Adventure trip to Ucluelet and Tofino

View from the Unit

Sunday June 12/11: I drove up to the Water’s Edge Resort in Ucluelet.  I couldn't have asked for a better day to drive up or a more welcoming resort.  The unit lived up to its promise by being right on the water’s edge and being serene and peaceful. Outside the unit window was an enormous, but at the same time graceful, nursing tree stump.  The stump is backset by a channel which is used by small craft to make their way to a sheltered harbour which, on the map is called a boat basin.  The reflection of the small crafts in the water made for picture postcard.   A picture opportunity I didn’t take as I was so caught up with the Resort’s amenities.  As I will be back here in a month, I will make time for photo opportunities.

Unit 107

Qualicum Little Falls Provincial Park

Runoff from Lower Falls

On the way up to Ucluelet I stopped at Qualicum Little falls where I had lunch sitting beside the falls. Free lunch, free seat by the water, life can’t getter any better. Because of the rainy spring the falls were like a boiling cauldron of water. 

Upper Falls

Wild Pacific Trail - Lighthouse, Otters, Trees and Sea Foam

Amphitrite Point Lighthouse
Wild Pacific Trail

Once I got settled into the wonderful RCI resort I walked the Amphrite Lighthouse Loop of the Wild Pacific Trail which overlooks the Barkley Sound.  The lighthouse on the point is named after a naval warship.  Initially built out of wood in 1906 the lighthouse was rebuilt as is in 1915 after the wooden structure was destroyed by waves.

The trail features some beautiful scenes and the windswept trees. I was fortunate to watch sea otters feeding.  They are different from the river otters that I have seen around Victoria.  The sea otters are heavier and have rounder faces and it seem to have plusher coats.  While

Windswept trees on the Wild Pacific Trail

walking the trail the barking of sea lions floated in the air but they were not visible.  I also noticed what looked like soap suds floating on the water.  This is sea foam: tiny, single-celled plants mixed with air and water.  Sea foam signals that the sea water is alive and well and producing tons of food up the foodchain. Where I saw the sea foam is where the otters were feeding.

Sea Foam

Whale Watching
Monday June 13/11:   The day was spent exploring Ucluelet.  The two “have to” is the acquarium, Ucluelet’s, and walking the Lighthouse loop.  Also of interest is the Crow’s Nest, Ucluelet’s oldest store built in 19908.  Stopped in at the Pacific Rim National Park and explored various spots
of interest.

Tuesday June 14/11:  Looking out of the window early in morning I sighted a river otter and heron.  As quickly as they were seen they were gone.   The afternoon was spent on a whale watching adventure with Westcoast Aquatic Safaris on their new boat Nanuq.  We saw two humpbacks and one obligingly dived for us so we saw the white underneath its tail.  I didn’t capture that image but did catch on camera the two grey whales feeding among the seaweed for the small shrimp-like fish they like to feed on.  The sightings were much better with the binoculars!!  We stopped to look for harbour seals but they weren’t lazing on the rocks but we did see an enormous eagle perched up high looking grandly over the rocky area.  The trip took 2 ½ hours and it was time that went quickly with the sightings and with the ongoing information about whales, eagle, history of some of the islands, logging and mining protests past, present and possibly future, provided by our interpretive guide.

Nanuq (left) Wasco (Right)
Westcoasst Aquatic Safaris

Grey whale spouting water

One of the few manned light houses left on the west coast

Beacon Hill beauties

In 1777, Dr. Samuel Johnson said, "When a man is tired of London he is tired of life."  The same can be said for Victoria and its surrounding area.  There is so much to see and to do and to enjoy. 

Just down the road from where I live, at Ogden's Point, is the world's longest wall mural.  I have looked it often but not taken any pictures.  The mural is a project of the First People's on Vancouver Island and was started in 2009.  All the painting has been done by hand and done by young people.  The mural's website theunitywall.com has a video well worth watching.  Another time I will add my own pictures.  theunitywall.ca

Yesterday I wandered over to Beacon Hill Park with my camera.  I knew that if I went out without it I would be sorry.  Sometimes the beauty of this place takes my breath away.

Bridge is replica of medieval bridge in Britain

Reflection in pool creates an impressionstic painting

Historic E&N Roundhouse, Esquimalt

Decided to take a drive over to Esquimalt and when looking at the map found a notation to the Historic E&N Roundhouse.  Was this worth going to?  A Google search took me to Canada's Historic Places website where I learned that the Esquimalt E&N Roundhouse was built in 1912 and included industrial buildings and locomotive turntable .  Today the Roundhouse is valued for its completeness, its overall industrial architecture, and insight into the role it played in in Vancouver Island's early development. www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=1621   There is quite a bit more informations available and the following link gives a timeline history http://www.roundhousevictoria.com/docs/historic_landmark.pdf

The site has been purchased by a developer and we can only wait and see what happens in the future.  My own pictures of the site follow:

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