Wallpapers

Wallpaper February 2007

Wallpaper February 2007

Last month’s scene was an incredibly difficult one and as I suspected, no one correctly identified it, despite the fact that several were convinced they knew exactly where it was. That’s precisely why I picked it. It is so very obviously the 1000 Islands that it could be almost any one of them, but no place else. 

Why is it so immediately recognizable as here? I guess for the simple reason that most of the islands are the granite roots of ancient mountains that make up the Frontenac Arch and each has been carved and polished in much the same way by the glaciers of numerous ice ages.

I’ve often noted when exploring islands that each seems completely different with its own unique character, as is the view of the River from each, as though it's an entirely different place, yet in many ways they are all very similar. Don Ross’ book “St. Lawrence Islands National Park” describes a typical 1000 island. When I first read it, I was convinced he’d written it while sitting on mine, but the description applies to most of them.

As it happens, this one is Savage Island, one of a group of seven near the mouth of Jones Creek and roughly opposite Crossover Island Lighthouse. Out for a morning row in my skiff, I couldn’t resist landing and capturing the calm as the sun burned its way through the fog.

Last Month's Wallpaper:

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Wallpaper January 2007

Wallpaper January 2007

Fellow 1000 Islanders,

December’s “Christmas tree” was a tough one for most 1000 Islanders.   

This determined willow sits on a microscopic island (with only its trunk showing in high water) locally known as Toniata, the original name of Jones Creek and also of an Indian village located here (or nearby) when Father Simon Lemoyne, a French missionary became the first white man to visit the area early in the 17th century.

The island sits in the middle of a very pretty bay, visible from near the eastern end of the 1000 Islands Parkway but hard to spot from the River unless you make an effort to explore the intricacies of the Canadian shoreline.  The bay also provides access to the extensive Jones Creek wetland/wilderness area, which is now protected forever as part of the Thousand Islands Biosphere Reserve.

Last month's wallpaper:

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The Notification List

One afternoon at a book signing, a lady shared with me a profound statement. "The River chooses some". Those of us who were chosen, spend winters longing to get back. To help my winter longings and yours too, each winter month I enjoy sharing a computer screensaver image to help infuse a little summer warmth into your day. I also outline the latest additions to ThousandIslandsLife.com online magazine. If you would like to receive these images and updates, please add your email address to the notification list using the form below. It will not be shared elsewhere.