HAPPY TRAILS

It has rained straight for several days now, which not only helped dissolve the ice on the lakes but also the remaining snow in the woods. The trails behind the Muskoka OSPCA shelter are now clear and the dogs, like Captain, excited about the new sights, smells and sounds to discover. If you can spare any time to volunteer please pay them a visit. The staff would appreciate your help and the animals will love the attention.

GOING, GOING...

The ice has been going out at a rapid pace the past couple of weeks and along with it some docks, flotsam and this tinny on Brandy Lake. Those who predicted the ice gone by the end of the month I suspect may be right.

BIRD'S-EYE VIEW

From the top of Huckleberry Rock Lookout one can get a bird's-eye view of Lake Muskoka and several islands from Bala to Port Carling. Following a brief rainshower, I climbed up to capture some of the islands surrounded with mist, and was joined by a Turkey Vulture.

THE CUT

We spent our Easter exploring the upper reach of the Indian River. There was still some ice remaining on parts however at The Cut, a passage built in the late 1800s, connecting the river with Lake Rosseau, it was open and made for clear kayaking.

FAMILY TREE

This small deciduous tree appears to be in full foliage, set against The Wall, a photo mosaic composed of hundreds of photographs of early pioneer life during the first century of Port Carling's history, and a record of some of its residents.

HOME OF THE CROCUS

Oak Gables Heritage House, "Home of the Dispro", built by W.J. Johnston, was also home of the crocus, the first I've seen this spring. In the rock garden beside the original stairway a solitary striped blossom grows, its yellow stamens radiating like rays from the sun.

YACHT TO FIX

I never noticed before the error on the sign posted on the kiosk at the waterfront. It should read Wanda III, the replacement for the Wanda II after it burned. Commissioned for the Eaton family in 1915, it was acquired, restored and was the second ship to join the Muskoka Steamships fleet in 1993, but is now in a state of disrepair.

CHINKING

Port Carling woke up to a fresh snowfall of six inches, and at the waterfront the new snow covering the remaining ice looked like chinking, matching this log boathouse, a familiar landmark on the bay across from the large lock.

THE PERFECT CALM

The aftermath of a rain shower, mild temperatures and remaining snow and ice, all conspired to form the perfect calm, where the mist turned the waterfront pavilion area and later at twilight, a downtown section, into ethereal scenes.

WTF?

We spotted a Great Blue Heron today in a frozen marsh, looking out of place in this scene. I'm sure it probably thought "Where's the food?" when it arrived, its staple of frogs and fish still covered over.

WINTER'S PASSING

It was a grey and somber day today, the type befitting a funeral. I was visiting the waterfront above the locks to monitor the progress of the melting ice, and thought this scene depicted the same mood, a funeral for winter's passing, a rectangular mound for every month.

PINING FOR SUMMER

Nature never fails to impress me with her surprises and my partner Morwen, her eye for detail. During a late afternoon stroll across the lock to the island, she noticed amongst the scattered conifer needles and snow, a trio that formed a crude resemblance to a sailboat. It was enough to make us pine for summer.

TURTLE'S PACE

Although it is officially spring, there is still a lot of snow blanketing everything, and we are hoping for a slow melting to avoid flooding like last year.