The Cup and Saucer Trail
Northern Ontario is defined by granite rocks of the Canadian Shield, trees and lakes. Manitoulin Island is geologically part of Southern Ontario with its sedimentary limestone cliffs and areas of farmland. However, rocks, trees and lakes also dominate the landscape.

The Cup and Saucer trail covers 12 kilometers of ground with sections that are level and well groomed and other sections that are very steep to climb.

Another shorter trail runs under the cliffs and offers a chance to explore caves that are there. Appropriate hiking footwear is important for the more challenging sections of the trail, and on the easier sections if it is wet or icy. There was early morning frost here in the second week of September.
Many trees, including cedar, balsam fir, maple, aspen, birch and oak, grow in the soil and rock. We have had some severe summer storms this year and a number of trees with more shallow root systems were downed, completely blocking areas of the trail. There was evidence of work done to clear the debris, but in some places a new trail had to be made as there were too many trees down to restore the older paths.

I was amazed at the resilience of some of the stunted cedars that grew out of the rocks on the edge of the cliffs.
I am not fond of heights. After my experience of falling out of the boat earlier that day, I kept a safe distance from the unprotected edges of the escarpment. There were spectacular opportunities for a brave and well balanced photographer (not me!).

Next time there is an opportunity to return here, I will be prepared to take a day do the entire trail. Fall is a perfect time for a good hike as it is cool and the annoying mosquitoes and black flies of the spring and summer are gone. The colours in a week or two will be spectacular. (click to enlarge photos)

Recommended reading

I found a book by Geoffrey Corfield called "Northern Ontario and Manitoulin Island: There is more to Northern Ontario than just rocks, trees and lakes. ". It is humourous account of the history and geography of the area. The author, also known for his cartoon "Inkblot", has written a couple of other books about Ontario. I cannot find his books on Amazon but his publisher is DESPUB, 2340B Clifton St., Allanburg ON Canada L0S 1A0

Vacation
We spent a few days on Manitoulin Island this week, fishing, hiking, and sightseeing. I had never been there and found it beautiful in the late summer season. Manitoulin literally means “den of the great spirit” in the Ojibwe language, in reference to their deity Gitche Manitou. It is the largest fresh water island in the world and also contains the largest lake within a fresh water island. We stayed at a camp on this lake, Lake Manitou. The weather was cool and breezy making it a little rough on the water.

These were the clothes I was wearing when I lost my equilibrium and went head first out of the boat…no injuries…lifejacket on…water surprisingly warm…a good laugh was had by all.

The island is part of the Niagara Escarpment, which runs from New York state to Niagara Falls, north through the Bruce Peninsula, into Lake Huron forming Manitoulin Island, and west to Michigan. White limestone cliffs, with caves and unique vegetation are found along the escarpment.
At the west end of Lake Manitou is an interesting land formation called the Cup and Saucer. The escarpment drops vertically twice creating the saucer effect. There is a fabulous Cup and Saucer hiking trail which I will describe in another post. The island has a number of dairy farms, and split rail fences line the picturesque roads. The town of Manitowaning was the first European settlement on the island and the old Anglican church and lighthouse are still in use today. The museum in this hamlet is well worth the two dollar admission and gives a visual history of the native, European and marine history of Manitoulin. We only explored the eastern part of the island, and hopefully a return trip in the future will give time to see other interesting natural and historical sites.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts...Ecclesiastes 3:11

Eighteen days later...

We left on September 10th for a few days on Manitoulin Island leaving The Becka to babysit the butterfly. This is what it looked like early that morning. I thought it had likely died as it was completely black.



Later , exactly 18 days from when the caterpillar pupated, the butterfly finally eclosed. A very excited Becka called me with the news.


She took a number of photos for me including one when the wings were still folded and wet, and one a while later as the wings opened up. Twenty three minutes elapsed between the two photos. It stayed indoors overnight and was released on the sedum early in the next morning when T.B. went to work. When she came home it had flown away.
A happy ending for all!
(click photos to enlarge)

More on Monarchs.....
Our caterpillar pupated on August 23rd, 15 days ago. Bev, from Burning Silo, said that it took eight to ten days for their butterflies to eclose. I feel like an expectant parent waiting for an overdue baby. In the meantime, we are seeing many monarch butterflies flying around the city this week. The Becka took this photo of a butterfly (and bee) on the sedum in our garden this afternoon. (click photos to enlarge)

Our chrysalis has become transparent and the detailed markings of the butterfly inside are now visible. This butterfly is most reluctant to leave the cocoon, but it should emerge soon and be flying in the garden with the others.

Sameness is the mother of disgust, variety the cure. - Francesco Petrarch

It is easy to misunderstand those who are different than ourselves, but contrast and variety do make life interesting. Our region has a large Old Order Mennonite population. These modest, peace loving and hardworking people travel by horse and buggy and live in homes without modern conveniences such as electricity and telephone. My father took this great photo when he was visiting our area. It was a moment of contrast caught through the windshield of our moving car. The drivers of both vehicles in the picture were involved in their business of the day, a culture apart.

Each summer, our city hosts a weekend multicultural festival. It is a great opportunity to taste food from around the world and to enjoy music and dance from other countries. This photo was taken at the fresh lemonade stand, the modestly dressed young woman serving the woman in more standard North American summer attire. Despite the differences among the people in the park that afternoon, there was a sense of community and sharing that would be wonderful to see around the world.

Music Idol
In a previous post it was pointed out that we do not sing or make music as much now as was done in the past. Programs such as American or Canadian Idol entertain many people and encourage ridicule of musical performances.
I once knew a little girl who loved to sing and dance and she did so with gusto. One day a classmate told her she sang too loudly, so she stopped singing altogether.
Sarcastic, critical "humour" is very hurtful and can make people afraid to express themselves, especially musically. My nieces and nephews in Mexico are all very musical and perform confidently. My niece recorded her first CD of songs she wrote the lyrics for when she was 15 years old. (You can listen at her My Space website) The recording was done by amateurs, but she has talent and should be encouraged, not belittled.
We should be able to enjoy playing an instrument or a sport without feeling that we have to be as good as a particular music or sports "idol". And if we are part of the audience, we should be gracious and liberal with our praise.

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It is the last official long weekend of the summer and in reality, September is the beginning of a "new year" to me. I love the fall, much more than January, and find the change of seasons invigorating. It has been a cool, wet weekend...the kind of weather that motivates me to complete projects in and around home. My husband was up early this morning to set up his smoker. He is cooking salmon that has been marinating in a flavourful brine for the past 24 hours. The neighbourhood is blanketed with the smell of smoking wood chips, a sharp, pleasant contrast to the damp air. We will be going up north shortly for one last fishing trip of the season. Hopefully the weather will improve a little and there will be some more fish for the smoker.
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 1:3

Since the day of my birth, my death began its walk. It is walking toward me, without hurrying. Jean Cocteau

This week one of my patients made an active decision to die. She has multiple medical problems and has relied on dialysis for a number of years to live. She is tired...she is getting weaker...she is ready to die and is refusing her medical treatments.

As a young graduate, I was afraid of my dying patients. I preferred working in ICU with unconscious patients on life support, because I didn't have to talk to them. I simply could not bring myself to discuss death with people who were alert and aware of their condition.

This is the tombstone of my husband's grandparents. (click photo to enlarge) They lost four of eight children in infancy. In the pre-antibiotic era, life and death were entwined. Now, we often view death as a medical failure, or worse, as a failure of faith.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross states, "It is difficult to accept death in this society because it is unfamiliar. In spite of the fact that it happens all the time, we never see it. "

Our western society has removed itself from the cycles of nature. Our meat comes in tubes and packages, far removed from the slaughterhouse and carcasses of animals. Our dying are given treatments to prolong life and give false hope. We often deny people the right to prepare and accept death with dignity.

I am learning to be comfortable with the dying and can now talk to them about their life and impending death. You may read their stories in future postings as they have much to teach us.

I think we all fear dying more than death. This quote by an unknown person sums it up well.
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did...in his sleep. Not yelling and screaming like the passengers in his car.

Sept 5/06...the patient I mentioned above passed away peacefully on September 2/06, about the time I wrote this post. She had a strong faith, and I know she is now pain free and with God. I will remember you, Nancy...