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Week of Sunday, August 26th, 2018

Weekly Temperature
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
Aug 26 Aug 28 Aug 29 Aug 29 Aug 30 Aug 31 Sept 01
High 24 28 29 26 18 23 30
Low 19 18 21 18 13 11 14

There is still lots of summer weather ahead, but the last week of August always feels like the end of summer. Back to school early next week. Don’t tell my younger son – He knows it is happening but he showing signs of being in denial.

Sunday, August 26th, 2018 – looking west across the bay toward Collingwood. This picture taken from the beach near 18 street.
Sunday, August 26th, 2018 – The picture above reminds me of the iconic group of seven paintings. Most people associate these wind-blown pines with conditions along Georgian Bay north of here, but we get the same dynamic. Today was still, but you can see how the tree has “grown up” in steady northwest winds.
Tuesday, August 28th, 2018 – looking west from near 13th at beachgoers and fellow beach walkers.
Tuesday, August 28th, 2018 – Walking down from the east end of Shore Lane near 13th street to the beach on a well-worn trail.
Tuesday, August 28th, 2018 – Back home, we watched an awesome sunset from our front yard.
Thursday, August 30th, 2018 – Crap. I was just bragging to friends planning a trip to Wasaga Beach for the long weekend how pristine the waters are. Apparently not today. In my ~ three years walking the beach most days, I haven’t seen this before. These signs across the beach every few hundred meters. People have been talking about how warm the water is – big red flag I guess 🙂
Thursday, August 30th, 2018 – The temperatures have cooled and the water is moving again so I’m pretty sure this nonsence about bacteria will be short-lived as fresher water moves onshore.
Friday, August 31st, 2018 – The ducks are back. Strange – I haven’t more than a few ducks all month (all seagulls) and today the ducks were back in large numbers,
Friday, August 31st, 2018 – Walking back from Beach one on a beautiful Friday evening before a long weekend. As I said before, I’m always amazed how empty large sections of the beach are even at the busiest times.
Friday, August 31st, 2018 – I somehow missed this sculpture on the beach walking east, but caught it on my return trip. There are no contests going on. Somebody with a lot of skill decided to carve a mermaid on the beach just for fun. The pictures don’t do it justice – a work of art sadly left for the elements to destroy. (I walked the same route ~ 14 hours later Saturday AM and sadly this piece of work was complete washed away).
Saturday, September 1st, 2018 – We have out of town friends coming in today staying near beach one. The water quality advisory is lifted which is great news for long-weekend crowds. Mid morning walking east, you can still see mist.
Saturday, September 1st, 2018 – By late morning walking west, the fog is burning off. Waiting for the onslaught of beach goers that tend to hit around noon on a Saturday of a long weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

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Week of Sunday, August 19th, 2018

Weekly Temperature
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25
High 26 27 23 20 27 28 22
Low 11 11 16 13 10 11 16

On Sunday evening just back from a long weekend on Manitoulin Island, I took a walk down the beach to try and catch for missed days.

Sunday, August 19th, 2018 – The seagulls have no fear of people anymore after being fed by beach-goers are summer.
Sunday, August 19th, 2018 – The sun setting near beach one.
Sunday, August 19th, 2018 – walking back through the provincial park trying to make it home before dark. (there could be vampires)
Tuesday, August 21st, 2018 – Tuesday it rained all day. My umbrella went missing so I needed to take a pass on today. All this rain is great for the grass though!
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018 – the rainy weather brought a shift in the weather pattern and Wednesday we had stiff fall-like winds. It was a little cool on the beach, but this time of year the water is warm.
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018 – in places the wind was driving the waves all the way up the beach so you needed to watch where you walked. The water in the great lakes remains high so the beach is smaller than usual.
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018 – walking back on Shore Lane to get out of the wind.
Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 – On Thursday, Ben and I spent the day moving to Windsor where Ben is starting post-graduate studies. Ben saying farewell to Stella, our family Dachsund.
Saturday, August 25th, 2018 – For those not aware of what this blue flag is all about, this is something to be proud of. Check out http://blueflag.ca. Blue flag beaches meet strict water quality, safety, and ecological standards. There are six blue flag beaches on all of Lake Huron.
Saturday, August 25th, 2018 – walking back through the provincial park to avoid crowds on the beach. The only time these parking spots pictured above fill up are on long weekends.

 

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Week of Sunday August 12th, 2018

Weekly Temperature
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
Aug 12 Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18
High 29 29 30 31 31 25 24
Low 12 12 13 17 15 21 15

The weather has been so wonderful I’m actually looking forward to Fall just so we can see a little variety! Towards the end of this week I went to Manitoulin Island for a few days with Jamie to visit my parents at their cottage.

Manitoulin still makes the best sunsets. 🙂

Sunday, August 12th, 2018 – apparently I was not the first person on the beach this morning. Plenty of footprints in the graded sand. This picture looking east near 18th street.
Sunday, August 12th, 2018 – looking north across the bay near 15th street. seagulls perched on a sandbar with an anchored boat offshore. (this is the same boat I thought we were going to lose in the waves a few weeks ago)
Monday, August 13th, 2018 – Finally some peace and quiet! A beautiful day where I have the beach (almost) to my self. People cluster near areas where there is public parking close by.
Monday, August 13th, 2018 – This “No Lifeguards” sign at the west end of the boardwalk always strikes me as funny. I understand the “No Dogs on the Beach” signs, but I’m not sure what they have against life guards! 🙂
Wednesday, August 15th, 2018 – looking west across the bay from near 13th street where the beach narrows and it is easier to walk across trails through the grass.
Saturday, August 18th, 2018 – Jamie up at Bridal Veil Falls at Kagawong, Ontario on Manitoulin Island.

This time of year Bridal Veil Falls is calm, but there is a great article here that describes the salmon run in the spring.

The picture below is the Kagawong Hydro Electric Generating Station powered by the run-off from Lake Kagawong. This is a 750 kW generator operated by Oakville Enterprises Corporation. When we walked by it the generator was not running but in the spring it is active.

Whether it is economical to run depends on the seasonal flow.

Details about the generator and pictures here:  http://www.kagawonggs.ca/index.html

Saturday, August 18th, 2018 – the generating station is quiet this time of year.
Saturday, August 18th, 2018 – From the base of the Bridal Veil Falls trail we went to the chocolate factory in Kagawong (part of our annual ritual). I was struck by the logo on the late 1950s Buick Roadmaster. The Haweater weekend this year was August 1st – details here.  This weekend was the Providence Bay fair.
Saturday, August 18th, 2018 – after walking the Bridal Veil Falls trail we headed over to Gore Bay for lunch at the golf course – https://www.facebook.com/migcgolf/
Saturday, August 18th, 2018 – Jamie running the four-wheeler up and down Frank’s road back at Lake Manitou.
Saturday, August 18th, 2018 – this sunset was better in person. I’m not a good enough photographer to capture the giant red ball 🙂
Here is an earlier Manitoulin sunset I had tucked away to make up for the one above 🙂