Last week I took a writing retreat at my cabin in Haliburton County near Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario. I spent nine days alone without internet or electricity. However, I did take a battery to run the laptop, along with notebook and camera. I had an amazing and inspiring time reconnecting with the spirit of the place.
I did not set out to make this gallery a daily record, but it turned out that way by accident, almost one photo per day. Except the slug and slime mould were taken on the same day, no photos the morning I left. Here they are in sequence. All were taken near my property except the final picture of scenic Hollow River, which runs from Kawagama Lake to Lake of Bays, a few minutes’ drive away.
Click the waterlily to view the gallery for photo blog Thursday.
The “Dusk” photo is my favorite. There are many positive associations for me in an image like that one, and of course your nine days of solitude has an appeal all its own. In following the embedded links, I wondered about the September 25 essay “Changes afoot in paradise.” Did you end up renting out this place, or using it for a fiber retreat?
The lack of electricity presents a challenge for renting. We plan to get it installed, but that is going to be an expensive project. This summer a relative has rented the place for a couple weekends, which has helped. But for now we’re carrying most of the cost. These ideas are still in the works.
Wonderful photos. The lake looks like a very meditative place. Also I’m excited by your pitcher plants! So different from our carnivorous native, the Sun Dew.
One sundew species, Drosera rotundifolia, is abundant at the lake. It grows in the same bog as the pitcher-plant but also all around the margin of the lake wherever there is wet soil and sunlight. However, I gather you have a much greater diversity of sundews in Australia.
Two aquatic bladderworts with yellow and purple flowers also grow in open water adjoining the same bog.
The large pond where the bog is developing was created long ago by beavers. It takes about 45 minutes to get there by canoe from the cottage. I used to make the pilgrimage annually to see the interesting flora, but I hadn’t made it for a number of years. It was exciting to see the pitcher-plants and all my old friends again this summer. A strong breeze came up and made the return trip a little harrowing and exhausting, but it was worth the trouble.