Supermoon tonight

Today is the day the moon is 26,000 km closer to the earth making it look 14% bigger.  This was taken tonight just after moonrise.

 This is about 45min later as it got further up in the sky and finally disappeared behind the cloud cover.

HDR of Marsh Marigold

Marsh Marigold

Lilac blossoms just emerging

With the warm weather and a bit of rain lilacs are just starting to open, here's a close up.

Old truck revisited

Back to retake pics of this truck at Duncan Lake.  Being early spring there are less shadows with no leaves in the trees.  This is 3 pictures stitched together as I was quite close to the truck to avoid branches. 

Temiskaming District Visitors Guide

This picture of Rankin Lake was taken during a canoe trip on the Montreal River.  We camped for 2 days on the beach. I submitted it to the Visitor's Guide just recently and it was used for the Gowganda info page.

So much for spring

The pictures tell the story.

Out with the old

As spring progresses the growth from the previous year starts all over again such as these cattails.

Yesterday down the Spear Lake Rd. to check out the bridge over the Wapus River.  On a southwest bank of sand in full warm sun my first wildflower of the season. I had been looking for this one as it blooms early.   Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens) a member of the Heath Family  (Ericaceae).

Down to Edith Lake

Road down to Edith Lake has dried out.  Ended up at the rapids and took a few pics.  Snow on the ground this AM with a cool breeze the rest of the day.  Pic of White throated  sparrow the Whistler of the North.

Great day today sunny and warm, tomorrow rain and getting colder and freezing temps.  Just a usual spring.  Down the Mann Ridge Rd. to see if the opening of the old mine addit has started.  Pretty quiet down there just a bulldozer stashed in the trees, they said they would start in May but I thought they may have started earlier with the good weather.  A combined macro of willow flower. The bee's will be out enjoying the pollen.

Minnow Lake

Put in the minnow trap a couple of days ago thinking it was too early but today ended up with a dozen minnows, the water must be warming up quickly.  On the trail I started seeing some new growth here and there it's about time.

First Whitefish of the year

Took a hike across the road a couple of days ago when the ice had moved from shore.  This is earlier than usual but here is the first whitefish of the season.  Several more and I will be able to fill the smoker. Mmmmgoood.

Ice out

Finally the ice moved down the lake with the wind yesterday.  Today most of the lake was clear down past the big island.  It's nice to see the waves on the blue water again. 

ATVing again

Promise of a warm day took us for another ride.  This time north on the Bouche Rd west of town over the top of Firth Ck. where these pics are taken, south down the Holwood Rd. west of Firth lake to the highway.  Along the highway to the Elkhorn Rd and down to the Elkhorn Lake landing and then back home.  Good ride with some mud, snow and ice in the shadows. The pic is of Ed Barnstaple and Paul Trudel.

Checking out the Everett Lake Rd

Drove up to Babs lake in the truck yesterday tried a little fishing but with the ice still in makes it difficult finding open areas.  Couple of pics one of Miller Ck. and one at Babs near a big beaver house where I tried to fish.

More video of Gowganda Lake ice conditions

A change to YouTube Video

Video post of Montreal River Runoff

Put together some clips for this short video, enjoy.

Some spring pictures

 Hedlund Marsh

 On Highway

Wapus Creek

Taken along or just off the highway west of town.

First day out ATV'ing

Pushed the ATV out into the sun for a couple of hours this morning to  warm it up turned the key and away it went.  This has been the way I have started this machine in the spring since 2001, never take the battery out in the winter at all.  After a quick check over and some air and check the tires I'm ready to go.  Went over to Paul's and headed for the mine road east of town (it had been ploughed out during the winter for the wood cutting).  Went right up past the mine and towards Flatstone Lake where they have the road blocked with rocky berms to close the road.  We both left with a jacket on but by the time we got to the berms we were in shirtsleeves.  Temps were around 24°C at least.  Road was wet and muddy in some spots but will soon dry out. The picture today is of Bab's Lake where we were ice fishing only a couple of weeks back.  If the weather stays the same the ice will be out soon.  

I bought some worms for fishing in front of the house for whitefish but now I can't get on the ice as there is too much open water to get to the ice.

Thunderous morning

Quite a thunderstorm with hail and rain early this morning.  The lightning storm was one of the best, not many ground strikes but lots of cloud to cloud.  Put off the walk for an hour and then headed out the sun was shining going one way and lightning and thunder behind. Here's one of the sunny spots.  The rest of the day sunny and warm lots of snow disappeared and everything drying up.

Another sign of spring

Early this AM the sound of a Robin, sure enough just north of the house 2 were sitting in a tree on the next street.  I  think they were probably thinking they are too early getting here with the snow and ice.  This is not my pic but one from Google and placed on some snow.

Out for some pike today

Got out on the lake just before noon, snowshoed in from the road,  with all the melting going on it was hard slogging. The shoes just kept disappearing under me.  Finally got down to the lake to try out my new auger, works like a charm.  My old one was close to 30 years old, what a difference. By 3:00pm  5 pike the biggest 24 in. bought 3 of them home.  Looking forward for some fresh fish.  Great day on the ice.

Big mild spell on its way

A long mild spell will be hanging around for awhile.  The snow is quickly melting with lots of dirty snow showing.  Rain tonight into tomorrow.  Out the road to the west to Hydro Ck. this afternoon for a ride.  Couple of pics of highway and of power line taking hydro to southern Ontario.

After the heat and rain

The snow took a beating yesterday and late last night the rain started, this AM lots of snow had disappeared and the ice has turned dark with slush.  The snowmobilers will have a hard time dealing with these conditions.  By the time I got home this AM it was cooling down and a fine snow was falling again.

Big change in the weather

Warm winds are blowing today in Gowganda, lots of snow has disappeared.  Sunny and 10C temps made the snow melt quickly, the wind gusting to 50 km/hr helped.  Here is a pic from this AM's walk.

Milner Lake

Down past Milner Lake where they are now drilling for silver, plans are to open the old ramp, screen and bolt for safety and do some exploration down the mine.  It goes down 700 feet or more. Work will be well underway by May.

The picture is of Milner Lake at it's winter best.

Snow sculpture

The wind is doing some great things with the snow, this is on the corner of a wood pile.

Gowganda today

Here is a couple of pics of the highway thru town showing how much snow we  have.  I have been leaving the snow blower idling in the garage.

More snow today

Snowed on and off all day today and not going to let up until tomorrow. Not much  inspiration these days at all.  Haven't been on the snowshoes this year.  The foot doctor advised me that my foot problem may have been aggravated by the snowshoes, so I have stayed away from them.  Anyway these are the two springy horses down at the town beach barely showing their heads.  The snowmobiles are just missing them.

Redpoll

I caught this Redpoll snoozing by the feeder in the warm sun, I should have joined him.

Pine cone and seed macros

I've been practicing with the new lens again.  Can't wait for the snow to disappear.

Winter Logging

Logging is at work all year round, right now they are just finishing up on the Everett Lake Rd.  The workers have been at it since the fall, right now they are by Babs Lake.  Jack Pine, Spruce, Poplar and Birch are the main species  Pine and Spruce for saw logs and Poplar and Birch for chip board. All species are transported by trucks to different mills.  Elk Lake has a mill for lumber and Englehart has the chip board mill. The chip board mill takes in 100 truck loads a day from all over the area to keep it working.  Here are a couple of pics near the latest cut nearby.

More Pics from yesterday

Pictures from Everett Lake and road up to tower  A bit of open water at Miller Creek, looks as though a otter went for a swim.  The chickadee is from the tower road.

Tonights sunset

Words not necessary

Sunny day sundown

Another nice day with great sundown. Lots of snowmobile trails on the lake now there is lots of snow.

Balsam fir winter buds

Out trying out the macro lens again.

Duncan Lake

Great day today warm almost felt like spring.  Our groundhogs couldn't come up through the snow to see his shadow or not.  We always have six more weeks of winter anyway.  A couple of pics from Duncan Lake the other day.  One I may have gone a little overboard with.