Home » Boucherville » Walktober 2022 – Parc de la Freyère

Walktober 2022 – Parc de la Freyère

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“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn’t it?”
― Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Taking the time to write has been most difficult. Taking the time to go out for a walk has been nary impossible. I exaggerate, of course, because we can always choose how to spend our time outside of work. It’s been a tiring time so the want was there but the energy was not.

And finally! Weather, time and energy were all in cahoots this past Tuesday (October 18th) giving me a week to put this together and link up to Robin’s annual Walktober fun. I have a weird schedule where one day I work 9-5:30 and the other 6:15-2:45. Tuesday was the early day and the weather was ridiculously perfect. I stopped off at home, did a few things, changed my clothes, grabbed my camera and off I went. Where would the colours still be beautiful? It had been a very long time since I went to the Parc de la Freyère, and even though I did go there for part of my 2018 walk, it was worth a return. I cannot see anyone complaining. Right? Right. I was out from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. and managed to take about 500 photos, give or take. While I joked that it was impossible to take a bad picture, I took more than a few that were immediately chucked as I uploaded.

“October had tremendous possibility. The summer’s oppressive heat was a distant memory, and the golden leaves promised a world full of beautiful adventures. They made me believe in miracles.”
― Sarah Guillory, Reclaimed

On my way to the park, I had to stop and capture the three trees below. Could they more represent?

I decided to park on a side street, giving me the option to walk along Marie-Victorin Blvd which follows the St. Lawrence River through at least four towns – probably more but I’d have to check. That means walking by these gorgeous mansions with view spectacular.

As far as boulevards go, this one is rather intimate, shall we say…

Entering the park, I feared, Are the colours already over?

No, but we are definitely at the tail end, I should think.

I had to walk down this pier to see just what was frolicking in the water. Don’t those clouds look like a distant mountain range?

Herons and egrets and ducks and seagulls, oh my!

And a autumn walk would not be complete without some sumac – the first, along with vines – to show off their colours

“What the light looks like in the pear trees, in October, is a hundred teardrops of gold, the whole orchard weeping.”
― Carole Maso, The Art Lover

There may be no pear trees here, but the light was just so beautiful.

I was not alone to take advantage of this autumnal perfection. This gentleman was flying his drone, surely taking breathtaking pictures, himself. Was a tad annoying when it flew above me like an oversized mosquito, though. (Hey, maybe he captured me capturing him!)

I had to include these for you, Crispina 😉

At this point, I figured I’d stick around and await the sunset, which was scheduled for 6:04. I continued walking around clicking away because it was all just so gorgeous. No editing is necessary because the light is just perfect!

The sun was starting to make its descent and the air chilled rather quickly. I did curse those clouds that were going to hide most of the sunset!

The sky was so soft (another for you, Crispina! 😉 )

I’m enjoying the quiet when I hear in the distance “Midnight Train to Georgia”. I film it, not knowing where it comes from (apologies – I thought I was going slow!) because for some strange reason, it just fits!

The culprit:

It’s starting to get rather cold so I decided to head back, but not before capturing this little seagull making his v-pattern.

The herons drying their wings and the egrets just relaxing caught my eye.

Suddenly the egrets took flight and were circling, trying to decide where to spend the night. Something was disturbing them so they would turn around and look again. It was getting harder and harder to focus and capture them.

As I also circled towards to road and my car, I watched them – all eight! – land in the trees and try to settle. My camera is not equipped for such low light and I had no tripod but I did manage to rest on a the bridge rail and sort of get a half-assed decent shot. Only by manipulating the photo can you see I managed to get 7 out of 8 in the shot. I, for one, am pretty pleased.

I declared myself done but as I got to the other side of that little pond, I figured, I’d try once more, this time leaning on a guard rail. And again, only by manipulating the photo can you see I got all eight. Joy!

I think I have more than abused your time for this year’s Walktober. I hope you enjoyed my walk as much as I did sharing it.

125 thoughts on “Walktober 2022 – Parc de la Freyère”

  3. Thank you for taking us on your colourful Autumn walk Dale … I thoroughly enjoyed your wonderful photo story. .. Spring has disappeared here in Ballarat, and rain is predicted for every day during my stay here … but that’s ok, I’m here to rest and relax …

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Dear Dale,

    What a gorgeous gallery of colour. 😉 Sight and sound. The only thing missing is scent and that I can imagine. Thank you for sharing your walkabout. Of course I’m looking at some for painting. 😉 On the other hand…At any rate, I enjoyed.

    Shalom and lotsa brisk autumn hugs,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Rochelle,

      I thank you (spelling noted 😉). There was a lovely scent in the air and the sound of the various insects was all the symphony I needed (besides that little tune!) So very glad you joined me and you know you need not be shy…

      Shalom and Lotsa leafy love,

      Dale

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  14. Pingback: Poetry — Octo-eventide – Our Literary Journey

  15. Wow, Dale. I don’t use the word ‘gorgeous’ often, but this is too wonderful. Superb photography accompanied by your skilled writing and well-crafted descriptions.

    It’s a shame that we only get one fleeting October per year. And yours is so much better than mine, due to geography. I miss it all. But even here, October is my favorite month.

    Four years ago I wrote/posted an October poem. I replaced (hopefully with your permission) the picture with one from this collection.

    Poetry — Octo-eventide

    ‘Well done’ does not seem like enough. We miss your posts, my friend. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Walktober 2022 is amazing, Dale. Your diligence in tracking those egrets is very impressive. Stories behind photos are quite often as interesting as the pictures themselves, as in that case. Maybe no pear trees but as you noted, the light is absolutely beautiful in those shots!

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  20. Q

    Shots, shots and more shot! But when you’re talking autumn, the shots are even more interesting than usual. Which is saying much. I find the fall to be the most interesting of the four seasons, probably because it handles mortality the way everyone should; with grace and dignity and endless beauty. I dig that.

    You of course have outdone yourself with this collection. Rocking the walk and taking names . . or in this instance, captures. Aplenty. And one more beautiful than the one that preceded it, so there’s that!

    It may be fall, but that camera of yours is sizzling as if it was the 4th of July!

    B

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  26. I really enjoyed your walk too Dale. Beautiful colours and images of the evening sky. How wonderful to capture all the egrets sitting in the trees and bushes. I always think they look so out of place high up like that! I especially liked the photo of the pier… I can imagine walking down it to the water’s edge… Thanks for sharing!

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  27. THANK you for sharing your walk with me/us. It’s incredibly beautiful. Our colors here in the Boston area were/are quite similar – a better Fall than expected because of the drought. The last few weeks added rain and chillier temps, which supposedly aided the colors. You captured the light so well. The only annoying thing is the DRONE. Urgh… I dislike them – find them taking away my privacy as well as the quiet in a beautiful scene.
    But never mind. Your photos and walked soothed me. xo

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  28. I like the imagery of “a hundred teardrops of gold, the whole orchard weeping.” That is perfect, and while we have no pear trees, I feel the same way about seeing maple trees do their thing. Your photos are lovely, timeless even. Thanks for sharing them here.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Dale, these are just….knockout photos. They take my breath away. The colours, the vistas… the pylons! Everything, everything… the sky, the water, the birds, the trees. I am glad you found the energy and time to do this. Bowled over, truly. 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

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  30. Beautiful, beautiful pictures and post! I love autumn when the summer heat is over, trees change their colours and the days are still sunny and warm. Actually, it’s too warm for this time of year … we’re having around 23 degrees by day … and my tomatoes are still growing on my balcony! Have a great weekend and happy Halloween Monday!

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    • Thank you, MJCD! So glad you enjoyed. It was a crazy 25 degrees yesterday! Today, woke up to 0. What the hell? I cannot wait to plant a garden next year… Have a wonderful weekend, you too! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you so much, Terri. So glad you enjoyed. I was beyond chuffed that the light was on point, the leaves still beautiful and even that sunset – such as it was…

      Liked by 1 person

  35. Gorgeous shots of October, Thunder. It’s one of my fave months.
    I can tell you were inspired. It’s a wonderful feeling.
    I even love a reasonable winter’s day. The trees look like lace on sticks.
    Thank you for this beauty! xoxoxo

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  36. I don’t like it…..

    I ❤️ it! Tks 4 taking me with you on your walk. The one prob I have with sumit: you look too hard and already all the leaves have fallen…
    A glorious sunny day 😎 that one. Tu devrais les emmagasiner dans ton cœur.

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    • Awwww…

      Thanks so much for joining me on my walk. I know what you mean. The trees are all bare except one or two… sigh.
      It was such a beautiful day. Mets-en que je l’emmagasine!! xoxo ma belle Kiki!

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