Beyond Saint John

Well, we spent most of the day en route to Sackville in the “clouds”, as it were. Little actual rain but lots of fog and mist and temperatures no higher than 9 C. But in spite of the weather it was an excellent day!

(Click on any photo so see a larger version)

The first leg of the days drive included a small detour of about 15 Kilometres to the community of Kingston to pick up some food for our dog, Kita. She is on a raw food diet so finding sources along the way and keeping it cold has been an interesting challenge of the trip. This short side trip turned out to be of special interest. First, it involved an unexpected ferry ride - little waiting time as the trip is short and there are two small craft constantly moving back and forth carrying up to about 15 vehicles - depending on size. The drive to the meat source took us on some interesting roads and past equally interesting houses. Our GPS guided us to the address and en route we found ourselves on Shampers Bluff Road.

To most this likely means nothing but others might know that the internationally known Canadian photographer, Freeman Patterson, lives on Shampers Bluff! In 2009, when I attended a Freeman Patterson workshop in St. Martins, New Brunswick, I spent a day at Freeman’s place which is on a very high piece of land with some amazing views of the water and land below.

After picking up Kita’s 5 days supply of food we drove past Freeman’s place, but decided not to pay him a visit. This photo from the road is a view of the area near his place. It is worth noting at this point that photos of places like this - which look quite spectacular - rarely do any justice to what the eye and brain perceive.

Back to the ferry and on toward our destination for the day, Sackville, New Brunswick, a drive of around 200 Kilometres. About two thirds of the way we decided to leave the highway and travel down to the Bay of Fundy coast along a secondary road thinking we would be very close to the water, and we were but only glimpsed it at infrequent intervals. The drive took us through Fundy National Park which is quite spectacular though we saw it only from the road as everything is closed until mid May. Even so, we past some very interesting terrain and places of interest, like

Overlook in Fundy National Park

some unusual colourful hillsides and the small village of Alma, which is just outside the National park and right on the water’s edge. 

Village of Alma

The tide was out so any boats at the dock were left stranded on the ground waiting for the next high tide. And Ruth found a general store where she picked up some stamps and engaged in a characteristically “Maritime friendly” conversation with the clerk, or possibly the proprietor. From Alma we continued along the coast, catching glimpses of the salt water mud flats, visible at low tide. Some of the areas visible were covered with low vegetation interrupted at intervals by “channels” of water running perpendicular to the bay coast.  Not sure of the origin or significance of these.

Well past Alma we came to a small winery! - Waterside Farms Cottage Winery proved to be an interesting surprise and offered more “Maritime friendly” conversation. They make a variety of fruit “wines” including blueberry “wine” aged in oak, which is quite tasty, as well as a blackberry “port”, also surprisingly good. Bought a bottle of each.

Path to the Rocks

Closer to Moncton we arrived at the Hopewell Rocks, a cluster of unique rock formations, some mesa-like, referred to as “Flower Pot Rocks”, which have been carved out by the powerful tides of the Bay of Fundy   We had hoped to see these but the whole area is highly “organized” as a tourist attraction and pretty tightly closed until later in the season. 

We did manage to circumvent the gates and walk to the area near the rocks where we gained a limited view. The paths to the rocks are quite lovely, winding through quiet, almost cathedral like forest. When the area is open one can arrange a beach level walk but not at this time. The need for caution is pretty clear as the area is rocky and no doubt slippery when wet and it is subject to very high tides which come in extremely rapidly.  All things considered, potentially very dangerous.

Diamond Rock

The Diamond Rock photo was made from a point on the path that was "semi-legal" but in order to see the Flower Pot Rocks (below) I had to make one further transgression though not to a point that was at all risky.

When we left the Rocks it was getting late and we still had about 70 Km to go to Sackville so we pushed on to Moncton, navigated the maze of roads there and arrived in Sackville about 6 pm,

Got our collection of stuff into the motel, had a bite of supper, enjoyed our blueberry wine, booked our motel in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia and watched the Jays roll over the Texas Rangers!

Flower Pot Rocks

In the morning (Friday), surprise! It was 3 C, densely overcast and pouring rain! So we decided to slip on down the road to Amherst, NS to the nearest pet store for another leash (one was damaged when Kita broke free) and we passed a “ghostly” field of wind turbines spinning in the mist - I say spinning because there was a serious wind which was great for the turbines but not for driving! 

Got the leash, visited the Information Centre to get information about the tidal bore, and found some interesting buildings in the village of Amherst.

First Baptist Church, Amherst

Back at the motel we had some lunch and hunkered down waiting for the rain to stop - which it did around 2 pm. But even when it is not raining water tends to gather on one’s glasses and camera. After the rain stopped we went for walk in the nearby Waterfowl Park. What a great place to walk!

Tonight there will be more organizing and getting ready to leave early tomorrow morning en route to Truro to try to catch the tidal bore then on to our next stop at Port Hawkesbury, N.S. 

Just to show what the driving was like on this trip for most of the day, below is a photo Ruth took with her iPad.

Clifton Park, NY to Saint John, New Brunswick

During lunch break

We left Clifton Park mid morning on Monday May 2 en route to Falmouth Maine, just north of Portland Maine. When we left it was overcast and gloomy but that quickly deteriorated to miserable! We had decided to drive on the smaller highways through eastern New York, Vermont and New Hampshire to Maine then up the coast of Maine to the Portland area, thinking it would be a picturesque drive. It would have been if we had been able to see through the pouring rain and fog mixed with the spray from any passing vehicles!

None of the photos is especially great but all look better larger, so click on any image to see a larger version.

We stopped a couple of times - once to eat our lunch, once for a pit stop and once to go to Rye beach which we had visited when we were in Boston over 50 years ago! Did I just say “over 50 years ago”? Impossible, but true. We didn’t actually make it to Rye beach, but somewhere near there and, surprise! Things are nothing like they were 50 years ago! Much more “organized” and populated. Ruth walked the dog a bit in the rain on the sidewalk - dogs not allowed on the beach :-(

After a very brief stay we decided to take the Interstate to Falmouth, Maine where we checked in to our very spartan motel where we will stay for one night. So, we were stuck in our single room with the rain pouring down outside - fortunately there was a Jays game scheduled for that night!

From Falmouth we moved on to St. John, New Brunswick via Interstates to Bangor Maine where we took the less travelled route 9 east to Calais, Maine and St. Stephan, New Brunswick. 

Stopped once along the way - just wanted to get to St. John as quickly as possible. Got searched at the border - random search so it was quick - two oldies with a dog likely low on the smuggling radar :-) The customs agent loved Kita and gave more attention to the dog than the car search.

We arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick he drive better than yesterday - cloudy but no rain.

Unlike our spartan digs last night, this place is very nice - two spacious rooms, corridor and outdoor entrances, two TV’s, a King size bed, free WiFi and extremely friendly folks at the desk. All three of them, dog lovers, went out immediately to see the dog. We are here for 2 nights so looks like it will be comfortable and relaxing!

Went out for a beach walk with directions from the desk person - failed to find it but ended up in a small park dotted with statues of people apparently important to the history of Saint John, including Benedict Arnold. He apparently fled the US arriving in St. John where he became extremely prosperous and much despised.  Apparently during those years Saint John was less friendly that it currently seems and mobs of the less fortunate rallied often against the wealthy such as Arnold. At one point his buildings burned to the ground and, though it is believed he set them on fire for the insurance, he sued another for the dastardly deed, won his case and a large settlement and packed his bags for England never to returned to Saint John.

The park also has a very impressive view of part of Saint John’s harbour with the central part of the city in the distance in the photo.

Our first morning here was pretty chilly (about 4 C ) and overcast but we bundled up and headed for the walking trail recommended by the motel staff and ended up at the Irving Nature Park.

Smelly smoke

If you didn’t know it before you arrive here you quickly become aware of the influence of the Irving dynasty in Saint John - with oil and gas along with pulp and paper being the most obvious - see the plumes of rather pungent exhaust spreading over parts of the city in this photo.

But, it turns out that some good things also emerge, one of which is the Irving Nature Park where we spent a good part of the morning.

There is a 6 or 7 Km winding driving trail through a beautiful wooded peninsula with lots of parking areas and walking trials threading their way through the woods of evergreen (mostly spruce or hardy pines) and spindly deciduous trees - not identifiable by me partly due to lack of greenery at this time of year. Some of the trails track along the edge of the wooded areas at intervals so present some lovely views of parts of the Bay of Fundy.

The amount of green moss and silver lichen throughout the wooded areas was surprising and impressive. 

Mud flats at low tide

After lunch and a post lunch rest we went back to the Nature Park at low tide and when the sun was breaking through from time to time. Some not great but interesting images of the mud flats left when the 2 meter tide has retreated.

Later, we picked up a few groceries and started preparation for an early morning departure to Sackville.

Our East Coast Driving Trip

Clifton Park, New York

Well, we have begun what we hope will be a memorable driving trip, the first since we drove in a rented van with Michael and Ann from Dundas to the mid and southwest USA a lot of years ago!

(Click on any photo to see a larger version.)

The drive from Dundas to Clifton Park on Tuesday was rainy and very windy for the first hour but settled down to cloudy and very cool (3 C) for the rest of the trip.

Waiting for another playmate at the dog park

The first few days of our time will be here in Clifton Park, New York, with Ann, Pat, Shayla and Ryan. Both Shay and Ryan have ball games daily over the coming days and we will also work in a visit with some very good friends so it will be quite busy these first days. Our current plan is to leave Clifton Park on Monday May 2nd en route to Falmouth, Maine (just north of Portland) where we will stay for one night.  Then on to St. John, New Brunswick where we will stay 2 days before moving on to Sackville for at least one night - after which, who knows?

In Clifton Park the morning drill is a visit to the dog park around 7 am - a drive of about 15 minutes - where Kita and her friend, a Chow named Tyson, usually have a pretty good run.

Wednesday afternoon we were off to Ryan’s baseball game in Fort Edward, N.Y., about 30 or 40 minutes north of Clifton Park. Ryan had 3 hits for 4 times at bat in a relatively easy victory for his team.

Thursday another game for Ryan this time at Fort Plain, about an hour west of home. Ryan pitched well for 4 innings and hit well but victory eluded them due to very effective pitching by the other side.

Ryan pitching

Friday - a lot less travel for Shalya’s softball game at 4:30pm. Shayla and the team played well but, unfortunately, they lost a close game.

No morning games so time for a late morning/early afternoon walk at Ballston Spa before the 4:30 pm game time..

Saturday morning we visited our long time friends, Hilaire and Judy Meuwissen. They emigrated from the Netherlands to British Columbia where Hilaire was in general practice prior to moving to Minnesota where Hilaire and I were research colleagues. Shortly after we moved from Minnesota to Albany Hilaire and Judy moved to Albany as well so our friendship continued. We had a wonderful visit - great reminiscing over snacks and wine and cheese.

Ryan (in Blue) 

Then to Ryan’s two tournament basketball games - one win one loss. Ryan has become accomplished at 3 point shots - 3 of them in one game yesterday.

Shayla had two softball games late in the day in the “Uncle Sam” tournament. They won both games and the tournament. Shayla played extremely well at first base - part of three excellent double plays in the final game!

Shayla initiating a play at first base.

Shayla - pre hit!

The Uncle Sam Tournament Champs
(Shayla is the tallest in the group.)

Sunday Ryan had an early basketball game in Saratoga Spings - sadly, a resounding loss though Ryan sunk four 3 pointers!

No more games today so we are relaxing and getting ready to leave Monday morning, en route to Portland Maine where we will stay for one night before moving on to St. John, New Brunswick.

Michael's 50th Birthday

I know - it's been a long time between posts and some have reminded me of the lapse. I've been lazy and had little to say.
But, I am happy to say a bit about our November trip to Atlanta, Georgia, to celebrate Michael's 50th birthday! Though it is hard to believe it. The number 50, I mean.
Michael knew that I was going to be there for November 22 but what he didn't know was that his sister Ann and brother Rod would show up as well!

Rod, Michael and Ann at Stone Mountain

As always, you can click on any image to see a larger version.

The plan to surprise him fell together nicely with some chance events cooperating to make it near perfect. It turned out that Rod, coming from Abbotsford, was by chance on the same flight as me. And, fortunately, Ann had arranged to have this weekend off work so was able to arrange arrival in Atlanta not long after Rod and I.

When we met Michael at the baggage claim he was definitely very surprised to see Rod. In order to meet Ann we had to go to the domestic terminal so he figured out immediately that the next surprise was Ann. The surprise element was great but even more memorable was that this is the first time they have all been together!

Birthday dinner

Michael had arranged to take the week off work so we were able to have a wonderful few days together, including an excellent birthday dinner on Sunday at a restaurant with several of Michael's friends.

Ann and I went for early morning walks on the belt line (a paved "rail trail" that will ultimately circle the city) near Michael's home and in a small park area just off the belt line. As Michael was off work and Rod was still on B.C. time they were allowed to remain comfortably in their beds.

Right is a view of the park area I mentioned above.

It is a lovely quiet space with walkways all around the central pond and water features like this fountain and a couple of man made "waterfalls". In the distance, upper left, is a large building, once a large Sears and Roebuck store, now converted to an extensive indoor shopping and restaurant centre where we enjoyed a very spicy Chinese dinner Saturday evening.

 One of the mornings the pond water was very still providing some interesting reflections - as in the photo left.

On Sunday, before the dinner, we went to the High Museum of Art to see the amazing presentation of the Habsburg dynasty which was prominent in Europe for about 600 years! We took a few photos but you can get a better impression  of the museum by visiting the link above.

In addition to the Habsburg collection we visited the modern art displays, one of which was a large parabolic collection of mirrors that provided some fascinating reflections.

The one at the right I think is kind of "cool". If you look closely you can see, in the upper left, tiny images of both Rod and me. Rod's red and white jacket is reflected in the centre.

One of our outings was a drive to Stone Mountain and a climb to the top of this unusual landmark.


It is a huge granite outcropping on the outskirts of Atlanta, a bit like a large "prairie pimple" as it stands pretty much alone in an otherwise flat terrain. I don't know the exact height but I think it is about 250 meters above the
surrounding landscape and the walk to the top is about 2.5 kilometres. It was a fairly vigorous walk but we all made it to the top with only one pause and without any untoward events. It was a bit wet in spots with collections of pine needles  so there was the potential for slipping and falling but even the old man managed to avoid that possibility.

The images to the left, taken near the top,  give some perspective on the height and character of this huge rock. The photo of Rod, Michael and Ann (the first photo) was taken on the way up to the top at a level where trees were more abundant than at the top. We, wisely, chose to ride the much quicker and safer gondola to get to the bottom.

Ann had to leave Monday so we took her to the airport early afternoon and afterward Rod, Michael and I walked to the Carter Centre which is in a large park a short distance from Michael's place. It was a beautiful day so we had a fairly long walk and took a few photos. In the photo to the right Michael, though not easy to see, is walking along the path through the lovely yellow leaves.

Once again there was a pond with still water providing the opportunity for some interesting reflections. I like the effect of this one.

Close to the Carter Centre buildings we found a fish pond populated with several quite large and colourful Koi.

Monday evening Rod prepared one of his unforgettable steak dinners, with curried carrots, broccoli and Japanese sweet potatoes. Unfortunately I can't photograph taste but if I could it would be an amazing image!

Rod left on Tuesday leaving Michael and me to function on our own, which we managed quite nicely until my departure on Thursday morning. We spent some time shopping for things needed for Michael's home (a view of his main living area below left), had some fun printing photos on Michael's photo printer, did a bit of home improvement and just chilled out. On Wednesday evening we went for our now annual most enjoyable feast of sushi!

Can't imagine a better visit!

Amber

On October 6, 2014 we lost Amber, our wonderful friend. She was 14 years old.
(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

We found her at the Hamilton-Burlington SPCA when she was about 10 months old. She had been abused and abandoned by her previous owners and we soon learned that she was extremely fearful though not aggressive. When I picked her up at the SPCA she was reluctant to get into the car but with some encouragement and a bit of help she did get in. In the process I inadvertently brushed the back of her leg with my hand and she instantly dropped to the floor of the car and looked back at me with fear in her eyes. This reaction to accidental contact from behind  persisted for years though it gradually decreased with time.

On my way home from the SPCA I stopped at the pet store to pick up some food and while I was in the store someone came in and asked if the owner of a brown and white dog was in the store and, if so, did they know that the dog was running loose. It took me a moment to realize that he was talking about Amber! I went out to find her about 75 feet away at the end of the sidewalk of the mini mall. I had left the car window open, too much it seems, as she was able to squeeze through it.  I called her and, to my surprise, she came right to me and was less reluctant to get back into the car.

While walking her through the house to orient her to her new home, when we got to our bedroom she immediately leaped onto the bed and lay down looking very comfortable and pleased with her find. We informed her that this was not acceptable and that was the last time she was on a bed in our presence. But, though she had her own beds, we know that while we were away and she was in the care of her friend Mary, she was able to avail herself of the extra comfort of one of our beds.

A number of undesirable habits she had acquired took time and work to change and some never did. Her strong separation anxiety persisted and it meant that, after being away for even a short time, we were met with an extremely emotional and active greeting on our return. She learned to control this to some degree by picking up a shoe or a toy, preferably a shoe, and holding it in her mouth while jumping up, walking back and forth excitedly accompanied by crying, mumbling and muffled barking around the shoe. Similar vigorous activity greeted anyone who entered our house and, as our friends know well, her barking and competing for attention could go on for several minutes.

Her habit of jumping up, unexpectedly and extremely quickly, to "kiss" one's face, could be a disarming and somewhat annoying surprise.

And her playfulness with shoes, which she never chewed, led to shoes being scattered about the house and, as a consequence, it was occasionally difficult to find a pair to wear.

Her other many endearing personality traits, however, far outweighed any of those that could be slightly annoying.

Her favourite place was at our cabin by Crow Lake - a place where she could be off leash and free,

where she could cool off in the lake (which she invariably did immediately on arrival) or

soak up the heat of the sun or chase the turkey vultures soaring a hundred feet or more above her.



She liked being at the lake so much that often when we returned home she refused to get out of the car!






A few years ago she suffered an infestation of mites causing hair loss and almost constant itching and scratching. We discovered that she had hypothyroidism and treatment of that and getting rid of the mites rejuvenated her and her wonderful coat and energy returned.

During the last year or so she began to slow down significantly, moving more slowly and having some difficulty climbing stairs but with periods of playfulness and "dogged" determination to carry on.

This past summer at the lake she gradually became a bit more active and more like her old self, even breaking into a brief run during our walks.

The photo, left, was made on one of our morning walks in mid September this year. She was 14 years old so we knew that she would not be with us much longer, but with the increased energy over the summer we hoped that she would have one more time at Crow Lake during Canadian Thanksgiving in October. But, on the night before we were to leave for that Thanksgiving week at Crow Lake she suddenly became very restless and then unable to walk normally. She was in significant distress, enough that we were pretty certain that the time to make the dreaded decision had arrived. Fortunately, we were able to contact her Vet who encouraged us to bring Amber in.  That evening we lost Amber, our wonderful friend and my constant companion for over 13 years.
The decision was painful but obvious. The Vet was wonderful with her and the process was quiet and peaceful.

At home and at Crow Lake her presence is felt everywhere though she is nowhere to be seen.  There is now a large hole in our lives. We will miss her terribly. 

These last two images are the way I hope to  remember her - above left, during one our walks this September and the image to the right above - Amber walking home to the cabin at Crow Lake on the Thanksgiving weekend, 2013. There is a third image that I will never forget, though I have no photo of it - a much younger Amber at Crow Lake, running, with ears laid back, full tilt through the grass just for the obvious fun of running! A marvellously joyful and unforgettable image!

Long exposure photos

Not everyone will find this post of much interest, but, for fun, give it a try. If you read my earlier posts you will remember that in one of them I mentioned trying some long exposure photography. In that post I said that the person who wrote the article I read on the subject said he usually took 500 to 700 images during an outing expecting he might find one he would show.

Well, I have had fun (read "struggled"!) with this process in recent mornings and evenings during the periods that the light is about right, though changing rapidly, and I have difficulty getting one image or at the most two. Admittedly, I am learning and he has lots of experience and therefore is quicker. But, if you are involved in 3 or 4 minute exposures, or longer, with the light getting darker or lighter, time alone, before it is too bright or too dark, constrains you to about 15 images - at 2 minute exposures 30 images - 1 minute exposures 60 images - see where I'm going with this? And these times don't allow for much changing of settings or the inevitable snags. OK - allow 2 hours of "shooting" time. That still only gets you to 120 images for one minute exposures.

How he gets to 500 or 700 is a mystery to me.

Just to give you some idea of the process, here is a brief overview, not including finding the ideal location, setting up tripod etc. So, now on location with camera mounted and aperture and focal length selected, remember to turn off image stabilization (because you are using a tripod you don't need it and having it on creates problems), compose your image (which takes a bit of time) then, using a remote shutter release, take a photo to assess exposure; adjust if necessary to be sure you are exposing as much "to the right" on your histogram as possible to get the maximum amount of data without overexposing, and take another photo. Exposure where you want it? Good. OK, note exposure settings and screw on the neutral density filter(s). Hurry, light levels are changing - can't get the @&*#%* filter on!

Finally, the filter is on! Don't forget to turn off auto focus because with the dark filter the camera can't "see" well enough to focus and while it is searching for a focus point it won't allow you to release the shutter. OK - auto focus is off. Now check whatever chart you use to assess shutter speed for whatever density filter(s) you are using - I use an app on my iPod. Set the camera to manual or bulb, depending on the shutter speed required (most cameras will only go up to 30 seconds on manual) - if over 30 seconds it's bulb time so now you need whatever timing device you use to be sure you are exposing for the time required for the correct exposure - thousand-one, thousand-two, etc., or an iPod, for example.

Where the heck is my iPod? Oh, here it is. By this time, unless you are much faster than I, the light has changed so you need to make a bit of a guess about how much it has changed and alter shutter speed or aperture accordingly. This is morning and the light is getting brighter so I need a slightly shorter exposure time or maybe smaller aperture. Hmm…which to use? I'll try one stop smaller aperture. Darn, I am already at f22, the smallest aperture on my camera, so I need to change shutter speed one stop. Now, using the remote, trip the shutter. No reaction from the camera! What's the problem? Oops, forgot to turn the remote back on.

Now it's working and we're into a 3 minute exposure. Drat, some people are coming - they'll think I'm nuts standing here on the beach by this camera and tripod looking at the water - and they are about to walk into my camera's field of view! Oh well, they will just be a blur, but a blur I didn't want! Ok - three minutes is up so close the shutter and have a look at the screen. *&%$, it's over exposed so I need to reset the exposure, either by guess and by golly or take the filter(s) off and start the process over again. And since all that took at least 10, maybe 15 minutes, you might understand why there are only three marginally acceptable images (a colour and black and white of each) after several outings! None of them accomplished what I had hoped for, but they are here because they are all I have, so I hope you like them. :-)  By the way, during the time I took these last two photos the ocean was very active with lots of waves crashing over the end of the breakwater, which accounts for the soft white areas on either side, sending spray much closer to me than I would have liked.