So Much

For a guy who has bad lungs and runs out of breath just putting on his shoes, I did so much over this Victoria Day long weekend, but I regret nothing.

I might feel it for a few days but I regret nothing.

The big thing that I was preparing for was Saturday's CT scan at the hospital in Renfrew, which I spoke about yesterday. But what I didn't mention was that, since I had lots of time on my hands, after my hospital visit, that I thought I'd take advantage of it and explore a bit of the town.

I had thrown one of my D-SLRs into the trunk of the Niro, before heading out, and so I thought I'd head into the downtown core and walk along the main street. Coming directly from the hospital, you drive along Raglan Street North, toward Bruce Street, and you can see the main street and all of its old buildings, town hall, and shops.

When I crossed the street, Raglan dipped downward and I soon saw that a river separated the north part of this street from the south one. If there had been a bridge at some point in the town's history, there was no sign of it now.

I parked the car and walked down a footpath, toward the river, and came across an old mill. This was the perfect spot to start taking some photos before making my way to Raglan Street South.

After wandering the town for about an hour, I got back into the car and decided to head homeward. But I also decided to stop in another small town on the way home—Arnprior—to take some more pictures.

I was tired from my visit to Renfrew so I spent no more than a half hour on John Street before getting back in the car and heading straight home.

Saturday night, DW and I wanted to see the sun set so we drove downtown, stopping on the way to pick up some food and having a little picnic at the parkland near the Chaudière Falls. It was so lovely.

Sunday, DW, Kid 1, my mother, and I made our way to Carp for breakfast. It's a bit of a hike but not much farther, time-wise, than heading for breakfast downtown. And it was great to spend time with my mom, while my father was off with some of his friends.

Back home, we did some yard work but I then fitted our Niro with our kayak roof racks. I was a bit winded after loading up the kayaks, with DW's help, but I knew that once on the water, it would be relaxing. I'm rarely winded by paddling in my kayak.

We met up with some friends, in Spencerville, and paddled a 12-kilometer, round-trip stretch of the South Nation River, where we saw and heard all types of birds and other wildlife. We also met some other kayakers along the way.

Afterward, the four of us drove to the St. Lawrence and had dinner on a patio that looked out toward the bridge that leads to the US. It also looks out to the large, concrete grain elevators that are a bit of an eyesore, but the weather was so nice and the company even better.

Before heading home, we drove to the Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site to catch the last bit of sunset and the start of blue hour. This was where the four of us were supposed to be to watch the solar eclipse but we ended up driving to Granby, Québec, instead.

The lighting was great. (The bugs, however, were not-so great: you can see them in some of the photos.)

On holiday Monday, DW and I headed out early to check out the flowers and birds at Fletcher Wildlife Garden. Not many flowers have bloomed yet but there were folks working in the gardens and mowing the lawns. We hope to return in a few weeks and see how things progress.

There were a few birds and I took some photos but nothing worth sharing, yet.

We then went for breakfast in Little Italy before doing some grocery shopping and returning home for more gardening, but my energy levels were waning. I had to stop and take several breaks through the afternoon.

We uncovered and started up the barbecue for the first time this year, and as soon as dinner was out of the way, I only had enough energy to sit on the front porch and admire the lawn and gardens while the sun hung low.

I actually had to rest and recharge before I could find energy to write this post. If you've stuck to the end, I appreciate you doing so.

We did so much on this long weekend. Likely, more than I've done in a while. But if I could do this much with bad lungs, I can only imagine what I'll be able to do once my doctors figure out what's wrong with me and fix it.

Here's to the rest of the week.

Random Carp

Flush with Photos

If the last couple of weeks have taught me anything, I've learned that I spend far too much time indoors.

Looking at my Google Maps timeline proves it. Most days of the week, I don't leave my house. And if I did leave the house, I stayed in my neighbourhood, rarely leaving Barrhaven.

And because I stay home, I don't get much use from my D-SLRs. Remember when I was going to start another strangers project? I've only gone out once to do it: I'm still at two strangers for that project.

Sad.

But a couple of weeks ago, I made an effort to get out of my house for the sole purpose of taking photos. The first day, which was rainy, didn't turn out like I had planned, but I did get a couple of decent photos.

And then, one Friday night, as DW was heading out to play pickleball, I decided to tag along. While she knocked balls around a court, I went downtown and captured images near city hall, along Elgin Street, and on Parliament Hill.

I'll share some of the Parliament Hill photos, tomorrow, for Wordless Wednesday.

That weekend, DW and I also headed to Carp for brunch (it was a spur-of-the-moment decision). I grabbed my camera as we headed out the door, and after we ate, I wandered around this small village and captured a few images.

I'll share more of those on an upcoming post.

Last Friday, I once again headed out with DW for her pickleball club, and while she played I took more photos. And again, this weekend, we went for a hike in Mississippi Mills, and more photos were taken.

I'm flush with photos.

I'm realizing that the thing I miss the most about working from the office is that when I was done for the day, I took the time to follow my passion for photography. Working from home, I finish my day and turn on the TV.

No more.

I know that the sun sets earlier now, but I'm going to try to take advantage of whatever light I have to take photos, and when it gets darker before I'm done work, I'll focus on my night photography.

I think I'll also force myself to get up early, some mornings, and take some sunrise shots.

The past few weeks have revived my passion for photography. I'm looking forward to where it takes me.

Wherever it is, at least I'll be getting out of the house.

Beer O'Clock: Shaken Stout

It goes against my intuition. But somehow, it works.

I grew up learning that you never shake a can of carbonated liquid before opening it. As a kid, we used to prank each other by shaking up our friend's soda behind their back, only to howl with laughter as they cracked it open and were showered in their fizzy drink.

A few years ago, when I picked up a can of stout from an Ottawa Valley brewery and cracked it open at home, I was disappointed by how flat the dark beer tasted. Usually, when I get a new beer to try, I avoid reading the label beyond the brewer and what style of beer it is, so that I'm not influenced by any descriptions or tasting notes that the brewery may have added to the label.

After trying this underwhelming stout, I read the label and found that I had to shake the can before opening it. That was a shocking discovery.

I shook up the next can and everything changed. The stout came to life: there was not only a creamy fizz but the flavours popped.

The same thing happened to me when I tried another stout, this week, from a different brewer. I was disappointed by the thin head but at least the stout had some classic flavours. It wasn't until after I was halfway through the brew that I read the label and, again, discovered that the can needed to be shaken before opened.

My bad.

I opened another can, and here's what I found:

Irish Stout (4.2% ABV; 41 IBUs)
Ridge Rock Brewing Company
Carp ON

Appearance: pours a deep, walnut brown with a foamy taupe head that comes out thick when the can is shaken, but settles to a respectable finger's depth, and eventually becomes a thin but solid, creamy cap.

Nose: rich, roasted malts that give an aroma of espresso.

Palate: the stout is bone-dry with hints of cedar and tobacco. The finish is short and clean.

Overall impression: this is a classic, perfect dry stout, well-made in an Irish style. Guinness has a run for its money; in fact, I'd take this stout over today's Guinness every time.

Even though I have to remember to shake the can before opening it.

Beer O'Clock rating: 🍺🍺🍺

I picked up this stout directly from Ridge Rock, when I was passing through Carp with DW and some friends, and we decided to have dinner at the brewery (the food is pretty good, too). But they also deliver to anywhere in the Ottawa area and it's for free with orders of $50 or more.

Sadly, the stout isn't listed with the LCBO. But you should definitely shake a leg and get some.

Cheers!

Carp Library

This is the first Thanksgiving, since we lived in Korea, that DW and I aren't celebrating the holiday. Of course, I'm thankful for my family and friends, the fact that we're all healthy and happy, and that we have food in our bellies and a warm roof over our heads.

Instead, we've rented a camper van and have hit the highway, exploring along the St. Lawrence Seaway.

I'm also taking the rest of this week off from blogging. The Brown Knowser will return next Monday.

But I thought I would take the time to announce that Where In Ottawa was solved, last week, by one of my writer colleagues, Tina Klein Walsh. Tina correctly guessed that last week's photo was shot at the Carp Library.

Congratulations, Tina!

Here are the clues, explained:

1. There's more where that came from: I was referring to the photo of a book. There are plenty more books in a library.
2. Maybe the Guardian knows: in the late 80s, one of Canada's greatest observed UFOs landed in West Carleton, just outside Carp. During an episode of an American TV show, Unsolved Mysteries, an envelope had been delivered to the authorities with a video recording of the UFO event, plus documents and illustrations. The envelope had been delivered by an unknown person, known only as Guardian.
3. The Chief never visited here, either: during the cold war, the federal government build a large fallout shelter in Carp, which would house the prime minister, plus officials and scientists, in the event of a nuclear attack. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker came close to having to go to this shelter at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Though his government had built the shelter, which is now the Diefenbunker Museum, Diefenbaker himself never visited the site. He wouldn't have visited the library, either.
4. Carpe Diem: okay, I wanted the contest to be over by the time I left for vacation so I played on the name of the town, Carp, where the library is.

That's it for this month. The next Where In Ottawa is Monday, November 6.