Finn playing with the ice on a frozen Killarney Lake. We have had cool temperatures and no wind or rain the last week or so and our lakes have frozen over. Folks have been skating on Josephine Lake as well.

On a journey through rural Ontario this morning as I visit family in Thornbury and Toronto before heading to Montreal tonight.

We are passing through the countryside south of Barrie. I just saw a sign that took me back 30 years. Outside a little restaurant the sign proudly advertised “homeburgers”

That made me smile because it is a word of this country only. A homeburger is a hamburger made fresh from ground beef rather than one that comes as a pre made patty. I have lived in British Columbia for 18 years and have almost forgotten that word.

Travelling through this country stirs my old blood memory.

A beautiful afternoon here on Bowen Island where the annual polar bear swim took place. More than 100 people gathered around a beach fire at Bowen Bay and on the count of 10 plunged into the chilly waters. Finn and I did it as is our ritual, cleansing ourselves for the new year.

Happy New Year to you all.

A dry summer and fall has switched to cold rain and high snow.

This mornings rainbow on Howe Sound.

First snow as seen from the Bowen Queen, our replacement ferry, while our regular boat is in for an annual refit.

And a not very good photo of a small pod of dolphins seen off our starboard side while heading home.