Where Roads and Rivers Meet

If you like the title of my blog post, you're not exactly in the same boat as most of Peterborough. "Where roads and rivers meet" was the proposed new tagline for the city but it was widely rejected recently. Despite it being a rather accurate description, I think its irony comes too soon after the great flooding we experienced this and previous springs. Social media spots and other various online publications have suggested a contest for a new slogan. Some of those suggestions as well as previous slogans, and those for the Trent and Kawartha area in particular will appear with my images below.



Slogan: Electric City
These are the churning waters of the London Street Generating Station.






Slogan: The place at the foot of the rapids
This woman was fishing closer to the shoreline at the base of the generating station.






Slogan: City of bridges
A small show of defiance on the nearby walking bridge.






Slogan: It's just around the way
Regardless of water levels, many locals have kayaks and canoes, and enjoy getting around town via the waterways.






Slogan: Heart of the Trent-Severn Waterway
A twenty minute walk or a three minute drive from the above scene, we found ourselves at Lock 19 where some of the same boats were now in action. This group really got around on that day.






Slogan: Gateway to the Kawarthas
The watery gates were soon opened and they continued on their way.






Slogan: Bright waters and happy lands
A few boats having a bit of a rest near the lift lock.






Slogan: Marine highway
And here is the lift lock in action. A couple of boats (including the Lift Lock Tours boat) in the left chamber are about to make their ascent.






Slogan: The land of shining waters
Almost at the top, they'll continue their journey north along the Trent-Severn Waterway. The caisson on the right was full of smaller boats including some of the kayakers we saw in previous photos. I told you they really get around.






Slogan: Popular Peterborough for progressive people
Peterborough has dozens (it would seem) of these Little Libraries around town.






Slogan: The participaction city
A little more graffiti on the way into Jackson Park expresses sentiments like "the whole earth is our hospital" and "resolute kindness."






Slogan: Nestled in nature
It was a beautiful early summer day with puffy clouds scudding across the sky. This Jackson Park meadow was very inviting with its long grass undulating in the wind.






Slogan: Where land and nature nurture us
A male Downy woodpecker was working hard at this one tree. His rat-a-tat easily caught my attention.






Slogan: Is there anyplace you would rather be?
This pole pretty much disappears behind the vines.






Slogan: Your life right here
Step back in time with this beauty parked near my place. Something tells me that it's from 1956.






Slogan: It's a natural
One of the many pretty spots seen while out walking one day in May.






Slogan: The wide awake city
A litte more graffiti because who doesn't love bees? And cake!






Slogan: Come share the magic
And finally, let's close this tour with a rainbow - a double one, in fact. This one illuminated our view on my birthday while my younger son was visiting and we were both on speaker phone with my older boy. Life is good!

To the Open Road

Afoot and lighthearted I take to the open road, healthy, free, the world before me. ~Walt Whitman

A few weeks back, my friend Dakshina and I decided to take a mini road trip to see how the autumn colours might present themselves to us. Most of the leaves had not begun to change in earnest but we still enjoyed the day which found us less than an hour from Peterborough. We looked around a few places and I'll revisit a couple of the others with you soon. Today's post will cover our first stop.


This is Young's Point where you can find one of the many locks which make up the Trent-Severn waterway.






The changing leaves were a nice contrast of colour against the blue of the sky and water.






This heritage truss bridge has been preserved for pedestrian use only. It was built in 1885, and remains one of the oldest metal bridges in Ontario.






As you can see, the autumn colours were only beginning to emerge.






This tree seems to be displaying every autumn shade there is.






Those colours reflected nicely in the water over on the other side of the lock bridge.






Also reflecting nicely were the simple vertical white lines of the gate - which took on a life of their own in the water.






I also couldn't help but notice the various weathered textures which were currently above water level.






This odd little collection of yard art caught my attention from the other side of the waterway.






The tones and textures of this tree bark were lovely.






Here, have a closer look.






We found this nice spot where boats could be moored and legs could be rested. It was a lovely day and a beautiful location.

On to Woodview and Burleigh Falls, next post.

Sunshine Came Softly

Sunshine came softly through my a-window today. ~ Donovan Leitch

Sunshine did indeed pour itself softly and gently through my window on this early spring morning. Misty air rose up to greet the golden orb, casting a hazy veil to settle over the awakening city.






A wood frame which holds dried flowers under glass was in position to be illuminated by this amber light.






A few minutes later, the light fog had burned away, leaving in its place a fleeting but vibrant sky.



 


Carol Anne and I made plans to wander the nearby town of Lakefield which is home to Lock 26 of the Trent-Severn Waterway.






The water below was forceful and loud.






Here, see and hear for yourself - fifteen seconds of water power.






Wandering around town, we found a shop that sold these fairy doors as recently seen across the pond in Maggie May's blog.






I think "quirky" would best describe some of the artistic expressions around town.






Despite being a definite eye-catcher, this sure isn't much of a happy existence for a fish.






Fuzzy pussy willows - a sure sign of spring.






And while we're in feline mode, my neighbour's cat, Oliver is a fuzzy, purring lump of love.

More photos coming up before too much longer.