Here is a short video clip taken at the Esso gas bar located just 15 Kilometers north of the City.
Friday, December 27, 2013
Ice Storm – Toronto 2013
On our way to visit the kids over the holidays you could see the results of the ice storm the closer we got to Toronto as we drove down Highway 400.
Here is a short video clip taken at the Esso gas bar located just 15 Kilometers north of the City.
Here is a short video clip taken at the Esso gas bar located just 15 Kilometers north of the City.
Friday, October 25, 2013
End of the sailing season 2013.
I have now taken the boat out of the water and it's snugly tucked away in my back yard. The summer seems to have passed far too quickly. I did not make all the trips I had planned and thought about last winter. Most notably I did not make it to Beckwith Island which is a small island in the chain just north of Penetanguishene between Christian Island and Giants Tomb. I have heard the beaches there are breathtakingly beautiful, rivaling some of the beaches in the Caribbean. O well, there is always next year.
I did however make it out to Steers Rock which resulted in an all day motoring trip as there was little to no wind that day and it was pointless raising the sails. I had heard from sailing friends in Midland that there was some exceptional bass fishing around the Island, however I caught nothing. I was fortunate however that the conditions were favorable to visually detecting shoals and rocks in the water as I found it quite challenging picking through some rather treacherous areas where it became quite apparent that the lake bottom was quite prepare to "eat my boat" if I was not paying attention.
Here are some highlights of some of the things I did do and places I visited:
I did however make it out to Steers Rock which resulted in an all day motoring trip as there was little to no wind that day and it was pointless raising the sails. I had heard from sailing friends in Midland that there was some exceptional bass fishing around the Island, however I caught nothing. I was fortunate however that the conditions were favorable to visually detecting shoals and rocks in the water as I found it quite challenging picking through some rather treacherous areas where it became quite apparent that the lake bottom was quite prepare to "eat my boat" if I was not paying attention.
Here are some highlights of some of the things I did do and places I visited:
Gin Island, south west of Beausoleil Island
Visited Brian & Donna's cottage- Roberts Island
On the way to Brian & Donna's cottage
Caught me a Pike
Fall colors - October 2013
Out for a sail
On the way to Steers Island
Those dreaded shoals
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Spring is almost here!
Looked outside this morning and saw a true telltale sign that spring is here with no turning back. Actually, the weather outside is still cold, but the sun is out and if you sit inside with the sun streaming through the window the heat radiating from the sun feels o-so-good.
So the Robins are back in our yard. There were two of them, likely a pair. They were scratching the ground for worms or insects but I felt kind of sorry for them as the ground is still frozen.
O well, temperatures are forecast to stay above zero in a day or two. Can’t wait to get working on the sail boat & getting it back in the water.
In the meantime just sitting at the window watching the Robins and just waiting.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Spring is just around the corner! Yeh
It's two weeks to spring, officially. This coming Saturday we put the clocks forward an hour & go back to daylight saving time. I can't wait.
It seemed that things were looking up in the weather department a few days ago. While nights were still down to -5c which is expected at this time of year, temperatures were getting up to +3 to 5c. Then all of a sudden this morning we wake up to this:
It seemed that things were looking up in the weather department a few days ago. While nights were still down to -5c which is expected at this time of year, temperatures were getting up to +3 to 5c. Then all of a sudden this morning we wake up to this:
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Cross-Country Skiing
The nice thing about where we live is that our property backs on to a hard wood forest. This winter, unlike the last two, provided us with a reasonable blanket of snow. We live in a snow belt area and although when we first moved here 8 years ago, the average snow fall for the season could be measured in feet, it seems that due to what I firmly believe to be the result of man made global warming, climate change, greenhouse effect, what ever you want to call it, the snow fall in this area has significantly diminished.
We live steps away from the south east shores of Georgian Bay. Lake effect snow has been and continues to be a large contributor to the amount of snowfall that we get. The lake has really not frozen over this year as much as it used to, at least that is my experience over the last several years that we have lived here. In talking to long time residents, the lake would freeze almost as far as collingwood 10 - 20 years ago but as I am writing this, the ice extends not more than two to three hundred yards out into the lake. Snow fall amounts have also drastically declined. My neighbor tells me that he can remember when the snow banks at the side of the road pushed up by the snow plow would reach almost as high as the hydro electric wires (20') but not any more. We have about eighteen inches of snow at the end of our driveway, if as much.
But I digress. Cross-Country skiing is what I wanted to write about when I began this post. Today I strapped on my skis and went for a ski in the forest behind my house. It was a fairly mild day with bright sunshine. It's the calm before the storm however. Environment Canada is forecasting a major winter storm moving into Southern Ontario over the next few days. This system originated somewhere down in the gulf of Mexico & with all the moisture that it will be sucking up from the mild ocean temperatures there, it is expected to bring copious amounts of mixed precipitation to Ontario, mostly in the form of snow. The system is expected to track south of Lake Ontario so most of the snow will likely stay south of us up here in Georgian Bay.
It's late February, so as far as I am concerned, no problem!
Here are some pictures of my ski trip:
We live steps away from the south east shores of Georgian Bay. Lake effect snow has been and continues to be a large contributor to the amount of snowfall that we get. The lake has really not frozen over this year as much as it used to, at least that is my experience over the last several years that we have lived here. In talking to long time residents, the lake would freeze almost as far as collingwood 10 - 20 years ago but as I am writing this, the ice extends not more than two to three hundred yards out into the lake. Snow fall amounts have also drastically declined. My neighbor tells me that he can remember when the snow banks at the side of the road pushed up by the snow plow would reach almost as high as the hydro electric wires (20') but not any more. We have about eighteen inches of snow at the end of our driveway, if as much.
But I digress. Cross-Country skiing is what I wanted to write about when I began this post. Today I strapped on my skis and went for a ski in the forest behind my house. It was a fairly mild day with bright sunshine. It's the calm before the storm however. Environment Canada is forecasting a major winter storm moving into Southern Ontario over the next few days. This system originated somewhere down in the gulf of Mexico & with all the moisture that it will be sucking up from the mild ocean temperatures there, it is expected to bring copious amounts of mixed precipitation to Ontario, mostly in the form of snow. The system is expected to track south of Lake Ontario so most of the snow will likely stay south of us up here in Georgian Bay.
It's late February, so as far as I am concerned, no problem!
Here are some pictures of my ski trip:
Sheds in my back yard
Picture of our house from the forest in the back
Me cross-country skiing
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Winter Blues
As I sit in front of my computer on a cold wintry overcast February day with the temperature outside hovering around 0 degrees Celsius I think about some of last years sailing experiences & look forward to the up coming season getting back out on the water.
Last year was my first attempt at sailing. The learning curve took some rather drastic dips and climbs. The one that stands out most of all was when when my mast broke while out sailing with friends in "the gap" just northwest of Penetanguishene harbor. The day was sunny but the winds were forecast to be 15 to 20 knots gusting to 30. For an inexperienced sailor these wind speeds were a recipe for disaster although I was unaware at the time of the dangers. It did not help either that the boat is 36 years old and I assume, although I am not 100% sure, the mast is original equipment. Fortunately, I insured the boat and the Insurance company covered 2/3 of the replacement cost.
O well, we made it back to shore under motor power, a bit embarrassed but determined that I would once again sail. Three weeks later she was back in working order thanks to the expertise of the good people at Klacko Spars in Oakville Ontario.
Following are some pictures documenting some the things I did and places visited last summer:
Last year was my first attempt at sailing. The learning curve took some rather drastic dips and climbs. The one that stands out most of all was when when my mast broke while out sailing with friends in "the gap" just northwest of Penetanguishene harbor. The day was sunny but the winds were forecast to be 15 to 20 knots gusting to 30. For an inexperienced sailor these wind speeds were a recipe for disaster although I was unaware at the time of the dangers. It did not help either that the boat is 36 years old and I assume, although I am not 100% sure, the mast is original equipment. Fortunately, I insured the boat and the Insurance company covered 2/3 of the replacement cost.
O well, we made it back to shore under motor power, a bit embarrassed but determined that I would once again sail. Three weeks later she was back in working order thanks to the expertise of the good people at Klacko Spars in Oakville Ontario.
Following are some pictures documenting some the things I did and places visited last summer:
Sailing along the east shore of Beausoleil Island
At the dock...Puttering
Tied up at dock at friends cottage on Robert's Island
Coming in from a day of sailing to Hindson Marina
Anchored out at Giant's Tomb Island
Sunrise at Giant's Tomb
Anchored out at Frying Pan Bay - Beausoleil Island
Trolling for Salmon with my Dipsy Diver
Anchored at Beausoleil Island
Carnival Cruise ship nightmare
Watching CNN about Carmival cruise ship stranded in Atlantic. Maybe I should stick to sailing my 22' sail boat in Georgian Bay!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Visited the famous Maho Bay Beach
January 29, 2013 Cont'd
We arrived at Maho Bay Beach to view the planes coming in over the beach area. Swimmers are in the water and lying on the beach just meters below the landing gear of the planes coming in. Prior to our trip we watched videos on You Tube of this spectacle & we were not disappointed.
We arrived at Maho Bay Beach to view the planes coming in over the beach area. Swimmers are in the water and lying on the beach just meters below the landing gear of the planes coming in. Prior to our trip we watched videos on You Tube of this spectacle & we were not disappointed.
THE BAR
THE BEACH
THE WARNING
De PLANE
Our first stop: ST Maarten
On January 29, 2013: Our visit to St. Maarten involved a minibus tour of the island taking us through the down town area with all it's commercial activity as well as several large boat chandleries. We passed a draw bridge & saw some marinas sporting mega yachts that we were told were from various places around the world. Evidently these boat owners hire licensed sea captains who in turn obtain crew to sail or motor the vessels down to St Maarten where they stay for the summer. The boat owners fly down and cruise the waters of the eastern Caribbean. If you want to watch an interesting video of a cruise taken by one of these sail boats, look up on You Tube: DrakeParagon - Swan 48 Bella Luna.
THE TOWN
Monday, February 4, 2013
My first cruise of 2013 takes me further than I ever imagined.
It all started with a call from my wife's cousin. Would you like to join us on a cruise to the eastern Caribbean? Why not I thought, my sail boat is on blocks in our back yard with 8 - 10 inches of snow on the ground. She is not going anywhere for several months. So a trip on the ocean sounded like a great idea.
We departed Toronto January 25th along with 10 other "cruiser" friends & arrived Miami USA same day to board the Norwegian Epic the following day. The trip turned out to be an enjoyable seven days at sea.
NORWEGIAN EPIC
SINT MAARTEN - SAINT MARTIN provides vacationers the opportunity to enjoy three distinct cultures on one 37 square mile island. There is the delightfulness and soberness of the Dutch on one side, the savoir-faire of the French on the other, and the blending of both with exotic native heritage.
On docking in the harbor at Philipsburg in the early morning of January 29th we chartered a minibus to take us to Sunset Beach, Maho Bay to watch the planes come in over the beach.
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