Favourites of 2016

Before this blog became what it is now, it was just kind of a website where I would post some of my favourite pictures.  Well, it got hacked, I lost my content, and I started from scratch.

I like that it’s become more of a photographic travel blog, but I miss posting the random stuff as well, so that’s what this post is.  Some of my favourites from the past year.

This first one is from Bruce Pit, a dog walking park in Ottawa with great trails for people too.

Bruce Pit

Ice carving of a dancer…with a dripping foot, at our annual winter carnival, Winterlude.

Winterlude ice sculpture

This massive snapping turtle was ambling across the road at the entrance to Mud Lake, a wetlands conservation area near my place in Ottawa.

Snapping turtle

I have a love/hate relationships with zoos.  I hate animals being in captivity, but I realize that they provide a good exposure and learning environment for people, especially kids.  These are from the Toronto Zoo in the spring.

Polar bear keeping cool

Sumatran Tiger

White lion cubs

Sleeping cheetah

Ring-tailed lemurs

Peacock

Speaking of spring, I love the colours of new growth.  Take samaras, more commonly known as ‘helicopters’, from maple trees.

Maple seed pods, or ‘helicopters’

Ottawa is home to a huge tulip festival thanks to Princess Juliana of the Netherlands.  During WWII, Ottawa sheltered the royal family, and Princess Juliana gave birth to Princess Margriet at the Ottawa Civic Hospital.  By 1945 they were back in the Netherlands, and as a thanks for their stay, and for Canada’s role in their liberation, Ottawa was sent 100,000 tulip bulbs.  For every year of of her reign, Queen Juliana sent thousands of bulbs to Ottawa, which were planted throughout the city.  Ottawa currently plants over one million tulips every year, and that doesn’t count those planted by people in their home gardens.  Normally I would take literally a hundred photos during the festival, but this year, with a combination of work and bad weather, I barely took any.

Tulip

Tulips across from the National Art Gallery

On my walk home, I often pass this stand of crab apple trees.  Their blooms were impossible to resist.

Crab apple trees by Lincoln Fields transit station

Crab apple blossums

One of my favourite bike paths brings me to Shirleys Bay, yet another wetland in Ottawa’s west end.

Near the local boat launch at Shirleys Bay

Lily of the Valley

During the summer, my girlfriends and I rented a cottage on Prince Edward Island.  Minutes from a provincial park, a view of the ocean from our deck, and great weather made for a wonderful vacation.

Crossing the 12.9km (8 mile) Confederation bridge from New Brunswick to PEI

Building at Malpeque harbour

Lighthouse (under renovation) at Cabot Beach Provincial Park

Lifeguard chair at Cabot Beach Provincial Park

Lobster traps at Malpeque Harbour

Lobster traps at Malpeque Harbour

Crab baskets

Cabot Beach Provincial Park

Cabot Beach Provincial Park

Malpeque Harbour

Strawberry moon on the summer solstice

Point Prim Lighthouse

Path to Basin Head Provincial Park beaches

Basin Head Provincial Park

Taken along Highway 20 from the passenger side window

Autumn…my favourite season.  The colours, the sound of leaves crunching underfoot, the scent of them on the ground, the briskness in the air.  Perfect.

Colourful maple tree

I love a good snowstorm.  This is the view from the base of the Rideau Canal lock system in Ottawa, with the Alexandra bridge crossing the river to Gatineau.

Ottawa snow storm

Those are some of my favourites from 2016.  Enjoy.