More than enough recreation, beauty, history, trail potential and international understanding through linking with the always-enthusiastic Canadian hikers, etc., the Great Lakes Basin is powerful, under-rated and very accessible. Let's link trails, especially cycling trails, throughout the region. Give it a thorough review for possible national/international designation -- perhaps creating a new category for mutual agreement, interest and a world-model for cooperation. Already a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - Niagara Escarpment, look at the whole picture and help educate on the formation of the basin, its resources and its future.
When the days are getting longer and the sun is arcing away from the northwest and coming to its most southerly point on the horizon, jump up at five am and check out the spectacle. Photo taken in June.
Today it's actually late July so the chicory and queen anne's lace are full out with white asters and fleabane in bud. A sandpiper keeps chasing us away from its nest and the absence of tenants at old Skinner's Marina has allowed more and more birds to take up residency on the docks. . . caspian terns, gulls, swallows . . . swan families are about . . . out farther into the bay, cormorants. The canadian geese are gone . . . heard about an eagle winging about. Today the sun moves more and more toward its winter station. -- posted byBarbara
Look at what happened in the 1930s in England with a group of people who said 'it's our right to ramble' -- The Kinder Trespass which led to the establishment of national parks, trails and access to nature all over the UK.
We've got our own great trails nearby including the escarpment-hugging Bruce Trail from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Tobermory. Another fave, New York's Genesee Valley Greenway from Rochester to the Southern Tier.
It often seems as though there are more trails, bikepaths, etc. in Ontario, Canada around L. Ontario than on the US side. Although, the new multi-use trail along the L. Ontario State Parkway starting at Island Cottage to Sea Breeze along Durand-Eastman Park with connections to the 390 South cycling trail and the Genesee River Trail is an impressive start. We still need more cycling trails -- especially west to connect with the Robert Moses trail along the Niagara River, still under development through the Niagara River Greenway, to Canada at Rainbow Bridge and beyond. -- posted byBarbara
L. Ontario translated from the Huron is "Lake of Shining Waters." Braddock Bay is located on the southshore west of Rochester's embayment. Photo taken at Braddock Bay, NY.
According to those who measure. . . "the Great Lakes contain roughly 22% of the world’s fresh surface water: 5,472 cubic miles or 6.0×1015U.S. gallons ~ enough water to cover the 48 contiguous U.S. states to a uniform depth of 9.5 feet. . . . ." wow, I say.
But just when you've had enough round gobys and zebra mussels, there's the threat of Asian Carp [bighead, black, silver and grass], some growing up to 90-100 lb. and voracious eaters [even eat plankton] who may end up dominating all species, not to mention the pervasive impact of zebra mussels. Listen to this from Senator Stabenow [MI] on stopping the asian carp invasion: asking to close the locks which connect the Mississippi to L. Michigan. The Army Corps doesn't want to close the locks and instead is using electrical fields 30 miles away from L. Michigan to try and control the northern migration of the carp in the Chicago shipping lane.
At right is lavender in my garden and at the top of the blog is Buddellia or Buddleja ~ commonly known as 'butterfly bush.' It attracts both butterflies and hummingbirds including hummingbird hawk moths which look like birds, but are actually moths.
