Sunday 7 May 2017

We went for a drive

–in the rain. What the heck. I needed to get out of the house. First, gassing up in Rideau Ferry, off we went. I had a mind to see the rivers and lakes. The flooding has been awful across the country, in water logged spots. (Read more here.) I'd forgotten about cottage country roads. The powerful water creates huge gullies. The vegetation is a startling, brilliant green.


Chaffeys Locks: we've been here before: Chaffeys Lock Cemetery and Clear Lake Cemetery



Opinicon Rd., where the culverts were blocked with debris. The road was covered earlier in the morning, thankfully crews opened the culvert.



QUBS
We must remember to go back to this spot. There are several birding spots, as well as the Queens U. Biological Station (QUBS). this location. You must stand on the side of the road, manage the bugs, and listen, as they are on private property.

We must attend:

2017 QUBS Opinicon Open House

 
Kingston Field naturalists recommend it.
"Since the early 1970’s QUBS has been a one of the most important sites of ornithological research in Canada. Hundreds of peer-reviewed papers about the ecology, behaviour and evolution of birds have been published over the decades, and important conservation work on Cerulean Warblers, Golden-winged Warblers and Eastern Whip-Poor-Wills has been done here."


The Opinicon had a private event. It's been renovated after being closed for a time. It's been bought and is running again. It is 80 years old, and has gone through a variety of iterations. Chaffey's residence in the early days, then a boarding house in the 1890s, men's fishing club in 1900s. A family bought it in 1921 to run as a resort.



The culverts are simply mad rapids.


My drive-by shootings of the trout lily and trillium are just about ready to bloom.


There are tons and tons of farm lands, now giant ponds, where ducks and geese float.


For some reason, I asked if we could go to Lyndhurst. I'd forgotten, but there are some fun stores. The Green Gecko, for one, where I bought a new umbrella.


Big Rideau docks are flooded.

10 comments:

DUTA said...

The Opinicon sounds like an interesting place for events. 80 years old and counting...

Karen said...

It is SNOWING up our way this morning! We are going to head out to survey the countryside this afternoon.

Nancy J said...

Water everywhere, I can guess at the mess afterwards. A lovely drive out, and lots to see.

William Kendall said...

Excellent shots!

The Rideau's definitely at its peak. I walked along the river earlier, and saw the Ottawa River below Parliament as well. It's serious on both rivers.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Pretty fun outing for a wet day!!! YAM xx

Red said...

A good drive in the country gives lots of opportunity for photos. I hope it soon stops raining at your place.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Sometimes you just have to get out and go somewhere -- and you have a lot of wonderful day trips to take from where you live. That would be a requirement for me if I were to have to choose a new home ever. Gotta be able to walk places and drive places. Thanks for taking me along on this day trip. Even if it was raining I still had fun ;>)

Anvilcloud said...

One does become housebound, and we stayed that way. :)

Snow on the ground this morning. :(

Stewart M said...

I think if we only go out when the sun shines we miss more than half the fun. I was 30 before I left the UK - you just looked at the rain as another form of weather - not a real problem. Flooding, on the other hand is a different thing altogether.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Lowcarb team member said...

Rain is good but sometimes too much definitely isn't.
I think you will get an opportunity to use your new umbrella quite soon!

A great selection of photographs here.
Take Care

All the best Jan