Monday, July 30, 2007

A Tour of Brion Island – An Ecological Reserve -©2006

This concludes the the tour of the north side of Brion Island. The tour will continue with the people of Brion, the vegetation and animals who have spend at least part of their lives on the isolated island. There will undoubtedly be additions to the north side tour and panoramic views that I haven't yet had time to scan. There will also be more information on the shipwrecks of the north side as these tend to interest me a great deal. It is also my intention to write more on the Dingwell family. The Tour of Brion Island will continue after I take a break for a couple of weeks.

A Tour of Brion Island – An Ecological Reserve -©2006


removed by author

A Tour of Brion Island – An Ecological Reserve -©2006

removed by author

Friday, July 27, 2007

The Dancing to the Music of Hard Core Troubadours




Day Two of the Sand and Sun Festival

A message from Mayor Christopher Clark and Joy Davies President of the Grosse Isle Leisure Committee.

Texas Hold'em Poker tournament. The first place winner was Curtis Keating and the second place winner was Arthur Matthews. A Fenchman won third place prize.



Fun in the sun with the community children.



Thursday, July 26, 2007

The Sand and Sun Festival - 2007

Grosse Isle's Sand and Sun Festival started on Old Harry Beach today. It will run from the 26th through to the 29th of July. This years activities are under the theme, "Come Have Fun in the Sand and Sun!"

This years festival committee decided to bring the Big Top tent back to the festival once again. This large, -- X -- foot tent with it's exterior trailer canteen, which is set up in the parking lot at the beach, will house some of the activities for the festival. For several years now the festival has been held in the center of Grosse Isle, at the Holy Trinity Family Center. "We sincerely hope that everyone has as much fun at the festival as we have had working together to make it a successful one for all to enjoy," said Joy Davies, President of the committee.

Thursday afternoon, the Amherst Equestrian Center, 'La P'tite Ferme Au Galop' provided horses and expertize for an exciting horse back ride on the islands largest beach. The enchanting ride used four horses and one with a double saddle for youngsters.

As the afternoon worn on, many people, residents and visitors alike came to the beach to enjoy the activities that they set out to play for themselves, where they were sponsored by the Sand and Sun Festival Committee or not. Sail boats dotted the azure blue, fantastically calm water of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Kites made colourful and spectacular scenes in the blue cloudless skies. Swimmers took advantage of the warm gulf waters.

A 'Reach for the Top' game with teams of four and a 'Survival' game was scheduled for the afternoon under the big top followed by a 'Happy Hour' and a 'Battle of the Sexes' with teams of three later on that evening. The evening was topped off by a spectacular beach fire for the community with a wiener roast.

Throughout the four day festival, canteen and bars service will be available and fresh boiled islands mussels and lobster rolls will be available all day and evenings. It turned out to be a successful and happy start to Grosse Isle's largest Annual Festival.


Thursday, July 19, 2007

A Visit to the Magdalen Islands

Arriving on the Magdalen Islands, Iles-de-la-Madeleine in French, the dramatic change of scenery astounds the first time visitor. If arriving by plane, the lagoons with their azure and sandy coloring, stretching for miles, has a serene, calming effect on the senses. If arriving by ferry, the landmasses of the dozen or so islands that make up the Archipelago and the dunes connecting the majority of them blend, break apart and then stretch out of sight and into the horizon. Each island is enlivened by rich green valleys, spectacular cream sandy beaches, deep red cliffs and countless shades of blue from the lagoons, the sea and the sky.

The Archipelago is located in approximately the center of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, on the eastern coast of Canada. The islands have been pushed up out of the sea and into a half moon or fish hook shape, stretching approximately sixty-five kilometers, from end-to-end, as the crow flies. They are enjoyed by a mild maritime climate that is strikingly different from the mainland. The huge shallow water masses that encircle the islands, temper the weather and create milder temperatures, because it takes more time to warm or cool water than it does to change the temperature of air or land. The air is pure and invigorating.

Constant breezes greatly influence the climate of the islands. They keep the temperatures milder in the winter and cooler in the summer months. It is because of these winds that the islands have been attracting so many visitors. They come for a number of reasons of course, such as the beaches, swimming, clam-digging and all the extreme water sports that take place. They come for the culture and the seafood, all of which is enticing. They come for the magnificent scenery and to be with the seal. They come to learn about a quieter style of living.

The Magdalen Islands has seven islands that are inhabited and several other islands and islets that are inhabited by only the birds. Those islands which are easily accessible to motorists, cyclists and hikers are Grand Entry or Coffin Island, Grosse Isle, Pointe-aux-Loups, House Harbour, Grindstone and Amherst. Entry Island is an island populated by people of Irish and Scottish descent and is accessible only by boat. Of the uninhabited islands, Brion Island is the only one capable of sustaining human life. It is an ecological reserve owned by the Quebec government, who only allows a limited stay by visitors. The Bird Rocks, which were navigational hazards in the past, because of its strategic location in the shipping lanes between the Saint Lawrence River and the rest of the world, is now only inhabited by maritime bird life. Other islets are Deadman’s Rock, Seal Island and Shag Island all of which have their fair share of the shipwrecked history that surrounds the Magdalen Islands.