Uplands and Jocelyn Hill Walk

I haven't been exploring much lately.  Except that a I did return to Cattle Point and Uplands last week and totally forgot to post about my poking around the tidal pools of Cattle Point and taking a delightful walk among the Garry Oaks and Camas meadows in Uplands as well as meeting a young artist intent on capturing the beauty of the area.   The pictures speak for themselves.  

Jelly fish in tidal pool, Cattle Point

Camas flowers in Uplands Park

The bulbs of the Camas flowers once provided an important food source for the First Peoples.  They would roast the bulbs in the summer once the plants started to shivel up.  Harvesters of the plant needed to be careful as there is one variety of the plant that is poisonous.

Artist capturing the moment

Alongside the park, near Cattle Point, is a monument to fallen heros.  The monument features a nuturing woman and there is a plaque nearby in memory of Dorothy Amy Saul who was the model for the figure on the monument.

Honouring the fallen

The Y Walks have continued to open up new areas to me.  On May 31st up to Jocelyn we hiked up to Jocelyn Hill in Gowland Provincial Park.  This was quite a strenuous hike which took us 3 1/2 hours to complete but I loved it!!   The views were spectacular (pictures another day).  As usual, my driving group ended up going out for a refreshment lunch (except for the drivers!)

 

Y Walk on Cordova Bay beach

This morning the Y Walkers walked on Cordova Bay beach.  The weather was gorgeous.   The walk was very different from any we had done before taking place completely on the beach.   There was a glitch in the walk plan which was to be both beach and Mount Douglas Park.  Initially we were going to walk on the sand and back in through the park; however, the tide was in covering much of the sand so we ended scrambling over rocks and shale and wading through seaweed.  It slowed us down so we did a there and back which, from my point of view was a treat.  We saw adult eagles, herons, an otter sharing a rock with a young eagle, three deer on the beach by the shore (don't know what they were doing there) and so many star fish that it was like walking through star fish city. Some of the star fish look like daisies.  I touched one of the purple fatties and they have a solid, rough exterior.  Got some lovely pictures.  This is such a beautiful place to be.
 
 

Cordova Bay Beach

Heron with islands in background

 

Young eagle and otter share a rock

Photographic Victoria

I have a basic motto: Carry a camera whenever possible.  Victoria abounds with photographic opportunities, particularly in the area where I live.  A 10 minutes walk one way will take me to the ocean along Dallas Road or to Beacon Hill Park, while a 15 minute walk will have me downtown and in sight of the Royal BC Museum, the Parliament Buildings, Chateau Victoria, and the harbour.


Last Friday morning I walked down to Clover Point.  The tide was fairly low and I was lucky to watch a very casual otter come out of the water to dry itself off and rest before returning to the water to fish.  It was completely unconcerned about my  close proximity while I was taking photographs.  I learned later that there is a family of otters living in the general area and they have become somewhat urbanized which explains their comfort level with people being around.




 




When the wind is up we often see windsurfers out on the bay or paragliders surfing the cliffs along Dallas Road.  This particular Friday it was a paraglider who took advantage of the upwind to enjoy his sport and invite himself into my lens!!








Victoria enjoys a sub-mediterranean climate and the blossoms and flowers have an almost exotic quality about them.  With their size, profusion and colours it has been a delight to photograph them over the past few weeks.

Easter Island Visiting

Spent Easter with family in Fanny Bay.  On the drive up I decided that I would spend Saturday visiting Hornby & Denman Islands.  It was a good decision.   The weather was the best it has been in days: warm with brilliant blue skies and sun all day and calm waters for the ferry crossings. The ferry rides were first from Buckley Bay to Denman Island with a quick drive across Denman to Gravelly Bay to catch the second ferry for Hornby Island.  I now understand how BC Ferries are an everyday occurance in this part of the world.  Riding the ferries was reminiscent of the time Janet and I travelled the Greek Islands.

My first stop on Hornby was Tribune Bay Provincial Park and then on to Helliwell Provincial Park.  While Tribune Bay has a beauty of its own, Helliwell is a jem with spectacular ocean views from bluffs, old growth forest and wildlife.  Wildlife on this trip included sea lions swimming parallel to the coastline, eagles, ducks and other seabirds.  I spent two hours in the park and ate my picnic lunch soaking in the views.  After leaving Hornby I chose to go to Fillongley Park based on it being described as an "unspoiled sand and shell beach" with lovely views of mountains.  I didn't walk the park trail but spent the time meandering on the beach.  I just happen to look up to see a very large flock of Brant geese fly by.    One visit isn't enough to do justice to these islands.

Tribune Bay beach

Tribune Bay shell

Helliwell Provincial Park bluffs

Helliwell old growth forest

Helliwell volcanic stone

Brant Geese

Spring is busting out all over!!

Last Sunday I went back to St. Stephen's with my mother.  It was as quiet and serene as the first time that I went there with the Y Walkers.  This time I was able to delight in the flowers that were out.  The pictures tell their own tale.  We particularly liked the notice explaining why the lawn won't be mowed!

On Tuesday, another lovely sunny day, we took another drive along Dallas and through Uplands and again we feasted our eyes on the spring flowers.  Victorian's make the most of their property and will grow flowers anywhere they can!   I couldn't resist getting out of the car to take the picture of the tulips on the roof. 

I felt at home in Beacon Hill Park on Sunday by finding the Trilliums shown below tucked in a moist woody area. Yep, without showing many of the other blooms and flowering shrubs Spring is definitely busting out (even though the temperature isn't up to par these days!)

Lilies and Fibre

Friday I went with a friend to the West Shore Arts Council's 9th fibre show in Mechosin.  Apparently, for the first time the show was held in the picturesque historic St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church which can trace its history back to 1873.  The church is no longer in use for services but it and the graveyard are well maintained.  Many people make a yearly trip to St. Mary's just to see the lilies that carpet the graveyard in April.  The trip is often partnered with a trip to My-Chosen Cafe (which we did!)  Another great day in  Victoria and vicinity.  The only downside was the drive to and from Mechosin.  It is a busy drive and when there is construction it is even slower. 

There were many wonderful pieces in the show. Fibre pictures, dolls, cards, scarfs, clothing, broaches, and wall handings to name a few.   Fibre creations and art are coming into their own.   I certainly picked up a few ideas on how to add fabric or thread to photographs and other card ideas.  I just need to follow through!!

According to website Islandnet.com (http://www.islandnet.com/~bchap/methist.html) "The origin of the name "Metchosin" dates back to the time when a dead whale was cast up on a local beach, causing the Native peoples to refer to the area as "Smets-Shosin", meaning "place of stinking fish" or "place smelling of fish oil". Two vertebrae, allegedly from the whale, are on display in the Metchosin School Museum. "

Lilies in the graveyard

Inside St. Mary's - fibre show

Ruckle Park Hike, Salt Spring Island

Went to Salts Spring Island yesterday with a friend and hiked the shore trail in Ruckle Park.  Wonderful day that included taking the local ferry from Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour and having lunch in the Tree House Cafe.  We sat outside.  It was a little cool but it was worth being outside in the sun.  The food was really good.   It is easier for me to link to the photos on Picasa than add to the blog -  but here is one of them!  Picasa link https://picasaweb.google.com/103340800887993076561/RuckleParkHikeSaltSpringIsland?authkey=Gv1sRgCLr7mbPDgKmfpgE#

Up Island Explorations



Bald Eagle, Kyle Bay

Fishing Fleet, Comox

Headed up to Fanny Bay for a family get together in early March.  There was a lot of excitement in the area as March is the time the Pacific Herring return to the coast to spawn.  Females can lay up to 20,000 eggs which are feterlized when they are laid. On contact with water the fertilized eggs turn the ocean a milky white in the spawning area.  This is  the signal for the swam of commercial fishing vessles to put out their nets and for the gulls, ducks, bald eagles and California and Stellar Sea Lions to gather and feed on the bounty.  I missed the actual spawning event but saw the boats, sea lions, gulls, ducks and eagles in various locations along the coast..

California Sea Lions, Fanny Bay Wharf

The Sea Lions gather annually on the log booms at the Fanny Bay Wharf and spend their time when not feeding by sleeping, barking, jostling each other and posturing.  In the local community there are those who really enjoy the sea lions and those who despair over many nights of lost sleep because of the barking.  I could hear them from my room across the bay through closed windows but because this was a novelty for me I enjoyed the sound.

Fanny Bay is well known for its oysters.  Everywhere one goes there are sights and sounds of oyster industry whether it be large piles of oyster shells outside processing plants, oyster boats out in the bay or by the wharf, commercial oyster beds, or trucks picking up the oyster harvest from fishing vessels

Oyster harvesting, Fanny Bay (California Sea Lions on logs in backgroun)

Oyster shell, Ships Point oyster bed



Rainbow, Fanny Bay Wharf



On another day, I drove further north to the small village of Sayward (with its 400 residents) which traces its history back to  the 1890's and the beautiful Kelsey Bay.  Sayward is sustained by both logging and tourism and would interest anyone who enjoys being outdoors and photo enthusiasts.  I was lucky enough to see a harbour seal in the bay but it was too soon for the whales, salmon and bears.

Kelsey Bay, Sayward

Train ride and Point Ellice Bridge

The snow has all gone. It took three days but apart from a few slushy sections in the wooded areas there is no sign of the blanket of snow Victoria had a week ago. 

Sunday was a trainride up to Fanny Bay for a family visit.  The train consists of two railcars and runs once a day from Victoria to Courtney and return.  In the summertime visitors will take the train to Chemanious or Naniamo, do whatever they have planned and then catch the train back to Victoria.  The train station in Victoria is very small and sits on the Victoria side of the "blue bridge".  In a couple of years the "blue bridge" as it is called will be replaced by a new bridge that will be seismically sound and guaranteed to last for 100 years.  There was a great deal of debate about refurbishing or replacing the current historical bridge but replacement won out.  The train station will no longer exist and we will probably have to get the train on the Esquimalt side of the bridge. 

Victoria Via train station with "blue bridge" in background

It generally takes about 2 ½ to 3 hours to drive up to and 4 ½ hours on the train.  It took an hour longer because a cable activates the lights at road crossings was broke (I think that is the mechanics of it all) and we were delayed in Nanaimo for an hour.    All was cool – I had a book, water, munchies and NO responsibilities!!  I actually got off the train at Buckley Bay.  There is no train station at Buckley Bay. It is just a whistle stop in the middle of nowhere and reminded me of Petticoat Junction; however, the train conductor (is that what they are called these days?) asked me if I was taking the ferry to Denman Island.   The Denman Island ferry dock is just across the road from the BB whistle stop and residents and visitors use the scheduled stop to get over to the island. 

Tuesday was a Y walking day.  During the walk we sighted hummingbirds.  What amazed me was that the hummingbirds didn’t fly away when we gathered below to look at them.  No camera!!!   My new bird book tells me that the species is Anna's Hummingbird.  It is a "residential" bird and spends year round in southwestern British Colombia.  Apparently, during short bouts of severe cold weather, it converts more sugar to fat or lowers its body temperature to enter "torpor idormacy".  This explains the more than four sightings I have had of hummingbirds over the past months and why people hand out hummingbird feeders (a foodsource).  Anyday now we will have the return of the Rufous Hummingbird.(1)

Our elevenses rest was within sight of the Point Ellice Bridge.  According the the information tablet and Wikipedia the bridge has a sad history.  The existing bridge is the third to span the gorge.  The second bridge collapsed May 26, 1896 when an overcrowded streetcar crashed throught the Point Ellice Bridge into the Gorge Waterway.   The streetcar was carrying  well over the passenger capacity: a total of 143 holidaymakers who were on their way to attend celebrations of Queen Victoria's birthday.  There were only a few survivors with 55 men, women and children killed in the accident and many severely injured making it one of the worst disasters in British colombia history and the worst accident in Canadian transit. 

(1) Cannings, R; Aversa, T; Opperman, H: Birds of Southwestern British Columbia (2009)

Schizophrenic weather

What a difference a day makes!!   Jack Knox from the Times Colonist today (Feb. 24th) says: "Went to bed in Victoria on Tuesday night and woke up in Whitehorse."  Greater Victoria itself had 5 centimetres of snow breaking the 1942 February record, but this was far less than other parts of the area.  I wish I had made it to Swan Lake where 20 centimetres settled on the ground.  Today, Wednesday, much of the snow that blanketed the ground and trees has gone away primarily due to high winds, shovelling and foot traffic.  It is like being back in Ontario. 

 I was out at Beacon Hill Park on Tuesday afternoon taking pictures and out again on Wednesday afternoon.   Yes, indeed, what a difference a day makes as the following contrasting images of the same subjects show.