Better Still.....

Ruach: God's breath of life

Ruach: Holy Spirit

Ruach: Life giving Spirit.

Like a rushing wind

listen as the wind rushes

and feel its life energy

Ruach deep inside.

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Skip the TCP/IP request...

this is better still!

Wishful Thinking

The Changing Faces of Don Wright - Part 1.3 Revision B

Over time, my face has changed. It changes a lot depending if I am happy or sad. It also changes depending on what I am wearing and how old I am. I noticed that when I look to the sun, sometimes I squint. Sometimes I look like I'm high. Sometimes I dont even smile. These photos are proof. The proof is in the proof is in the proof.

Psst - Wanna Buy a Phone?

So this is what I do for a day job. I sell phones....lots of phones. New, refurbished, old, discontinued, repairs etc....phones...phones and more phones. Its hard to imagine how these phones have fed my family for so many years...but they have.

By the way, my Tshirt is a Roy Thomas T that I bought from his art gallery in ThunderBay. I already have a stain on it. My wife shakes her head. Cant dress me up and dangerous to take me out!

cheers

Arctic Watershed Repost

I had trouble with the downloadability of the last Watershed Picture I posted so I am trying again. This sign is up on the Trans Canada HWY 11. Cant rememebr where..near Long Lac if memory serves me.

Its a strange feeling seeing the rivers flow in the opposite direction.

cheers

I Missed the Changing of the Seasons Ceremony

I'm a bit bummed that I missed the Changing of the Seasons Ceremony up on Lake Obabika this year. I had a schedule conflict. Part of the reason I went to the Old Growth a couple of weeks prior, is that I knew my opportunities were starting fade for this year. I expect to spend some time in the Temagami Old Growth each and every year until I die.
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Hey Bob, sorry I missed ya. Just so you know, I'd hunt you down to shake your hand. Not sure who you saw that looked like me, but I wouldnt walk away without saying Hi! Maybe next year.....or sooner...who knows? Oh and I aint trimming the goat until it reaches my belly! ha ha...we'll see about that!
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Next time I go for an Old Growth Sojourn, I'n going for longer than a night. I'm figuring next time I'll go 4 nights. I'll set up base camp and then do a couple of day trips and perhaps an overnighter. I want to see Wakimika. I want to spend a couple of days fishing the Wakimika River. Of course another day trip to Spirit Rock and the sisters.
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peace
love
joy

Bald Eagles on Lake Obabika

Mating Bald Eagles on Lake Obabika- Copyright © Natasha Mathias 2007
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While I was treking Lake Obabika, I saw several Bald Eagles. I was reminded of this photo I saw last year over on Ottertooth.com.

Here is the link http://www.ottertooth.com/Temagami/PhotoMonth/jun07.htm.

Natasha won photo of the month for this picture.

It was taken right in front of her house.

Is this amazing or what!!!!

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I grew up in southern Ontario during a low point in the life of fish eating hawks and eagles. The use of DDT really took its toll on these carnivores. DDT would build up in the system and cause the eggs to become soft. As a result, the population of Bald Eagles and Osprey reached near extinction levels.

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A couple of years ago, I was out at Belwood Lake, close to my house, and I saw a Bald Eagle. I called the University of Guelph, and they confirmed that although rare, they had been making a come back. I also read how the Bald Eagle was prolific along the Grand River and out to Lake Erie. I am told that there are a growing number of Bald Eagles making their way back to Southern Ontario.

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When I left Thunderbay a few weeks ago, I saw a beautiful Bald Eagle on the Nipigon River. Then, while camping at Obabika, I saw a few more. The pictures I got were no where near as spectacular as this photo. Mine look like little dots. This photo is magnificent!...and probably quite rare.

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I now know some of the story behind the comeback of the Eagle. I am grateful that this is happening in my lifetime. I am also grateful to witness it with my own eyes. The Bald Eagle is so majestic!

Thankyou Natasha for sharing this photo!

James 1:19-25 (New International Version)

Listening and Doing

¹⁹My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ²¹Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

²²Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

Orion Nebula

http://www.pdphoto.org/PictureDetail.php?mat=&pg=8005

http://www.phys.ncku.edu.tw/~astrolab/mirrors/apod_e/ap060120.html

Fishing

Dogs like fishing too!

Smallest Pike I ever Caught!

Now that's better!

Obabika Smallmouth Bass

Self Portrait

Views of Lake Obabika From Ceremony Site

Spirit Rock and Three Sisters in Temagami Old Growth

Canoeing on Chee-skon-abikong.

Beautiful Landscape...Beautiful Day!

Me in front of Spirit Rock...literally...doh!

The famous Temagami Three Sisters Red and White Pine.

Lots of earthly gifts lay at the feet of The Sisters. Feathers, berries, sticks with yarn, pine cones, and wild flowers. These trees are a symbol of the struggle to protect this ancient old growth forest. These simple gifts, gathered from the forest floor lay testament to the love that people have for these trees and this forest. These are more than just trees, and they are more than just symbols. Their full beauty can not be captured on camera, or even the naked eye. They are perpetual beauty. I want my grandchildrens grandchildren to experience this place....and you should too!

Spirit Rock - Part One

I grabbed my paddle, lifejacket and a couple of bottles of water and hiked the trail out to Lake Chee-skon-abikong (Spirit Rock Lake). I was invited to use the canoe by Ojibway Elder and "keeper of the land" Alex Mathias. My intent was to canoe out to Spirit Rock to get pictures and pay my respects.

But, Before I did, I enjoyed a little swim. I try to swim every where I go.

At the other end of the lake, there was a portage, which I hicked. I came across this field of moss. It was quite unique.

Here is a picture of the rocks and water close to Spirit Rock. It was an enchanted place.

Here is Spirit Rock. It is a sacred Native site. There were 2 towers, however one broke and fell down. You can see where the other rock tower was. This site has been used for Vision Quest for hundreds if not thousands of years. I had the good fortune to spend a little time here.

Lake Obabika Campsite - Home for a Day

After seeing the Pictographs and GrandParents Rock, I was driven up to the campsite. They dropped me off on the rocks. This is a well established campsite and home of the yearly "Change of the Season's Ceremony" IN fact I beleive it is this weekend. If you want to know more, drop me a line or go to Ottertooth.com

Here is a picture of my lonely little pack after being dropped off.

Here is the grand potluck table and the fire pit. This was a perfect home base! I was able to leave my gear here and do some great hiking and boating without being weighed down by belongings.

Just before sundown I had company. Brandon and the ladies came for sunset fishing and fellowship. When it started to get too dark, they split. We caught a few bass and took lots of pics.

I decided that I would probably have a better sleep on the sand vs the rock. I also wanted to distance myself from where I had been cooking, just in case the beare were hungry. I slept in a nice big plastic bag. I used my paddle and some rope to create a little tent. Weather was fabulous and my summer bag was more than plenty. No bugs either. Hotel Don....5 star hotel

Lake Obabika - Pictographs

I packed my hiking pack with a pile of goodies, grabbed my paddle, fishing rod and life jacket, strapped it to my ATV and headed north. An hours drive by logging roads later, I was at the home of Alex Mathias on Lake Obabika. My intent was to beg a ride across the lake to the ancient ceremony site at the foot of the old growth. Alex wasn't in, but his daughters were more than willing to oblige, having been forewarned by my friend Brandon.

While I was talking to the ladies, I asked about ancient pictographs on Lake Obabika. They offered to take me there so I could see, touch and take photos. We headed south east to the rock face.

Here is one pictograph. It appears to be an animal of some sort. I asked how old they were and they though a few thousand years old. I did I quick Internet search but haven't found any info on these. They are getting quite faint and faded.

Splashing a little bit of water on the rock, makes the image a little easier to see, although it then made for a bad picture. There were three lines in parallel, one set horizontal and one set vertical.

There were a few that we couldn't make out.

Heading north on the east side of the lake, we passed Grandmother and Grandfather rock. We continued up the coast and they dropped me off at the ancient ceremony site, where I planned to set up camp for a 24 hour sojourn.

Day 4,5 and 6 - Western Temagami ATV Adventure Part Two

Day 4,5 and 6 - Western Temagami ATV Adventure Part One