This has been a great day. It was a bit windy, but what the hey. We did our work on the shore today, just because it was so nice. Our resident geese thought so too.

we noticed on the way in to town this morning that the coast guard had been out and all of the bouys have been put back somewhat in place.

the temp hit 21 C. and stayed there. The black flies are really out now, although with the wind we did not see any after mid morning.

Sunday is a day of rest, so we did. And it was with great pleasure that we watched the all of the boats heading in this evening. the folks in them were enjoying the late sun and feeling ever so fortunate to be here on this gorgeous weekend. maybe so, but as for us, we expect to be enjoying that same sun tomorrow and feeling ever so fortunate that we do not have to go back home. This is home.

A little bug with a big bite.



It has been a glorious day here on the channel. Light wind, clear sky, and 19 C. on the thermometer. Hard to beat that. It was a great day to work, so we did. Cleanup is coming along nicely.

We saw our first black flies today, so I figure about next weekend there will be a lot of them and they will begin biting. Some people claim to have seen the little buggers as early as last weekend, but I am a skeptic. I did see some of those little gnat like bugs, but no black flies.

We have begun having a bit of trouble with our pictures, but we are working on it and will have it sorted out eventually.

Spring has sprung
The grass has riz
Now we know
Where the flowers iz

Phographer - Mrs. Channel Man

Our first spring flowers. The first that we have seen at any rate. Another stellar day is underway, and it looks as though people are taking advantage of the weekend. Boats going past all last evening and they are still coming.

Beaver Dam - Photographer, Smiley




Yesterday was a cool but gorgeous day. Today will be better. The rain we received at the beginning of the week amounted to a bit under an inch, and it was slow and steady enough that there was no run off. The woods were already dry and even that amount of rain did not lower the fire hazard level from moderate. The small stream flowing past my cottage showed no change and I expect it will cease running by the end of May.

Just in passing, I didn't know we had so many work boats in the area. Traffic between 5:00 and 6:00 makes us think of the weekends.

Interesting Fungi on a old juniper branch - Photographer, Mrs. Channel Man


If you didn't like the weather yesterday - and we didn't - you would hate it today.
It became to windy to work outside, so we went in to town. A good thing to do perhaps, but no fun. We got rain as well as strong winds. We no sooner got back down the channel than the day turned beautiful. And it warmed up.

The chipmunks are coming out now for peanuts, and our bat house is stuffed. Too many bats to count. More birds every day, but that is about right the maples are beginning to blossom. What a place. And what a privilege to be here.

Lovely Day


And it was lovely all last week though Friday, but not so much since. It is still Cool, our high has been about 8 C. and we have had a steady but light rain that began at 6:00 last evening and went on into mid morning. Then we had an hour of clear sky, followed by more rain and a light mist.

But last night the peepers were chorusing us. They sound different from our New York peepers. So we felt right at home. This morning mergansers, Canada geese and buffleheads were coming into our cove. And as usual we got a big wave from Rick Zanussi's crew as they passed by.

Every day is a good day up here.

Where ya been?



We just pulled in here for good. We came out to the narrows on Friday. It was a glorious day. The rest have not been so great. Strong and chilly east winds. But we are here and in business.

Many of the channel bouys are missing at this time and several of the remaining ones have shifted position.

Lots of neat waterfowl are about and the ospreys at Five Mile Narrows are on their nest.

Springtime!

The weather brought by the Easter Bunny has been marvelous. And we have begun hearing from people who have discovered this blog or the web site, www.southchannel.org. We are very pleased with that. That is what we are here for.

Later in the week we will be blogging directly from the South Channel. We can barely wait.

Photograph by Lisa Lebert, in mid-March

Photograph by *Smiley*, in mid-April


It has been a sunny day in PS today, and it is still 16 C.

My Boat is in the water!

Craganmor Point from Kineras Bay - Brent Warga, photographer


It may not look it from the picture, but the channel is open. Brent says he went in to town. You could probably make it to Amanda, but there is still plenty of ice out there floating about, and the small bays and marinas are still locked in. Probably well into next week, Brent is guessing. So no night trips.

We expect more beautiful weather coming up, but the forcast is for it to be a bit colder than normal. 

Our attack chippie on cottage watch. Be carefull, he's a real ankle biter.

There is something special about spring weather, It can be the complete pits, or like tonight, almost magic. Here it is 9:00 PM. and it is still 78 F. here in NY. with a delicious fresh breeze, The full moon is sailing in and out of lacy clouds and it has barely rained a drop. PS on the other hand has had a nice warm rain most of the day and the temp is still 12 C. up there. More warm weather on the way and a bit of warm rain as well. started packing for real today.

Seven Mile Bay looking north toward Milton Island

From Kineras Bay looking toward Craganmor Point and Seven Mile Narrows

These pictures were taken yesterday, April 10th, by Brent Warga.

It is sunny and 13 C. in PS, about as it was yesterday. Just one more glorious day.

Brent reports that the chilly weather on the past weekend slowed the ice melt, but things are back cookin' now.

We can't express how grateful we are to Brent for this on the scene reporting. We are also remembering how unsatifactory telephone calls to Parry Sound were in past years. For us at least, this has ben a truely great experience. And it makes us envy Brentright now anyway. But in February.....

North Pole


The latest six Month Great Lakes Forcast has just been released. If you didn't like last year's water levels you likely won't like this year's either. The forcast for the most likely mid-summer levels is about the same as it was in 2005. However, if the weather in the next few months is a repeat of last years we should expect water levels to be even lower.

The range on Milton Island looking North from the middle of Seven Mile Bay

At Anchor Island looking toward Amanda Island


Photographer Brent Warga

Brent took these shots on April 6th as well.

Its a lovely day here in NY and in P.S. as well. But it ain't like we expect early April to be. We had 29 F. on our thermometer here, and it was -7 C. in PS when we got up this morning.

The harbour is mostly open now, with just a few chunks of ice floating down the Seguin River.

On the beach in Seven Mile Narrows


Craganmor point from Kineras Bay

Photographer, Brent Warga

Brent took these shots yesterday, April 6th.

He says the ice is breaking up surprisingly fast. This rain will help a lot and is likely what is behind the quick pace of the melt to date. Brent figures another week or so will see us in the clear, and I agree.

Photographer - Shane McKinnon

Today we have weak sunlight ans 5 C. in P.S. It could be worse. But spring is officially here, the snowmobile trails have closed.

Seven Mile Narrows on 04/02/06 - Brent Warga, photographer

We felt it a rude event to awaken this morning to snow in the air, and snow on the ground, even though it was only a dusting. On the other hand we always have snow in April, and we are accustomed to snow outside the cottage window.

So a better view of the old place seemed in appropriate today.

There is light snow to be had in P.S. as well. The temp at this moment is -2 C. in P.S. and only a tad warmer in NY.

Devil's Elbow as seen from Craganmor Point - 04/02/06

Kineras Bay as seen from Craganmor Point - 04/02/06

Brent Warga, Photographer

Brent says the channel is still pretty much iced in except for the narrows and a short stretch in either direction.

As soon as we saw the pics that Brent sent to us we scheduled our boat launch and placed an order with Home Hardware.

By the way, if you stay up late, and if you have a digital clock, and if you look at it tomorrow, early tomorrow it will read

01:02:03 04/05/06.

And that will never happen again. Ever.

Georgian Bay Break Up - Photographer, Gary St. Jean


The Aerial photo that was posted yesterday was made by Brent on his return after a break for the holidays. Brent is wintering on Kineras Bay.

The JPEG that was posted doesn't show it, but we can see in the Aerial photo it was made from that one of our floaters is beached. Just as long as it is not wandering. Been there, done that.

By the way if you need a marine railway or a lift dock, Brent Warga is the man to see. Check out the marine railway that Brent installed for us a couple of years ago.

Seven Mile narrows looking west - Photographer, Brent Warga


Brent made this shot on January 9th. What a sight! He reports that the ice is 12-15 inches thick at his place on Kineras Bay. I was guessing that the channel would open the week after Easter. that may well be a good guess.

Open Water - Photographer - Gary St. Jean


Well, here we are in a new month. 'Bout time too. This seems like seasonal weather.
Mostly grey today and some rain overnight. Yesterday on the other hand, seemed as though we leapt over spring and into summer. We made it well into the 80 s and there was a gloriously clear sky. With no leaves it was too hot to work comfortably out of doors. P.S. saw 16 C. yesterday, not too bad with all of that ice out there. And we can see lots of clear water at the foot of James Street. What lies beyond appears to be pure slush. More rain forecast for the coming week. That should do it.