"Out & About" Photo Blog: Algonquin Park <br/>September 30th

We made what has become pretty much an annual trip to Algonquin. Sometimes we time it right for the autumn colors, sometimes we don't. This year we thought we had it perfect, based on the predictions, but we missed by a day or two. We were too early. First time for that. We always stay in the area for 2 or 3 nights so we have to reserve ahead of time. C'est la vie. But it was still a good break for us.

This is always one of the highlights for us—from the fire tower hill at Dorset, just outside the park. This time it was a bust. Way too green.

This is more what we were hoping for—it's from a few years back.

I was planning to climb the fire tower at Dorset this year but with the lack of color I passed on it.

Sumach always show a brilliant red.

I don't see many red fungi. They stand out when you spot some.

Likewise with yellow ones. Most fungi I come across tend to be white or shades of brown.

The markings on this rock look like hieroglyphs.

Another regular stop is at Oxtounge Rapids, just outside the park. There wasn't much color there yet either. A couple bright patches was about it.

Reflections on our car.

Jane & I both thought this rock looked like a petrified tree. In all our trips to the park I don't remember noticing it before—but I'm sure it hasn't moved any. :-)

The colors were muted this year. I could have cheated and made them more saturated, but that's not what we saw.

Though when the sun hit the patches they were much brighter.

Leaves floating in the Oxtongue.

A reflection in a pool at the rapids.

Fall is the time for mushrooms. I do love their variety.

Some seem to pick up the colors of their surroundings.

This guy was coming to shore as we arrived at the river. I would have liked to capture him fishing. He had the gear as he said. With his waders, vest, hat and pipe I told him he looked like something out of an English movie.

Nature fringed the river with pine needles.

A brilliant green stands out like the bright colors do.

The Big East River behind the motel in Huntsville. The water in the area is rich in iron.

Sunset off the deck at the motel. As rich a red as I've seen.

There are woods behind the motel. One of the trails is bordered with Poison Ivy. Nice color but something to be avoided at any time of year.

Hawkweed—a wildflower we don't see down our way.

The Logging Museum is an interesting stop. Many people don't realize that there is still logging in the park. There has been since 1830 we're told. Check out the following article.

http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/blog/posting.asp?ID=1388

Horses were replaced in the 1940s. Old trucks are cool.

The trail at the logging museum was a fungi bonanza this year. There were hundreds, probably thousands scattered amongst the woods.

Sometimes I do a little 'gardening' before I take a shot. Other times I like to leave things just as nature presents them to me.

Reindeer Lichen

There are a few buildings along the logging museum trail to show how the loggers lived in the days of horses. It was a hard life to be sure. This engine is along the trail too. You might recognize the engineer.

Our final stop on an Algonquin visit is always Robinson's General Store in Dorset. It has the old time charm.

This seems to be a trend these days—naming some food products with slang-type names to catch our attention. I often wonder if people buy one to show their friends and have a laugh over. But do they ever buy them a second time?

We often stop for a coffee & snack at Brechin on the way home. They set up a dozen or so bicycles along the main drag each fall. They added flowers this year.