pics & stories

Photos  Book Reviews.

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Seltún, a geothermal area just south of Reykjavik. The smell of sulphur was quite choking in some areas but thrilling to experience. The hot springs range from 80° to 100° C.

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Detail of a very old door in downtown Reykjavik.

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Celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving at Reynisfjara, the Black Beach, with my last Duchess, Irené.

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Johnson Geo Centre, St. John's NL

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Royal Botanical Gardens, Hendrie Valley Trails, Burlington ON

Saw chickadees and chipmunks eating from people's hands, trumpeter swans, mallards and a blue heron--not eating from people's hands. Fall colours not quite on yet.

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The spiral staircase at Spirit Rock Conservation Area, Wiarton ON

I am not great at estimating heights but I think it's around 25 feet high. It's on the Bruce Trail (the white rectangular main trail blaze is visible on the central post) and links the escarpment to the shoreline of Colpoy's Bay below. That was the easiest part of the hike

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On First Nations land. The Bruce Trail runs through it.

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Why I hike. Owen Sound ON

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Pedestrian Tunnel under Hwy 6 Waterdown ON linking sections of the Bruce Trail

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My gorgeous Walter,

the face that launched a thousand sighs,

a beauty that was a joy for 4 years,

chatterbox and crochet buddy--

how could one cruel minute render him a memory?

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Nobody home. Abandoned village of La Manche, NL

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La Manche Village Path, NL. Almost 4 kms of ankle-breaking boulders with a 190+ metre elevation and ALLTRAILS rates it as "easy". But I saw a seal 💜💜💜💜

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Panorama of St. John's harbour looking down from Signal Hill. Hiked up from the Visitor's Centre.

Our reward for hiking paths that sometimes seemed vertical--Newfoundland Chocolate Co. Café at the Visitor's Centre. Note the Newfoundlandisms + translations on the table

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See the little cloud resting on the hill? I hiked up there! Shoreline Heritage Trail, Bay Roberts, NL

And THIS was at the top of the hill!

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Whirly Pool Falls. East Coast Trail NL

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Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto. Overlooking Flatrock Cove, NL

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Our first hike in Newfoundland! At Middle Cove in the Avalon Peninsula. There's a tinge of Grandma Moses in the landscape around here.