Topic: What I Did This Weekend
So I finally dumped all the pics from the camera onto the computer and re-sized them so they don't break everyone's browser. Let's begin at the beginning:
This, needless to say, is the beach. This is the view from the bench in front of our car. Arriving at 11 in the morning means that we got the best parking spot on the beach, close to the beach, the harbour, the change-rooms and it was in the shade all day.
Could the day be anymore perfect? This is looking south over Lake Huron. It had been stormy recently, you can tell by all the thousands of small flat pebbles washed on shore in waves. The pebbles rattled and sang as the waves broke over them.
Dave and I went for a hike along the harbour and railway trail. This is looking over the harbour. I tried to add a sense of linear perspective to many of my pictures, this one captures the effect I wanted.
This is a view of the Maitland River from the big train bridge. The water is very high, normally at this time or year the river trickles over gravel washes on the banks, there are wide expanses of pebbles and little vegetation other than a few chicories and goldenrod. This is nearly up to spring levels.
Looking toward Lake Huron from the bridge. Salt mine, grain elevator, evaporator, and boats.
The Train bridge at Goderich. It was once the main CP rail bridge, built back in the early 1900's to cross the wide expanse of The Maitland River. the river and the harbour were once the main port of entry on Lake Huron where grains, salt, and other goods loaded on and off the many ships and were transported across the great lakes and beyond. Now it's a pleasant summer afternoon walk. The bridge still smells like coal tar and trains.
The Hike is over. Both Dave and I are quite hot. The sun is relentless and we both got a little overheated. Dave Dave and I cool off with a dip in the lake. The water is warm as bathwater and it cools us off quickly. We both agree that so far the day is perfect and the only thing that would make it better is if one of the big great lake freighters came into the harbour. We look out over the lake and see a tugboat right at the outer breakwater Could it be?
Yes, our ship has come in, accompanied by three tugboats, who will soon be earning their paycheques. It's the "Algosteel" run by the Algoma Central Railway. It is here for a load of road salt which will ultimately end up in Toronto -according to the guys on the ship who talked to the crowds of people these ships inevitably attract. It is a highlight for more than just my bunch. .
The crowd of people stood and stared. Long ship is long!
If that doesn't show up here's the direct link to You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN-EFPXlSv4 and here's the link to my channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheRealLincatz#p/a
And now we near the end of the day. It's six-thrirty and everyone has packed up and gone away for dinner. The ship is loading up on salt, Dave Ben and I are all quite red, fed and almost dead! We spend a bit more time staring over the water, enjoying the last bit of our picnic food and soaking up the sun and fresh lake breeze. We don't bother changing out of our still wet swimwear before packing up the car and heading home. The drive takes a little over an hour and bit.
All in all as close to perfect as a day can be
