Moments to remember

The wild winds and rolling surf this weekend made the lighthouse an even more interesting subject to photograph. While the surfers warmed themselves with some hot chocolate! -- imagine! --hot chocolate to end the summer -- I ventured down the shore to capture a few photo memories and moments.

The sky was changing each minute as the clouds rolled by, thanks to the strong wind. I was perched on some of the rocks on the shore, bracing myself against the wind, and kept snapping, snapping, as the wind whipped hair and spray in my face. I must have taken about 50 shots of the lighthouse.

This is one of my favourites -- happy to capture the gulls who soared so effortlessly through the air and the great swells Lake Huron was offering.

A second later, and a shift to my right and I got this shot as I pointed the camera over to the waves, now awash in late afternoon sun. I love the look of the angry sky contrasted with the shimmering shore.

Back to the lighthouse and now I noticed there was someone on the pier, braving the waves and the wind. Okay -- another subject to work into the composition, adding some perspective to the shot.

When I zoomed in, I was shocked to see that this brave soul was Shaun! What a wonderful surprize! This is my favourite shot of the weekend. Love the sheen of the rocks, the swell of the sea-like lake in the background, the spray of the waves, and Shaun's casual over-the-shoulder look at the mighty Lake Huron. I couldn't have planned a better shot.

And this is another angle, with Chantry Island in the background.

Back home for a yummy breakfast-for-supper dinner, Maggie and I tackle the pancakes, while Christine coaches Jack on how to do the scrambled eggs. Oh yes -- the foam on my head -- a cottage tradition to plop some suds from the sink on some unsuspecting cook or diswasher. Julia succeeded at making me the target this time.

The winds died down on Sunday, and there was more sunshine, but not much heat as Julia and I would have liked as we cuddle for our traditioal end-of-summer shot. "Summer lovin', had [us] a blast..." and a kiss!

Maggie and her friend, Tori said farewell to Sign Guy from the bridge with their own tribute.

After a trip to Kimberly's for the final purchases of the summer, and an ice cream from Midsummer Cafe, it was down to the beach to say goodbye. Again we were the only ones there, kind of sad to see the beach so empty after such a busy summer. At one point, during our China Beach week, we had counted close to 50 beach umbrellas on our little beach. Today there was lots of room to do some cartwheels, where just yesterday the girls had been jumping in the waves.

The fab four say goodbye.

Final walk up the dune path

Summer smiles, bid goodbye to the lake until next year.

Thank you, Southampton for a wonderful summer. See you next year.