I sat there and forgot and forgot, until what remained was the river that went by and I who watched….Eventually the watcher joined the river, and there was only one of us. I believe it was the river.
Norman Maclean, author of A River Runs Through It
A river runs through our small town and our part of the country. It’s called the Mississippi, which makes some visiting Americans laugh.
This Mississippi may not be mighty, but it’s ours. It is 200 kilometres long with a watershed of almost 5,000 square kilometres. From its headwaters to where it joins the Ottawa River near Fitzroy Harbour the river drops 323 metres in elevation. It runs through the small towns of Lanark, Carleton Place, Almonte, Pakenham and Galetta.
No one really knows the origin of the river’s name. Some think the current spelling may be derived from that of the American Mississippi River, which means “great water.” But it is probably a corruption of a different native name, because this water is definitely not great, especially as compared to the Ottawa River, into which it flows.
Instead, the name may originate from “Mazinaa[bikinigan]-ziibi“, Algonquian for ‘[painted] image river’, referring to the pictographs found on Mazinaw Lake (its headwaters), though this is by no means proven.
I’ve written before about how I love water. I also love quotes about water. And the Maclean quote above is one that gets me every time I read it. It speaks to that indescribable sense of merging that happens when you deeply and silently observe the natural environment around you.
Sharing with Texture Tuesdays.
Sherrygaley.com 
I love landscapes like this, beautiful silky water and beautiful fall leaves.
I agree about the quote. And the place WAS magical. Thanks for visiting!
magical and the quote, it is illuminating.
Thanks, Deanna!
Appreciate your comment and visit!
Maybe you will come out here again some day? I will show you the Mississippi…Thanks, Laurie.
I was balancing the tripod on three rocks in the river to get the slow exposure. It was great fun.
Thank you!
Thank you ML! I always love and appreciate your comments.
This year’s autumn is a particularly colourful one in our part of the world. I’m loving the others in Texture Tuesdays as well.
I get that! Thanks for visiting…
Yesssssss….you lovely person you!
Thank you so much, Barbara.
There’s nothing like it. Hope you are able to go…
I love the blend of information and reflection in your writing, a perfect matching with the evocative image and quote. Beautiful, Sherry!
Wonderful quote. I’m quite enjoying all the beautiful fall pictures this Texture Tuesday!
lovely Sherry I love water too and would love to live by the it.
The colours of Autumn are spectacular, and perfect when viewed against the soft, silky water. Like the author of the quote you shared, I could sit here and just look and then look some more at the beautiful Canadian Mississippi.
Love the slow water, so pretty with the fall colors.
Beautiful river and capture…you had me thinking twice with the quote and wanting to be in nature alone like this…it’s been a while for me!
Beautiful work.
This is a fabulous river and landscape scene! Amazing color…and beautiful slow shutter speed effect!
Beautiful image as well as a beautiful quote.
Absolutely gorgeous photo of the river!
Stunning photo, Sherry! And very interesting info about the river. Years ago, my brother and his family lived in Carleton Place, where I visited them – but I had no idea that the Mississippi River passed through it!