Stunning image – The Tower of London pours 888,246 poppies from a window to honour WWI’s British deaths pic.twitter.com/r5nbhxo6DH
— Andrew Bloch (@AndrewBloch) August 2, 2014
01 Aug, 2014
By andrea tomkins in Misc. life,travel talk
Wednesday p.m.
We fell asleep to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore and the wind rushing through the treetops last night. It was strong enough to drown out the other noises of the campsite: the chatter and laughter and car doors slamming and air mattresses being inflated. It was heavenly.
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I am thankful Mark noticed the earwig in our coffee press this morning before he poured the water in.
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We went on an ice run and stopped to check out the Marsh Trail this morning. The mosquito-ridden trails from our previous experiences made us more than a little hesitant to venture forward, but we decided to try it and see. We’re glad we did, and it was very different from any of the other trails we’ve seen before, anywhere.
Half of it was boardwalk over marshland, the other was a dirt trail through a cedar forest.
It was an easy walk, very accessible, although I can’t speak for the second half that went through the forest because the eldest and I turned back.
There were info signs along the way explaining the marshy topography and its geological history, as well as providing information about the different birds that gather here. There is a lookout at the midway point, and water access for anyone with a net and an inclination to catch frogs or observe water-striders at close proximity. And it was quiet. So quiet. I’d call this one a win.
31 Jul, 2014
By andrea tomkins in travel talk
Tuesday p.m.
An incredibly mosquito-laden hike left us hot, exhausted, and dispirited. I assumed Owen Point Trail would be less buggy than Jobes’ Woods, but I was dead wrong.
We doused ourselves with bug spray (Muskol: 30% DEET) and went in with optimistic hearts, open to any surprises that lay in store. Within the first 100m of the trail they descended… a roiling cloud of blood sucking predators and we were the only target in sight.
The reason I wanted to hike this particular trail is that it’s close to Gull Island, a bird breeding area that’s closed to the public. The trail guide promised meadows and scenic views of water. What we got was a bushwhacked trail through 8ft high grasses, hundreds of frogs leaping across the trail in feeble attempts not to get squashed, and millions upon millions of mosquitoes.
I learned a valuable lesson. No matter how much bug spray you use, they will find the spot you missed.
We reached the halfway point and I halfheartedly snapped a couple of photos. It’s hard to do when you’re busy swatting and scratching and cursing.
At this point we double-backed to the car, jogging at times, in hopes of outrunning the mosquitos. As we reached the car we collapsed in our seats, grateful for the shelter.
My name is Andrea and I live in Ottawa with my husband Mark and our dog Sunny who is kind of a big deal on Instagram. During the day I work as a freelance writer. I am a longtime Ottawa blogger and I've occupied this little corner of the WWW since 1999. The Fishbowl is my whiteboard, water cooler, and journal, all rolled into one. I'm passionate about healthy living, arts and culture, travel, great gear, good food, and sharing the best of Ottawa. I also love vegetables, photography, gadgets, and great design.
If you're so inclined, you can read more about me here.
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