On a surface level I find almost anything quite interesting as long as its not to repetative. I am especially interested in geography, the earth, exploration and gems. As for a creative outlet I enjoy writing and have just published the book, "Rockwatching", adventures above and below Ontario". My publisher was Boston Mills. Anyone who enjoys the outdoors and rock related things will enjoy this work. I am almost finished a book on mineral collecting in the north. I hope to call it "Rockhounding, The Experience of the North." My inspirations are the natural world around me, When I see the processes I am invigorated and feel the need to share the wonder. Writing is my medium of expression and it is one of my artistic outlets. My wife, a gifted artist had opened my eyes to creativity and I now realize that it lies dormant in most of us and when frustrated and depressed the harried individual would do well to turn to their creativity.
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Hey there, Mick. My name’s Eric. I found your blog (nice work) from your comment at my Drip and Spew blog.
I was just curious: how did you find the blog?
My main site is at http://www.bingorage.blogspot.com
I’ve got an entry about a trip north of Peterborough to the Wasaw (Warsaw?) caves and the petroglyph site in my March (2006) archives.
Thanks.
:Eric
Hi Mick – You visited my grandmothers farm on the weekend interested in the location of the vanishing river. Although my grandmother isn’t interested in exploring the property, I’m interested in the potential discovery and am interested in helping you uncover the mystery behind the vanishing river at Skinner’s Marsh.
Please let me know what particular information you have on the finding and what specifically you’re looking for and I could look initially and use the findings to pursuade my grandmother otherwise.
Regards
RM
Hi Mick,
Thanks for you message on my blog (Cuda Adventures) and yoiur compliment..
Like you, I am curious about travel and new experiences and I am attempting to improve my english as a hobby..
Your blog is really interesting..keep up the good work
Dave Reilly
http://baracuda.wordpress.com
Where are you? Not SUDBURY? Omigawd another Canuck. I too am reverent about all things rock. I grew up on the Shield. Gawd I miss the rock under my feet. The feel of it and yes, the smell of it. Like rust and iron.
I’m so glad you posted on Hedonistic Pleasureseeker. I followed the link.
I’m gonna sniffle a bit now, and read. Homesick blues…
Thanks for your comments on my Madaraka day blog.
Hey Pony, yes I am indeed another Canuck and like you I love the rock – for that matter I just love the outdoors. I am a gemmologist and have a particular fascination for gem crystals but I love caving and am fascinated by old mines as well. I suppose Tolkien would have classified me as a dwarf or some other dour-rockloving being.
Hiya Mick,
Thanks for stopping by at my blog, which I must confess that hasn’t been update in a while. I find myself doing things in impulses all the time. I would update my blog everyday and twice a day sometimes and some other days it sits for for a month or so. I am really interested in travels and would love to go and tour Canada someday. Good blog!
Hi Mick,
Thanks for leaving your comments on my blog. I’ll pass on your kind offer of the photos of Cobalt as I intend to take a bunch myself sometime in the next year or so, all going well.
My wife, a former membership secretary of the Canadian Gemmological Association, wonders who is your gemmologist friend in Cobalt?
cheers,
Do-Ming
Hello Mickster
It’s your lovely sister Mippy and her wayward mate. LOVE YOUR BLOG mister! Fun, interesting, great! We will visit it more often. Love your slight tendency to choose the sensational as you are of course most sensational.
See you soon
Sensation! ah, I see you have been speaking to mum and dad. Mick
[...] Matt found a pretty cool weblog called Rock Watching. This weblog is maintained by Mick Gordon, who likes to get squished between a rock and a hard place. It’s an interesting read (as far as I have come, with my limited time this past week) and quite inspiring. Geeks love caves. I know I’ll go over this for Dungeons & Dragons inspirations as soon as I get back from my next vacation. Mick, consider yourself blogrolled!
[...]
hello,
you left a comment on my blog at cindydam.wordpress.com. it’t time for me to pay a visit. seem liked you have an interesting life. yes. when i was about 16, i wanted to join the military. but being an only girl in a asian family, my parents would not let me, and I would scared them to death had I insited being a soldier.
I saw that you use wordpress.com as a hosting site, so it means that you have a free account with wordpress??? How come, you are able to edit the template. I saw flickr bade, links, etc. on the sidebar. I’ve been trying to modify my template, but no luck so far.
Hi Mick,
Thanks Mick for stopping by. Your travel tip to visit a ghost-town sure sounds very interesting. One of these days…
Your blog is quite inspiring..but as a “surface” person, I do admire your “tight sqeeze” pictures. That must have been a really difficult shot to set up ! Thanks.
hey mick,
returning your visit.
you have an interesting blog to say the least. not often one comes across a blog devoted to rocks… nice stuff about the caving. i love to climb, and i guess caving is quite similar but in the opposite direction….
thanks for your visit – responded to your comment on my blog, btw.
best,
gg
Thanks for visiting my blog, as well as leaving a comment!
Keep up the good work.
Your comment to my post on Koreans learning Spanish instead of English was “right on the nose.”
Thanks
thanks very much for dropping by my blog… if you’re interested in rocks, Capiz, a province here in the Philippines is one great place to see for gems, minerals and rocks… they got the treasures… well, the Philippines is one blessed country with resources…
where is the recent photo of the rapids taken?
I remember in the 80’s, 4 of my friends and i decended into the ” natures air conditioning ” mineshaft in kirkland lake. Our mission was to smoke some hash inside earths cold womb. But we dropped the hash and our flashlights woere dull as it was frigging freezing 300 ft below> one of the most stupidest times of my life, other than this; writing to you. regards
Hi Mick!
How is your new book coming? Missed you in Cobalt this year. Give me a call or email when you can.
I just visited your blog and read about Paul Shier doing a sculpture for Bancroft. As I collect articles on this sculptor, I would appreciate it if you would let me know if your article was printed elsewhere and if so where can I get my hands on copies.
Also just an update on your rockhound Paul Shier, today at 2P.M. that is November 04, 2006 at Cordova Mines Community Hall, I had the honour of presenting a sculpture that Paul Shier did for the memory of my Father and the Queens Own Rifles, Second Batallion WWII. This sculpture is blue marble from Perth Ontario and is beautiful especially when it is wet. Should you be rockhounding in the Cordova Mines area, drop by the Recreational Centre and take a look. It truly is a remarkable piece.
Sheila-Marie
Hi Mick
I was up in Barrie at a stored called Sojourn looking in the rock climbing section (which I have been passionate about for around 7 years now) when I stumbled across this book titled “Rock Watching”. I quickly glanced through the pictures and saw everything that I have enjoyed over the years of exploring Ontario. The one picture that hooked me the most was the one where you were looking at the roadside cutting of eroded shale on a rainy day with what looked like a camera around your neck. It made me smile because this is exactly something that I do at different rock-cuts myself! I flipped some more and read the blurb on the digging of the Shelburne cave and it was such a good story with great narrative. I then turned to the cover (I already decided to purchase the book) and I saw the picture of you in a pothole examining the rock. I realized that I recognized you because I used to work with you. I immediately recalled conversations we had about rock collecting, climbing and caving, short-lived as they were, since we were at work. I also remember looking over rock & gem samples with you. Anyway, I still haven’t finished your book but I am enjoying it immensely when I pick it up. Because of it I went to check out Limehouse, which for some reason I haven’t been to before, and it was very cool. Just last weekend I went to Rattlesnake with some friends. We started at Mt, Nemo and then went to Rattlesnake to what I think is called “Sheep Cave”. Anyway, I loved it and can’t wait to do more. I came home and started looking at stuff about caving on the internet and found your website. Again, excellent, Mick!
Anyway, I just thought I would say Hello.
An old acquaintance,
Scott Smith
I love everything you have done on this website. All the pictures make me smile. I used to be really adventurous and loved to go to Algonquin park and to my cottage up near Quadeville’s “Beryl Pit”. My health is failing right now even though I am only 21 but seeing all your pictures of caving and nature brings back all of those memories and for a second I am back up there bushwacking and chiseling away at rocks. I have never been inside a cave but it really interests me. When my father was still around we used to go out in the bush together and fish and it was the happiest time of my life. I really miss it. Your work is amazing and it looks like you really have a passion for this Ontario and the nature within this wonderful province. I admire you and wan to thank you for bringing back some memories. I have been close to most of these areas you speak of and it just brings it back. Thank you! Keep up the good work. I love this stuff.
Thanks Tom, to hear that somebody enjoys what I have to say makes it all worthwhile. Hope your health improves – there is still plenty of time to enjoy life. Mick
I too have thoroughly enjoyed looking at your pics and reading through your various blogs. I appreciate your unique perspective and attitude toward nature, caving, and outdoor exploration in general.
I hate to ask but do you have any suggestions as to where I could find information/directions to abandoned mines and/or caves in the Bancroft area and does your book contain such information?
All the best and I look forward to reading your future blogs.
hi all you rock hounds..just checking in..update on my favourite Canadian Artist..Paul Shier from Tweed, Ontario…about this time last year he received a prestigious invitation to represent Tweed in Italy at the Biennale Internazionale Dell’ Arte Contmeporanea in Florence from December 1-9 2007. As a result he sculpted three beautiful pieces. Two are out of white marble with the most exquisite veins running through them and the other is out of Rockmanite…man you all got to see this stone…wow is it ever gorgeous…compared to regular soapstone it is a little harder and has a variety of colours and textures in it…red is predominate and greys with yellows and blacks..you can only find this stone in the Tweed area…Paul Shiers piece ” A Canadians’ Vision” is a single stone carved from the inside out. He is leaving shortly for Italy,,,wonder how the marble over there compares to ours here in Canada Eh
Hello to all Rockwatchers and Friends,
I see that on a few of your posting you talk about the Caves and Karst located in Hamilton (Stoney Creek) Ontario, more specifically the Eramosa Karsts.
I just wanted to let you now about a new web site and request your HELP in keeping this ANSI and surrounding area with feeder streams area protected. The Ontario government will be deciding what to do with the adjacent lands and we feel this area need to be protected.
Please check it out at: http://www.friendsoferamosakarst.org
Hello Mick,
can you tell me where exactly the marble caves you visited near kingston ontario located. my husband and I like to visit it sometimes this summer.
Your website is very fascinating.
thank you, Tamaiya
Hi Mick..I noticed the pictures you have posted for the Richardson gold mine in Eldorado,Ontario..This mine is on private property and I am curious as to how you get your pictures and permission to visit the site..I would like very much to visit this site and explore the mines can you provide
the information so I may request a visit.
I had a local guide who had permission from the old owner (Francis).
hey there mick would you be able to let me knowe the guides name and how i made make contact with them so that i can arange a vistist to the mines in eldorado i think that this would be a good day out thank you for your time
I find this quite interesting since I am the owner of the mine and have been for quite some time.I have never given permission to anyone to go into the mine due to insurance purposes and the fact that people for some reason enjoy leaving their garbage behind.In the future should you or any of your readers wish to view the mine, it would greatly be appreciated if you contacted the rightful owner. The old owner[ Clifford] had the place for 30 yrs. Dont know who Francis could be. Feel free to contact me.
Hi,
I bought your book this summer. Thanks for writing it. I have been hiking & caving at Mount Nemo and Rattlesnake Point many times in the past.
I love the distinct smell of being inside these rocks – the feel of cool in the summer and the warmth in the winter. Aahhh (a moment in my happy place)
We have been in the Mole Cave and the 2 Entrance Cave but have not found the Water (Head) Cave. I would appreciate it, if you could give me directions to this. Or at least a hint of the general vicinity. How far from the face? Which way from the lookout?
Hi …funny thing…I found your blog by googling “dog washing in Guelph” : ) and was interested in the name of the blog. My interest in rocks is somewhat at the other end of the process. I love them when they are cut a polished. I teach wire wrapping locally and I figure you must know of the shop that I teach at. My website is http://www.stix-n-stones.ca . I was wondering if there would be any possibility of creating a listing in your online zine. I can be contacted through my website.
Judy
I am actually a gemmologist in part (CGA) I too love cut stones. My wife used to own beadazzled downtown, now my basement is full of beads.
Hi, I have a gold claim in Boston township, I have been told that there are a few abandoned gold mines in the area, anyone familiar with Boston Creek, Jim
Hi Mick,
Nice blog! I was looking at the cave related posts. I see you have some flooded caves? I am a cave diver and am interested in what you may have up there. Do you have any caves that are flooded year round that have not seen any exploration? If so, what any info. about them would be very interesting!
Thanks!
Jeff Waugh
Hello, my name is Terry. I found an opening to an abandoned mine in Cobalt, Ontario. This mine has been sealed off but there is a second entry point that is open. The mine has 3 levels with a shaft leading to headframe. The shaft entrance is also capped. This is an old silver mine.
If anyone would like to explore this please e-mail me at natureguy24@hotmail.com
It’s nice to see other people who enjoy rocks and minerals. I am not into caving other than to watch others do it,but I have been a rockhound since I was a little girl. My house has rocks and mineral everywhere! I love to pick up a piece and remember where I found it, what the day was like and what else was there
I am much the same about rocks and minerals – it is the experience as much as it is the specimen that you find.
I didn’t see anything in your book or on your blog about these caves in the Elora Gorge, so thought I’d let you know about them:
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13709862
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2055874
Great work!
Great blog Mick! I am a rockhound & been one for almost 10 years now. Its great to read your articles as i am familiar with most of your mineral collecting sites around Bancroft. I cant’ wait to read your near book Rockhounding: An Experience of the North, when its ready. Please let us know when its published.
Great site!!