Rondeau, Sept. 20-22 2013

I always enjoy it when we travel to Rondeau Park. It is a relaxing drive with lots of scenery to enjoy and there is always something to explore at the park. We arrived to very hot and humid weather which was quite different from the cooler temperatures at home. The bay area almost always has a Blue Heron to enjoy and there was one for me to watch and photograph on this trip. We did some exploring and met up with a buck and a younger deer on our travels. I had said to Duncan earlier that we had not seen deer here. We had a late dinner as we were going to get thunderstorms later in the evening so we wanted to enjoy time out before that happened.  Just as we sat down to enjoy our dinner the light show and rumble of thunder began. It was going to be an indoor evening as the skies opened up and we had a torrential rain. It rain all night long but cleared off early in the morning.
Saturday I spent some time with the chipmunks of which one was very friendly. She would come and get a treat and then head behind the motor home and go down her hole to store them. I was able to get a few good shots of her coming back out to get more but she would always go back to where I had been giving them to her to get more. There were a few tense moments as there were about 5 chipmunks and only two were brave enough to take them from my hand. The others were getting a little upset that they were not getting as many. It was quite funny at times as they chased each other around. But in the end the one chipmunk scored the most because she was the friendliest. We hiked the South Point Trail which brought us down to the tip for some time by the water. Unfortunately a big dark cloud came along and chased us back to the car. It was just a light passing shower. We were hoping to see some migrating Monarchs but there are very few of them this year. There were a few trees that had come down during the storm so park staff were clearing the roads of debris. We then went for a hike along the Spice Bush Trail. We enjoyed a yummy crock pot dinner and a great evening by the fire. People at another campsite entertained us with their guitar, bongos and singing, off and on through the evening.
Sunday my friendly chipmunk was back and I didn't have to encourage her to get in my hand. She would come over and just jump up into my hand and collect some nuts, run down her hole and return for more. I think she ended up with her winter supply as I finished all the shelled peanuts I had in the bird feeder. Duncan made a yummy brunch for us and we packed up and headed to the visitors center to hike the Tulip Trail. Unfortunately all of a sudden the winds picked up and we got rain so we decided to head to the dumping station and head home. Shortly after arriving Duncan told me to get outside. I was not sure why but when I looked around I understood. There were four deer in the field across the road. I was out the door and getting pictures pretty quick. They didn't stay long as a couple on bikes went past and scared them into the woods. That made our trip to Rondeau even better. We were able to see 6 deer that week-end.
This week-end we are off to Point Farms and the delicious Culbert's Bakery.

Lets Explore Rondueu Park

This was much bigger and with different colouring 

than the other yellow jackets. Not sure what it is

Creeping in on a snack

I caught one and it looks good!

This tree had lots of Dryad's Saddle on it

Don't come any closer or I will have to leave

This buck said.... quick run, its a human

My cheeks are full. Quick get your photo so I can go

Dragonfly on the south trail

There are lots of stones at the south shore

Looked for a boat. This is the best we found!

Test run. Where's the bilge pump? 

A deer on the beach

The red maple leaf

Milkweed beetles

Spider in a clam shell looking fungi

This fern reminded me of the pinwheels that 

turned in the wind that we played with as kids

Reflections 

Wood Frog that totally freezes in the winter

 

Dripping bracket fungi with a guest

Duck on a log.........

My friend for the week-end

A UFO on the side of this tree

Please, I have room for a few more!!!

Peanuts: No I haven't seen them

Moms and the kids at the park

Emily, Sept.13-15 2013

We braved the 401 east bound for the second time this year to try a new park. It was a slow trek through the Greater Toronto area. It was just over 3 hours to get to Emily Park which is just west of Peterborough. We had a little rain on our trip and this was the coldest day so far this fall. Only a high of 12 celsius. After spending a bit of time trying to find the most level spot on our campsite we went for a tour of the park. When we got down by the water Duncan spotted a bird on a post so I got out to investigate. This was the only picture I was able to get of a bird this week-end and I will post the photo further down. We saw a few chickadees and heard a nuthatch and some jays. I put out some seeds on Friday and they were not touched all week-end. We spent Friday evening indoors as it was windy and cold so we opted for a TV night.
Saturday we went for a drive to Emily Tract and did a long hike through the woods. It was a sunny warm day to be out on the trails. There was lots of fungus and mushrooms and we enjoyed watching a hairy woodpecker digging for treats way up in the trees. We toured the area a bit and headed back to the park to relax for the rest of the day. After a yummy supper we spent a long evening in front of a roaring campfire. There were still red embers on Sunday morning.
Sunday was a little overcast and cooler. We hung out at the cottage just enjoying the peaceful views. We had a wonderful brunch before heading back out on the highway for the trek back home. Emily is a nice park but not what Duncan and I prefer to stay at. We like to walk the beaches and hike on trails and Emily has two very small beaches and a very short trail if you can call it a trail. We are off to Rondeau next and we always have lots to enjoy there.

A plastic owl protecting the beach area......lol

We saw lots of Peter cottontails

Lets Go For A Hike

One of many signs on the trails

Hugging the old White Pine Tree

Looking way up towards the top of the pine

Reflections in the Chatten's Creek

Someone has put bird feeding platforms along the trail

Black Witch's Butter (Jelly Fungus)

 

Pretty in the sunlight

 

Turkey Tail (Bracket Fungus) growing in a circle

It was an informative hike

One of many Musclewood Tree's

The largest cluster of Brown-Spored Mushrooms I've seen

Busy bee. These flowers were all along the trails

 

A farm gate post at the top of the trail

 

A view from the tree tops

Pumpkin face in a log

Some of natures beauty along the way

View along the trail

Inverhuron, Sept. 6-8 2013

It was a mixed bag of weather this weekend. Friday was sunny and warm and we enjoyed a wonderful evening. I went down to the lake to get sunset pictures while Duncan got the fire going for us to enjoy for the rest of the evening. The firewood we got this weekend was the best park wood we have had this year. It was a great fire! When I went to see what time it was later in the evening I discovered that I had lost my watch. Unfortunately a search turned up nothing. Saturday we were both shocked when we woke up and it was 10:00. The gentle rain that was falling must have lulled us into a deep sleep. When Duncan went outside to have his tea he found my watch lying on the ground all wet. It was still working but the pin in the band was missing. I was lost all day without my watch. After lunchtime we headed to the veggie stand just south of Southampton to pick up a few things. The corn on the cob was the best corn we have had this year. It was so sweet and tender. We then drove up to Sauble Falls to enjoy some of the sights there. I had great fun watching all the ducks stretching as far as they could to enjoy the seeds on the tops of the grasses growing at the edge of the river. It was a cloudy day and it drizzled every so often. Our next stop was to visit with John & Joanne and see how the house reno was coming along. There is lots of work done and they are hoping to start dry walling before long. I am sure they are hoping things move quickly and they can have Christmas in there new home. We went to the Enchanted Fusion Restaurant for a chinese dinner. If you are in this area and want to enjoy a good meal be sure to go here. It was delicious. On our way back to Inverhuron we stopped and I was able to buy a new watch. I am not lost anymore........lol  It was a wet night so we watched dvd's of the West Wing. It's amazing how much shorter they are when you don't have to watch the commercials. Sunday we had a relaxing time at camp. I was able to hand feed some of the chickadees and enjoyed watching the other friends that came to visit. We headed to the beach area and went for a hike over the bridge and along the trail. I went down to the beach for a while before we headed home.

Twins on a log at our campsite

Treats for the birds

Friday evening sunset

 

Many shades of red in the evening light

 

My cheeks are bursting with treats

 

I see you looking at me

I got a peanut and I am off to enjoy it

Posing in the pine tree

Coming for a sunflower seed from my hand

Duncan spotted this salamander just before we left the campsite

Our Afternoon Hike

Flowers along the creek

A big paw print in the sand along the trail

More signs that fall is arriving

Fallen cedar trees and reflections in the water

Have a seat and enjoy some time at the lake

One of the many buggies we past on the way home.

Saturday Afternoon at Sauble Falls

Pretty in pink

Blue Heron on a log at the edge of the river

Golden beauty

Mallard ducks enjoying the treats of the river

A bees work is never done

Rings in the water from the Mallard

Rain drops on the petals