Helen's Home World

Saturday, October 16, 2021

Last RPod Adventure - Ivy Lea

So we went on our last RPod adventure to another of the St Lawrence Parks, this one called Ivy Lea. It's right at the base of the Thousand Islands Bridge. You actually go under the bridge to get to some of the unserviced campsites and the beach. We thought we would hear a lot of traffic noise from the trucks but either they close the bridge or the border at night because it was actually quite quiet, during the day you would hear the trucks especially when they left the bridge decking and hit the road. It was a nice little park, very close to the City of Gananoque, many of the unserviced sites have beautiful views of the St Lawrence. It was the last weekend that the park was open. We arrived on Wednesday and it seemed as if we very nearly had the park to ourselves, but by Friday the park was pretty packed. Many of the seasonal campers had fairly large family gatherings on the Saturday and Sunday what with it being Canadian Thanksgiving.

My site, there's a loop of unserviced sites behind this site.

Thousand Islands Bridge

View from a walk-in campsite

View from an unserviced campsite

We drove into Gananoque one day to go to Confederation Park as I had read online that it had a sculpture garden. It was only about a half and hour away on the Thousand Islands Parkway.

See Rockett?

The park is right on the main street of Gananoque right by the town hall and Visitor's Centre. There are a number of walking trails that you can do right from the downtown (or very close by) too.

Cross walk from the library

City Hall

War memorial

On the way back to the campground I stopped at the Landon Bay pullout. Not much there in the way of amenities but there was a short trail down to the river with some nice views. There were a number of people who had stopped there to have picnics.

We also hiked up the escarpment at Landon Bay, the trailhead is on the other side of the parkway from the pullout. We took the wrong trail to get to the lookout but we had a nicer hike around the shoreline of the bay. It was rather rocky but in the end we did make it up to the lookout as the trails cross.

Trail head.

Landon Bay and the Thousand Islands Parkway

Liam wondering why I can't walk faster!

We also did a few walks around the campground especially before it got too crowded. It seems like everyone who was camping had dogs. Most of the flowers were past bloom but the mushrooms were everywhere. Liam was really afraid of the huge puffball and barked and barked at it while I tried to get a picture. This puffball was larger than a soccer ball.

Huge Puffball

The park also has a seasonal and a temporary dock. We didn't walk down to the seasonal dock but did walk down to the temporary dock. It's on a nice little inlet, the water was incredibly blue and clear. I think in the summer it would be a nice place for a quick dip. The park also has a little beach that even has an area for divers. Three people were going in diving when I walked down to see the beach.

Inlet near the temporary dock

Ivy Lea Beach with a diver in the water (on the right)

There were a great many chipmunks, squirrels and birds but I had one little visitor I didn't expect, a stick insect. I'd only ever seen them in zoos or museums before. He was on the shoe container in my side tent. He seemed rather hesitant walking on the opaque plastic, I picked him up and put him on the ground and he quickly found I tree. I was lucky to find him again for another picture and video.

Stick Insect

Can you see him?

On our last day camping, my sisters and I went to the Thousand Island Sky Tower. We booked online thinking it would be busy and many places right now require advance booking so they can control the numbers. We were lucky and there was only a few other people when we were there. A larger group was arriving as we were leaving.

US Border, only 1 kilometer (0.6 of a mile) from the tower.

Some of the Thousand Islands

So our last camping trip of the season was coming to an end, we were lucky to have great fall weather on this trip. It was warm enough I could have brought shorts, although I was glad for my fleece jacket in the evenings and even my winter vest on the first night. We only ate inside for one breakfast and had a fire every night. I think Liam and Teddy enjoyed themselves although they find it a bit hard to wrestle and run around on their tie out chains. I had one package of the chemicals to make the fire coloured so we used that in our last campfire. The coloured fire doesn't photograph all that well but it was pretty, blue and green with some purple.

Last fire of the 2021 camping season

So that closes off the 2021 camping season, hopefully 2022 will be more normal. I'm hoping to travel west. I had one more nice day to clean out Podrick and took him back to his winter home a few days ago.

COVID vacation selfie

Podrick backed into his winter home.

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Agility Blessing

May the tunnels not have too much suction,
May the course be fun and fast.
May your dog not stop to say "hello" to the photographers they pass!
May the table not be too slippery,
May the chute house no scary beasts,
May all the yellow parts be touched with one little toe, at least
May the wind be always at your back,
May no bars fall on the ground,
May the A-frame have no stop sign on the top,
May the judge's whistle never sound.
May your dog obey all correct commands,
And ignore the ones that are wrong.
May your heart be light, your feet be sure, and the bond with your dog grow strong.
At the finish line, may great joy abound, regardless of your score,
You have your dog, your dog has you, and who could ask for more?

Written by: PJ Hughes

What is a Title!

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores. A Title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor that dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard, and though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a Title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A Title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a Title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.

A Title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few, that in the world of disposable creatures, this dog with a Title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the Title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.

A Title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, permanently recorded.

Written by Sandy Mowery, Wisconsin

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,

I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.

I saw a wondrous image then of a place that’s trouble-free,

Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side

Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new

I wanted to run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, and tell you I’m alright

That this place is truly wonderful,

Then a bright Glow pierced the night.

Twas the Glow of many candles shining bright, strong and bold

I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,

We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.

So, whenever you need to find me, we’re never far apart,

If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Do you think the time is right?

May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first, I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and living light.
I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know,
That my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too,
And that's why it's so hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

I Loved You Best

So this is where we part, My Friend,

And you'll run on, around the bend.

Gone from sight, but not from mind,

new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on; I'll find the strength,

Life measures quality, not its length.

One long embrace before you leave,

Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,

But they be they, and they aren't you.

And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,

Will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,

The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.

And as you journey to your final rest,

Take with you this...I loved you best.

-Jim Willis

The Price We Pay

There is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals.

It is a cycle unlike any other.

To those who have never lived through it's turnings and walked it's rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with the full knowledge it will be broken seems incomprehensible.

Only we know how small price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given.

Suzanne Clother