Well, OK, unless you’d been there you might not be able to tell that the darkness looming in the background is a pair of black spruce trees.
But it is/was.
I like the juxtaposition of the annual coneflower, already gone to seed, and the decades-old spruce trees.
In April, I tried and failed to do a photo shoot of this 80-year-old bridge. The weather wasn’t great, but the real problem was that neither the walkway nor the observation tower were open yet for the season.
In July, I tried and succeeded, challenged only by the spider webs that threatened to choke off the walkway. Continue reading
Chop: Short, steep isolated waves caused by local winds
which give a small boat an uncomfortable action
The Dictionary of English Nautical Language
As my kayak plows into the next wave, water splashes over the pointy prow and catches me full in the face, adding to the uncomfortableness of the action of this particular small boat. I’d make a pointy comment but I’m busy paddling hard against the wind and the aforementioned chop, progressing, albeit slowly, toward the small island ahead of me. Continue reading
This one is kind of a two-fer.
Knight Inlet or Tsawatti or Tswawadwi is one of the principal inlets of the British Columbia Coast, and the largest of the major inlets in the southern part of the Coast. It is fifth in sequence of the great saltwater inlets north from the 49th parallel north near Vancouver, but it is the first whose outflow points away from the Strait of Georgia, opening into Queen Charlotte Strait at the Kwakwaka’wakw community of Memkumlis (often known by the name of the group who were based there, the Mamalilaculla) on Village Island. – Wiki
Ah, you’re thinking, “That Knight Inlet. The fifth (in sequence) of the great saltwater inlets north from the 49th parallel near Vancouver. Of course.” Continue reading
After chasing views of Walterdale Bridge from Saskatchewan Drive, which overlooks the river valley, I saw this condo tower and was inspired by the Friendly Giant.
Look up; look waaay up
Chocolate mousse?
Whipped buttercream icing?
Or would you believe mud after a flood in what was usually a dry desert wash?
I’ll take Door #3, Alex.
In September 2016 I was astounded to see the almost-complete new Walterdale Bridge. I had some fun getting photos of it from different vantage points, angles, and distances.
In Edmonton again a few weeks ago, I tromped around the edges of the still-under-construction site. This bridge was originally scheduled to open in fall 2015, then pushed back to September 2016, and is now scheduled – if we can use such a definite word in this case – for September 2017.
We’ll see.
But even under construction, it’s magnificent. And as the work progresses, it’s possible to get at new places to stand.
Side view showing adjacent pedestrian bridge
Still under construction – but Wow!
And for those with a head for heights,
here’s a look at what might be the longest, pedestrian, suspension bridge,
built in Switzerland.
A week ago, I would have laid good money that I’d never have a blog titled “horse-dragon.” I mean, what the heck is that, anyway?
It turns out it was one-half of a street spectacle put on in Ottawa as part of Canada’s 150th: La Machine. Continue reading
The great thing about the internet – and about blogging specifically – is the connections it offers with people you wouldn’t otherwise meet. The conversations you wouldn’t otherwise have.
Blog Spammer: Fine with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the rewarding work.
Dear Blog Spammer: You have my permission to subscribe via RSS feed, but please don’t grab it. I might need it for a forthcoming rewarding post. Continue reading
Posted: 2025 Jun 21
Thanks to John Whitman for this slightly dismayed face from downtown Ottawa.
This space is available for other submissions.
