John has provided us with a very inspirational challenge this week with the theme of Places Shaped by Water!
From John, The Challenge: Share up to six waterscapes—images where water shapes the scene. Choose your favorite places, your favorite photos, or a single location that inspires you. Natural or man‑made, peaceful or wild—if water helps tell the story, it’s fair game.
When I read about this weeks challenge, we were at our family cottage in Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada- regularly referred to as Saugeen Shores, with my foot up sitting in our gazebo that over looks the beach. I re-injured my knee this week from an ice fall injury last winter. I brought my camera bag with us, however also being realistic that I wouldn’t be moving too far or too much. Honestly I was feeling down, its been a frustrating injury. As I sat in the gazebo, the lake was coming alive, first with the geese on the beach, then with the sailboats out near the island and then sea doos into the bay. The perfect story to tell of the ‘last beach day of the summer’ this Labour Day weekend! I eagerly but slowly and carefully, went to get my camera bag.
I purposely brought a lens to test its reach and my goodness did the beach ever provide the scenery!
Our family cottage has been in our family for about 60 years. This view will never tire, its priceless in so many ways. Although we are a distance from town, its a quieter area and yet still walkable and bike trails into town. Looking across the water is the Port Elgin Harbour. We are only just over an hour from town, so its the perfect distance for a mind-body-soul reset for whoever may need it. Weekends could range from 2-22 and any number in between!
Chantry Island a popular destination when boating around Port Elgin or Southampton. They even have an island tour you can go on to view the lighthouse. The island is home for hundreds, if not thousands of birds. The cormorant is the most common there.
Viewing into Port Elgin harbour. For my own childhood as well as my own kids, this was a hot spot with the mini golf and train station, the restaurant in the harbour for ice cream or fries. Now, as my oldest is turning 20 soon, sadly the last couple of years this area has changed. Although it is still a hot spot with the harbour and beautiful beaches – including an incredible breakwall, the mini golf and train station was removed years ago and the restaurant is now only open a short time in the summer. Its amazing to see the difference, of something I grew up with, as well as my own kids, now with our wee neice and nephew and their own beach memories.
In the corner of the bay, meeting up with the public beach in Gobles Grove is a small boat launch. It isn’t maintained by the town, so as nature changes the launch changes, sometimes its easy and other times you have to back in further. A huge convenience for the cottagers who have sea doos or small boats and not have to drive into the harbour!
You could walk from the Gobles Grove public beach to the main beach, that you can see in the background. A popular place in the summer months!
My summer view. My place that brings me so much peace and solace. Even for just 24 hours, the reset that my nervous system feels is second to none. I am so grateful that one day over 60 years ago my grandparents took a risk – for themselves, their children and grand children’s future. As well as so many family and friends over the years. Truly grateful we have a place we can all gather as a family and have extended family and friends too. A summer family compound at times and my heart feels so full. Our place is on a beautiful road, where many older cottages are being taken down and some very large homes are built in their place. Its been an interesting shift, of how our street has changed over the past 40+ years of my lifetime.
Yesterday afternoon, after I took these pictures, my brother in law saw someone drive by and recognized them from our small town, who circled back and we had a nice visit with. This is the true cottage feeling – its not perfect but its so full of love. The variety of years of photos all over the walls, of people and kids young and old.
Hope you enjoyed my share of along the Gobles Grove waters edge in Saugeen Shores – Port Elgin for “Places Shaped By Water”!
Discover more from Your Life As Art Photography by Pam
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
