Sunsets in Algonquin

Horizon: "Hi there, Sun, where you been all day long?"
Sun: "Just bumming around a bit. Saw you at the other end this Morning"
Horizon: "Yeah, I remember. You gave me quite the Morning Glow"
Sun: "One does what one can. You want some color this evening?'
Horizon: "Wait a sec, I'll get us some clouds. It works better that way."
Sun: "Hurry up then, I haven't got all day, you know."
Horizon: "Here you are. Some pretty clouds coming up. Now do your best."

Sun: "Let me throw just one last ray on this canoe!"

Horizon: "Sure! Go ahead! Do your best."               

Sun: "That's a nice mix. Throw in a quiet lake,  

let the clouds reflect. You're an artist!"

Horizon:  "Well, Thank you. Nice of you to say so."

Sun: "Can't do much better than that."

Horizon: "You don't need to! This is perfect."

 Sun: "Hey! Here's a winner. 

A straight line of lit clouds, a dark band of Forest,

a mirror smooth Lake, into which I can throw a perfect reflection."

Horizon: "Couldn't have made it any better."

Sun: "You gotta hurry, I'm almost finished."

Horizon: "Now here's a switch! You got any other colors in your paint box?"

Sun: "Just be happy I found those!"

Sun: "Goobye, Horizon! See you tomorrow! Bright an' early."

Horizon: "Yeah, see you on the flip-side." 

THE SALUTING MOOSE

Yes, I know that you are a fabulous photographer!

But I am getting tired saluting you, every time you paddle by.

On a Portage

When you want to go on a portage, 

be sure to bring a very strong friend.

Some of these portages are long and murderous.

I can almost read John's thoughts:

"Do I really have to lug all this chunk over he next 2 kms?"

When you see the next lake shimmering through the trees,

you know that it all was worth while.

Christin and the Moose

"Have you closed a Pact with the Moose of Algonquin?" I asked Christin.

"Oh  yes," she replied with a straight face. "The Moose and I have agreed, 

that whenever I am near, they will come out on Parade."

"Well, I am not surprised," I said. "Because it can't all be just Beginner's Luck."

Herewith, just a sample of all the sightings we had of this animal.

In a small Bay, at the north end of Lake Opeongo

Two Moose Cows looking for their favorite food:

Mostly roots of Waterlilies

Carefully and quietly we paddle closer and closer.

She is so intent on foraging, that she either does not see us,

or, if she does, she could not care less.

This is an 'actual distance' photo. 

No Tele-lens was used.

Christin could have touched this cow with her paddle.

Had this been a Bull, we would have kept a more respectful distance.

Just as Christin waved "Good Bye" to this lovely pair,

The Bull (below) stepped out of the wood

So, naturally, we had to stick around a little while longer

to pay our respect to this proud Bull Moose.

We saw this unbelievably sized specimen

while hiking along the Mizzy Lake Trail.

I know I've shown this one before,

but this "mighty master" of the Park

is well worth another gander.

It does not get much better than this!

Winter in Algonquin

It is surely beautiful there in Winter, but not very comfortable.

Temperatures have been known to drop to 30 degrees below zero

and tenting is absolutely no fun.

I have hiked there, but never spent a night in a tent.

Not only does it get very very cold, but it also gets dark early. 

At 5 PM it's pitch black and what do you do then? 

One of my All-Time Favorite Winter shots.

Very interesting: Wind-driven spray from the lake, encases each individual blade of grass.

If you look carefully, you can see the blade of Grass encapsulated in ice.

A quick rest on their way South

There are flowers in Algonquin Park.

Once, in Africa, I asked George, my Guide, if there are no flowers in this part of Africa.
"What? he said in mock astonishment,. 
"No flowers? Impala are our flowers!"
Of course there are flowers in Africa.  But you'd have to go a long way to match the flowers in and around Algonquin Park.
Here are some of them:

Waterlilies

Turk's hat Lilli

Lady's Slipper

Trillium (Ontario's Flower)

Bunchberry in Spring (above)

Bunchberry in Summer ( below )

What a difference!

Mr. and Mrs. Seedling go to the Opera!

Mrs. Seedling after the First Act!

(Mr. Seedling is nowhere to be seen)

Autumn in Algonquin

Here are some images taken 

during Autumns of various years.

Descriptions, I believe, are not necessary.

Just look at them and imagine you are there.

So what! It's good enough to be looked at twice!