Tag: nature

The Spirit of Algonquin

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At the end of April we went to Algonquin Park and enjoyed a beautiful time of wildlife viewing. It means a lot to me to connect with nature and animals, so when I saw a moose get spooked by a loud truck, I instinctively put out my arm and said, “It’s okay.” The moose had abruptly moved to bolt, but now stopped instead to gaze at me, and then went back to drinking from a little stream. It was an amazing feeling.

Here is a video compilation of the trip’s highlights, with music composed by me.

An Autumnal Algonquin Adventure

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Willow and I went to Algonquin Park, as we like to do, in late Fall when most of the leaves have already turned and come down from the trees. This time of year has the benefit of fewer people in the Park (the colours attract a lot of traffic), and also the magical ability to see deeper into the forest while we drive, looking for moose. We saw otters playing, a curious mink, moose aplenty, and were complete sated with the joys of nature. We took A LOT of photos…these really are “just a few”!

A Different Algonquin Park Adventure

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Sometimes you just don’t see the moose! But I saw so much more, even while not seeing any wildlife. This time, Algonquin Park let me see myself.

Willow and I went down Hay Creek Road in Whitney several times, because it’s like a private bit of the park. It’s quiet up there in the hydro-fields, and we walked along a road not often used. The next day we went again, and I saw our footprints were still there. But now, they were joined with the tracks of many animals who had walked with us, albeit separated by a little span of time.

So I walked down that road again, looking for my prize: the track of an animal that had actually stepped right into one of our footprints. I didn’t know if I’d find anything or if the photos would be meaningful to anyone other than myself. But I did find exactly what I was looking for. And that is what Algonquin Park always gives me, moose or not.

Nature in my Backyard

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Nature is the most practical metaphysicist. Every morning I sit outside, quietly observing. Today I was awe-struck by a multitude of interesting things happening in my backyard, all speaking to the complexity and yet deep practicality of nature.

I feed the squirrels, chipmunks, and blue jays – they all know me and approach me in different ways. My town is a nice, clean and quiet place, but also known for a high rat population (apparently some junkyard was disturbed and dispersed them). Having had several pet rats in my life, I enjoy watching them dig up worms and eat from the feed pile. We leave out simple deer feed that attracts just about every animal around. Today the baby rats were out as they are just getting big enough to romp beyond the nest. Then I saw a squirrel carrying its fairly small baby back to its tree – it’s odd for October, in Canada, to have such a late litter. I’ve noticed evidence of second or even third litters happening here this year.

Other things caught my interest — we had good winds last night and a huge branch has fallen off our maple tree. Doves were walking along the ground with their wings outstretched. There has been a hatch of little midge-like insects – again, a little odd for October.

But nature is clever. She knows.