A visit to the Thunder Bay area along Lake Superior, Ontario, is not complete without a visit to The Sleeping Giant. We had the opportunity to see the giant’s profile from Marina Park back in 2021 and I have been thinking about it ever since. Famous primarily for one of the most iconic trails in Ontario, the Sleeping Giant was the main reason we returned here.
Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park (officially Kawartha Highlands Signature Site) is a 375-square-kilometre (145 sq mi) area of preserved wilderness used for recreational purposes in south-central Ontario, Canada. It is the largest park in southern Ontario after Algonquin Provincial Park, and is located North-East of the main belt of the Kawartha Lakes, in Peterborough County.
With an extensive network of lakes and rivers, this area also has historical significance as a trading route for Indigenous people and early settlers. Often called Canada’s Canoe Capital, The Kawarthas are known for many things. The name “Kawartha” derives from an Anishinaabe word meaning “land of reflections” or “bright waters and happy lands”. And here we are to explore these lands and enjoy the beautiful summer days.
Located 40 miles (63 km) northwest of San Francisco, Point Reyes National Seashore is a relatively hidden gem if you are not from this area. Rolling hills and endless beaches are the main features of this reserve, and if you are a nature lover or a birdwatcher, then this is your kind of place you want to visit.
Despite 2021 being a tough year, with many ups and downs, and hopes for a normal life, we still had our little joys, witnessing the life emerging in the spring, or watching the sunny skies during the summer time! We were happy to be able to learn a bit of Canadian history in Thunder Bay, and considered lucky to be able to hit the road again, having not one, but two road trips, one in Northern Ontario, along Lake Superior, and one in Quebec, around the Gaspé Peninsula (known as Gaspésie).
Even though some wildfires altered the nature in certain areas and then the rain came to wash out the barren earth, we still had our amazing autumn, when the Mother Nature put up the most exquisite golden dress!
Continue readingAs the cold season approaches, the little creatures start their annual feast, getting ready for hibernation, or migration. The flowers are still blooming, offering their reach nectar to the ones that like foraging the beautiful gardens.
Many birds, bees, moths, insects, and butterflies consume nectar. Without knowing it, they spread the pollen that is stuck to their body to other plants, therefore pollinating.
This year, the spring arrived stealthily in Ontario, and suddenly I realized it was gone already.
From March to May, Mother Nature put on her new appearances, and we watched the flowers blooming, as we eagerly awaited them for so long. We enjoyed the sun and the clear skies, the birds and their songs.
April was a month with many changes in Ontario, amid the worldwide changes.
A month of many seasons, with clouds, sun, snow, winds, hail, and rain. And many sunny days.
The month of December is coming to an end, and so is 2018. I’m not the type of person who usually makes a list of accomplishments, but I was thinking it would be nice to have a post with my best photos of the year. Then I realized that I have not made any posts this year with one of my favourite hobbies: bird watching. Observing the birds – these little and colourful creatures, gave me great joy this summer: I started noticing how much quicker a movement is in the air rather than on the ground, more than I did in the past. I started learning a lot from just observing them and seeing how they take care of their chicks, or how they feed themselves.
This summer I spent some time up north, around Lake Buckhorn again. Sometimes catching some fish, sometimes catching a good time, but definitely catching some pictures and wonderful memories.
I knew is going to be a glorious summer when I saw the first dazzling morning sun rising over the still waters.
1000 Places and Memories 