.  I only noticed the water being pumped behind the barn when I got the picture up here.


We went by a few days later coming from physio and were able to get a better picture of the damage.  Probably a fire the farmer set and it got away from him, or a bonfire that got out of control  Thank goodness it didn't reach any buildings.  I know of a farmer who died in just such an incident as this.

It looks like all week this week is going to be like this.  Yesterday it rained all day, and today it's less rain and more of a foggy drizzle, with rain forecast right through to Friday.  A lot of plants will benefit, and the grass has turned green overnight!



15 comments:

  1. I will feel that a major hurdle has been jumped when w are able to return to our favourite Maple Syrup place in the wilds of Lanark County.

    Your mention of the escarpment has me picturing the little cross section (profile) sketch we used to do of Southern Ontario and where Silurian bedrock meets the Devonian. Funny where the mind goes all onits own. How many times have you mention the escarpment, but this time, I went back to that sketch.

    ReplyDelete
  2. No field or forest fires with the damp/misty/rainy weather in your last picture. Unfortunately the old barns are going fast, how long until the last one outside a museum-type setting is gone?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pretty views.
    Sure glad the first didn't reach the barns or house.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I had escarpment views from my home growing up, so it's a landscape I've always appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  5. we have hovering rain, almost moisture, this morning was light drizzle. I am always so thankful for our local fire brigades, mostly volunteers in the rural areas,they are invaluable at times like those when a simple burn off gets out of control.Lovely views as you drove home.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the Kemble Women's Institute site and view too. The table setting is certainly appropriate. ;)
    Sad about the field fire but it could have been so much worse as things were so dry before the rains. Now we'll get the deluge of precipitation for a week but it is needed and will keep the ponds filled as well as feeding the landscape. My plants are popping up with joy! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. It looks like it was a wonderful outing, other than seeing the fire, which didn't cause too much damage, it seems. I have grown fond of that scene from your final picture, wet or dry it is lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You really have some lovely spots to stop and check out the view.

    My brother lives in the family, and there was a grass fire a couple of weekends ago that spread. Like this fire, no buildings were affected but it took some time for it to be controlled. Glad you're getting the rain - we've got snow again. :)

    Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  9. That’s a great area to have a look around. The farmer was lucky not to have had property damage or worse.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your backyard and the view look inviting.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm surprised that a field would burn at this time of year, though we see an occasional blaze around harvest time. I like the wry humour of the WI memorial, they certainly drink a lot of tea!

    ReplyDelete
  12. so sad to see the old barns go!! a pretty drive tho, we have been getting a lot of "april showers" too and the landscape has certainly benefited!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thankful that the fire didn't reach the barns or house.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love spring!!!!!!!! I like winter wheat, too! Early, with hope!

    ReplyDelete