The Laurentians

These are the highlights of a visit to the Papineau-Labelle park at the start of September, and Mont Tremblant three weeks later.

The view from the top of Mont Bondy (P.L.)

Setting off for a paddle up Lac des Sept Freres (P.L.)

Island in Lac des Sept Freres

Lac des Sept Freres

A Broad Winged Hawk that we saw on the way out of Papineau Labelle

Chute du Diable in Mont Tremblant Park

The trail to the falls (M.T.)

The river near to Chute Croches (M.T.)

Pine Squirrel

The view from the top of La Roche (M.T.)

Looking up at La Roche from Lac Monroe

Lac du Sommet; out of Mont Tremblant Village along Le P'tit Train du Nord path

RCMP Musical Ride

Here are some photos from the RCMP Musical Ride last month.

They started with some miscellaneous entertainment:

A sharp shooting demonstration

Show jumping

A mock armed arrest

Pipes and drums

The newest addition to the stables

Then the Musical Ride began:

Thanksgiving Bike Ride

A sunny Thanksgiving weekend was the perfect opportunity for a bike ride. We started down to the river:

Prince of Wales Bridge across the Ottawa River

Houses of Parliament

Nepean Point and the National Gallery

And then turned up the Rideau Canal

Bytown Museum and locks

Alexandra Bridge and locks on the canal

Rideau Canal

And finally into the Experimental Farm:

Hay ride in the farm

Patio Panorama

360 degree view from our rooftop patio.

Algonquin Park 2012 - Day Three

On our third day we would have liked to repeat a loop that Andrea and I did once before; unfortunately the low water levels had made part of the route impassable ('Vanishing Pond' had lived up to its name!). So we did a there-and-back trip to Sunbeam Lake for lunch.

The island in Tom Thomson Lake

Leaving Tom Thomson Lake towards Bartlett Lake

Going through the creek into Bartlett Lake

Paddling into Bartlett Lake

Typical lake shoreline

Heading across Kooy Pond

A typical portage trail

Shallows at the end of Willow Lake

Arrived at the Sunbeam Lake end of the portage and trying to work out our next move

We pulled the canoes out on an island on Sunbeam Lake and stopped for lunch

Alexei took off for a doggy paddle around the island

Stopping to show off his swimwear!

Soaking up the sun

These are Pickerelweed flowers

Tired paddlers on the way back to camp

Crescent moon

Our last day on the lake dawned quietly, but by the time we were paddling back to the highway the wind was in our face and whipping up the waves. We made it to the car just as the torrential downpour began!

Calm before the storm