Warning!! If you are queasy about snakes, you might want to do something else with your time. Don't scroll further! 🥴
One of our Adventure Buddies had been to Amherst Island with us last year, but the other had not. He was interested in seeing dry stone walls there. We all were hoping to see some birds. We hadn't even got on the ferry at Bath when we spotted a flock of swans in the open water.
From the ferry dock at Stella we headed clockwise around the island. There is still quite a bit of punky ice between the island and the mainland.
Some of the dry stone walls on Amherst Island are over 150 years old. I love how the stone wall builders used both local limestone and erratic round granite stones.
Sheep were enjoying sunshine on their backs.
When I saw these two images, I felt that the post needed to be in b&w.
And, the one below shows off the thin streak of water much better in black and white.
Birdhouses as far as the eye can see on Lower 40 Foot Road. Not only is there Lower 40 Foot Road, there is Stella 40 Foot Road, Marshall 40 Foot Road and Emerald 40 Foot Road. (There is a map at the bottom of this post.)
At the south end of Lower 40 Foot Road, there is a perfect spot for a picnic. Perfect after you move the truck to block the wind.
This was our view.
As I scrambled down the rocks to take pictures of these cool ice formations, Barb....
.... screamed! Do you see what caused her to scream?
4 very agressive garter snakes! They had us backing up and leaving their territory.
Looking west, there were no more snakes.
Barb distracted herself by photographing the cool ice.
We chose to walk by the snakes again to get up to our picnic area. Do you see that this one is eating something?
I think we were on the third concession when we spotted a Northern Harrier hunting.
This view shows its distinctive white band.
There were two groups of white-tailed deer on Emerald 40 Foot Road. When we slowed down, they.....
... ran away.
Back on Front Road, the ice was still pretty far out from the land.
Topsy Farms has a fairly recently built dry stone wall. Around 80 volunteers worked on it.
And, even in black and white, their yarn looks colourful. It sort of repeats the shapes in the stone wall, don't you think?
Our last dry stone wall experience was just west of Stella.
Our birthday boy and his bride posed for a picture framed with stones.
And, we had a minute or two to spare when getting on the 4 o'clock ferry!
Here's a great map of the island. If you want to read a little about who has lived on this little island over the years, here's a link. I had no idea that it had such an interesting history. Especially the part about the Irish.
Happy Birthday to Al and I am sure we will be back. Maybe for a cup of tea in the summer when their restaurant is open.
“In Ireland, you go to someone's house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you're really just fine. She asks if you're sure. You say of course you're sure, really, you don't need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don't need a ting. Well, she says then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble. Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn't mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it's no trouble and I can give you a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting.
In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no, and then you don't get any damned tea.
I liked the Irish way better.”
C.E. Murphy, Urban Shaman
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