May 30 ~ Vancouver

My niece, Andrea, lives and works in Vancouver.

She took this photo from KIts Beach, and posted it on Facebook.

I was taken with the colours of the layers, and the textures,

 and asked her permission to post it on my blog.

Guest photographer: Andrea MacPhedran.

May 29 ~ Musical Support

This jazz band was set up just north of Pretoria Bridge on Queen Elizabeth.

They were tireless in their enthusiastic singing and playing.

 I was trying to imagine how their energy must lift the spirits of the runners,

 and motivate them to push for the finish.

May 28 ~ Cheering

I love how hoards of Ottawans come out to cheer and support the runners,

each in their own humourous and enthusiastic way!

May 27 ~ The Marathon

On Sunday, thousands of runners streamed down Queen Elizabeth Driveway.

The Marathon and half-marathon were together at this point, just 1. 2 km from the finish.

Each one was a story of personal triumph and determination.

May 26 ~ Linda!

My fabulous friend, Linda Connell, (blue shirt) is at the 8 km mark on her way to a sub-hour finish!

Congratulations, Linda!

May 25 ~ Ottawa Racwe Weekend

The lead female pack, for the 10 km event, cross Patterson Creek Bridge.

May 24 ~ It takes a village ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

When grand moms and grandkids get together, it doesn't matter whose child the baby is.

We all love all the babies!

Judy (top) and Linda both have grandchildren close to Marty's age, and a cuddle is shared!

May 23 ~ Wakefield Covered Bridge

One of the pleasures of having guests, is the tendancy to show them around,

and visit places that I don't normally go.

Wakfield Covered Bridge is one such location, and it is a beautiful spot to visit.

Even on a wet day such as this was, the garden was lush,

 and the red  bridge popped out against the vegetation.

May 22 ~ Gold Medal Relay team

This team won gold in the 4 x 100 m free relay!

Eric (our coach), Gabo, Jan and Katherine!

Yea team!

Now thery have their sights set on the Worlds in Montreal in 2014 ...

May 21 ~ Swim Meet

My wonderful friend Linda Connell, came to cheer us on.

Her support and enthusiasm was much appreciated!

May 20~ Swim Meet

 

On Your Mark!

Get Set.

BUZZZZ!

This is the start of my 200 m breast stroke race.

Guest photographer is Linda Connoll.

May 19 ~ Canadian Masters' Swimming Championships

 

The Canadian Masters' Swimming Championship were held in Ottawa, May 17 - 20..

This is the 4x100 free relay team, for the Ottawa Y Masters, before we were disqualified!

Peg, Sandy, Ev & Jen.

We were disqualified for 'Earlly Departure'!

Sounds like a term used at an Airport, or at a Funeral Home.

May 18 ~ The Morning Canal

 

On my way to the Y a few mornings ago, I passed this glorious light on The Patterson Creek Bridge.
I found a parking spot, and ran across Colonel Bye Drive to take several photos of this sunlight and the mirrored reflection.
In this one, I also caught a jogger on the bridge, and the sun reflection off of the building.
I was thrilled with this shot!

May 17 ~ Red Trillium

Red trilliums are more elusive.

They arerarer and harder to find, because they do not present their red faces to the sky.

Again in this picture, the shadow added more interest.

May 16 ~ White Trillium

Trilliums are a rite of Spring passage.

They last for a very short while, and I have to make sure to get out to the woods

while they carpet the forest floor.

They are a great subject for photography,

especially in brilliant sunshine where shadows add an extra shape.

May 15 ~ Trilliums

 

Aaron and I went on a Gatineau Park hike to see the Trilliums.

The forest floor was carpeted with the white ones, but the red ones were harder to spot.

Aaron took great delight in finding the red ones, then on counting the petals.

"Hey! It is one-two-three! Three! That's my number!"

May 14 ~ My Mother's Day

 

My mother, Madge, was born 100 years ago today, May 14, 1913.

She died ten years ago, just a few days short of her 90 th birthday.

I miss her still, and I often think about how much she would have enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

This slightly fuzzy picture was taken this year on Mother's Day.

Megan, Marty, Peg and Aaron.

May 13~ Flowers

This small clump of wild flowers was tenaciously clinging to the rock face.

It seems impossible that they survive with roots burrowed into a rock crevice,

but these are natures' miracles!

May 12 ~ Finally, the Hidden Canyon

 

Finally, we reached the Hidden Canyon, a hidden treasure. It was a narrow kilometer of steep rocky sides, sandy bottom,  sun-drenched  paradise. 

My small tripod and self timer comes in handy for photos like this!

May 11 ~ Hidden Canyon

Then there was a ledge with no safety chains!

Not being comfortable with heights, I had to stare at the wall to avoid gazing straight down in to the canyon!

I am amazed when I think of the people who established these trails many years ago.

They had courage, curiosity, and dedication.

 I am grateful for their tenacity, as today I enjoy the hiking challenge.

May 10 ~ Zion National Park

This hike where this picture was taken, was called Hidden Canyon.

The first 45 minutes were up a switchback path, then the trail hugged the side of the mountain, with chains for support!

May 9 ~ Zion National Park

On the way down from a hike called Angel's Landing, the canyon opened up before us.

On  the right is the trail that we had hiked up, and the Virgin River on the canyon floor.

The final .3 mile of the hike was along a ridge, with embedded chains for support.

We didn't do that part!

May 8 ~ Humming Birds

At a restaurant, between Bryce and Zion Canyons, two hummingbird feeders were hanging.

From inside the restaurant, the feeders provided amazing entertainment,

as groups of humming birds flitted onto and off of the feeders.

I finally attached my zoom lens and took way too many pictures.

I was thrilled with the detail that I was able to capture here!

May 7 ~ Red Canyon

On the road into and out of Bryce Canyon, Red Canyon was worth a stop.

This hike was only about an hour, but gave us this wonderful view of snow-capped mountains,

Hoo-doos, a canyon and lush pine trees.

May 6 ~ Tower Bridge

Another hike took us deep into the canyon, to a Hoo-doo formation aptly named Tower Bridge.

I enjoyed these hikes tremendously, for the variety of shapes, colours and terrain.

May 5 ~ Hiking Trail Seen from the Rim

 

Like a loose thread, the trail can be seen on the floor of the canyon.

After climbing up and out of the Canyon, it was neat to be able to look down

and see parts of the trail we had just hiked!

May 5 ~ Bryce Canyon Hiking

 

This hike took us down, down and down into Bryce Canyon. It was said to be the

' Finest Three Mile Hike in the World'.

Three miles isn't very far, but add very a steep descent, beating sun, no shade, and a steep ascent to finish, it was a good-enough challenge.

As you can see, the geology was spectacular!

May 4 ~ Dead Tree

Bryce Canyon offered many interesting dead trees.

Of course, I became fascinated with them, and took many shots, but I think this is my best one.

They seemed not to rot, but to maintain their form and just dry out!

May 3 ~ A great view

While this picture was taken in full noon sun, it is without the subtly of soft colour.

However, I think the feature is the perspective of the woman standing on the precipice

and pondering her view.

May 2 ~ Sunset Corals

Looking in the other direction, the canyon opened up and we could watch the colours play for miles.

I felt completely awed, and privileged, to watch this display of beauty on our planet.

May 1 ~ Bryce Canyon Sunset

We first saw Bryce Canyon at sunset, and I marvelled at the hoo-doo shapes and colours.

As the sun got lower in the sky, the colours changed from golds to corals and purples!

With multitudes of hoo-doo shapes and an array of burning colours, it was astonishing!

April 30 - A Sign to Ponder!

 

Hiking down to the river at the bottom of the canyon, was not an adventure to be taken lightly.

There have been many deaths of people who had not planned their hike wisely.

Apparently, many people think that they can hike down and back in a day,

and have not been successful.

This sign really drove the message home!

April 29 ~ Sunrise Wonder

This photo is of a stranger, gazing at the sunrise over the rim of the canyon.

The light, the tree, the shadows, the velvet colours, were all compelling to me.

I imagine that the observer's sense of wonder, matched my own.

April 28 ~ Sunset

 

Sunset light made the canyon look like velvet.

It is impossible to grasp the vast depth, breadth and expanse of the canyon.

I could only marvel!

April 27 ~ Colours

Seeing the layers of different colours and different kinds of rocks, really told a story of time passing.

Teaching it in Geography, and seeing it in reality, are very different!

I was thrilled.

April 26 ~ Grand Canyon

From the helicopter, we could really see how the earth had been ripped apart, and how the power of the river deepened the gorge over millions of years.

It was an amazing sight!

April 25 ~ Bob's Birthday

This is a birthday gift to be remembered!

Turning 69 and a spectacular helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon.

We went late in the afternoon, and the red, gold and rust canyons were sun-lit with magic!

April 24 ~ Grand Canyon Dawn

 

After ten days away in Arizona and Utah, I have ten days to catch up with, and 700 photos to choose from! Yikes!

I'll start with dawn in the Grand Canyon, and a lone viewer has a spectacular perch.