Friday 3 October 2014

Narrows Locks - lovely Fall tour, but the guns continue to fire

After our lunch out, on Sunday, we took a drive to Narrow's Locks. It was a busy spot, with lots of boats going back and forth. I even spotted a Monarch Butterfly! I've seen the odd one still flying by.

There is something wonderful about being near the water. Our wee frog pond had 5 ducks the other day. They flew off as we walked around it. I had Buster, Daisy, and Dorah with me.

It is duck season, and the guns begin at 5:30 a.m., so the ducks seem happy to shelter in our little spot, far from the madding crowd. Last night (Thursday) the guns were firing at the nearby firing range. I guess the owner rents it out. It was the same the night before from just after dinner until our bedtime. You can hear the whistle blow, then 10 seconds of hammering gunfire. Then people yelling. In the dark, while I am indoors. We are having the windows replaced. I hope it helps somewhat.

The OPP recertify all summer, the guns of 500 OPP officers hammering over 37 days between April
500m away
and August. They send out a notice warning us of the days, at least. Guns firing for 10 second bursts, all at once, all day. You'd think the local real estate agent (who lives not too far away) might have disclosed this. It's 500m out our back yard, and with the leaves down, its much louder. It's upsetting, to say the least, especially with my high blood pressure.

A previous owner accidentally shot himself in the house. No word on that, either. Fortunately, he is at peace, bless his soul.

Did you know that there is a website for registering and/or finding the creepy stuff?



Website reveals what ghosts linger in the closets of your new home


 Housecreep.com , created by two Ontario brothers, displays the addresses of more than 23,000 North American properties once host to violent crimes, fires and drug operations. One hundred cases of Ottawa’s most grisly homicides, assaults and arsons, as well as marijuana grow-ops, are publicly listed there.

Back to our gentle day's end.
You can see the geese far out on the lake, below, honking away in enthusiastic discussions.
A couple of motorcycle riders stopped for a bite to eat. Firing up the mini cooker to heat up a dehydrated meal. They were other travelers, as well, who had a lovely old-style picnic basket, sitting on chairs beside the canal. Relaxing in the sunshine, watching the boats and the people go by.

It was interesting watching the men crank up the lock mechanisms by hand. Something that has been done for many years, without electricity. It's a nice summer job if you can get it!

10 comments:

Olga said...

i also live near to a firing range (for the National Guard), but somehow I hear less of the noise than some living much farther away. i am sure it all has to do with the mountain landscape and the physics of sound.
I did not know about the haunting web site, but I am definitely checking it out. If only to register my own house.

DeniseinVA said...

That must be very disconcerting, yes you would think that would have been mentioned. When we lived in California there was a mountain that I loved looking at. You would never have thought that houses could be built on it. One morning we woke up to a terrific boom and the windows rattled. Well, they were dynamiting the hillside so they could build those houses. We never knew if it was an earthquake or a stick of dynamite going off and it went on for a couple of years.

carol l mckenna said...

Love the butterfly photo and lovely scenic photos also! Happy Weekend!

artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

Nancy J said...

I guess the OPP have to practise somewhere, where we lived 2 times ago?? ( is that grammatically correct??) the firing range was not near any houses at all. One summer a bullet ricocheted off a rock and started a fire, in the middle of a very hot dry summer. Choppers with monsoon buckets worked for hours, till it was dark, making sure it was out. You will be so glad when their training is over. Down here, gale winds, snow about 2 hours from us. hail, thunder, and we are off to see granddaughter compete in pony club showjumper event. Hugs,Jean

William Kendall said...

I should photograph the workers down at the locks here before the season ends. I like watching that sort of thing going on.

Terrific shots!

Red said...

You live in a very beautiful area. We don't hear the guns any more as the city has grown well past our house. Ducks at your little pond would be cool. I've seen ducks here in the close in the spring.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I really hate the sound of gunfire. We have duck and goose hunters near enough to sometimes hear the shots (here in Oregon.

Christine said...

The weather looks great, we had a lot of rain in the Toronto area this evening. Terrible about the firing range noise. Interesting website there, almost scared to check it out but I probably will out of curiosity.

Kay said...

Oh gracious! Having gunfire going off continuously throughout the day would drive me nuts. I'm so sorry. That's awful.

I was just wondering if the owners would ever be able to rent out the apartment again in Texas where the Ebola victim stayed.

Roan said...

No firing range close to here, but durng deer hunting season you can hear shots all over the place at my brother's farm. Beautiful Monarch!