Family and other critters

 This is a catch up post as I have been pretty busy and although I usually remember to take pictures, getting them on to the computer and then writing on the blog doesn't take first priority.

Chris, Jason and Cigi were here for a few days which of course means lots of baby pictures;

She now gives lots of laughs and giggles

Loves a good bubble bath.

Found her feet. Hours of fascination with them. (Photo by Chris)

Si and Dan came for dinner and to watch the first sailing race of the season

Not yet officially sanctioned so we are calling it "non-racing".

Cigi dressed for the occasion.

Unfortunately when they left, they forgot a bag of dirty diapers. Yuck, stinky and multiple washings!

Mean while, on the Western Front:-

Maya

and Avery are taking Jujitsu.

Nicola and I drove to Pakenham, near Ottawa, to pick up Mum and Dad from their visit with Mark and family. More people, and dogs, than we have dealt with in a long time. (photo on timer on Heather's phone)

Chris and Jason happened to be visiting friends in Ottawa so Mum and Dad got to meet Cigi in person for the first time.

Cigi got to meet the new standard poodle puppy, Jasper, otherwise known as "the terrorist".

After dropping off Mum and Dad in Fort Erie, Nic and I drove to my place and the next day witnessed Fiona and a couple of running mates running a 1500metre time trial......

Their feet aren't even touching the ground.

Later that evening Fiona went to her "drive by Graduation". Congratulations!

And now for the "other creatures"......

I first saw this fellow, eating a frog, under the cedar hedge.

 

Looking him up, I thought he was a Rat Snake, but was corrected, he's a Common Garter Snake.

This little guy will have to watch out

he doesn't seem to be afraid of anything.

I have been here nearly a year and it is wonderful to see the bank alive with plants that were here when I arrived and some that I've added.

The Hummingbirds and Bees love these, wild Foxglove.

The Crown vetch is out

in all it's glory,

interspersed with Sweet Pea.

Spellbound in a new home.

 This post is out of order. I have pictures of  a visit with Cigi, Chris and Jason, dinner and race watching with Simon and Daniele and a hike on the Bruce Trail, but this was the excitement of the week.

When Rick and I saw Spellbound, in Brockville, the day he bought her, she was surrounded by other boats, but they have all been launched now which meant that the truck could get in to the yard to pick her up.

Rick was there to pick up the motor and see her starting on her journey. Photo by Rick.

On a trailer meant for a bigger boat, or 2 of her. Photo by Rick

Unloaded at Port Dover Harbour Marina, Rick now had to do some cleaning, paint VC17 on her bottom

and get Chris and Jason to help him put the motor on.

Then, Monday, was launch day. With help from Mark and Gord.

Gently swaying in her hammock from one side of the marina to the other,

last minute touch ups, (photo by Mark)

then the moment of truth; she floats!

There were some initial motor difficulties but he managed to miss the OPP boat!

Got the mast up. Gord kept telling me "take pictures of this, I've never seen him work this hard" (they have sailed together longer than either wants to admit)

First brew on the boat and

she's in her new home.

I love kayaking Black Creek

 I tried out my kayak and got the lay of the land with Simon but this week I tried it on my own.Simon and I launched at the old Fish Plant beside the lift bridge but I launched this week at an access point, close to home, managed by the conservation authority.

It's a lovely spot and takes about 5 minutes to get there on minor roads. Which is a good job as the visibility , is minimal, with the kayak in the car.

Dragged the kayak out of the car, slipped my car keys, phone and camera into a waterproof pouch and turned up stream. First sighting

A Great Blue Heron

He stayed perfectly still while I drifted closer, snapping away.

Once you get under the bridge, there is no evidence of civilization at all.

I paddled along, no great exertion. This heron walked away, no desire to be photographed. After a while I relaxed into the experience, occasionally dipping my paddle into the muddy water to move forward or correct my direction. No sound but the occasional splash (fish), birdsong and a Kingfisher protesting my incursion onto his fishing rights.

I went upriver, easing around fallen trees and floating logs for about half an hour, turned back and encountered a couple of goose families also drifting downstream.

Under the bridge, what I took for a Barn Swallow but upon looking it up I have identified as a Cliff Swallow, due to its white forehead.

Getting into the kayak at the boat launch had been much easier than at the fish plant. Getting out however, was more difficult and there were wet feet and periods of precarious balancing acts involved.

I am not sure if it was the process of lifting the kayak in and out of the car or the actual kayaking itself but I decided to rest my lower back before trying it again, so the next excursion was two days later. Same place, different direction.

This time I headed down stream, which is peaceful and natural for a while.

Lots of turtles, out sunning themselves.

Northern Map Turtle.

Not far and there start to be big houses and big boats. The peace is replaced by personal water craft, zodiacs, power boats, pontoon boats and huge power boats. Growling engines and blaring music.

Past lots of dockage, a marina, the Port Dover Yacht Club. Cliff Swallows nesting in infrequently used

boats. Amazing mud nests.

I paddled into the Commercial Harbour

Peaceful

on a Saturday.

Then out between the piers with the resident gulls screaming in protest.

A different angle for me.

Turning back and the East bank is a mass of blossoms.

I think they are Black Locust, invasive, non native, but they smell divine.

Back under the lift bridge with the traffic rattling overhead.

The river is gradually losing these rusty old relics, becoming gentrified, developed, but I will miss them, they were part of the "decor" and hinted at the history of the area.

Back up the river there were more boats to be dodged and wakes to be turned into.

Before I got back to the relaxing,

turtle inhabited area, "far from the madding crowds". To then negotiate my ungraceful disembarkation, load the kayak into the car and return home. The trip up river was about an hour, downriver was 2 and a half.