They came to Cobourg expecting a day of swimming. Instead, two mothers and their young children found themselves waiting for Lake Ontario to put on a show.
The wind was whipping across the lake Tuesday afternoon, September 15, sending waves crashing into Cobourg’s East Pier and exploding high into the air.
Around 3 p.m., the families from Ottawa, who were staying at the Victoria Park Campground, made their way onto the pier.
Swimming had been the plan.
But with Lake Ontario churning, there was another option — watching the waves smash into the pier and waiting for the spray to come down.
And wait they did.
It took a little patience to get the timing right.
Then a wave would slam into the pier, sending a wall of water skyward before gravity took over.
What goes up must come down.
And when it did, the families got wet.
Very wet.
But there were plenty of smiles to go along with it.
For the children, the crashing waves became an unexpected afternoon adventure, turning an ordinary visit to Cobourg into something they were unlikely to forget.
The mothers and their children eventually walked away from the East Pier soaked from the lake — but happy.
They may not have gone swimming after all.
Instead, Lake Ontario brought the swimming to them.
And judging by the smiles, it was a pretty good way to make some memories.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
