Category Archives: Out & About

Britannia Cardinal

Britannia Bay in March

Perhaps you can sympathize with this dog, frustrated with winter because it means all the sticks are buried in snow: He’ll have to wait a little while yet. Although on the retreat, the snow and ice at Britannia Bay still have some fight left in … Read More

Lac la Peche

Lac la Pêche

…and for my hundredth post on NwP: Last weekend we rounded up F&A and another friend, rented a couple canoes, and headed over to Gatineau Park. After only a few wrong turns en route we ended up at Lac la Peche. (For the boat geeks … Read More

Durham Cathedral

Are you fit? Well-shod?

That’s what they ask you when you ask them if you may climb up the most excellent tower at Durham Cathedral. If you answer yes, then they ask you if you have five pounds. Surely you see where this is going. Here’s the tower as … Read More

Thames walk, Oxford

Thames Walk

This afternoon I set out for a walk along the Thames Path, which — as you might guess – goes along the Thames River. The trail that leads there passes through a rather nice meadow (“Port Meadow”) just north of the Oxford train station: You’ll have to … Read More

England Expects

England Expects…

The phrase as offered here (on a nearby community building) seems adapted from one of historical significance, namely that given by Admiral Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar: “England expects that every man will do his duty.” There is, of course, a story behind the … Read More

Oxford spires

Settled in Oxford

After a brief stopover in Lilleshall (Shropshire, see above), I’ve arrived at last in Oxford. And it does seem fair to write “at last” because between paperwork, research, and other assorted arrangements, this trip has been in the making for about a year now. It’s … Read More

30 Years Later Biological Expedition

30 Years Later Expedition

Being Earth Day, it seems like a good idea to pass along this brief video describing Fred & Aleta’s latest adventure in citizen science: Looks to me like a perfect mix of art and science, and just the sort of thing I’d like to tag … Read More

Britannia beachcombing

Britannia Bay Beachcombing

Although the sky was grey, I decided to head down to the waterline today. The goal of the trip was to see if anything interesting had washed up during the spring thaw, and I’m glad to report that beyond the usual riparian fare there were … Read More

River

Spring Walk

On Tuesdays I take a friend’s dog out for a mid-day walk, and today I thought to head down to the water after the good pup “Oliver” finished his rounds. The last couple of days have been cool and overcast, but given the generally warm … Read More

Breath of fresh air

Hello again, Sometimes our Ottawa winter starts off coy, like a flirt. These brief overtures — a breath of cold, some faint whiff of windchill — last only a moment before winter beats her hasty (but always temporary) retreat, only returning to stay for good … Read More

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