Basin Head, Prince Edward Island

Basin Head Provincial Park

Basin Head Provincial Park is located in Basin Head, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is best known by its nickname "Singing Sands", in reference to the pure white sand that sings as you walk through it, due to a high silica content. This sand is geologically unique to the area. This silica, when heated by the sun, produces a high pitched squeaking sound when rubbed together. Dragging your feet through the sand is enough to elicit this effect.

 

The beach itself is split into two sections, divided by a channel (known locally as the 'run'). A bridge spans the 'run', and is a popular attraction for jumping and diving. 

Yours Truly n PJ in foreground :)

Basin Head received its name from its wide, hollow bowl shaped form, like a basin. For many years it was a productive fishing area. 

 In 1937, it was decided to build a harbour and maintain a wharf at Basin Head. Much dredging was done, and the result was the large sand dunes on the beach which still remain today.

 The harbour was opened in 1938, and dredged again in 1959. In the peak time of fishing at the Basin there were about 25-30 boats fishing out of Basin Head. As many as twenty shacks owned by many of the fishermen were also located on the cape, along with a bunkhouse that housed at least twenty or more people. This was Basin Head's most productive era.

 In 1973 the Basin Head Fisheries Museum was built under the direction of the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation and was open to the public. In 1995-96 huge renovations took place on the site by the Eastern Kings Development Association. This included a board walk which features access to the magnificent "Singing Sands" white sandy beach, gift shops, food, and beach services and a children’s play village. A special thanks to Robin Konstabaris @ http://steprobin.wordpress.com for photo below. Thanks Robin and you should check out his site.

The tidal lagoon behind the dunes is habitat for a variety of Giant Irish Moss called Chrondrus crispus. This is the only place in the world that it is found. This particular strain of Irish Moss, is also referred to as Giant Moss. It is distinctive because it has a unique life cycle, does not attach to the bottom and is significantly larger than the normal plant found elsewhere. In addition, it has a higher concentration of carrageen, a stabilizing and thickening agent used in many household products.

Draggin' for Irish Moss

 

Tree Burrs.................

 Tree Burr, Bur or Burl

 A burl (American English) or bur or burr (British English) is a tree growth in which the grain has grown in a deformed manner. It is commonly found in the form of a rounded outgrowth on a tree trunk or branch, or in roots when tree dies) that is filled with small or large knots from dormant buds. A burl results from a tree undergoing some form of stress. It may be environmental or introduced by humans or insects.

Burls yield a very peculiar and highly figured wood, one prized for its beauty by many; its rarity also adds to its expense and is sought after by furniture makers, artists and wood sculptors..

….. and here in the Maritimes, we call 'em “TREE BURRS”.

Heat Wave II

Well, we shattered "Heat Wave" records yesterday and just let me tell you it was much warmer today. Never, in this area, during what we are supposed to be calling WINTER, have we had such high temps :)

Today,  was a balmy 88+. 

One of "THEM" SaucyKodZ

Another great day to walk along the river, which flows approx. 5 minutes from the house, so an approx 45 min walk this morning at 8a.m., another walk around 11a.m. and yet another this evening. What a glorious day to be "OOT N ABOOT".

Thanks for posing Paul :)

Folks are out strolling with each other, their kiddies n their pets. One would swear its just a regular sight; like on a....... "WARM SUMMERS NIGHT"  :)

As I finish this post, the clouds have moved in to replace that beautiful sunshine and our forecast this evening.....Thunder N Showers.............at least it's not........ SNOW ?...........YET ?

Heat Wave

NEW BRUNSWICK SHATTERS WEATHER RECORDS

Weather records were shattered all over New Brunswick yesterday and again today. 

The hotspot today is St. Stephen where the temperature hit 24.6 C degrees. According to my thermostat, it is 85 Degrees in my back yard @ 6:15p.m. this evening.

It’s never been this warm at this time of the year in the province, according to Environment Canada. The heat wave is “unusual” and is being caused by a mass of warm air from the United States.

At this time of year we are usually dealing with wind chill readings, not humidex readings. However, we are warned that wintry weather isn’t over just yet. So lets just enjoy it, ponder about it and keep the thought of snow next week......... way in that back file somewhere - the experts say that it is uncommon to see a mini heat wave last so long and to be so intense at this time of the year. 

Usually, this time of the year we are up to our knees in snow, or still skating on the local pond. Imagine - muscle shirts and tank top weather happening right in our little town in March - I'll take it :)

I'll TAKE IT TOO :)

FIX FOLLOWERS GADGET

Yesterday I lost my followers widget - I tried everything to get it back and nothing would work - part of it was there and the rest missing - then the word followers was there, without the followers. After doing some extensive research on internet, I found one fellow in the UK that tried the solution below and "VOILA", IT WORKS, FOR NOW YOU CAN SEE MY FOLLOWERS BACK ON MY BLOG.
IF ANY OF YOU ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, TRY THE SOLUTION BELOW---WORKED FOR ME. THANKS UK

SOLUTION: I've been waiting for this to be fixed for ages, so I finally just went in to customize the colours, changing each one randomly, and suddenly I was able to add it! There's a bug in there and this seems to be a random fix but it worked for me! Give it a try, and if it works for you, spread the word! CHEERS, UK


STEPS:
1. PICK "EDIT" ON FOLLOWERS GADGET
2. WHEN WINDOW OPENS, UNCHECK "USE TEMPLATE DEFAULT STYLES"
3. CHART DROPS DOWN TO CHANGE COLOURS, TEXT ETC
4. I JUST PICKED THE FIRST "ENDCAP TEXT", THEN PICKED A RANDOM COLOUR, PICKED "SAVE" AND I HAD MY FOLLOWERS BACK.
    

Life.......

A LIFE without love in it is like a heap of ashes upon a deserted hearth with the fire dead, the laughter stilled, and the light extinguished.

It is like a winter landscape -- with the sun hidden, the flowers frozen, and the wind whispering through the withered leaves.

God knows we need all the unselfish love that can come to us -
For love is seldom unselfish.

There is usually the motive and the price. Have you heard of or do you remember William Morris - and how his life was lived, his fortune spent, his hands busied -- in the service of others? He was the father of the settlement movement, of co-operative homes for working people, and of the arts and crafts revival, in days past.

He was  a "soldier of the common good." After he was gone -- his life began to grow in radiance and power, like a beacon set high upon a dangerous shore. In the twilight of his days he wrote what I like to think was his creed -- and mine: "I'm going your way, so let us go hand in hand. You help me and I'll help you. We shall not be here very long; for too soon - death; the kind old nurse, will come and rock us all to sleep.
Let us help one another while we may."

Frank P. Tebbetts