Local Talent Always Amazes Us!

Every now and then, we happen upon an unexpected experience that brings us a terrific sense of wonder and joy. 

Last week, we were on a day trip to Manitoulin Island, and made our way to Providence Bay, where there's a really nice boardwalk along the beach. We had been there a few weeks beforehand, and wanted to check out the fall colours. 

As we were progressing towards the main area, we heard the sound of music floating through the trees. The closer we got, the more it sounded like live music and, sure enough, when we turned the corner, there was an art festival set up and this young couple were just finishing off the first half of their performance. 

After a quick visit to the local 'centre', we returned to the site and were given a couple of lawn chairs right in front of the 'stage' area, where the couple were going to complete their performance after their lunch break. 

We found out that this young couple live in Sudbury, Ontario (about 2 hours away from where we live). 

Jamie was playing a harp guitar - an instrument with which we were unfamiliar. It had such a beautifully full sound and watching his fingers dance over the fretboard, as he accompanied Emma's singing, left us holding our breath at the sheer brilliance of his skill. Self taught, Jamie placed 1st  in the Canadian Guitar Festival Competition, in 2016. He also teaches guitar, and has his own YouTube page. (His cover of Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' leaves us in awe!)  Check out his YouTube recordings here:

 https://www.youtube.com/user/JamieDupuisAcoustic

Emma's voice was mesmerizing as she sang her way through a variety of genres. There was almost a haunting nuance within her interpretation of the songs. We found out that Emma, also, has her own YouTube page, and we've been viewing the material she has recorded and we especially love her cover of 'Dream a Little Dream of Me'. She also writes her own music and plays the Ukelele. Check out her YouTube recordings here: 

https://www.youtube.com/c/EmmaMcDaniel/videos

Small world that it is, we found out subsequently, that Jamie actually played at a wedding that I officiated, back in 2018, in Blind River! Since I always touch base with the musician before the ceremony to ensure we are on the same page, I must have met him and chatted with him on that occasion! 

We also found out that Emma's grandparents live in Elliot Lake and are known to many of our friends. 

Cover of Elton John's 'Rocket Man'

Those who know this couple attest to what lovely people they are, confirming the impression we had taken away with us after meeting them in Providence Bay. They very kindly responded to our request for a repeat performance of the song, 'Mad World', which we had first heard echoing through the trees. Here's the YouTube recording of this song: 

When we had set out to spend a day on the Island, we had no idea that we were going to stumble upon such talent. We are hoping to have them come to Elliot Lake, once things settle re: Covid-19. We know that our town will give them tremendous welcome and support at one of our well-attended outdoor concerts. 

We're keeping in touch with Jamie and Emma, via social media. They are certainly our kind of people and, hopefully, they count us among their friends. 

Iceberg Alley, Newfoundland

Iceberg Alley, Newfoundland

Some of you may remember that, last year (2019), we spent a month in Newfoundland - our first visit to our easternmost province. It had been on our bucket list for many years, so it was awesome to finally dust off that ambition.

Since then, I have been meaning to post a blog about the amazing experience we had with our encounters with icebergs in, what is known as, Iceberg Alley. At last, I've gotten around to writing this. 

Before you watch the slide show, there are a couple of interesting things we found out about these ice giants - mainly from the guide on the Iceberg Tour Boat, out of Saint Anthony. 

Icebergs usually being their journey when huge chunks off ice break off from the glaciers near to Greenland. It usually takes 2 years for them to float into the vicinity of Newfoundland/Labrador, where they tend to become trapped in bays, or bights, and remain there for a couple of months until they melt away, usually in mid-late July. The month of June is an excellent time to view them, as they sometimes come quite close to the shoreline, and there are some amazing photos, on social media, of humongous icebergs forming a backdrop to a small village, with buildings dwarfed in front of them.

This video shows some Greenland gravel on the top of the flat surface:

 

On some of the photos, you'll see a straight blue line, in the iceberg. These lines indicate a previous waterline mark before an iceberg upends, as a result of becoming top heavy. We didn't see it, in person, but when an iceberg turns upside down, it is a phenomenal event to witness. 

In this slide show, the first two pictures in the slide show are taken from the roadside on our journey up the western side of the Island, on our way up north to Saint Anthony. 

This first glimpse of an iceberg was spectacular as it was shaped like a huge swan!

Most of the pics are from our boat tour. One iceberg, at Saint Carols, was so magnificent that, at the end of the tour, we decided to drive round to the cove and view it from the land. We remained there for a couple of hours, taking in the sheer beauty of this natural edifice while enjoying a picnic on the rocks. 

Towards the end, you'll see another photo of an iceberg taken from Dungeons Provincial Park, near Bonavista, and the last few are from an iceberg we went to see near Twillingate. The latter iceberg (with the boat next to it) actually split in two the following day. We missed it by just a few minutes. 

Anyway, here's the slide show.... just click the picture to start it. 

The guide and skipper on the tour boat had a great sense of humour, too. As we approached our first large iceberg, they started to play the theme music from the movie, 'Titanic'! The boat went in quite close, and the tour guide was able to chip off a large piece of ice, which he proceeded to break up into small pieces for each of the tourists to try. Although there was a slight taste of salt (because it had been in the sea), it was crystal clear, and refreshing. The glaciers from which the iceberg had come were formed before the Industrial Revolution, and so were free from most of the pollution formed since that era. 

He was telling us that many local folk gather the ice from the bergs and use it to make beer. They call it, 'Iceberg Beer', and it's a speciality in the area. 

Beer, or no beer, we will never forget our first encounter with these ice giants. 

 

Happy 64th Birthday, Mark!

Happy Birthday to this wonderful human being who made his first appearance in Hamilton, Ontario. 

Mark is the easiest person to love, as anyone who meets him will attest. He has a wonderfully warm spirit, a beautiful heart, a great capacity for listening, and lives life to the fullest. 

I am so blessed to have known him over the last 28 years and I know that I’m the luckiest man alive to be with him 24/7. 

Darling, you have my heart, now and always. I will love you forever and a day!  xxx ooo 

Recent Encounters with Local Wildlife - Part 1 (Our Feathered Friends)

Recent Encounters with Local Wildlife - Part 1 

(Our Feathered Friends)

 

During this challenging time of social/physical distancing, we're feeling really fortunate to be living where we do, in Northern Ontario. We live on the top floor of our apartment building, and are using the nine flights of stairs to take us straight to the parking lot, avoiding the elevator as much as possible.

Once in the car, we can travel just five minutes north of the town, and be in the surrounding wilderness and designated crown land, where we can drive or hike without meeting anyone, and we can still be following the protocols. 

Although all public parks and trails have been closed, we still have access to all the natural trails and so can get out in the fresh air without compromising ourselves or others. Instead of just being 2 metres away from others, we’re often 20 km distant – and that has sometimes stretched to 200 km!

Like most people, we miss meeting up with friends to share a meal, or do something together with them; and we REALLY miss our normal traveling and house/pet sitting adventures. However, we've been using this free time to explore our area in more detail, following trails that we have not yet traveled, and venturing out at all times of the day in the hope of seeing some of the abundant wildlife we have on our doorstep. 

So, we decided to share some of the photos and video clips of wildlife that we have been lucky enough to capture during our recent local excursions. This blog will focus upon the various birds we have seen. Part 2 will share our shots of larger wildlife.

Between our Nikon Coolpix P900 camera, and our Samsung S9 Cellphone, we have been very happy with some of our results. Hope you enjoy them, too!

BIRDS OF FLIGHT

For the first time in years, we've sighted several kestrels, just north of Iron Bridge. 

Turkey vultures may not be the prettiest of birds, but they are fun to watch

A first, for us, we were delighted when we came across this chestnut-sided warbler...

...and his cousin, a black and white warbler

We've also been lucky to have spotted several other species that we hadn't noticed before. 

Northern Flicker

Redpoll

Rose Breasted Grosbeak

We managed to capture the sweet song of the Rose Crested Grosbeak. 

Snow Bunting

Tree Swallow

Then, there are species that are more familiar to us.

Robin (the ones I grew up with, in the U.K., were much smaller that their North Amercian cousins)

Common Gull

Red-Wing Blackbird

Thrush

Killdeer 

Song Sparrow

                                   

Broad Wing Hawk

                                   

I'm reminded of a funny story. Just one year after my arrival in Canada, a friend from the U.K. came over for a visit. We were on Toronto Island, not far from the airport, when we noticed a man taking a photo of some birds. We said to him, 'Excuse me, but we've noticed a lot of birds that look like blackbirds, but have red wings. What are they called?' He answered, 'They are red-wing blackbirds!'  We both laughed at ourselves, which masked our embarrassment! 

One of our favourite birds is the woodpecker. We have seen several Downy and Hairy varieties, but the one we always look out for is the Pileated Woodpecker, with its distinctive call and low-pitched tapping. 

Here's a video clip of him tapping for grubs. (The first part is a little shaky!)

...and in the following clip, you can barely see him, but you can hear his tapping - and his call...

WADING BIRDS AND WATER FOWL  

Living in a town that is surrounded by over 4000 lakes within a 100 km radius, we are well situated to see a variety of water fowl.

Loon - the cry of which epitomizes the North for us

This duck was escorting her clan across the road and into the bush

Mallards

Ring-Necked Duck

Spotted Sandpiper

 

Solitary Sandpiper

We had seen a Bittern in Algonquin Park, but this one, which was standing on the side of the road, was our first sighting in this area

Various mergansers adorn our surrounding lakes

Sandhill Cranes are often to be seen during the summer months.

These cranes were intermingling with Canada geese in a local field

We managed to capture this one, as it was taking off...

...and these two took off on the read ahead!

We were fortunate to capture all these different birds over the last few weeks. 

Before finishing, I just have to share this video of some Sandhill Cranes taking off when we were visiting Manitoulin Island during our first year, in Elliot Lake. It will always leave me in awe - and appreciation of being in the right place, at the right time.