Away to Awenda and Other Places

After leaving Algonquin Park early Wednesday morning, I headed west through Muskoka.  Clouds were building in the west and rain was imminent.
I stopped by Port McNicoll to view the Keewatin.  As it was raining, I decided to take the tour of the ship!  Although I have been on it three times before, one cannot get enough of this national treasure.

Each time, there is something different to see, as new displays are added.  I started out the tour alone with the guide and she mentioned the sister ship Assiniboia.  I had to correct her, as she did not go directly to Philadelphia after being sold by Canadian Pacific.  In fact, the Assiniboia had a brief stint in Sarnia with JAL Steamships.  Being a friend of one of the owners, my father went aboard (and took me along when I was very young).  Here is a photo!

The Keewatin was virtually identical (Both originally burned coal, but Assiniboia was modified to burn oil and the stack was shortened).
Here are some photos.

Above "Flowerpot Lounge"

Quadruple expansion steam engine

After lunch I headed up to Awenda Provincial Park, another one of my favourite places to camp.
The skies were starting to clear, but the wind picked up considerably, as it switched to the north.  What a relief after the scorching heat in Algonquin!
The wind was strong off the lake and no birds were seen (not even a frigatebird!).

Shoreline at Awenda.  Giant's Tomb Island in background

I walked around Kettle's Lake, but few birds were seen.  This is a good birding spot at times.

After setting up the tent, I checked out Robitaille Trail, which is a decent birding trail.  A few warblers were seen including this Black-throated Blue.

For some reason, Black-throated Blues often come in pairs.

I also found an Ovenbird. It was in the shade, so the photo is not too good.

The trail is named after the Robitaille family which owned the property.  One can see the foundation ruins of the house and barn.

After supper, I just milled about the campsite hoping to hear Barred Owls,  Although I have had them on each previous visit, perhaps the strong wind kept them quiet.

After a little bit of birding, I headed out early the next morning and after lunch stopped at West Perth Wetlands, Mitchell.  It is always worth a visit when in the area.  There were quite a few shorebirds, but waterfowl stole the show.  Among several species of ducks, there were over 600 Mallard.
Lots of yellowlegs were present, as well as a single Pectoral Sandpiper and a Wilson's Snipe.  Dowitchers had been reported recently, but I did not detect any.

Over 40 American Golden Plover were present as well.

Despite the heat and humidity and rather few birds, it was nice to get away to familiar places.

Away to Awenda

1974!

After leaving Algonquin Park Wednesday morning, I headed southwest.  I took Muskoka Road 3 from Huntsville to Rosseau, then Road 141 to highway 400 south.  I would have taken 141 from highway 11, but the bridge was being rebuilt over the Rosseau River.  That bridge is a familiar spot from my youth when I spent part of summers at a camp right near there!




Just before Midland, I headed into Port McNicoll to visit the SS_Keewatin.  I have been on it twice before, but not for two years.  I wanted to see what changes were made.

This ship is a national treasure, being built in 1907.  It is nothing short of remarkable that it still exists, more or less in its original condition. Many of the staterooms have been restored for display.

The steam engine and shaft are actually in working order.  There is an electric motor that turns the shaft, hence turns the connecting rods of the engine.

Tours are available and the full tour takes about 1.5h.  Unfortunately it does not visit the wheelhouse, but three years ago a friend and I got a special tour that included the top deck and wheelhouse!

After lunch in Midland I headed to another favourite, Awenda_Provincial_Park.  I have camped there a few times as you know from past blog posts.

It consists of over 29 square kilometres of mostly hardwood forest, but with lots of Hemlock as well. Giant's Tomb Island in Georgian Bay is also part of the park.

September 2014

Barred Owls are resident in the park, and you are always guaranteed to hear them!  Last year I was lucky as one perched in my campsite.

On this year's visit, I did not hear them at dusk, but did at dawn.  At first I heard a loud shriek, then the familiar "who cooks for you" rendition.  Back at Algonquin I heard that same shriek one night (woke me up!).  I did not realize what is was, but I assume a Barred Owl.

I also heard Whip-poor-will at 19:40h, then again at dawn. Latest I have heard one in the season.






Wednesday afternoon I hiked a couple of the trails.  There is a total of 32 km worth of trail within the park.
The Robitaille Trail is a linear (3 km) one to a high dune.  It is good for birds, and I saw a few warblers and vireos on my walk.  It used to be a farm (hence the name) and more recently a Christmas Tree farm.  Several of the pines were left to grow.

One of many Black-throated Green Warblers

Thursday morning I hiked Wendat Trail (5 km).  It goes around Kettle lake in the east part of the park.  Just off the parking lot is a boardwalk/dock.  Early morning is good for birds along its edge.
In the opposite corner of the lake is a boardwalk over a marshy area.

Second Lake

On the way home, a stop at West Perth Wetlands (Mitchell) was in order.  Nothing of note was seen, but it is always a nice stop on a long drive.

Keewatin!

Not a birding post, but some of my followers are interested in ships.
Today was a special day, planned a few weeks ago.  A friend and I headed up to Midland late Friday afternoon, and the destination was Port McNicoll Saturday.  It was not a birding trip, but I did see birds!
Heading up that way is not complete without a stop at West Perth Wetlands in Mitchell.  There were quite a few shorebirds in, but nothing really of note.  Lots of sparrows in the weeds.

We arrived early Saturday morning at Port McNicoll.  There were lots of birds in the harbour!  Especially sparrows (mostly White-crowned) in the weeds.  A few Greater Yellowlegs greeted us as they flew over.
However, the focus of this trip was to get a tour of the CPR passenger vessel Keewatin.  It was built in 1907 and has miraculously been preserved to this day.  It was actually built in Govan, Scotland, sailed over to Montreal, cargo unloaded, then back to Quebec city, cut in half, towed to Buffalo, and reassembled. It was designed to be cut in half since it was too long for the locks of the day.  Its identical sister ship Assiniboia experienced a similar story.

Smaller version of the Titanic's main staircase!

It last emitted steam in December 1965.  In fact, the chief engineer wrote "finished with engines forever" on a chalkboard in the engine room as noted in this photo.  This was never erased!

Some parts are well preserved inside, but much is quite rough.  What do you expect for a 105 year old ship?

We got a tour of the entire ship from one of the keen volunteers, Bill.

Aft Men's Smoking Lounge

Many have volunteered their services to maintain and clean up the vessel.  One of the key figures in bringing this ship to the port is Eric Conroy.  He was a waiter on the boat back in the early 1960's.  We had good conversation with him this morning.  He is seen here in the middle walking back toward the Keewatin with some others.

He even wrote his own book Steak in a Drawer.  The title is appropriate as he once hid a steak dinner in a drawer because he had ordered one too many dinners for the table he was waiting on.  Apparently the waiters had to memorize the orders, rather than write them down, so one time he managed to "mess" up!  Fearing reprimand, he quickly stuffed the dinner in a nearby drawer.

Dining Room (subject drawer is in the back left corner)

View of harbour from the bridge

The quadruple expansion steam engine is so well preserved it could run again today.

It has four boilers, two of which have been cut up to reduce the weight of the ship.

The wheelhouse is nothing fancy and rather small, but did the job.

I took 75 photos this morning, so obviously there are too many to post here.
It was an enjoyable experience, and something I thought I would never happen.
On the way back, we again stopped at West Perth Wetlands.  Fewer shorebirds, but more sparrows.  There  was a large number of Savannah Sparrows.  I did not have time to look too closely, but it was a nice break in the drive.