My Boots n Me is your inspirational source for hundreds of day and weekend trips around Vancouver and British Columbia, Canada. For families and photographers British Columbia has something to offer everyone. Stop awhile and savor what Mother Nature has in store for you.
You will never be disappointed.

~~Karen Cooper~~

BC, Rain and Waterfalls

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Inukshuk - Symbols of the North

Traditionally constructed by the
Inuit peoples of Northern Canada,
Inukshuk are figures made from
piled stones or boulders.

They can be used to mark 
an important event, as an aid in directional
navigation, mark food caches
or as place markers.
The oldest known Inukshuk 
can be found on Canada's Baffin Island
and dates back 3,000 years. 

Now used by modern man
as a symbol of "I was here"
they have taken on a unique Canadian twist.
  Lining creek and river
beds, along seawalls and waterways,
they are a peaceful and gentle way of 
honoring the footsteps of the traveler
that came before. 


 

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Persephone - The Logging Tug

Anyone who lives in BC is
familiar with the forestry 
industry of our province.
One of the TV shows that made this
BC lifestyle famous was
"The Beachcombers" from the 1970's.
The steel logging tug that became a
favorite on the show is called 
"The Persephone". Built as
   the "John Henry"  in 1965 she
was chartered by CBC 
Television and renamed "Persephone".

The steel tugs of this era
were built tough to handle 
the hard life and rough
sea conditions along
the British Columbia coast. 
that were slow, strong and 
seaworthy, they became part
of our BC history. They are
cherished by many who worked on
and with them and their
seaworthiness saved countless
lives from the fate of a sometimes
ill tempered ocean.

The "Persephone" still graces
her birthplace of Gibsons
on the Sunshine Coast,
the perfect resting place
for this grand lady of the sea.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Sea Lions of British Columbia


It's always a thrill to spot wild animals
in British Columbia.
The Stellar sea lions range throughout
the Pacific Rim and use their  own
traditional haul out or resting sites
along the coast which can be 
anything from a sandy beach to
to remote rocky islands.
These powerful and beautiful
mammals eat
a variety of fishes, octopuses
and squid.  
The current wild population of
Watching them bask in the 
warm sunshine with eyes closed in sheer bliss
reminds us of how precious
our wildlife is here
in British Columbia.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Best Places to Visit in B.C. - Steveston


Steveston is a beautiful historic fishing village
which has long been a salmon
canning centre in British Columbia.
Steveston was the world's busiest
deep water fishing port
at the end of the 20th century, dotted
with 15 fish canneries, hotels, saloons,
and gambling dens.

preserved canning facility that can 
be toured to gain a better understanding
of our Pacific Northwest fishing history.

another must see site in Steveston.
The boardwalks here reflect the voices of
Japanese, Chinese, Native Indian,
and European immigrants, as well
as sailors from around the world.
 
As you slowly wander through the sights 
and sounds of Steveston
you can hear
the cries of seagulls, eagles,
and hushed echoes of the past.
Or was I only imaging the past
cries of fishermen who loved the
sea and make their homes along
her shores? 

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Skookumchuck Narrows, British Columbia

One of the best places to experience the 
raw power of the ocean is at 
Sunshine Coast of British Columbia.
  Skookumchuck Narrows connects Sechelt Inlet
and Jervis Inlet. Twice daily as the tides change
nature displays her might; the difference in water heights
 results in whirlpools and rapids that can exceed
30 km/hr.  
I was lucky enough to visit Skookumchuck Narrows
on a King Tide (or a parigean spring tide, when the moon
is closest to the earth).
The roar of the rapids was both enthralling and
mesmerizing. As the sun slowly rose over the rapids
the scene changed from moment to moment,
making photo taking a bit tricky since
the rocks can be slippery and you need to pay
very close attention to where your eyes are focused.

One of British Columbia's natural wonders!

Monday, June 13, 2016

Whistler, British Columbia


 North of Vancouver lies the 
beautiful resort town of Whistler.
British Columbia has amazingly
bold and beautiful scenery. 
By far Whistler has its fair share
in both the bold and beautiful departments.
Home to skiers in the winter,
mountain bikers and hikers in the
spring and summer seasons,
Whistler and its adjacent mountain resort
Blackcomb has something to offer everyone.


Tuesday, May 17, 2016

B.C.'s Secret Gardens

British Columbia is a land of enchantment
and mystery.
Her secret gardens are everywhere, hidden
from the maddening pace;
an oasis for mind and soul.
Blooming flowers, bees buzzing
and a quite bench for meditation
or just being.
Finding your own secluded garden
can be a sheer delight, 
secret moments shared
with Mother Nature. 

Monday, May 9, 2016

Sprintime in the Forest, British Columbia Style


Another spring has arrived in British Columbia.
I'm constantly enchanted wandering amongst 
Mother Nature's green explosion.
There are so many hues and shades that
it really defies the imagination.  Just
when you think you've seen all
of them she comes up
with another.
The calming and healing effects of
merely being close to nature cannot 
be overstated or taken for granted.
Go into the new spring forest 
and come back feeling renewed
and overjoyed at merely being.

Friday, February 28, 2014

The First Signs of Spring in Vancouver



I don't really have a "favorite" time of year.
Every season has it's own beauty and enchantment.
Seeing the first robins in spring is
always a thrill, though, and a
sign of new life and new
beginnings always
lifts your spirits.
Even the robins seem excited
about the blue skies 
and newly budding trees.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Merritt and the Great Northern Adventure


I have dreamed of going to the great northern reaches
of British Columbia for years. My visions
of vast open wild spaces have
haunted me most of my life.

I am lucky enough to be able
to travel this beautiful province of
British Columbia and in September 2013 my
dream was about to become reality.

First stop along the way
was south-central BC and the Nicola Valley.
Experiencing the immensity of 
the grasslands near Merritt is awe inspiring.
And it's quiet here. I mean .... really, really quiet.

You can hear the wind rustling the
grass in huge swaths that sweep across
the hillsides and valleys.The occasional rock or
tree breaks the rhythm of nature, heat waves
undulate and caress the blue skies.

I stayed overnight at Marquart Lake.
The skies slowly dissolve into an inky black,
the soft nighttime calls of an owl resting
in a nearby tree remain within my heart.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Best Places to See in BC - Kitmat Sitka Spruce



I can't get enough of the old growth trees in 
British Columbia.
Standing at the foot of this gigantic 500 yr old 
Sitka Spruce tree in Kitimat, BC
was totally awe inspiring.
This tree is the oldest known living organism
in the Kitimat Valley.
It was registered at the largest living
sitka spruce tree in BC in 1983.
It measures 50.3 meters (165 feet -- really!) tall
and 3.4 meters in diameter.
You have to imagine what this tree has seen
and been through in it's lifetime.
The age of quiet and solitude, explorers to
British Columbia, storms and unbearable 
weather changes, then dodging the cut of chainsaws
and logging. 
The feel of the bark under you fingers is rough and
textured, weather worn and vibrant.
Full of life and living.
I can only imagine what the next 
500 years will bring her.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Best Places to See in BC - Stuart Lake Pictographs



On the eastern side of Stuart Lake 
in British Columbia, Canada
are some pretty amazing pictographs.
I was lucky enough to have an idea where to
look for them from some very nice
people from the Murray Ridge
Nordic Ski Club.
Situated on a rock face of the cliffs overlooking
Stuart Lake, you can well
understand how this location
must have had some significance
the people from our past.
Not only is it beautiful and serene
but must have been rich in wildlife
and fish from Stuart Lake.
Another British Columbia moment
that I treasure.

Best Places to See in BC - Stuart Lake



Stuart Lake is one of the prettiest lakes I have 
visited in BC. Both the
 and the town of Fort St. James
are situated on the lake near the outlet of Stuart River.
Stuart Lake is 66 kms long and 10 km wide.
In the winter months the cross country skiing
track is put in on the lake by the Murray Ridge
Nordic Ski Club.
You can ski for miles on the lake with the sun
shining on the pristine landscape,
the air crisp and clean,
and views of the distant hills and mountains
as a backdrop. Stunning to say the least.
I can't wait to see Stuart Lake in the summertime.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Best Places to See in BC - Nisga'a Lava Fields


British Columbia has some of the most
diverse landscapes on earth.
is located in the Nass Valley region in
northwestern BC.
Because the Nisga'a do not have a written history,
the volcanic explosion is estimated to have occured
between 1750 and 1775.
This park is quite impressive, both in size (18,000 sq kms)
and in the sheer beauty of destruction.
The lava flow changed the coures of the 
Nass and Tseax Rivers, 
dammed a stream to make what is now Lava Lake,
 and killed approximately 2,000 people.
Today the park contains waterfalls, lakes, pools
and some very impressive lava features
including lava tubes, tree molds, cinder cones and caves.

Definitely a place to put on your Must Visit
List in British Columbia.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Best Places to See in BC - Fort St. James National Historic Site


One of the most fascinating places
I have visited recently in British Columbia
The fort was founded in 1806 by Simon Fraser,
the intrepid explorer, for the Northwest Company
which was later to become 
The Hudson's Bay Company.
Fort St. James has the largest
in Canada.
Though the tours of the site
are not operating in the winter months,
 the site itself is beyond beautiful.
Situated on the shores of Stuart Lake,
you can only imagine what the original settlers
must have thought of this paradise.
Though life would have been difficult
in this remote area, the scenery and wild life
would have well made up for it.
I spent several hours wandering
the pathways of these beautiful 
old buildings on a sunny winter day.
Visions of bygone days danced in
front of me along the pathways,
  doorways and windows
warped with time and memories.