I was down in Nova Scotia for a site visit to Kejimkujik National Park. On the way back to Halifax at the end of the week, stopped in Lunenburg.
The waterfront was getting ready for their annual Christmas Parade.
The Bluenose II getting prepped for winter.
Looking out over Lunenburg Harbour.
A Nova Scotia Christmas tree made from lobster traps.
I was in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL this past week. It was a challenge getting there. On Monday I was scheduled to fly Toronto-Ottawa-Halifax to Goose Bay. Problem was I missed my connection in Halifax and ended up in St John’s, NL for the night (without my suitcase and on Air Canada’s dime) before flying from St. John’s to Goose Bay on Tuesday morning. It was a little better on the way back, just a Goose Bay to Halifax to Toronto uneventful flight.
I spent the past week up in Sault Ste. Marie. I was doing work at our site about an hour north east. Weather was pretty good, only one day of rain as we were coming out of the camp, otherwise it was hot and sunny. Stayed at the Delta Hotel downtown right on the river.
There is a boardwalk trail that goes along the waterfront.
All the pollution from the American side of the border makes for a nice sunset.
Work took me to Florida for the March Break, I flew into Gainesville, FL through Atlanta. A colleague and I were visiting the Amec Foster Wheeler laboratory on the Tuesday. Then it was a drive over to Jacksonville Beach for 2 days of meetings.
It was a cold week in Florida, the temperature never got over 10 degrees C, and the one night they issued a frost warning.
The meetings were at the Courtyard Marriot in Jacksonville Beach.
On Thursday it was back to Gainesville to catch our flight back on Friday morning.
The Hippodrome State Theatre.
Despite the chilly temperatures, it still beat the snowstorm that dumped on Mississauga and the GTA.
I was down in the Eastern Townships this past week, that should be my last trip of the year. It was a wet overcast week.
My travel for work has been a little lighter this summer and fall, I was in Sault Ste. Marie for the week doing an installation and training at our site in the Turkey Lakes Watershed, about an hour north of the Soo. I stayed at the Delta Waterfront with a nice view of the St Marys River and the bridge to the US.
The first two days we had rain, before it cleared up towards the end of the week. This is the Chippewa River Falls.
The river crosses under Highway 17.
Wishart Lake, one of the many lakes that the Water Survey monitors.
Batchawana Lake, the fall colours were late this year, they were getting the same hot weather we were getting in the south. Although the hotels were full with the tour buses for the Agawa Canyon train ride.
St Marys River early Friday morning.
I was back on a plane on Wednesday afternoon, this time heading west to Edmonton. I had a final site inspection meeting with Public Works at our Joussard, AB site. It is about a 3.5 hour drive northwest of Edmonton. The weather was good for driving, mainly blue skies.
There was a standing pool of water that may become an issue. Based on the footprints around the water, there were moose, deer and this one looked like a bear print.
I should be home for the next couple of weeks, before a busy October schedule. I’ll be out to Flat Valley, SK and Rochester, NY among other places.
Arrived at YYZ airport this morning for a noon flight, only to find out it was delayed 90 minutes. Normally not a problem, I’d park myself in the Maple Leaf lounge, however I have a connecting flight in YVR and only 90 minutes to clear customs and find my gate.
The agent put me on stand-by for the 11:15 departure, and I got on AND upgraded to business class.
I was down in Frelighsburg, Quebec this past week for work installing a new monitoring site. Not much of an opportunity to try out my new lens, but did get a few bird shots. Not sure what this one is, my birding app couldn’t tell me.
A Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis).
Some fungi off the roadway.
There were a lot of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolour) living in boxes on the power poles.
On the drive back to Toronto, we stopped at the Mallorytown OnRoute service centre and came across this sign in the parking lot. Not sure what the attraction was for the bees, but the sign was covered and they were flying around it. Good thing I had my telephoto lens, didn’t have to get that close.
Work had me down in Nova Scotia this past week. Our new site at Kejimkujik National Park is close to completion. At the park entrance they have two of the red muskoka chairs like they had at Gros Morne.
Came across a Maritime Garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis pallidulus).
The Mersey River.
I had good weather the first couple of days and then rain overnight on the second day, by Wednesday at noon the sun had come out.
After all the trenching was filled I found this guy, I’m surprised he didn’t get buried or crushed by the heavy machinery.
We headed into Luneburg for dinner on Tuesday night. There was an article that they had the Bluenose II out on the water the day before. Not sure if you have read anything about the boondoggle of the restoration of the ship. It is three years overdue and about $6 million over budget.
It was in port and we were able to go aboard for free.
The crew is new and the one guy I talked to had only been on board for two weeks. They are all training for the summer tourist season.
Almost everything was replaced during the restoration. The only things that the crew member knew were original were the steering wheel and the bell.
Nevertheless it was pretty cool to be aboard.
Dinner was at The Knot Pub. The food was good and tasty, a bowl of mussels was only $5.
Wednesday it was back out to the park. A view of the forest near our new site.
The drive back to Dartmouth Wednesday afternoon was sunny until I got close to Halifax and I ran into fog and rain. Here is one of the Christmas tree farms near the park. They are looking good for the upcoming season.
A boat house near the tree farm.
The view of Halifax from my hotel room balcony in Dartmouth. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Harbourview. As I was having dinner in Dartmouth the fog lifted and the sun came out.
The transit ferry that runs between Dartmouth and Halifax.
The fog was starting to roll in again and about an hour later I couldn’t see much from the balcony.
