Thursday, September 3, 2009

SKYWATCH FRIDAY – Three Views of Pelee Island (Lake Erie)

(click to enlarge)

I haven’t been there, but I’m told that Pelee Island is about a half-hour plus/minus from Leamington by private boat; the ferry takes an hour longer. It has about 300 permanent residents, and a huge summer tourist bump that can be anything from 1,500 to 3,000. It has its own mayor and other officials, and other services necessary to an agricultural community. Because of its southerly location, its mild climate is classified as Carolinian, which makes it excellent for growing. It has a long history of vineyards, as well as soybeans, wheat, and corn. Pelee Island is the largest (42 sq. kms/ 16 sq. miles) of the Erie Islands, an archipelago divided between Canada and the U.S.


Those are the stats, the facts. But for me Pelee is a beautiful phantom land that floats and shimmers in and out of view on the lake horizon, retreating and advancing as the light and seasons change. Some days it’s magnified, almost touchable, some days completely invisible in the mist, like ancient Avalon itself.



Music option:




To view more skies from all around our beautiful planet, or to join in, visit SKYWATCH. Live links after 2:30 p.m. EST time or 19:30 GMT
Video from YouTube member enieczka

25 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Gorgeous skies, marvelous shots, wonderful music and an interesting look at Pelee Island! That's what makes for a perfect Sky Watch post and you've done it again, Deborah!

Have a beautiful day!

Sylvia

bobbie said...

Deborah! Such beautiful layers of blue - and then the pink - and then the paler shades! Mystical and magical

sgreerpitt said...

I had no idea there were islands big enough for people to live on in Lake Erie!

Regina said...

These are soft and perfect!
Great skies. Nice music.
"Regina"

Great Grandma Lin said...

fascinating, never heard of this island-it really looks mysterious

Aleta said...

Yes, like Avalon. This is beautiful, magical. Thanks so much for sharing the pictures and the information!

Dewdrop said...

Love the shots... the second is my favorite with the pink tufts of cloud drifting by... lovely!

Word verification is "unbil" Seeing as how that is my wonderful groom's name (Bill), I think not! Never will I un-Bill. ;o)

Carletta said...

The middle one is definitely my favorite! Gorgeous colors!
Thanks for the info on the island -agriculture community was somewhat of a surprise to me.
Enya - always beautiful music.

My post is here: Carletta’s Captures.

Anonymous said...

OMG, it is like Avalon. Great photos, Deb, I have heard a lot about the island. I know it is an excellent place to go birding.

Wonderful post.

Amanda said...

In that first photo it is difficult to tell where sky ends and sea begin...absolutely stunning!

I love the pastels in the second photo =) and the tranquility is tangible in the third. Great skywatching!

Unknown said...

i feel relaxed looking at your photos. lovely shades of colors.

Guy D said...

These are excellent photos, thanks for sharing.

Have a great weekend
Guy
Regina In Pictures

EG CameraGirl said...

Pelee Island sounds wonderful as it reveals itself then hides in the mist. Avalon? Sounds very intriguing! Maybe there is a connection there. ;-)

Pearl Maple said...

Thank you for introducing us to Pelee with your pretty photo of the sky. Your last post about the bird and book review was really very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Tara R. said...

A beautiful scene. It does have an air of mystery about it.

Quiet Paths said...

I really enjoyed your description of the island. It is just far enough out of vision to be magical. When we are on the coast Destruction Island is very much like that for me.

Quiet Paths said...

PS, that middle photo is magical just in it's delivery of rose and pink hues!

JDS said...

The pictures are good, but I especially love your prose. It really puts the pictures of Pelee in context, yet at the same time makes them enigmatic, which is quite a feat.

SandyCarlson said...

That looks like a marvelous place.

Thanks for the dose of Enya.

Naturegirl said...

Nice images of Pelee..I've NOT been there for years...I'm due for a trip there! Perhaps soon! I'll let you know when... aren't you near there! hugs NG

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Great pictures of Pelee... I had no idea there were that many people there in the summer... Wow!!! Is it in the USA or Canada?????

Love Enya... Her music is always so nice to listen to.

Hugs,
Betsy

Cloudia said...

What lovely words!
What wonderful photos!
How lovely your imagination!
Your blog is an Avalon in a magic place with a special queen
to me,
Deborah


Aloha

Comfort Spiral

Dianne said...

I love the clouds in the middle shot
and the green grass! so lovely

Kathie Brown said...

How beautiful! It is like a dream or a phantom. Lovely photos too. I can just imagine how it must be to have this dream land floating on your horizan!

kesslerdee said...

Gorgeous pictures and your words just carried me along with you...