SILENCE IS DEAFENING

Storm Brewing  - Oxtongue Lake  Pencil Sketch.  November 2024

Several days ago, despite the fact that it was mid November and cold, we travelled to Algonquin Park for a few days. To reiterate, it was cold, minuses in the morning sometimes with heavy frost and with day time temperatures never reaching the teens celsius. Still, it was very enjoyable. There was no getting out of the car and sitting sketching. I'm old, and 4C with a windchill too cold for these old bones, but I did manage a couple of sketches from inside the car. Also, on the plus side we experienced something that most who visit the park never experience, quiet. We stopped at Canisbay, Smoke, and Opeongo, Lakes, parked, turn the motor off and listen to the silence. It was deafening, no bird songs, no wind in the pines, just overwhelming silence. A bit eerie to not hear something. An experience to remember.

We're home now, the sounds are overwhelming, cars racing back and forth to the local school dropping off, and picking up children, dogs barking, people chatting, car radios blaring, squirrels chattering, kids screaming....I do wish that I was back in Algonquin. No doubt by now, should one park beside a northern lake, you can probably hear the snow falling......