| THE EXQUISITE LANDSCAPE | |||||||
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York Redoubt - East Pine Island Pond | Our point of departure is the church near York Redoubt. Walking along the old road next to the fort, we look across a stand of red tinged maples to the sea. A little further on we notice some lichens and polypody ferns and some white birch catkins. These young aspen leaves delight the eye as the sun shines through them. We now begin to walk downhill to East Pine Island Pond. Just before reaching it we see these yellow willow blossoms. At the lake we see that many different kinds of trees are sprouting and blossoming. |
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West Pine Island Pond - Granite Ridge between West Pine Island and Duck Pond | We now go up on to the ridge between East and West Pine Island Ponds, and have a view of West Pine Island Pond. The sprouting and blossoming trees paint the landscape in pastel shades which contrast with the bright colours of autumn. We go down to West Pine Island Pond. This green rock tripe, growing on a granite boulder by the lake, is very noticeable today, because of the weather. Even harder to overlook is a sequence of white tree fungi. We pass many more granite boulders on which rock tripe and lichen are growing. On this boulder there is some rock tripe resembling leaves. As we head up towards the granite ridge between West Pine Island Pond and Duck Pond, we stumble upon a lone white violet growing in the woods. Once we are on the crest of the ridge, we can enjoy the view over the birches and maples towards East Pine Island Pond. Later we have a view across the valley of the McIntosh Run. While we are on the ridge we also see this sprouting tamarack and British soldier lichen growing amidst rock tripe. |
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West Pine Island Pond - McIntosh Run | Now we leave the granite ridge between West Pine Island Pond and Duck Pond, and return to West Pine Island Pond. On our way to the McIntosh Run, we pass a spruce with small purple cones, and some small mushrooms in sphagnum moss. We find the McIntosh Run gushing between sprouting and blossoming trees, on its way from West Pine Island Pond to Power Pond. |
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East Pine Island Pond - Herring Cove | From the McIntosh Run we proceed past East Pine Island Pond towards the Purcell's Cove Road. Just before reaching the road we see these blossoming mountain maples in a hollow. The intensity of their spring colour rivals that of autumn. The same is true of these red maple blossoms and these other star-like maple blossoms, when they are viewed at close range. We continue to Herring Cove, where we take a close look at some grey-green willow catkins and some yellow willow blossoms. In Herring Cove we have a view of the Atlantic Ocean. We also have a view across Halifax Harbour to McNab's Island. Further on we come to Herring Cove harbour, which is actually the mouth of the McIntosh Run. |
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