Rondeau Park - Day 5 through Day 8

This afternoon it's raining lightly and tomorrow we're heading for home.  Therefore this may be our last chance to do a blog for this trip.  Enjoy the photos.

Downy Woodpecker tapping on our awning

Pair of Turtles on Marsh Trail



May Apple flower




Wild Geranium on Marsh Trail




Rondeau Bay shoreline



Turtles & Redwing Blackbird - Marsh Trail

Parks staff removing another dead Ash tree



Fungi at base of tree



Honeysuckle bush



Breakfast at the Park store

Selfie

Sycamore tree

Patch of Violets



Who said Dandelions aren't  beautiful?

Swamp on Rondeau Road (near Visitor Centre)



Young buck on Rondeau Road (near Visitor Centre)

Rondeau Park area update

 

 

RONDEAU PARK VISITOR CENTRE

 

On Friday, May 23 we drove down to the Visitor Centre and took a few photographs.  The weather was still a bit cool so we spent the rest of the day just taking life easy.  

Rondeau Park Visitor Centre

Deer display at Visitor Centre

Spiny Soft Shelled Turtle display.  Shell covered with White sand.

Bald Eagle display

Red Headed Woodpecker & Red Wing Blackbird (female)

Tulip Tree display

Bird feeding / viewing area at Visitor Centre

 

 

OIL MUSEUM OF CANADA

 

On Saturday, May 24 we drove to Oil Springs to visit the Oil Museum of Canada.  While many people know that this oil field was the first in Ontario (1858), few people realize this was also the site of North America's first commercial oil well and the first "gusher" well in 1861.  When the "oil boom" ultimately tapered off, Lambton County oil men took their expertise afar to develop oil fields in foreign territories such as Venezuela, Java, Persia and Russia.  The Museum includes various artifacts brought from such countries when the men returned home to Lambton County.

 

One hundred and fifty years after the first discovery of oil in Lambton County, many of those wells are still pumping crude oil which goes to Imperial Oil in Sarnia for refining.  Many of the wells still use the same "jerker rod" and "jerker cable" technology to power the pumps.  The major difference is that the "jerker rod power houses" now contain electric motors rather than steam engines.

 

Oil Museum building

An active, "jerker rod" operated oil well on the Museum property

Site of first oil well at Oil Springs

"Spring Pole" drill rig system used for drilling some of the early wells.



Jerker Rods emerging from the Power Station

Interior of an operating, Jerker Rod Power Station

Newer style, electrically powered oil pump

Bridge over Black Creek

Very simple, "jerker cable" operated pump near Black Creek

A present day oil producer at Oil Springs

 

 

 

Rondeau Provincial Park - May 2014

Thundershowers were in the weather forecast yesterday both for Waterloo and Rondeau Provincial Park.  However, to our pleasant surprise the weather from start to finish (i.e., loading up, driving and setting up camp) couldn't have been better.  We did see dark clouds last evening and heard some thunder, but the rain didn't materialize.

Once again we are on our favourite site #43 which historically has been excellent for watching birds.   As we write this blog there are four Rose Breasted Grossbeaks (3 males + 1 female) on our window feeders.  At any given time there are at least a half dozen Baltimore Orioles on the Oriole feeders and adjacent bushes.

The Park maintenance staff recently cut down some dead Ash trees and yesterday afternoon they tried to run the branches through their wood chipper.  After belching blue smoke for about an hour, the chipper motor died so the crew quit early.   This morning they were back in full force either with a different machine or at least a tuned up engine.   In a couple of hours they were finished.

Unfortunately the winter ice took its toll on the government pier that extends into Rondeau Bay, to the point that the decking material had to be removed.  The pier is now closed while the Parks staff consider their options.  On a more positive note, a new washroom facility has been constructed on Rondeau Road for day use visitors.

We hope you enjoy our pictures.

Remains of the government pier

Another view of the pier

Our campsite # 43

Male Rose Breasted Grossbeak

 

Female Rose Breasted Grossbeak

Male Baltimore Oriole

Oriole enjoying an Orange

 

Another pic of an Oriole

New washroom facility