For some well written info on MMP

Up until yesterday I was guilty of neither knowing enough about MMP to make a decision about it or who I was going to vote for. This is unusual for me, since I generally follow elections closely. This just happened to be a campaign that coincided with me being seperated from media and the new paper - so I simply didn't follow as closely as usual. It is also the first time I haven't felt strongly against one of the candidates, although there are a few policies I'm not impressed with.

Having remedied that... I wanted to share some fairly balanced information written by a friend of mine from highschool. I'm was impressed by the background research and generally excellent writing. For those of you who still want to learn more - Here is the LINK.

This barns is just south of Kakabeka on a hill with the nor'westers in the background. It looked cooler eariler in the afternoon when there was light on the front of it.

Other announcements...

Gabe is still looking for models to help with his assignments in his final year of Photography. Some of the shoots are location shots - so can be done in various places (depending on the exact assignment) and others would require that you come into the studio at Humber. If you are intersted, let me know, and we'll send you word when an assignment comes out. You will definately get a print out of it and its lots of fun.

Jennith

Current River, Boulavard Lake and the Bluffs

Current River Spillway, Downstream from the Dam that creates Boulavard Lake

A view of the Current River, Boulavard Lake and Lake Superior from the Bluffs

Pie Island, in Lake Superior, From the Bluffs

Boulavard Lake, Centenial Park, The Bluffs and Trowbridge Falls are all parks on the Current River on the east side (Port Arthur) of Thunder Bay. The City I believe runs the first 3, while the local Lions run Trowbridge. I didn't make it to Trowbridge this day, but I've been there before and the rapids and falls are cool. I was surprised by the size and sofistication of the other 3 parks, having never been there before in the 5 years I lived in TB.

Somewhere over the Rainbow

Kakabeka falls spray blowing downstream created the perfect conditions for this rainbow. Since Geology became a major theme of my trip, I'd also like to point out the layered beds of stone on the canyon wall. Most of it is Greywacke - however the white lines are Ash Rock and there is a Diabase Sill capping the structure and resisting erosion.

Little Falls at Kakabeka

61 cubic meters/second flowing over Kakabeka Falls

Here are Kakabeka Falls on Wednesday with a flow of 61 m3/s. Usually, there is about 4 m3/s - so this is a pretty good show. I had a nice chat with the lady at the visitors centre and hiked to Little Falls - which made me think of Brenda, because she used to take us there with our Pathfinders when we camped there. Pretty cool spot!

An old favourite view

I took 2 hours to vist my old Alma Matar on my last day in TB. Here is the view from the 4th floor of the Centenial Building. You can see the somewhat ugly Lake Tamblynn, Prettie and Bartley Residences and the Nor'Westers in the background. I also went back that evening to hang out at the PUB (aka The Outpost) and watch hockey and have a beer. Its funny how little has changed --- and the Senators beat the Leafs. But since the Senators are my second favourite team - I really couldn't be too sad that my favourite team lost. (ooh... that would be a public admission of being a Leafs fan - but then I'm proud of it and I believe we have a Stanley Cup coming in the nearish future - we just need to be patient.)

Here is the view looking from one side of the bridge to the other.

The farther bridge (from the parking lot) is longer than the Capilano bridge in BC.

You can just make out the bridge in the distance

I'm on the farther bridge looking to the nearer bridge.

Eaglel River Canyon

One stop M. and I made after staying at Sleeping Giant Park was the Eagle Canyon Suspension Bridge. (Ooops.. had to back track in my itinary). See the link above for details on the Eagle Canyon webpage.

Grand Portage National Monument

Here is the massive dining hall in the wilderness that was once the headquarters of the NorthWest Company. This is a really cool little museum with an amazing new visitors centre and some of the best interpretive staff I've ever met. I'm really glad I stumbled on it.

The View From the Top

I've now made it to the top of finger peninsula lookout and I'm able to see tonnes of islands and peninsulas in this part of Lake Superior. I might even be able to see Isle Royale - if it wasn't so cloudy and foggy.

Finger Peninsula Lookout, Pidgeon River Falls

I've been trying to get in as much hiking as I can, knowing it may be a while before I'll be outdoors again (however long it takes to write a draft thesis. This photo shows the tip of Finger Peninsula. The lookout is on top of the knob of land there. Its not a bad trail, rugged in places, but fairly level. That of course changes in the last half km - then its pretty much 45 degrees (well, a touch less) but the slope is probably 3 m up for every 5 m forward. The view from the top however is totally worth it and if it had been a bit sunnier my pictures would have turned out better, but at least it wasn't raining

Pidgeon River Falls

Pidgeon River Falls (this is high falls in particular - not to be confused with Middlee falls) is another example of the impact of Diabase intrustions in the otherwise mostly sedimentry geology of NW Ontario and Northern Minasota. The diabase is pretty resistant to erosion, while the underlying sedimentry rock isn't. Thus... a whole lot of falls that look like this.

Today was a day tripping down the 61. It rained half the day, but I was able to do some hiking in the morning. Then I hung out at the Grand Portage Museum for a while until the sky opened up... then I headed to Grand Marais where I poked around a bunch of touristy shops and then had supper at Sven and Oli's Pizza.

Trembling Aspen on Fire

This fiery aspen leaf is unusual - at least I haven't seen many aspen leaves turn anything more exciting than yellow. I found it lying on the trail to Finger Point Lookout at Pidgeon River Provincial Park today.

Wee mushrooms on a Log

This morning at dawn I hiked the Sibley Park Nature Trail - capturing these nifty little mushrooms growing on a log

M. at Silver Islet

Silver Islet is a bit of a town on the coast of Sibley Peninsula - once home to one of the richest and most challanging to operate silver mines in Canada. This is the original General Store building (to the best of my limited knowledge) The owners are great.. and shared their dog brushing knowledge with me.

Sleeping Giant from Mary Louise Campground

Here he is again.. snoozing across Mary Louise Lake... right in front of our awesome campsite where we ate mint chocolate oreos on the dock overlooking the lake... how can it get much better.

First View of Thunder Bay

Taken on the same day (same stop) as the Sleeping Giant from Terry Fox monument.. this was my first view of my long lost home of my heart.. Thunder Bay... and its shockingly unchanged since I've last lived here... its very weird.

Waves at Rossport Park

Here are some fantastic freshwater waves at a stop near Rossport

Pic River Lookout on Highway 17

A couple of stops at various roadside picnic areas results in even more pictures. I was lucky to catch the train on the move at Pic River. One of the nices spots along the highway. I did however miss a few of the nicest views and stop at a few less exciting ones.

Port Coldwell

Some of my stops were inspired by a Geology Handbook of Lake Superior and and Canadian Geographic Ecotour manual for Pidgeon River to Sault Ste. Marie. This was a lucky stop - where I just happened to pull of on a road to check my map and discovered it was the right one. My next attempted detour did not work so well, since Neys Park was closed and the beach is no where near the closed gate.

Port Coldwell is a ghost town that inspired Lorne Harris of the Group of Seven to paint his picture (Icehouse, Port Coldwell - I think this was the title). Now a ghost town, on Railroad property, blocked off by a gate, the remains of this town are a dock and a graveyear and a few bits and pieces of foundations. Neat stop.

Lower Michopicton Falls

So, after missing the Nokomis Trail I headed to Michopicton Falls - here is the lower falls here.

More sunrise moments on Rustle Lake

Foggy Morning on Rustle Lake, Trapper's Trail

The Trapper's trail was under water due to "beaver activity" but the mist rising off the lake made the hike nearly worth it.