In the Thousand Islands region between Ontario and New York , there are over 1800 islands. To qualify as an island, there must be at least one square foot (0.93m squared) above water, 365 days per year, and the landmass must support at least 2 living trees.
I particularly liked this island, with its Jack Pine standing proud.
Shot on sony a6700
August is such a beautiful month to explore in Ontario. The black flies and mosquitoes are not quite as bad as the early summer. Wild flowers adorn the road sides and sweeten the air and hundreds of bird species take flight.
It’s been 11 years since I have canoed in Ontario. My last trip was in 2015 to Killarney Provincial Park. I recently returned, years later and with 3 children in tow. They have been eager to dip their paddles in Canadian waters. A summer trip to Kingston and Gananoque, Ontario brought us to the front doorsteps of Frontenac Provincial Park. Located just 40 minutes away from Kingston, Ontario, this beautiful 5,350 ha (13,200-acre) provincial park is perfect place to escape the city life.
Frontenac is quieter than your most well known provincial parks (Algonquin and Killarney) and I appreciated it for this reason. We were outfitted by Frontenac Outfitters Canoe and Kayak Centre, located just 10 minutes before the park. Their team was very helpful and brought our canoes to the put in at South Otter Lake boat launch off of Salmon Lake Road.
The conditions were perfect. A sunny day with minimal wind. The clean and cool waters were exhilirating to the children. They remarked at the clarity of the lake and the visibility. Lily pads filled sections of the lake and they loved to run their fingers under the slippery undersides of the lily pads. We paddled into the welcome center to check in and explore their exhibits. These were very well done.
We took on the short Arab Gorge Hiking Trail (0.8miles) which toook us through valley-bottom marshes, granite rock faces adn wooden boardwalk areas through the low gorge. The highlight of this trail was finally finding some silver birch bark for the children.
After eating some lunch under the canopy of large jack pines, we launched the canoes again to explore more of South Otter Lake. The park was vacant that day apart from some canoe campers and swimmers. We stopped to chat with a nice couple in their mid to late 70s. They both appeared strong and filled with vigor as they loaded up their canoes with traditional canoe packs, and gear. They were heading out for a 5 night trip. This was a team that knew what they were doing. I asked them how long they have been canoe camping, to which the man grinned “ever since we started dating in our 20s”. He remarked that as the decades have passed, he had to make some modifications to this canoe setup, swapping out his old canoe for a new kevlar light weight canoe to portage. We wished them luck on their trip and good weather.
Spending time in Frontenac Provincial Park made me remember just how much Canadians appreciate and love their outdoor environment. May we continue to conserve and protect the lands and waterways for future generations.
Thank you to all the staff at Frontenac Provincial Park.
David Hartman is one of my favorite film makers. Based out of Ontario, Canada, his messages and themes hit close to home for me. His filming style is thoughtful, well-paced, beautiful and a breath of fresh air compared to the overstimulating films and movies of today. I came across “The Mini Forest” and thought I would share. The film speaks to sustainability, growth, and how our individual actions can have profound effects on the earth. It has certainly got me thinking about my own lawn…
“Terrell Wong is about to plant 100 trees in her small Toronto backyard, a dense mini forest based on the Miyawaki Method. What at first seems like a simple act soon evolves into a complex story about dirt, lawns, fungus, wildlife, native species, and finally the human brain. An anti-lawn anthem from director David Hartman, The Mini Forest explores this innovative form of afforestation and the importance of restoring the native woodlands that once covered so much of Canada and the World.”
see more of David Hartman’s work here: https://davidhartman.ca/
I hope everyone is having a safe and happy holiday season. Things can be especially busy and hectic this time of year so don’t forget to take some chill time, relax, go outside, or watch a canoe documentary. I found this one recently online and it’s pretty awesome. This one features 6 friends who spend 2 months in the Yukon and Peel watershed. Happy Holidays everyone.
“This documentary is a captivating documentary chronicling the 1,500-kilometer, two-month canoeing expedition of six adventurers through the pristine wilderness of Canada’s Yukon and Peel Watershed. This thrilling journey traverses six rivers in three canoes, capturing not only breathtaking landscapes but also the profound cultural and ecological significance of the area. A chance encounter with a First Nations family transforms their adventure into a mission to spotlight the urgent need to protect this fragile and unique ecosystem from industrial development. The film blends the grit of exploration with a heartfelt environmental message, showcasing the resilience of nature and the enduring traditions of those who call the North home.”
I’ve spent more time slowly down this Spring and catching up on independent films and documentaries. I came across this gem from The Guardian featuring a man, who lived in Yellowstone National Park, working as the park’s winterkeeper. The story is told beautifully and the videography makes it a joy for the eyes to watch. I hope you all enjoy. Its about 12 minutes long.
“Steven Fuller is a winter caretaker who has lived at Yellowstone national park for the past 50 years. As the cold weather approaches and the seasonal transformation begins, he hunkers down in his remote mountain cabin. But Fuller and Yellowstone face an uncertain future, with the climate crisis threatening to forever change one of North America’s last great wildernesses.” – The Guardian
After watching the documentary, I reflected on my own personal experience traveling to America’s first national park in 2018. Yellowstone is really a magical place. I spent only 1 week there but I feel like this already magical place would be even further transformed each season. I hope to go back once my kids are older. Below are some of my favorite shots from Yellowstone National Park in 2018.
Everyone stay safe, be healthy and happy spring.
I came across this fascinating documentary from the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) featuring the last full time guide in the iconic Algonquin Park. I had to share it with all of you.
“Meet Frank Kuiack, the last traditional fishing guide in Algonquin Park. Kuiack carries a lifetime of stories and wisdom about the Algonquin. His magnetic personality, skills on the water and knowledge of the park’s intricate lakes and trails has inspired two novels. When Kuiack was eight-years-old, a group of American anglers offered him $5 to show them where to catch fish — and he’s been making his living as a fishing guide ever since. At 84-years-old and recently diagnosed with bone cancer, Frank’s health has taken a turn for the worse. While he’s attempted to train guides over the years and pass on his knowledge, the physically demanding nature of the job has turned away most potential apprentices. Kuiack’s niece, Sharleen, has shown a unique ability to go toe-to-toe with Frank on the water but, despite her ability and love for her uncle, she remains unsure how to carry on his legacy or whether she desires to be the next “Last Guide.” Additional footage provided by: Gentec International/Sigma Canada” – CBC Docs
For myself and many other Canadians, Algonquin Park holds a special place in our hearts. Growing up in Ontario, we spent many summers canoeing and camping at this park. In 2014, my brother and I made a journey back home to do a week long canoe trip. I can’t believe that’s been 10 years now at that this point! As the kids get older and older, I’m starting to feel the itch once again to get back home. Hope you all enjoy.
Last year, we felled an old chestnut oak tree in our front yard that had succumbed to illness. We were certainly sad to see this magnificent old tree fall. We took that opportunity, to teach the kids about the cycle of trees and we ended up growing our oak own trees from acorns to continue the cycle.
We split the oak into many cords of firewood and left it to dry. About a year later, we decided to find a way to let to celebrate this old tree – we were going to turn it into a milking stool. Why you ask? Because we have several cows that need milking. No, just kidding. As the kids become more involved in the workshop, we needed another stool for them to sit on. Also, it is a great project for using hand tools. Power tools would make it certainly easier, but where is the fun in that. Also I guess they are too young for that.
It appears that milking stools have been around for at least 2000 years. The 3 legged design allowed milkmaids to get low to the ground and lean forward without toppling over. Also, the 3 legged design was more stable on uneven surfaces than a four legged design. In 19th century England, cows could be milked in the fields or in cowsheds. These were traditionally constructed out of elm with legs of ash. Our milking stool will be much heavier, we are using chestnut white oak for the legs, and then white oak for the seat. It will be a very Virginian stool (we love white oak).
After selecting 3 pieces of chestnut white oak, we got to work to make them as cylindrical as possible. This was done using 2 different draw knifes. We have a “rough” draw knife, that we use to strip bark, and then a finer, sharper one for the more precise work.
I purchased a board of white oak from the local woodcraft to cut out of a circle for the seat. Using a Number 4 hand plane, this was then smoothed to remove all rough spots and to flatten it as much as possible. 3 points equidistant from each other were then marked out on the seat using a compass. I used a bevel gauge as a reference to gauge 20 degrees from the normal. This is the angle at which I will be drilling out the mortises for the legs. I used a forstner bit at 1 3/4″. Once these holes are drilled. The tenons were then finely shaved to fit through the mortise. The tenons were then cut into, to allow room for a wedge to be driven.
For the wedges, I wanted a different type of wood that would stand out visually. So I used an old piece of teak. These were then sanded down to the shape of a wedge. Once the tenons were securely placed through the mortises, the teak wedge was then glued and driven through the cut in each tenon. This will keep the joint tight.
Once it has dried, you can cut off the excess wood with a saw. A block plane can help level the seat once again and then sanded. The legs were then leveled with the ground and cut. All edges of the legs were chamfered in order to reduce the likelihood of the legs splitting and chipping.
For the finish, we kept it very simple with a couple of coats of boiled linseed oil, this certainly helped to bring out the grain of the oak. For the last coat, I applied a layer of beeswax.
Overall, it was a very fun project to do with the kids. There was a lot of cutting, shaving, hammering and sanding. What more could you ask for? Now, time to find a cow.
Be safe when working with tools! Make sure you’re wearing the proper eye protection! Have fun and be healthy!
There are 2 types of people in the academic world: a white/dry erase board person or a chalkboard person. After high school, I continued my education for 13 more years. During these 4 years of medical school, 3 years of internal medicine and 3 years of ophthalmology, I can emphatically say, that I am a chalkboard person.
Are there pros to a dry erase board? Absolutely. No chalk dust, no messy brushes, no need to go outside and dust the brushes off. Personally, I just never liked the idea of throwing away marker after marker into the trash bin once they were depleted. I didn’t care much for the smells either. For me, the chalkboard was more traditional, more fun, and I guess I grew up in the era of chalkboards.
When it comes to explaining things to my kids, I am definitely a visual teacher. When it comes to explaining concepts, nothing beats having it displayed in stark contrast, in black and white on a clean chalkboard. Whenever I need to explain a concept, with the chalkboard, I can show all 3 kids at once.
I searched Facebook marketplace for quite some time to find a board with the proper dimensions. My journey took me eventually to Mechanicsville, Virginia in the woods, where a very nice lady, sold me, an old classroom chalkboard that measured 3 x 5 ft. It was old, but perfect for our needs. I paid $35 dollars for it.
Taking it home, we cleaned it, sanded it, and applied several coats of Danish oil to bring new life to it. Using a metal French cleat system, it was mounted to our wall and ready for action.
Happy new year everyone! Wishing everyone good health and good luck
We try to make it out to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia for vacation during peak fall foliage time each year — a chance to breathe in the cold mountain air, watch the colors change and reset as a family.
We stayed this time in Massanutten (a census designated place), in the heart of Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Much of the attraction to this area centers around the ski-resort, however during the fall time it served as a great base for us to explore the surrounding region.
One of the first adventures took us to the Massanutten Story Book Trail, located in Shenandoah County. It was a short, paved hike about 0.7 miles long. It was perfect for our family with kids of ages 5, 2.5 and 8 months. The trail is paved and very accessible for the most part. There are numerous boulders and a wide array of oak species to explore. The view at the end is pretty spectacular – with Shenandoah National Park in the far distance. We took this trail on in late October and I was surprised that there were a lot of gnats about, so be sure to pack some bug spray.
One of the highlights of our trip for the kids was visiting Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouse in Timberville, Virginia. On a weekday, we found that we had the orchard mostly to ourselves. The kids got to enjoy some donuts, cider and apple treats. The trees in the orchard were packed with apples and were low lying. Fuji apples were in season at the time and the kids had no trouble filling up the bags. Old Hill Ciders are also pressed and made at this same farm in Timberville. We were blessed with spectacular clear skies.
The Massanutten ski resort area still had plenty of activities for the kids in the off season. There were playgrounds, ponds to fish, a water park, trails to explore, restaurants and even an area for gem hunting. The kids were never bored.
On our way back home, we made a stop in the small town of Gordonsville, Virginia for a lunch break. A local recommended The Jackson and Company Market and I’m glad that they did. It was a chilly fall day and it was the perfect place for the kids to warm up with soup and for the grown ups to have coffee. With a population of approximately 1500, the main street was where all of the action seemed to be. Shops were busy and people were getting ready to put up the town’s Christmas lights. There was even a blacksmith shoppe that we unfortunately didn’t have time to check out, but I guess it’s just more reason for us to come back to the mountains. We’ve been coming to the Virginia blue ridge and Shenandoah for years, and maybe we’re just simple folk, but it just seems like there’s endless things to see, do, and enjoy in this special place.
In traditional dad fashion, I filmed our trip on my trusty a6000. I’ve had the camera for 8 years, and it’s still going strong.
