Patience for Fly Fishing

The deer are herding up in the fields behind the house, the sap is running at the sugar camps, and the ice is off the rivers.  Time to get the rod and reel out.  This summer I have made a pact to get fly fishing at least once.  I have long been an avid angler using the bait and tackle methods but I have long wanted to try fly fishing.  There is something artistic about the casting of a fly over open waters to entice that big brookie to rise to the surface.  It takes a great deal more patience than what I have had in the past but as I am growing older my patience has matured and my appreciation for simply fishing for sport is much deeper.

That being said....I can't wait for fishing season to get here to NB.

See you on the water.

Inside Out Covered Bridges

This bridge near Damascus is dated 1914 and has stood prominently over time and sets a tone for its surroundings.

Kings County is known as the covered bridge capital of Canada and most of those bridges are within the Kennebecasis watershed.  Lucky for me I work for the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee and I get to see these bridges on a regular basis.  To be honest I have probably come to take them for granted.  Recently though I have been looking at them from a different angle, from inside to out.

Over the last month and a half I have been monitoring ice and water conditions in the local rivers.  This often results in stops at the various river crossings, including many of the long standing covered bridges.  As I approach the covered bridges I still acknowledge their strong rural flavor and appreciate how they influence the mood of everything around them.  They have a way of making all the surroundings look like a scene from rural 1920s. 

This bridge sits in the heart of Waterford, NB and provides this area with a perfect rural character that makes the whole place more attractive.

The days I am out it is usually windy and cold so before I get out of my car I zip my coat up and then hustle to the windbreak and shelter offered by the covered bridge.  Once out of the wind I can take some time to observe all that is around me.  Of course the first thing I take in are the ice conditions on the river, after all that is what I'm there for, but part of the job is also photographing the ice.  Usually I will stand at the end of the bridge and snap a picture but if the angle isn't right then I have to find a hole in the sidewall of the bridge and this has led me to appreciate the new angle I have taken on covered bridges.

To look down the river from the inside of a covered bridge is not mind blowing until you really look at how sinewy the whole scene is.  When you are outside the bridge looking at the scene you notice the straight lines of the bridge.  From under the pitched roof of the bridge looking out, you notice how everything flows into the river with graceful curves and rolling lines.  Even the parallel lines formed by the skidoo trail down the middle of the river are curved with the snow covered riverbank. 

This bridge in Bloomfield, NB completes the country setting here and provides a welcome feeling to the landscape.

I set my camera so that the lens peeks out through a small knot hole and it captured the scene below.  I then started looking through the various cracks and holes in the side wall of the bridge.  I had visions of artistic style pictures from here but I'm not talented enough as a photographer to get the image that I wanted.  I had a blast attempting to capture my award winning photo at a number of covered bridges.  If someone were to ask me which bridge is my favorite I would have to say the Hammond River #3 – Smithtown, which is dated 1914.  I also have an affinity for the Trout Creek #5 – Moores Mill dated 1923.  This bridge is pure Canadiana as right at the bridge is an outdoor skating rink in the warm heart of the small hamlet of Waterford.

Rediscovering these standing monuments of history has rekindled my fondness for them and I hope to continue to explore them through my work.  Forgetting them is impossible because they have etched their curves into my mind.  

  NOTE:  This is a copy of the column I had published in the March 29 edition of the Kings County Record.

WW Interviews Seth Whalen :P

So my son and wife got to travel to Elmhurst Outdoors today and I have to say I'm a bit envious.  I thought I would interview my son on his adventure and post it here.

WW: So Seth do you want to do an interview for my Blog?

Seth: Sure daddy.

WW: So you went to school this morning and where did you go after that?

Seth: I don't want to do this.

WW: Why not?

Seth: My cartoons are on.

WW: Well did you have fun today?

Seth: Yes

WW:  What was your favorite part about today?
Seth: Tasting the syrup at the sugar camp.
WW: Was it yummy?
Seth: Yes
WW: What did you learn?
Seth: How to make maple syrup and about different trees.
WW: Did you enjoy the trip to the camp?
Seth: (no response, there was lots of action on Scooby Doo)

From there I lost him...I guess maybe I'll try interviewing his mother.  I can speak from some experience that Gig and family at Elmhurst provide a great activity for all.  Hopefully next time I get to go.

Scooby Doo Effect of Wetlands

This wetland near Salt Springs was very photogenic

There are very few places in the wilderness were I feel uneasy and honestly I am a bit embarrassed to let you in on this here.  Recently there has been a great deal of discussion on protecting these areas in New Brunswick and, even as a conservationist, I'm not sure how I feel about it.  So where is this place that makes my skin tingle and the hair stand on the back of my neck?  If you're there you can smell its moisture laden vegetation and soil.  You can feel the softness of the ground as it almost moves under you.  As you pause you would likely hear the gurgle of water beneath you as the mud starts to give way under your feet.  As you look around you will notice the various grasses and shrubs and the large diversity of all things including bugs.

Wetlands are an inspiring place so I have no idea why they make me feel so uncomfortable.  I spend a great deal of time in wet habitat but for some reason I have always felt odd when it wetlands.  I have an elevated fear level when in wetlands and often feel like what you might when you walk through a cemetery.  You know there is really nothing there but for some reason you can't shake the feeling that someone is watching you.  Despite this fear I love exploring wetlands.

The different types of wetlands alone are impressive but add to that diversity the diversity in which you can find when you take the time to get wet and dirty they really can blow you away.  The number of bugs, grasses and flowering plants, mammals that depend on the existence of such ecosystems, and the birds are always present. 

Wetland beauty and value does not end with its diversity and aesthetic wonder.  Wetlands are a valuable component in maintaining hydrologic balances.  They hold water until it is needed, they purify water and keep it clean for consumption by animals, including humans, and they slow the release of flood waters during times of water abundance.  Take a wetland out of the ecological equation and the entire natural system would fall apart.  Fish would no longer have clean water to swim in if they had enough water to swim in at all.  As nice as it might sound many bug populations, including mosquitoes, would likely crash and subsequently many flower and bird populations would also suffer.

This wetland area has all the makings for a horror flick.

The diversity within a wetland is likely one of the reasons I feel uncomfortable there.  I could never become familiar with a wetland as there is simply to much to take in, even in a small woodland bog.  Maybe I shouldn't have watched "Scooby Doo" so much as a child because honestly I think I believe in the marsh monster.  I keep waiting for him to jump out of the open water holes and get me.  Good thing that wetlands are not that diverse. 

Note: The above was a column I had printed in the March 15, 2011 Kings County Record.  Here in New Brunswick there has been a great deal of discussion on wetlands.  I feel they are a valuable part of a healthy environment and can go a long way in protecting infrastructure and housing from flash flood type weather events.  If we continue to fill in our woodland bogs and wetland then we will continue to see municipal areas flooded.  I am not against developing but we have to be responsible in how we develop or existing green spaces, especially those green spaces that can provide cheap and effective green infrastructure, such as wetlands.  This responsibility does not simply lie with the policy makers but everyone, developers, home builders, planners, municipal councils and staff, and many more.

Sugarbush tours and meals

Hey everyone the following information was forwarded to me by the Fundy Model Forest.  Maple sugar tours are a great NB tradition so get out there and enjoy.

If you would like to visit a sugar bush, several in southern New Brunswick have let us know the trees are tapped and the griddles are ready.  They are: City of Moncton: Take Moncton Home – "Pails to Pipleine Tours", Elmhurst Outdoors: Maple Sugar Tours and Pancakes , McCrea Farms 7^th Annual Maple Syrup Pancake Breakfast and Sugarbush Tour, and Dumfries Maples: Cedar Log Pancake House and Sap House. Details are below.

Take Moncton Home - "Pails to Pipeline Tours" 

Mid March to Mid April 2011
Each spring the City of Moncton provides guided tours demonstrating the value added benefits of managing municipal forests - sampling various maple products is a spring time tradition. For more information go to www.moncton.ca or contact Heather Hawker at 383-6700 book early as space is limited.

Dumfries Maples
Now open daily
Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Weekends and holidays: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (Taffy on the snow)

Watch the syrup being made at the sap house and visit our new cedar log Cookhouse for pancakes, sausages or ham, baked beans, biscuits and lots of delicious maple syrup! 

Location: We are located between Fredericton and Woodstock, overlooking the beautiful Saint John River at 7520 Route 102. For directions and the latest information visit us at www.dumfriesmaples.ca or call us at  1-506-575-TAPS (8277).
We accept cash only.

McCrea Farms 7th Annual Maple Syrup Pancake Breakfast and Sugarbush Tour

 March 26 and 27, April 2 and 3 (Saturdays and Sundays)

Time: Reservations required; sittings are every 45 minutes, first one at 9 am , last one 12:45 pm. To book, call Anna at 506 485 5600 or Nancy at 506 485 0095 (if you book and find you cannot attend, please let us know - we always have a waiting list)

Serving: All you can eat pancakes, with ham, sausage, eggs, muffins, donuts, tea/coffee, juice

Cost: Adults $10 / Children 10 and under $5

Sugarbush tour, including candy on the snow, follows breakfast (appropriate footwear strongly recommended)

Location: Community Hall in Belyeas Cove, Route 705; the map on our website http://www.mccreafarms.com/html/roadmap.html takes you to Shannon, and the hall is just couple of miles farther, on the right (as you get closer to this part of the world, watch for signs along the way)

ELMHURST Outdoors: MAPLE SUGAR TOURS and PANCAKES 
Opening weekends from March 19 - April 10, 2011
By reservation only!

Learn about the history of sugar making, watch the process of turning sap into syrup and taste some delicious sugar-on-snow. Tours take approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Join us afterwards for pancakes in the lodge!  

Saturdays @ 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30 

Sundays @  11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30

Tour  & Sugar-on-snow .......  $5.00 pp

ON THE MENU ...........

We serve homemade pancakes, local sausage, delicious maple syrup, and coffee/tea/juice. You can also add some homemade baked beans & homemade bread!

We take pride in serving only the best from our kitchen. Our pancakes are made using Spearville Whole White Flour, we serve Degenhardt's gluten- free sausages and our beans and bread are made by Gig and Denise right here at Elmhurst Outdoors.

Pancakes, sausage & bev .......  $7.50 pp  (with baked beans & bread.....$9.75)Taxes are included.  We accept cash only!  By reservation only.

Located: 65 Ganong Road, Erbs Cove, NB  Information: 506-832-4421 or www.elmhurstoutdoors.ca

The Bluff in Carnival Style

Looking towards the lights of Poley Mountain ski hill while standing on the Bluff.

Recently the Village of Sussex Corner hosted their annual winter carnival.  The event was a huge success and drew people from across Kings County.  Families crammed into Sullivan Park, the Village's green space that borders Trout Creek, to enjoy all the activities on a seasonal Saturday.  My favorite activity though took place the night before with a much smaller crowd.

As players competed for the 3^rd Annual Corner Cup, a group of 14 people of various ages prepared to snowshoe to the Bluff.  The sky was clear and the air was crisp as we stepped into our snowshoes.  I was anxious to get going as I hadn't been to the Bluff in sometime and it has always been one of my favorite hikes.  With the clear conditions I anticipated that the view from the Bluff would be inspiring and I was looking forward to finding a nice spot to sit and enjoy a hot cup of tea while staring into the winter night sky.

John McNair from Outdoor Elements was to lead the group along this trek.  Once he got everyone to the trail head it was fairly easy to find the way as a well beaten track was already present.  I was glad to see that people were getting out and enjoying this great area.  The pace was modest and people talked happily as they trudged along the narrow trail.  Headlamps lit the woods ahead of us and the shadows in front constantly changed as the group moved past the various landmarks.  The trail to the Bluff has a number of landmarks that help you gauge how much farther you have to go before you reach the end.  The "elbow" tree is always a favorite to climb and have a portrait taken in.  The root jump indicates the end of the last small climb before making the climb to the face of the Bluff.

We make the last approach to the Bluff with only the darkness separating the group from the face.  I was close to the back of the group at this point but walked by a number of them before making the face and was shocked to learn that many were not going to step out onto the exposed summit to enjoy the view.  Some were timid of the height while others were worried about the cold wind.  I couldn't wait to get to the summit myself.

 I enjoyed a cup of tea while taking note of some of the constellations overhead.  The lights lower on the horizon seemed to have a brighter presence than normal.  The lights from Sullivan Park were cheerful and warmed my soul even from that great distance.  My participation in planning the Winter Carnival elevated my anticipation and with the event now upon me I was excited.  I pried my body from my warm seat and with Mike Coggan started the trek back to the cars.

As the group treks back to the trail head the lights of Sussex Corner and Sussex show the way.

On the return trip I took time to take a lot of photos in hopes that one or two would turn out.  The lack of natural light made it difficult to adequately capture the spirit of the night.  In the end, the group quietly enjoyed the trip, one that created a memory that will last at least until next year's Winter Carnival.

Nature as Lifting Therapy

Nature as Lifting Therapy

It was an incredible day today.  It is February 17, 2011 and the weather today had that first big hint of the coming of spring.  I couldn't sit in the office all day and write proposals and permit applications.  I had to get out and enjoy the weather.  I decided that we should go out and check on one of our aquatic habitat restoration sites to see what it looks like in winter time.  Chris McKnight, a colleague who has become a good friend, and I headed out to the large farm where in the summer of 2010 had worked at restoring the degraded riparian area.  The large fields spread far with virgin snow and the sun shining warm across my shoulders.  It was a great feeling. 

I snapped lots of pictures to illustrate the depth of snow which in places almost hid fence posts that hold a three strand barbed wire.  As we walked along a small tributary with steep banks I was amazed at the immensity of the drifts that heavily exaggerated the narrowness of the small ravine.  We easily walked over the fence in places and the brook in other places thanks to the drifting snow and ice.

As we complete the site assessment and start the journey back to the car I can't resist to walk across the field.  As I start up the hill I feel like I'm gliding.  The expansive, openness and the slight breeze seemed to push me across the field.  It started Chris and I talking and I came to a realization.  When our minds are tangled and stress has us tight as a drum we can lose it all in nature.  We can let the immensity of the beauty and the vastness of the open spaces, move us along and we can glide across the snow covered fields with no pain and little effort.

At a time in my life when I am dealing with a few things this was a great moment.  I'm glad that God gave me this moment and the ability to see it for what it was.  I pray that those who are struggling with their own lives can empty their minds and let nature take over for awhile.

Getting Through February with a Festival

Just a note this is an article that I had published in the Feb 1, 2011 Kings County Record.  The Sussex Corner Winter Carnival is this weekend and I hope to see you there.

Celebrations and festivals are great ways to bring people together in a community and allow them to enjoy the best their region has to offer.  Over the last few years the Village of Sussex Corner has revitalized their annual winter carnival to a point where the community now anticipates its arrival.  I am proud to be a part of this effort and I too look forward to its annual arrival which I am happy to say is February 11^th and 12^th.

The Sussex area is blessed with many such celebrations and there isn't a season that goes by without a reason to celebrate.  The festivities vary in size and activity but all of them provide the community with a reason to get out and socialize.  The Sussex Corner Winter Carnival is no different and it is a great way to break out of those winter time blues and enjoy what winter has to offer.  No matter what your interest is there is likely something for you to enjoy there.

As a Canadian you likely enjoy hockey so you might want to register a team for the Corner Cup pond hockey tournament or maybe compete in an "Amazing Race."  Maybe you like something slightly less competitive so you might be more into the snowshoe or cross country ski outings.  If your family isn't up for those you can simply enjoy the free skating and games that will be offered throughout the day on Saturday.  The kids will love Peter and Penny Penguin and get giddy with excitement while competing against them in the kid's games.  If you are into art and entertainment the Winter Carnival has you covered as well.  There will be snow sculpting contests, music, and magicians there to entertain you between all the other events.  Horse drawn sleigh rides cater to those looking to enjoy the old fashioned style winter fun and of course you can't have a winter carnival without having a sliding hill.

Likely the best thing the Sussex Corner Winter Carnival has going for it is that all these wonderful activities all take place in one location.  Unlike some similar festivals where you have to commute from activity to activity, the Sussex Corner Winter Carnival is situated so that you can park your car and take it all in with only a short walk, snowshoe, or cross country ski to the next activity.  By the end of the fireworks on Saturday evening you'll be asking yourself "Why don't we do this more often?"  You'll have talked to friends and neighbours and caught up on all the good things going on in their life and shared your latest news.  After the fireworks the community will be closer and if we happen to start to drift apart again, the next festival will draw us all closer again.  We really are lucky to live in such a close community where people step forward and organize events like the Sussex Corner Winter Carnival.

If you are looking for other events the Dairytown Classic basketball tournament, the Apohaqui Winter Fun Day, the annual Snowball tournament, plus many other events are waiting for you to wander through and all are coming up soon.  I hope to see you in the snow banks.

Outdoor Rink update

What a winter to try and create my first outdoor backyard rink.  I think I am ready to admit defeat.  I now have banks around the ice surface that are over 5 ft high all the way around.  To top it off, it is covered in snow once again.  We have skated on it a grand total of three times, for likely a total of 4 hours tops.  In those 4 hours though there was lots of fun and it has made it worth the effort.  Take a look at the smiles on the boys faces.

Before you ask "Where are their helmets?"  Let me defend by saying it was either frost bitten ears with a helmet on, or put on bulky hats to protect cheeks and ears from the bitter cold that day.

I might have to shovel it off at least one more time :)

Blessed Day

A little over a week ago I had one of those days.  You know the kind.  A day that memories are not really made, but life is none the less made richer.  A day where everything just seemed right.  A day where there just seemed to be God's light shining on everything you did.  By no stretch was the day special, but it was personally rewarding.  As I made my way home at the end of the day I knew exactly who to thank as I smiled to myself as everyone else slept during the drive.

In the morning I coached my son's hockey practice and the practice ran smoothly with the kids having lots of fun.  They smiled as the coaching team ran them through the drills and I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment with this simple task I was doing.  After practice my wife and I took the kids to Tim Horton's for a treat and we all laughed and relaxed while sitting in the eating area of the cafe.  At this point I thought to myself "What a great Canadian morning."

A memory in the making, thanks for the picture Michelle.

At home that afternoon I played and wrestled with the kids and that bright feeling continued.  My son's excitement for what was to come that night was growing.  As we loaded the car up, the kids and I dropped my wife off at work before heading to Saint John.  Before leaving Sussex though we stopped for a quick supper at McDonalds, my son's favorite place to eat.

The weather on the drive down was excellent and the kids laughed and sang as we enjoyed each others silliness.  Our first stop in Saint John was my sister and brother in-law's to drop off my daughter.  They had agreed to babysit her while my son and I headed to a hockey game.  Seth is a big Saint John Seadogs fan and was excited to go watch them play.  We walked through the pedway system in Saint John and Seth was amazed by all the people and by the fact we could walk inside, while seeming to be outside.  We obviously don't get him to the city enough.

This would be the second game he would see and the first one was too loud for him.  This time we went prepared with some earplugs.  As it would turn out he wouldn't need them.  He danced like a maniac trying to get himself up on the big screen to no avail but we had fun trying.  He pigged out on ice cream and cotton candy and head bobbed to the music throughout the entire game.  Even when the Seadogs scored one of the many goals they scored and the siren echoed inside the Station he cheered.  He no longer minded the noise that once bothered him as he was to enthralled by the blimp flying over head or by Fleaburn to be bothered by noise.  The Seadogs won handly that game with some great hockey but I didn't even notice the game as much as I was watching my son grow up in front of me.  Over the two hours we were there my son seemed to age his entire 5 years and I realized how thankful I was to have him in my life.

After the game we picked up Shaylee and did our best not to wake her for the ride home.  As Seth faded to sleep I turned on some light music and was overcome by that bright immense feeling of happiness again.  I said a little prayer with only my wife's absence being the only dark part of the day, but even that is worth being thankful for as we are both willing and capable of working to provide.

It was truly a blessing, this day I now write about.  I hope you can take the time to see these days when they happend and give thanks for all those small moments.