After 11 weeks alone this is the final post from "Frosty alone in the deep north".
It is essentially a thank you to all those who have been in contact either in person, by phone, via email, on facebook or by using SKYPE. Without you and especially the support of my family and principally Julie it would have been a very lonely time. It wasn't!
Thank You!!!!!!!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Bruce @ Joe Boehm's bees
Meetings have been a big part of my life. Whether they were meetings of Far South Coast Surf Life Saving, MS Australia Advocates, Narooma District National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Comittee, Eurobodalla Shire Access Committee or Muskoka Parkinsons & MS Support Group, they are something I am accustomed to. But I have to say that the meeting of the Muskoka-Parry Sound Beekeepers Association was one of the most enjoyable I have attended. There is lot to be said for people who are essentially altruistic in their endeavour.
Following the meeting I was asked by a number of the beekeepers whether I would like to look at at their apairies which sounded good to me. Sitting immediately to my left was Joe Boehm from Bracebridge and when he phoned the day after the meeting and said he'd be going to one of his apiaries on Tuesday I didn't hesitate.
Joe's address was intriguing, 100 Covered Bridge Trail. Interesting???
Well the people who named the road were honest and given the amount of snow that falls in the area I have no doubt that the covered bridge is not for show! After a bit of car juggling so Joe's wife could get to her volunteer role at the Bracebridge Hospital. I leapt aboad Joe's van and we headed to one of his apiaries.
With around 50 hives Joe probably has the most hives in the Muskoka-Parry Sound Beekeepers Association and he also mentors a number of beekeepers in and around Bracebridge. He is a knowledgeable contact and more importantly a nice guy.
On arrival at the apiary the first thing I noticed was the electric fence. Yes, bears are an ever-present hazard to beehives in this area and Joe takes no chances. Then my next surprise was that Joe burns a type of fungus in his smoker. He gathers it locally and from what I saw it was good in that once lit the smoker didn't go out, and more importantly the bees accepted the smoke quite well.
Not as large as I've seen but it did all the things it needed to do including most importantly extracting what is very nice honey.
Following the meeting I was asked by a number of the beekeepers whether I would like to look at at their apairies which sounded good to me. Sitting immediately to my left was Joe Boehm from Bracebridge and when he phoned the day after the meeting and said he'd be going to one of his apiaries on Tuesday I didn't hesitate.
Joe's address was intriguing, 100 Covered Bridge Trail. Interesting???
Well the people who named the road were honest and given the amount of snow that falls in the area I have no doubt that the covered bridge is not for show! After a bit of car juggling so Joe's wife could get to her volunteer role at the Bracebridge Hospital. I leapt aboad Joe's van and we headed to one of his apiaries.
With around 50 hives Joe probably has the most hives in the Muskoka-Parry Sound Beekeepers Association and he also mentors a number of beekeepers in and around Bracebridge. He is a knowledgeable contact and more importantly a nice guy.
On arrival at the apiary the first thing I noticed was the electric fence. Yes, bears are an ever-present hazard to beehives in this area and Joe takes no chances. Then my next surprise was that Joe burns a type of fungus in his smoker. He gathers it locally and from what I saw it was good in that once lit the smoker didn't go out, and more importantly the bees accepted the smoke quite well.
Joe's bees are either of Italian or Russian stock and in general the hives were in good condition. The ever present problem for beekeepers here is the Varroa mite and the Russian strain is supposed to be resisting the mite better. Because of that the majority of the bees are a little darker than what I am used to but they were very gentle and happy working a variety of floral sources. There isn't a single source as the apiary was surrounded buy clover (red and sweet), alfalfa, goldenrod, aster and even buckwheat flowering nearby. Whatever the source they were working hard, breeding well and judging by the white tips definitely gaining!!!
Joe, in addition to the more traditional mite controls including Fluvalinate, Coumaphos and Formic Acid in rotation, is trapping immature mites by introducing empty frames so that drone brood is produced. These combs are then taken and destroyed before the drones hatch and the mature mites are introduced to the colony. A lot of work for the bees and the beekeeper but I didn't see a mature mite on a bee in the 8 hives we looked at.
Packed up and left but not before the heat and humidity reminded me of why I will not be going back into full time beekeeping. Not ecstatic about that! Last job before we left the apiary was to turn the bear fence back on. As we left we drove through a small field of buckwheat.
Then back to where else but to the HONEY HOUSE
Not as large as I've seen but it did all the things it needed to do including most importantly extracting what is very nice honey.
Another very important thing that we did in the honey house was to cut the drone brood off the frames and destroy the immature mites. I hope that I never see these in Australia!
Not a pleasant sight for a beekeeper but I think integrated pest management as Joe is following is something that we could use much more in Australia. We finished on a positive by cutting the sealed combs of honey onto a plate for me to take back to 460 Sarah. And finally washed a bit of the bee dust out of my throat with a cold Corona. Mmmmm!
Arrived home to find this outside the front door?????
I guess the Volunteering gods must have been smiling!!!!!!!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Garden magic and Chinese mayhem
Visiting the Artful Garden http://www.theartfulgarden.ca/ had been on the Frost "bucket list" ever since we were told of it by Lesley and Peter and Marsha and Brian and John and Barbara and many others........ Yes the Artful Garden is a must do if you are interested in gardens or are interested in art or are interested in serenity and these are things that have become a more important part of my psyche.
These were the final days of the 14th annual exhibition and I had deliberately left my visit until closer to the end as I was trying to dodge the heat and humidity that would make walking too taxing. Luckily I had Dianne as my companion for the morning and I was able to use her photography skills which enabled me to use my walking poles uninterrupted rather than needing to put them down each time I wanted to take a picture. My walking is slow enough! And there are lots and lots of photo opportunities!!!
The art was, as you may see, interesting and different, but it was also very, very good. I'm understanding what the thinking was when they called the Muskoka a "Designated Arts Community". Luckily for me I've had time to enjoy it.
These were the final days of the 14th annual exhibition and I had deliberately left my visit until closer to the end as I was trying to dodge the heat and humidity that would make walking too taxing. Luckily I had Dianne as my companion for the morning and I was able to use her photography skills which enabled me to use my walking poles uninterrupted rather than needing to put them down each time I wanted to take a picture. My walking is slow enough! And there are lots and lots of photo opportunities!!!
The art was, as you may see, interesting and different, but it was also very, very good. I'm understanding what the thinking was when they called the Muskoka a "Designated Arts Community". Luckily for me I've had time to enjoy it.As well as fantastic outdoor sculpture there was more traditional painting and pottery in Suzann and John Partridge's studio and gallery. The buildings and the gardens add to what is a wonderful place and to top off the experience outdoor speakers (rock shaped of course) play soothing music. No wonder thousands of people attend every year.
Now the last one is a chookhouse!!! And I guess this next one was the place for me because as Willo said "all Australian boys need a shed".
Yet another special place.............
Headed home via the Bracebridge Farmers Market and after about four hours on my feet I was quite satisified to spend the rest of the day reading and then watching the Canadian Football League Saturday night game.
Sunday saw me back on my bike for a long ride around the streets of Gravenhurst and that is one thing that think I am going to miss when I return home but I guess I could always improve my fitness to the extent that I can ride up Hillcrest Avenue. Hills look easy when Cadel goes up them!
Again a fairly slow day but later in the afternoon after the bread I made finished baking and had cooled sufficiently to slice I headed around to John and Barbara's place with a jar of world famous Frost's Creamed Honey. We had been speaking on anotherof how different types of honey varied in flavour and that the process of creaming liquid honey made for a lovely flavour and smooth consistency. Mmmmmmaybe I could get a job selling honey!
The bread and honey were well received and the suggestion was made that we have a cool drink and as I didn't want to appear rude I agreed with the general consensus that the "sun was over the yard arm" somewhere! Barbara enjoyed a Canadian chardonnay while John had his favoured Beer and tomato juice and tho I was offered the same as John I took a rain check and settled for the white wine.
As ever with the Christensen's conversation was entertaining and easy with everchanging, interesting subjects. Given my current circumstances and although SKYPE to Julie is good, friends have been very important.
Food & especially dinner were part of the discussion and although I had food that was easy to prepare at home a suggestion to dine out was made. Former Lawyer,John , is difficult to deter much less refuse and we I found myself heading out to North West Restaurant which as delightful as it looked had a perfect way to refuse us. IT WAS CLOSED!!!!!
Not to be deterred we headed into Gravenhurst and to the Rickshaw Restuarant. Well this was a memorable meal. With an almost full room we were pointed to an empty table near the back by a frantic waitress who apparently had about as much knowledge of english as I have of mandarin. Four of our five dishes (including two entrees) arrived simultaneously as did our three unopened Tsintao beers without the requested glass, the phone had been ringing unanswered for 10 minutes and the whole place resembled an asian version of Fawlty Towers.
BUT the food was good, the company was great and I guess it had been a very busy weekend. It would get 4 stars from me!!!!
A fun ending to another interesting weekend.
ps the other dish arrived as we were getting ready to leave and was worth waiting for.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
A Canadian Icon - Algonquin Park
Friend and fellow Grace and Speed volunteer, Eileen called and asked whether I was interested in going for a drive to Algonquin Park with her and her friends Dianne and Louise. As I am hardly overwhelmed with appointments these days and the opportunity to spend the day in one of Canada's natural treasures was too good to refuse.
Lately a trip like this would start with me punching the destination into Mrs Garmin and settling into the luxurious seat of the CuRVy and in this case heading north on Highway 11 but in this case I was heading closer to home. Eileen lives on Gull Lake and although I would have found her place easily I put what I thought was her address into Mrs Garmin and between Mrs Garmin and my directions I was sent on a wild (Canada) goose chase. But in this case it wasn't Mrs Garmin who was at fault it was the former apiarist!!!!!
Luckily the old Aussie bushman realised that I was heading in the wrong direction and I was able "RECALUCATE"! My early adventure made us a bit late heading off on our adventure and we joined a busy Highway 11 on our way to Huntsville. We were following the route I had travelled on a number of occassions as it is the way we travel to Ottawa.
Heading onto Highway 60 we passed through the West Gate of Algonquin Park and purchased the one day visitors pass that is required to access the park facilities. On the other occassions Julie and I have bought a pass we have parked in an empty parking lot walked into a deserted Visitor's Centre. Today there was one parking space and the line at the counter was heading out the door! Oh well Algonquin Provincial Park is an iconic place.
We passed by overflowing parking lots at trail heads looking for a suitable coffee spot and settled on a picnic bench near a beach at Smoke Lake. Nice, yes, Iconic, yes, Needed, Yes! And representative of the region, YES, YES, YES!
Totally caffeinated and visually satisified we headed further into the Park and on to the Algonquin Art Centre http://www.algonquinartcentre.com/ for a look at the park through an Artist's eyes.
The art on display is stunning and I was very glad that I kept my wallet under control. Well maybe I'm exaggerating just a little bit the Visa did escape and I am going to be coming home with a T shirt. Mind you one of Hilary Clark Cole's
http://users.vianet.ca/hcc/muskox_steel_sculpture_by_canadian_sculptor_hilary_clark_cole.html sculptures would be nice at 6 Perkins... A muskox would be nice near the chookhouse!!!
Back into the Limo (well I did have a driver and it wasn't the CuRVy) and further on into the iconic Algonquin Park. Lunch was after a side trip into a nice campground at Canisbay Lake although I do suspect we may have incurred a little damage from the road in. Mmmmmmaybe the mighty CuRVy would have been a good option after all.
I've seen some small safe netted swimming areas and if I hear a complaint about Bar Beach in Wagonga I might ask the Narooma News to print this photograph.
Maybe with a swimming area this large I could consider requalifying for my Bronze!
On a serious side the lakes of Algonquin, the Muskoka and indeed all of Ontario are wonderful.
And wherever you seem to go near a lake you seem to find Canada's iconic form of transport; the canoe. The amazing thing is just what a successful method of travel canoeing was and is. Many things are similar in Canada and Australia but here is where there is a definite divergence. Put it simply Canada has water.
Hunger satisified it was into the car and further east along Highway 60 to the Algonquin Visitor's Centre and Museum. The museum is worthwhile seeing and the dioramas and displays are good and give you the opportunity to see well preserved specimens of Black Bear, and Moose but I think it's in need of a bit of a spruceup. Perhaps it is at the end of a busy period and perhaps I'm a wee bit biased but Grace and Speed at Gravenhurst looks fresher. Although the wolf sculpture is pretty good!
Following the final history lesson it was back home for us and for me a quiet meal and sleep! A great day with convivial company...
Lately a trip like this would start with me punching the destination into Mrs Garmin and settling into the luxurious seat of the CuRVy and in this case heading north on Highway 11 but in this case I was heading closer to home. Eileen lives on Gull Lake and although I would have found her place easily I put what I thought was her address into Mrs Garmin and between Mrs Garmin and my directions I was sent on a wild (Canada) goose chase. But in this case it wasn't Mrs Garmin who was at fault it was the former apiarist!!!!!
Luckily the old Aussie bushman realised that I was heading in the wrong direction and I was able "RECALUCATE"! My early adventure made us a bit late heading off on our adventure and we joined a busy Highway 11 on our way to Huntsville. We were following the route I had travelled on a number of occassions as it is the way we travel to Ottawa.
Heading onto Highway 60 we passed through the West Gate of Algonquin Park and purchased the one day visitors pass that is required to access the park facilities. On the other occassions Julie and I have bought a pass we have parked in an empty parking lot walked into a deserted Visitor's Centre. Today there was one parking space and the line at the counter was heading out the door! Oh well Algonquin Provincial Park is an iconic place.
We passed by overflowing parking lots at trail heads looking for a suitable coffee spot and settled on a picnic bench near a beach at Smoke Lake. Nice, yes, Iconic, yes, Needed, Yes! And representative of the region, YES, YES, YES!
Totally caffeinated and visually satisified we headed further into the Park and on to the Algonquin Art Centre http://www.algonquinartcentre.com/ for a look at the park through an Artist's eyes.
The art on display is stunning and I was very glad that I kept my wallet under control. Well maybe I'm exaggerating just a little bit the Visa did escape and I am going to be coming home with a T shirt. Mind you one of Hilary Clark Cole's
http://users.vianet.ca/hcc/muskox_steel_sculpture_by_canadian_sculptor_hilary_clark_cole.html sculptures would be nice at 6 Perkins... A muskox would be nice near the chookhouse!!!
Back into the Limo (well I did have a driver and it wasn't the CuRVy) and further on into the iconic Algonquin Park. Lunch was after a side trip into a nice campground at Canisbay Lake although I do suspect we may have incurred a little damage from the road in. Mmmmmmaybe the mighty CuRVy would have been a good option after all.
I've seen some small safe netted swimming areas and if I hear a complaint about Bar Beach in Wagonga I might ask the Narooma News to print this photograph.
On a serious side the lakes of Algonquin, the Muskoka and indeed all of Ontario are wonderful.
And wherever you seem to go near a lake you seem to find Canada's iconic form of transport; the canoe. The amazing thing is just what a successful method of travel canoeing was and is. Many things are similar in Canada and Australia but here is where there is a definite divergence. Put it simply Canada has water.Picnic lunches have always been popular with me and the one that we had on this day was very nice indeed. Undoubtably the view across a pristine lake improved my appetite.
Hunger satisified it was into the car and further east along Highway 60 to the Algonquin Visitor's Centre and Museum. The museum is worthwhile seeing and the dioramas and displays are good and give you the opportunity to see well preserved specimens of Black Bear, and Moose but I think it's in need of a bit of a spruceup. Perhaps it is at the end of a busy period and perhaps I'm a wee bit biased but Grace and Speed at Gravenhurst looks fresher. Although the wolf sculpture is pretty good! And so are the views of the arboreal forests of the Canadian Shield from the back deck!!!!!
Our history lesson hadn't finished so our next stop was at another...............Museum!
This time it was onto the Algonquin Logging Museum. Yes! There is a Logging Museum in one of Canada's iconic natural spaces, Algonquin Provincial Park. There is a good reason for this the Park was declared in 1893, not to stop logging but to protect the headwaters of 5 major rivers that drain into the Ottawa River.
The logging museum is very well done and although the walking trail was at the limit of my walking distance towards the end of a long I was happy I'd made the effort. You travel in chronological order past displays that depict the life from early loggers through to the present day.
And no matter where you go you find evidence of the eariest civilization know to Surf Clubs - THE BOATIE!!!!!!!!!!
It would take a pretty good crew for this to be used for the "Bass" but I bet it would look spectacular coming into Narooma with a big north east swell behind it!!!!
Following the final history lesson it was back home for us and for me a quiet meal and sleep! A great day with convivial company...
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Leah to a Bloody Caesar
Many of my blog posts have been based around wonderful weekends but this one although there is a weekend in the midst of the post is more concerned with the Friday and the Monday. That's not to say that my weekdays have been boring nothing could be further from the truth, but it's just true that there's generally more happening on the days that start with S.
Admitedly events at home during the week had left me a little down and I wasn't planning on doing a lot. I had decided not to go to the Bonyun Bash at Sundridge which would have meant an overnight stay. Although 25,000 kilometres from family I felt a SKYPE call may help those in Australia and that a familiar voice is nice for me.
The 8 hour Cottage Cruise on the Segwun a few weeks ago included a scrumptious lunch. Shortly after I was seated the waiter asked if I would mind having someone join me for lunch as there was one other person travelling and dining alone.
Eating alone isn't a problem to me at home or certainly in the bee yard as I am well and truly used to dining alone given the fact that I worked alone for most of my working life. In a restaurant situation however I must admit I feel a little uncomfortable eating by myself so I was happy for the company.
Leah is a retiree who lives near Huntsville and she made an entertaining companion during the meal. We spent the time talking about where we were both from, what we had done and where we had been in the past and what we were doing at the moment. At the end of the cruise Leah asked whether I would like to come up to Hunstville to see her cottage and to meet some of her family. I explained my situation and she said she'd call.
Fast forward 3 weeks and the phone rings and this time it isn't someone wanting to sell me an unbelievable holiday in Florida or a terrific timeshare in Timbuktu, it was Leah seeing whether I wanted to join the family for lunch. My next words were, when and where! Today and at noon and at my cottage was the answer!
So with the address safely entered into Mrs Garmin and the CuRVy purring away I headed via the Scottish Burger joint for a coffee and a muffin to keep any hunger pangs at bay. Highway 11 was fairly busy with the weekend cottager traffic starting to build but as it's a 4 lane road and canadians are by and large a happy mob it wasn't all that stressful.
Even though Mrs Garmin insisted on the scenic route I was safely at Leah's cottage in time to enjoy a tasty salad lunch that was prepared by Leah and her cousin Louise. We were joined by Leah's daughter Janice and her husband Patrick (Pat) and their son Padraig (Paddy). As Jimmy McGrath would say "it's nice meeting nice people".
Following lunch it was down to the dock and into the water. As with lots of cottages in the Muskoka the land was originally heavily logged and then the trees grow to hide the cottage from other people and the water. This makes for great filtered views.
Admitedly events at home during the week had left me a little down and I wasn't planning on doing a lot. I had decided not to go to the Bonyun Bash at Sundridge which would have meant an overnight stay. Although 25,000 kilometres from family I felt a SKYPE call may help those in Australia and that a familiar voice is nice for me.
The 8 hour Cottage Cruise on the Segwun a few weeks ago included a scrumptious lunch. Shortly after I was seated the waiter asked if I would mind having someone join me for lunch as there was one other person travelling and dining alone.
Eating alone isn't a problem to me at home or certainly in the bee yard as I am well and truly used to dining alone given the fact that I worked alone for most of my working life. In a restaurant situation however I must admit I feel a little uncomfortable eating by myself so I was happy for the company.
Leah is a retiree who lives near Huntsville and she made an entertaining companion during the meal. We spent the time talking about where we were both from, what we had done and where we had been in the past and what we were doing at the moment. At the end of the cruise Leah asked whether I would like to come up to Hunstville to see her cottage and to meet some of her family. I explained my situation and she said she'd call.
Fast forward 3 weeks and the phone rings and this time it isn't someone wanting to sell me an unbelievable holiday in Florida or a terrific timeshare in Timbuktu, it was Leah seeing whether I wanted to join the family for lunch. My next words were, when and where! Today and at noon and at my cottage was the answer!
So with the address safely entered into Mrs Garmin and the CuRVy purring away I headed via the Scottish Burger joint for a coffee and a muffin to keep any hunger pangs at bay. Highway 11 was fairly busy with the weekend cottager traffic starting to build but as it's a 4 lane road and canadians are by and large a happy mob it wasn't all that stressful.
Even though Mrs Garmin insisted on the scenic route I was safely at Leah's cottage in time to enjoy a tasty salad lunch that was prepared by Leah and her cousin Louise. We were joined by Leah's daughter Janice and her husband Patrick (Pat) and their son Padraig (Paddy). As Jimmy McGrath would say "it's nice meeting nice people".
Following lunch it was down to the dock and into the water. As with lots of cottages in the Muskoka the land was originally heavily logged and then the trees grow to hide the cottage from other people and the water. This makes for great filtered views.
I'd like to say I put my mountaineering gear on but the walk down wasn't all that bad and when I got there I found what else but a dock to dive off and a boat to be transported in luxury along the beautiful Lake Vernon to Huntsville. It's a tough life....
Whilst Janice, Louise and the others went looking for a chocolate shop I went on a Leah led, guided walk along the waterfront and over the bridge to get a better look at a view of Huntsville and its wharf. The town features a number of murals copying paintings of the "Group of Seven" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_of_Seven_(artists) who featured a lot of paintings of the Muskoka.
Chocolate cravings and tourist walks satisified it was all aboard and back under Highway 11 to the cottage for some more swimming and quiet little drink.
Thanks to the generosity of my hosts I had enjoyed a wonderful afternoon But unfortunately all good things have to come to an end so I said my goodbyes and thankyous and boarded a different conveyance and pressed Go Home on Mrs Garmin and headed south along Highway 11 to 460 Sarah....
The weekend was quiet due to the hot and humid days which basically leave me feeling wrung out. Weather conditions like this have a enormous effect on me so when I know the forcast for the day I work within my limitations.
Luckily I had 2 Travel Writing assignments that I could work at and also an entertaining book to read by Jacques Poulin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Poulin. My Sister's Blue Eyes was the second book of Poulin's that I have read and although reading two books by the same author is not strictly within the scope of my plan to read alphabetically through the Canadian authors in the Gravenhurst Library I enjoyed Volkswagon Blues so much I thought two consecutive P's wouldn't hurt.
The humid weather conditions extended into Monday so I continued on a similar track to that followed over the weekend. That was interrupted pleasantly, however, when our friend Dianne called and asked me if I'd like to come around and have a "BLOODY CAESAR"! http://cocktails.about.com/od/vodkadrinkrecipes/r/bloody_caesar.htm
Well the drink and the company were both pleasant as was the BBQ that followed.
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