Wandering Along the Thames River (Ontario)

Wandering Along the Thames River (Ontario)
27 August 2008

For me to understand the past, I need to see the world today as it is, good, bad and indifferent. Your mileage may vary. Part of what I find so interesting in this city is the Thames River, and the variety of plant, wildlife and even just the little hidden spots that exist right in the core area of our city.

The following photographs were taken in the evening hours of late August with my trusty Nikon D40. I haven't shot too much 4x5 this summer with all the rain. I've reduced all images to 150 dpi, however I do occasionally sell or lend a photograph to the odd magazine, and I even have one photo credit for a CD for the group "Born Hammers" - web site being : http://www.bornhammers.com/

So if there is one you want to use, and you need a high resolution version, contact me by e-mail at: joneil AT start DOT ca

The photo above was how I ended one of my trips, a nice sight to come home too. All photographs here are from the downtown core area, from the old Victoria Hospital to the Forks of the Thames.

A homeless encampment near the river. Not uncommon in summer months, and mostly from what i have seen, closer to the core area than farther.

Can you guess where this view is? It's quite majestic in person.




A very common sight this year, more so than in previous years. The large amount of rain & moisture has something to do with it I suspect.



Bunny!! Not uncommon at all, and I have seen many other forms of wildlife. Evening hours near sunset seems to be the best time to catch various animals with the camera.



One of many trails.




Days like this I wish I had some single malt in my water bottle. :)





More trails, primitive & paved.

The plant life is amazing, and I have just shown some of the more obvious examples. See, you don't need to travel many far miles to see some incredible scenery, just look around you.
until later

Why History?

Why History?
11 August 2008

Perhaps before I wander on too far or too fast, a brief examination of why history is important to me, and should be to all of you.

I really became interested in history when I had to go for medical testing for a genetic disease that is prevalent in my family. In fact, there are THREE genetic diseases and conditions that are passed from parent to child in my family, but lucky me, I have none of those - no I have a FOURTH disease/condition.

I have the exact same illness that killed my great-grandfather, but in my case, it costs $20 a year for me to not only stay alive, but healthy. I was sickly all my life, as a child, teenager, even in my 20s and 30's. Today at age 46 I am healthier now than I was at 26.

The problem was, my condition is extremely rare for children, so years of testing, shots, hospital stays and a few close calls with the Grim Reaper all might have been avoided if we knew then what we know now. A whole life growing up sickly, all that could of been avoided for one line of information and $20 a year.

That's why genealogy & history are important! We are finding more and more genetic links and predispositions to many illnesses and diseases and it is the simplest of things that leads us to the information we vitally need. Who is sick in your family, and why? Are these not answers we shuold all strive to find out, as much as we can?

In my case, I can tell which ancestors in my family likely had my condition simply by the contents of the old garbage pit behind their homes from 100 years ago - all I have to do is look for a certain type of soda bottle.

Imagine if your quality of life, even life itself might be improved and/or saved all by the evidence of a few soda bottles in an old garbage pit in your backyard.

Sometimes, not always, but sometimes, that's what is it all about.