The Beaver River

 In the past year I've frequently mentioned the Beaver River which runs south to north into Georgian Bay. At its closest to me it is about a mile away. At this point it is quite slow moving as you can see from the algae bloom that is on both sides.

It regularly overflows its banks, in fact at this point there is only one visible bank and that's on the other side of the bridge from which I'm looking south to take this photo. Mostly the river just flows into the bush on either side, rising and falling with the amount of rain or snow we might get at any particular point in the year.

It is fed by numerous creeks and branches up stream and by the rushing water sent down long tubes to turn turbines for a small generating plant upstream for me and that provides my area with electricity. The water for the plant comes from a man-made lake Eugenia, which was created for this purpose out of swamp years ago. It is surrounded by cottages now and is quite large. Good fishing too I understand.

Downstream about another mile from where I live the river is joined by Mill Creek, a smaller faster moving body of water that has its origins up in the hills we call a mountain around here.

The river has historically been used as a canoe route for Aboriginal tribes, though it's not very long, probably only about 30 or 40 miles max, has provided fish for food and good sport fishing and upstream is very pretty as it cuts through bush and flat lands, running fast and free. It has also provided water to power many a mill in pioneer days and two small villages still exist along its banks. The names and remnants of others of earlier times are still visible.

It has a large colony of snowy egrets, great blue herons and many other birds nest in the branches of its trees. of course there are also beaver, mink, and muskrat, and I saw a family of otter down the river one spring. I have also seen several feral cats along this particular road that crosses it... but have no idea how they survive. Not well nor easily I would imagine.

But it is beautiful and peaceful and these days provides water for at least two businesses that rent out canoes and kayaks for short or long trips down it.

Looking down into the water from the bridge you can see the reeds and the little white dots in the left corner are bits of food that huge fat polywogs rise up grab and swim back down. One of the larger dots and one looking like a little bubble right in the centre at the bottom of the photo are both polywogs. On this day they have fat white bellies and no legs but large tails. I'm sure by today they have little feet in back at least.

I stood there for the longest time, sun hot on my back looking into the water admiring Mother Nature's handiwork.

It was a blissful peaceful moment along the river.

May you have many such blissful, peaceful moments today.