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Tuesday 11 February 2020

The wharf in winter

The boats are long gone from this place. What remains is rooted here, standing against the elements, totally unprotected. It is silent, except for the wind which whistles around the old fishing shacks.





I pull up my hood as I look around, thinking if I stayed a minute too long I’d become an icy statue permanently affixed to the wharf.


Conway Narrows on the northwest shore of Prince Edward Island is frozen and Milligan’s Wharf, a protected area for recreational and commercial boats, is encased in ice. 





Looking out to sea, the sand bar which parallels the shore is barely visible, itself entombed in ice and snow.





Nearby, the buoys which mark the channel for the safe passage of boats are piled together, attached to their concrete anchors. They add a splash of colour to the white and grey as they wait for the return of the boats and warmer weather.




Walking around the fishing shacks I notice that winter blue, the colour of the overcast sky so common this time of year. The muted light creates a mid morning twilight. 





Tire marks in the snow proceed onto the ice. Someone chanced a vehicle breaking into the icy depths. 





While this cold has probably thickened the ice enough to support a vehicle, I wouldn’t take a chance. How about you?


27 comments:

Liz Hinds said...

No, definitely not! It looks so bleak and dramatic!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Looks chilly, very chilly indeed!

Anvilcloud said...

So artistically observant

DJan said...

Brrr! No, there's no way I'd try to drive on that ice. Falling through would be fatal. But the pictures are very enjoyable, as long as I'm safe inside. :-)

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

My word, that looks cold. There would have to be a pretty dire emergency to get me out on that ice.

Linda said...

Not in this lifetime!

Stark but beautiful photos Marie.

You two amaze me. I’d be home in front of the fire.

Secondary Roads said...

That sky looks like most winter days in Michigan. However, today is sunny and we enjoy that. Beautiful description of the off season.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

I would never walk or drive on the ice, my hubby will walk on our lake if it is frozen. Beautiful views, I like the colorful buoys. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy week ahead!

William Kendall said...

Wonderfully moody skies. I would not take that chance.

Angela said...

Not me!! It's so pretty but soooo cold!! Only men with the vital experiences of such a landscape can survive there.

Debbie said...

i would not even walk on that ice, i am always cautious!!

your pictures are really beautiful, they sure do tell a story about where you live!!

Elephant's Child said...

Love the images and the poetry of your words. And no, I would not risk that ice.

Ruth Hiebert said...

There is no way I would drive onto the ice. goodness, I even hesitate to walk on it.

photowannabe said...

Magical...I can Hear the Silence!
Beautiful, still and very cold.
Wonderful photos Marie.

Barb said...

I love your winter landscape. The photos show a blue calm. It's cold here in CO, too!

Rhodesia said...

No way would I be out in that weather full stop let alone drive on the ice!!! Beautiful photos though. Diane

At Home In New Zealand said...

I cannot even imagine what cold like that is like. It would be incredible to see seawater frozen like that, but I don't think I would be tempted to walk upon it let alone drive out there.

Joanne Noragon said...

I'm currently reading Ian Frazier's Travels in Siberia. There is a lot of driving on ice roads.

Rose said...

Another something you could not pay me enough to do! Just not my type of adventure. It looks so cold and makes me feel lonely looking at these.

baili said...

oh this is divine to look at dear Marie :)
so beautifully written thoughts consumed from views so serene yet talkative :)

i felt almost there standing in the middle of white silence!
hugs!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Terra firma is my choice. Every year a few vehicle go through the ice.

Ginnie Hart said...

Are the days of skating on the lake and ice fishing long gone for most of us who grew up with them, Marie, I wonder?? I have so many happy memories of winter in Michigan at our lake cottage. And of course, here in the Netherlands, kids were basically born on their bikes and skates...but no longer! (sigh) But at least you have SOME ice and snow there, which is more than we can say for the past winters here.

Tabor said...

Those photos are like some works of art I have seen in museums. Simple, stark and peaceful.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Absolutely not Marie, but then I'm definitely not the adventurous type 😊 Amazing images here, I can't even imagine that kind of cold..

Retired Knitter said...

Nope!! I wouldn't chance my own body on ice - much less a heavy car!

Barbara said...

That car on the ice is the stuff movies are made about.The blue sky is beautiful in pictures.

Catarina said...

:)) you did the right thing.
Icy surfaces can be very intimidating.