Yesterday morning was bright and sunny, so Mrs. F.G. suggested we go on a drive after church, so we did. It was a glorious early spring day, though still cold. Every spring we typically drive down to Lake Eugenia at least once. Go early and the old river channel has thawed but the lake is still frozen; go later and you see more birds migrating through.
We passed the Bighead River just out of Meaford, and I quickly remembered the limitations of shooting with a cell phone camera.
Not long after that we were heading up the abrupt hill of the Niagara Escarpment, source of so many of the waterfalls in the valley. The snow drifting onto the road even just this much, can grab your tires quickly.
And if it's drifting this much, you really have to be careful!
We pulled into the old Pita Palace in Flesherton and were just a little shocked that it was gone - replaced by Harveys! Thankfully we both enjoy their burgers, fries and onion rings, so we had a good (if not very healthy) lunch and headed for Eugenia. We drove across the causeway, turned around and came back more slowly. What you're seeing is the old river channel from the original days before the river valley was first flooded in about 1912. The entire are will be water within a few weeks; 100 years ago it was farmland.
So what did we see? You won't be able to see it, but out at the end of that triangular point of snow in the middle of the pictures is a swan and a goose or two. You might be able to pick out a tiny white dot.
And right in the middle of this picture, on the end of that thin band of open water in the distance, are two Canada Geese.
The ducks in this picture, about eight or ten of them, are in the top right quarter of the photo. Bufflehead I think.
Looking the opposite direction you get a very different picture. Here the hundreds of stumps that remain are scattered across what will be the bottom of the lake. In the distance is a beautiful paddling area, which we've enjoyed more than once. Tomorrow, the rest of the drive.
That was a good idea to go for a drive after Church. I enjoyed seeing your photographs.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thanks for taking us along on your Sunday drives. Beautiful scenery. A cell phone camera is the only one I have!!
ReplyDeleteHow nice to get out and about for a Sunday drive!
ReplyDeleteThe Swans are really making a comeback in Ontario. We have a whole colony at a conservation area near my partners fathers farm. One year it was one pair. Now there are about ten of them.
ReplyDeleteToday, our walk was more pleasant than it has been. Dare I say that there was a hint of spring in the air?
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! But how cold! I had to add a warm jacket even here at home to look at the photos. :-) Ok, not so much.
ReplyDeleteThat was a lovely late winter drive. Nice pictures.
ReplyDeleteGood to see the waterways opening up, and the birds coming back.
ReplyDeleteNice to see the open water, the drifting snow, not so much.
ReplyDeleteBuffleheads migrate fairly early in the spring, so it's not surprising that they're up your way. The snow geese have already left here for the far north.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like it was a beautiful day. You still have a lot of snow.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great adventure for you two. The snow really is blowing around.
ReplyDeleteA Sunday drive...I remember those days. My parents often took us on such a drive, when we had a car that would run. It was great excitement in our humdrum lives back then! But I do not recall a winter drive. It still looks pretty bleak in your neck of the woods, while here winter seems to be over. I am not fooled, though! He may come roaring back!
ReplyDeleteA bit colder today, but warmer soon! There is hope for Spring. And we need hope,
ReplyDeleteLove your area of the world.
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