Monday, March 28, 2016

Within Walking Distance

Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time. ~ Steven Wright

A couple of weeks back, I ventured out along the shores of Peterborough's Little Lake.

stretch
From the ages of 8-18, me and my family moved around a lot. Mostly we would just stretch, but occasionally one of us would actually get up to go to the fridge. ~ Jarod Kintz
It was typical March weather - warm in the sunshine but a cool wind. The water's edge was still icy in most spots. I'd say that this Mallard was doing yoga poses but that would be a... stretch.






drifter
I floated like driftwood in the ocean. I wasn't worried about sharks, because my bathtub is much too shallow. ~ Jarod Kintz
A somewhat weathered branch waiting for further melt to release it.






frozen edges
You don't drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there. ~ Edwin Louis Cole
A different view of the icy shoreline.






mallard pair
Duck love is recognizable in any language. ~ Edmond Manning
Just a few feet away, at the edge of the dock, these ducks will have a much softer landing.





the lighthouse
I'm good at exploring roofs. You never know when that kind of thing comes in useful. ~ Enid Blyton
As we approach Del Crary Park, we see the familiar red roof of The Light House Lounge and Grill - not quite ready for the upcoming summer season.






Light House
Distance lends enchantment to the view. ~ Mark Twain
Here it is again from a different perspective.






too early
One scoop of ice cream can go a long way. Not to mending friendships, but it can get up to 40 yards in the air if you lob it just right.
~ Jarod Kintz
Same spot, up close. People will be lined up to buy their yummy Kawartha Dairy ice cream here, in just a few months.





flotsam
I'm part wood nymph. I require mountains and warm, dense patches of moss to thrive. ~ Vera Farmiga
With the bits of greenery here and there, and the absence of ice, you could almost believe that this was taken during spring or summer but it was the same day - just a little further along the lakeshore.


There's a small walking bridge over the water where Jackson Creek rushes in to meet Little Lake. The waters were running rapidly at this point, on this day and I was about to take a photo of it when I heard voices coming from deeper within the tunnel-like setting.






paddlers
When I must leave the great river
O bury me close to its wave
And let my canoe and my paddle
Be the only mark over my grave
~ Frank Oliver
Just as I focused my camera, these two came swooshing out of the shadows into full view. The water was still very cold as you can tell by earlier photos of the icy shores, and I was surprised that neither of the paddlers were wearing PFDs.





paddlers3
I run a tight ship. It's so tight, you could call it a canoe. ~ Jarod Kintz
I quickly turned to look over the other side of the bridge. Her hands looked very cold but her smile was warm.





paddlers4
A true Canadian is one who can make love in a canoe without tipping. ~ Pierre Berton
There was no doubt that they were having a great time. It was most likely their first canoe trip of the season. They headed under the railway bridge and disembarked around the next bend.





train bridge
Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him. ~ Dwight D Eisenhower
And here's what that bridge looks like from up close.

That's it for this walk along Little Lake. I hope you'll join me again whenever my feet make their way back.

43 comments:

Marie Smith said...

Great photos. Beautiful area. The branch on the ice looks like an inch worm.

joeh said...

Enjoyed the walk. I must say, a canoe would not be my vessel of choice on a cold day on icy water.

Laura~Pretty Pix said...

Great wintry captures.
Paddling about in a canoe... Oh to be young again.
Lovely post.

Tabor said...

Another great set of photos. As I have said many times, you have the eye to tell the story with a photo. I am sorry those young folks did not wear a PFD, careless of them!

Red said...

You found a lot of good stuff on your walk around the lake. The canoers don't even have a life jacket on board!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Thanks for the fun walk.The sights were most enjoyable.

The Furry Gnome said...

That does look like a little risky canoeing without pfd's at this time of year.

Cloudia said...

Wow, I just love your eye and your sensibility. Then you got that lucky encounter and just blew my mind

stephen Hayes said...

Great pictures. I'm sure it will all look even more stunning when sunnier weather appears.

Out on the prairie said...

A bit brisk on the water, I sat fishing yesterday in my parka.

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

Love those bright and shiny images. I think the duck was doing his pilates...right?

Shammickite said...

hmmmm.... kinda risky to be paddling a canoe in that cold cold water without PFDs. Their mommies would be very disappointed in them!
Ancient Canadian joke: What's the difference between a canoe and a Canadian?
A canoe tips.
harharhar
I like the picture of that railway bridge. Interesting arches all the way into the distance. Watch out, there's a train coming!

DJan said...

I am again gobsmacked by the things you see and your captures. (Don't you just love that word?) You are a true artist, Hilary. :-)

Theresa said...

What a beautiful place you live! I had to smile at the canoe duo. I bet they did it on a lark and I could just see the joy in that one picture.

Karen said...

Always fun to see what winter tosses up on the shores.
My Dad loved to feed the ducks along the river there. They were highlights of his last days.
The train bridge is a memory from my youth. I had a boyfriend who lived on Maria St. We used to go over town that way.

ellen abbott said...

great shots as usual. cute, the parking lot for the Lighthouse Lounge and Grill in is int water.

TexWisGirl said...

they were having fun, but i agree with you - i'd need a life vest.

William Kendall said...

The ducks don't mind cold water. And Kawartha Ice Cream is to die for!

messymimi said...

How i'd love to be in a canoe right now! Lovely photos, ripe with spring's promise.

Rita said...

Wow! That had to be a cold canoe ride. Glad they were still smiling.
Love the ducks and all the views. :)

Linda said...

Great set of pics! Love the mallards and the couple in the boat.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

There were kayakers on the river behind our house last week, but it is not for me, cold weather boating!

Linda said...

Another great selection of photos. I would say that Drifter looks a bit like an inchworm. Is it just me?

Daryl said...

nature is fascinating ... the way it can seem like winter all icy cold in one spot and just a bit away the angle changes and it seems like spring ...

Indrani said...

Great set of pictures! It is a visual treat to visit your blog.
I like the colors, compositions and the subjects you capture.

Anvilcloud said...

Perfect timing on that first canoe photo. Great capture.

Crabby McSlacker said...

The couple in the canoe: priceless. You caught the joy, the playfulness, the love.

Hope somehow they find their pictures online because if they hang in there, 50 years from now they'll look back and think: somebody saw us and got it.

Great photos as usual!

photowannabe said...

Thank you for the frosty walk along the water's edge.
Love the photos but the branch caught in the ice is beautiful in its simplicity.

Unknown said...

Yes, no doubt they were happy. That train track is very powerful!

sage said...

I love the trestle photo. That couple in the canoe should have been better dressed (and I would have been on my knees to drop the center of gravity in fast water). I've done lots of paddling in the winter, but never without wearing a life jacket and gloves!

Maggie May said...

Loved the picture of the canoe when the girl turned and caught your eye!
Maggie x

Anita said...

Usually, the animal and nature photos are my favorites, but the yellow popped on the 3rd pic! And the red against the blue sky on the Light House Lounge.
The canoeing couple was a good catch, too.
Perfectly Hilary! :)

Jenn Jilks said...

Beautiful photos, as always, my dear friend! Such warm photos with eye candy colours!

Phyllis E said...

Always enjoy strolling with you, Cuzzie.

Mage said...

Oh, delightful. Here it is rose time for me again. Little outside, but I need to humble myself and get out there on my walker.
Do trains still use that bridge?
Flat out charming stuff. Thanks.

Rob-bear said...

What delightful pictures — young lovers, ducky Mallards, and wood you believe. Hope this is the beginning of another great spring and summer.

Blessings and Bear hugs!

Anonymous said...

What a lovely walk! Our March looks a lot like yours...

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

A fine outing, indeed- loved being able to tag along. Have a super Sunday!

yaya said...

Your photos are great as usual! The canoe folks really caught my eye and yes, I was super surprised at no PFD on them. The water is so cold if that canoe had tipped they wouldn't have had much of a chance. You know that old saying: "If you have to choose between being lucky or being good...take luck every time"!

Suldog said...

Love the shot of the tracks (well, love all of them, of course, but particularly that one.) Does the lighthouse actually function as one?

Wendy said...

Oh to be so young and carefree - paddling out into the cold water, no gloves, no Pfd's, just love and laughter and a good sense of adventure.

Excellent pics - I love the yoga duck. A nice capture - they don't seem to mind you're being so close (or maybe it was a zoom lens). Still, they look so serene. And i like that piece of driftwood - looks like an inchworm to me. LOL.

Wish spring was really here - it's too cold today! Brrrr!
Hugs

Midlife Roadtripper said...

I most certainly enjoyed it. Love the one of the ice not quite melted on the shoreline. And the smile on the canoeist face.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Love the mallards and the happy canoers. And it might be worth a trip to Canada to try some of that ice cream. I've never heard of that brand, but the picture made my mouth water.