Ontario Journal - Killbear Provincial Park Part II - Lunch with a Seagull

A fisherman appeared while we were sitting near the shore at Killbear Provincial Park and, leaving his gear, food and water, rigged up his line and proceeded to try his luck. As he fished, he moved along the edge of the water, farther and farther away from his things...

O course, I shooed away the seagull before he got anything... and after I had taken advantage of the photo op.

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Ontario Journal - Killbear Provincial Park

We planned to go to Huntsville, On to stay for two nights near the entrance of Algonquin Provincial Park but we reckoned without the G8 meeting being held in Huntsville this coming weekend. There were no rooms to be had anywhere and one of the rangers at a local (Otter Lake area) park told us that security in the Huntsville area was not to be believed.  So we stayed where we were on Otter LaKe for two more nights and drove north to Killbear instead.

There are several stories about how Killbear Point got it's name. The one thaqt is probably closest to the truth is that is is a corruption of the Native name. However there are two other stories, both of which involve loggers. One states that the point is where a logger killed a bear. The other, and my personal favorite, is where the bear got the logger.

Below is an Inuksuk, a stone icon built originally by the Northern Native Americans. They are mostly seen along roads (including super highways), paths, and woodland and water trails. The one pictured here was not only on the trail that edged the shore but would also guarded the boat channel which was nearby. They are said to protect travelers, provide good hunting and help find safe shelter.

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Ontario Journal - Just Driving Around

We spent the day driving around the lake area just enjoying the scenery and stopping to take pictures when we came across a particularly pleasing prospect.

We watched small boats going through the canal at Port Carling. The tolls were collected after the locks were closed - no one left without paying.

Below are some views of Otter Lake (where we are staying) and it's outlet which goes under a train trestle.

I've also include a picture of the building we are staying in at Kellerman's. The indoor pool and hot tub are located in the build to the far left and our room is on the 2nd floor of the end building to the right of the pool.

The birches on the lake side of the main lodge and part of the dock. 

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Ontario Journal - Gravenhurst

Gravenhurst is the place to come to if you are interested in old wooden boats. Located at the Muskoka Wharf is the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Center. Part of the museum is the in-water  exhibit of working antique wooden boats.

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Ontario Journal - Parry Sound

On Friday we drove over to Parry Sound which is located in the 30,000 Islands in the Georgian Bay. There is a boat called the Island Queen which goes on a 3 hour tour through the islands around Parry Island. Below are only 6 of the hundred or so photos I took there. It was very hard making the choice because the scenery was wonderful. If you ever get into the area, do yourself a favor and take the boat - you won't be sorry.

Parry Sound Harbour

A small passage between two islands called The Hole in the Wall.

The other end of the passage.

One of the cottages in the islands.

Another cottage - quite a few have no electricity and most need a boat to get to them.

And some have their own airport....

An island has to have at least one acre of land in order to be counted as an island in this region. There are many islets that are not included in the 30,000 count. 

Did I mention listening to the loons calling over our lake late at night? They called off and on for over ten minutes... beautiful.

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Ontario Journal - Bracebridge

We entered Canada by way of the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls. Although we ran into a nasty rainstorm in the Toronto area the trip was mostly uneventful and the roads were excellent. We got to the Kellerman's lodge on Otter Lake about 6PM. Below is a picture taken from the dock. We will be staying hear for a few more days. There is a lot to see around here. The other pictures are of the town of Bracebridge and it's dam followed by a view of the Rosseau River. I would have posted this last night but I just want to have a cup of tea and the wonderful cupcake I bought in Bracebridge.

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Ontario Journal - Buffalo

The last day before entering Canada we stayed with my brother and his wife in Wheatfield, NY, a town just 6 miles from Niagara Falls where we entered Canada via the Rainbow Bridge. Before leaving my brother I took these pictures of water lilies in the koi pond that he build with the help of his son, Andrew.

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Ontario Journal

We started out from Long Island on Monday morning and got as far as Cobleskill, NY. I have a cousin living near there and we stopped to visit him and his wife.  They live in a house that was built in 1792.

The following photos were taken on Monday along route 145 somewhere between Catskill and Cobleskill

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Prom Night

My nephew, Andrew, and his beautiful date getting ready to dance the night away.

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Treasury East

I created this Treasury of Owls that are for sale on Etsy. Click here to see a larger view and to be able to go to the artists who created them.

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Plein Air Oil Painting

This was done at Tanglewood Preserve, a nice little park about 15 minutes from my house. It's my first real plein air painting and I don't think it turned out too badly. It's oil on an 11" by 14" cotton canvas board.

Tanglewood Bridge

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New Scam to be aware of...

There's a new scam on the internet that I want to warn all of you about. I'm posting this because the more people that know about it the less who will get taken. Someone I know had their e-mail account hijacked and everyone on it got this letter:  


"Hello How are you doing today?I am sorry i didn't inform you about my urgent trip to the UK,however i need you to do me a favor as soon as you receive this email, lost my wallet where my money and other valuables in a taxi while going back to the hotel from a function,I will need you to help me with a soft loan urgently which i will return as soon as i am back home.I need the sum of $1,950 to sort my hotel bills and get myself back home,I will apprecaite whatever amount you can help me with, I promise to refund you as soon as i am back home,Kindly let me know if you can be of help so i can send you my details to send the money. Lucky for me i still have my passport so Western union will be a good option to get the money over,Kindly get back asap so i can send you my details.Your assistance will be greatly appreciated......Thanks" It was signed with her name. 


It was completely bogus and because it was hijacked, she couldn't get into her account to warn people. If one wrote to her the message went to the hijacker not her. I'm an old hand at spotting scams so, the minute I read it, I knew something was wrong and I called her. She said that not only was she hijacked at gmail but her BF's account at yahoo was hijacked a while ago. So it isn't just a gmail problem. Just wanted all of you to know. Tweet

Wordless Wednesday

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The Tart With the Cart

This is the name given by the Dubliners to a statue of the famous Molly Malone of song who "wheel'd her wheel barrow through streets broad and narrow crying cockles and mussels alive, alive o!" It stands near the University in Dublin, Ireland.

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Now Blooming in My Garden

Yes, we do have cactus growing naturally here on Long Island, New York. This patch is in the middle of my lawn. I transplanted it many years ago from a construction site located farther east than I live.

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Wordless Wednesday

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