A Year On The Grand

End of the Grand

 

  This is the end of the Grand River where it meets Lake Erie taken in Port Maitland. The sloppy ice that was covering most of the river leading up to here ends and the water opens up where it meets the lake. Hundreds of seagulls soared overhead as I stood here admiring the view and the peace and calm of the winter day. It would be my last official day on the Grand. The last day of the Year on the Grand project. I am sure I will spend many more hours visiting and admiring the river. I now have even more of an appreciation for the Grand. I would say it has left me in awe whenever I think about the life I have seen on this heritage river the past year.

   This photo looks past the end of a pier into Lake Erie where the water from the Grand joins the lake water and continues it's journey. Here ends the journey of the YOTG blog. I hope viewers of the project have enjoyed our posts. I want to thank you all on behalf of Mathew and myself for your interest. The letters and comments we have received from across the country and further afield have been a source of inspiration. I want to personally thank my partner Lisa for her support. Record Editor Rod Frketich for giving us time to take expensive equipment on sometimes wet hikes and canoe rides on the river and its banks. The Ancient Mariners for their dedication to the Grand and for always letting me tag along on their adventures. Everyone at the GRCA for being a wealth of knowledge and help during the project. The people that wrote in with ideas and stories which helped us tell ours, and last but not least, Mat for being a great partner during the year.

I hope this blog has helped inspire viewers to get out and experience all the Grand has to offer. All the best.

David Bebee

dbebee@therecord.com   

Ice cycle

 

   Sorry couldn't resist that name for this post. After taking some pictures of the cat and some of the waterfowl I encountered a guy on a bike who rode past me. I took some pictures when he returned from a visit to the light house that is at the end of a long pier. His name is Jay Pavely and he is more accustomed to riding down to the Grand in the summer for some fishing or a swim. He recommends both. This was his first winter ride and by the way he slipped around I don't know how many more he will risk.

Tomorrow will be the final post of this incredibly satisfying project.

dbebee@therecord.com

Port Maitland bird watcher

 

  This kitty was the first thing I encountered when I pulled into an empty snow covered parking lot in Port Maitland. It sure seemed to be enjoying watching the many different waterfowl and seagulls that were floating on the Grand. The river narrows again here where it meets Lake Erie. At last I was here the mouth of the river. 

   I am taking an educated guess that these ducks are greater scaup. They were massing in the hundreds at the mouth of the Grand towards the great lake. I read in a new bird ID book I got for Christmas that they have become more common on Lake Ontario and Erie since the invasion of zebra mussels. These ducks feed on mollusks and are fond of the mussels. I remember the last time I was here at the end of a canoe trip down the length of the Grand 7 years ago. We encountered such high winds and crashing waves we dared not paddle out on Lake Erie. On this day it would have been a breeze. On one side of this picture is the Grand River and on the other side of the rocks is Lake Erie.

David Bebee

dbebee@therecord.com

Near the end

 

  This photo is one of three I will post today from a trip to the end of the Grand River. I stopped in Dunnville where I remembered from a previous canoe trip that the mighty Grand becomes widest. Taking a small craft like a canoe through this area is impressive. The river swells to a delta and the sound of boat motors in the summer is much more common than other areas to the north. I noticed this anchor that must be from a large boat that perhaps frequented the great lake bellow I was getting a closer look when Gail Franklin and her dog Molly walked by. The park is a favorite of Molly's and Gail often drives across town to walk her and take in the lovely view the Grand provides.

   I walked across the Dunnville bridge and noticed these bright red pods really jumping out against the winter scene behind. They appear to belong to a wild rose. I got close enough to feel the sting of a thorn in the side of my arm. This picture was taken looking back up river where the river is widest. 

   When I crossed over tot he other side of the bridge where the dam is I noticed some people in the river. It turned out to be the Haldmand County Fire Department performing a simulated ice rescue. 11 firefighters took part protected by safety features such as dry suits. In this picture Station 5 ff Adam Bontaine plays the part of a disoriented person in distress as Staion 9 firefighter Jeremy Crysler, middle and Captain Alan Krajcir deploy a rapid deployment craft to rescue him. This was the second last stop on what felt like a pilgrimage to Lake Erie where the Grand finished its journey. This weekend Mat and I will finish ours. Unfortunately he could not accompany me on this trip. Our work schedule just would not allow it. I will have two more posts.

David Bebee

dbebee@therecord.com 

Grand shinny

 

   Hunter Ward, 12 plays a game of shinny on the Grand River in Dunnville with his father Mike Fourier. Today was the first day the duo had felt the ice was thick enough to skate on. After shoveling off the snow on the makeshift rink they spent hours playing.

David Bebee

dbebee@therecord.com

One last downy woodpecker

 

I've photographed a few downy woodpeckers over the year and I couldn't resist one more. They are beautiful birds. This one was along the Grand in Cambridge. 

Mathew McCarthy

mmccarthy@therecord.com

First paddle of 2010

 

   These photos are from New Year's morning. I wanted to post them separate from the polar dip so waited for today. The front canoe is maned by a couple of the most dedicated paddlers I have met. Cambridge residents Lynda and Art Alyea are currently on a admirable streak of 60 straight months canoeing. Their trips take place mostly on the Grand and Speed rivers and sometimes include friends. With winter weather providing quite an obstacle I am amazed they have kept it going so long. On this day they were joined by friends and fellow enthusiasts Bob Fraser and Steve Tuck. A stretch of the Grand had open water bellow the Parkhill dam and was enough to bag month 60.

   I photographed their trip from three different bridges including the Concession St. bridge. I really like the view that looks back towards downtown Galt and showcases the high steeples of two of the downtown churches. As the group progressed I drove down to the GTO and shot their approach through some thin sheets of ice. It probably would have been a tough trip today with the bitter cold air. I guess timing was everything in this case.

   

   With the shoreline bordered by ice and snow a rope, previously placed was used to help haul their crafts up out of the icy water. Congrats on your 60th month Art and Lynda, glad you could share with Bob and Steve. I am happy I had the chance to be there too.

David Bebee

dbebee@therecord.com 

New Years day polar dip

 

   The blog has come full circle for me. My second post came Jan 1, 2009 from the village of Grand Valley where I had gone to cover a polar dip that was supposed to take place that morning. I arrived to find an empty parking lot with one lone figure sitting on a bench. I was informed by Peter Boettcher that due to fast water and a lack of ice the event was cancelled. Peter became my post that day. Fast forward one year later and I found myself in that same park but under totally different circumstances. The weather has been perfect for building ice and 9 inches of thickness had built up above the Mill Street dam on the Grand. About 100 people had crowded the bank of the river to see 17 brave souls take the plunge. Barry Wilson and Dave Pounds were the first to break the ice leaping into the frigid waters of the Grand.

   The rest of the gang followed quickly and then scrambled even faster to get out of the river. It takes a hardy individual to decide that jumping in to sub zero water on the first day of the new year is a good idea. Well there was a method to their madness. The annual event, which is now organized by the local Lions Club helps raise money for local community betterment projects.

   Tom Knox was the first to pull himself up a ladder letting out an audible gasp as he landed a foot on solid ice. The other participants were not game to wait their turn opting to scramble across the ice instead. Kudos to these winter warriors for their gumption. They are braver than me. Mathew and I have decided to extend the blog until Jan 10 so this will not be the final post. We have something special in mind for that. Happy 2010.

David Bebee

dbebee@therecord.com

Cambridge beaver

 

A beaver scratches its ear while foraging on the Grand in Cambridge. I saw about six different beaver swimming back and forth while shooting this picture. I was hoping they'd all hop on a log for a picture but I had no such luck. Happy new year. 

Mathew McCarthy

mmccarthy@therecord.com

Goldeneye pair

 

A pair of goldeneye swim in the river near Old Zeller Drive in Kitchener.

Mathew McCarthy

mmccarthy@therecord.com