Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park, BC, Canada

The Squamish River Valley is noted
for the number of bald eagles that
come here in the early winter to feast on
salmon that are spawning up the
Squamish River and its tributaries.
One of the most spectacular places
to view the feasting eagles is
Brakendale Eagles Provincial Park.
With its backdrop of the
Coastal Mountains swathed
in the first fresh snowfall of the year,
it is nothing short of breathtaking.

Squamish River, BC, Canada

Anytime you need to bond with Mother Nature
and see some pretty amazing sights to boot,
the Squamish River in British Columbia,
Canada can offer you all that and more.
This is where bald eagles by the dozens
come to feed on salmon that spawn up the
rivers during the fall and winter.
Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park lies
along the river, and is a perfect place to
spend time just watching the whole scene
unfold before you.
Besides bald eagles, there are several
other species of bird that visit this area.
The day I was there, 2 coyotes
chased off several eagles and seagulls snacking
on a salmon, and soon made sushi out of it for their own lunch. They were
sleek and fat, and a joy to watch in their own habitat
doing what coyotes do.
I come away from areas like this totally renewed
in my faith that nature can take care of itself, if we
humans let it. To be privileged to glimpse
even a few minutes or hours of this
spectacular place is an honor.
And when the sun pokes through the
clouds and lets you see the first dusting of snow
on the coastal mountains, it is nothing
short of breathtaking.

Alouette River, BC

Alouette River
in British Columbia, Canada
is one of the those places that you can
go back to time and time again,
and see something different.
What fascinates me
is the confluence of
the Pitt and Alouette Rivers.
This is the area where
sturgeon fish abound. Here, there
are the white and green sturgeon,
as well as 5 species of salmon and trout
including Dolly Varden, rainbow, bell,
and cutthroat.
The First Nations people
have fished here for years.
The Katzie history
tells of the creation of this area.
The whole landscape is seeped in
rich biodiversity.
Bogs and marshes
as well as a unique fresh water marsh,
are located here.
An amazingly rich habitat right
on our very doorstep.
The more I learn about it
the more I am drawn back
to her beauty.

Hallowe'en in Vancouver, BC October 2009

There certainly is no end to
Hallowe'en festivities in
Vancouver, BC this 2009 year.
What ever your frightful pleasure
Vancouver has the answer for you!
The Vancouver Aquarium is
having some watery festivities.
The PNE has Fright Night happening.
Stanley Park has the Ghost Train
whistling through.

Even wandering around your neighborhood
to see how ingenious creative minds
can be with decorations is a treat
for every photographer.

There is something fun and scary
happening in every community.
Whatever your pleasure, be
sure to get out and enjoy
the season!

Rainfall Warning in British Columbia, Canada, October 17, 2009

A rainfall warning was issued
Saturday October 17, 2009
for Vancouver, BC, Canada.
A Pacific frontal system
is moving across the area.
Its grey and dismal today
as well, but Newfoundland
is a mess.
I'll take the rain any day over snow.
I have my snow shovel ready, though.
After last years winter in British Columbia,
I am going to be better prepared.

Stave Lake, BC, Canada

Stave Lake is a man made lake,
created in 1921 to help generate
hydroelectric power.
Its a beautiful area, full
of wilderness, forests and
mountains.
You can take tours through
the Stave Falls Powerhouse.
After spending time on Alouette Lake,
I wanted to see for myself how
these lakes are connected.
There is a tunnel from the north end of
Alouette Lake that feeds into
Stave Lake and then into the Stave Falls
Powerstation.
From there it flows downriver
and into the
Hayward Lake Reservoir,
through the Ruskin Powerhouse,
and finally into the Fraser River.
This was a source of power for the
historic British Columbia
Electric Railway, which
had a streetcar system (called trams)
in Vancouver.
There is so much history here that
we take for granted, or don't
pay too much attention to.
I am slowly connecting the dots
to understand how intertwined
life is here.
Everything depends
on something else.

Alouette Lake, British Columiba

Alouette Lake is located within
Golden Ears Provincial Park in
British Columbia, Canada.
Alouette Lake is a man made lake,
the water in it is fed
to Stave Lake via a tunnel, and
powers the Alouette Powerhouse.
She's a beautiful lake, 17 kms
long and has some great fishing.
There are remote wilderness campsites
along her shores, and an eye popping backdrop of
Edge Peak , Blanshard Peak,
and Golden Ears,
which are all part of the
Garibaldi Ranges.
No wonder so many movies are filmed
up here. Its a wilderness worthy
of poetry.
I am working my
way through visiting all of these
beautiful lakes, each has its own
character and charm, its own spirit
and place in the world.
Like man, they are all in some way
interconnected and depend on
each other, even if they don't know it.
Mother Nature teaches us so much
about ourselves, we just have to watch her
and listen to her.
Welcome to your life!

Vancouver Island Sunset and Ferry Wake, October 2009

The kindness of strangers
is sometimes overwhelming.
I recently sent this photo in
to Wayne Cox at Global BC TV
in case it was worth showing on
his "Weather Window" segment of
the program.
We never really think about all the people involved in
doing something like this.
It has to go from a computer to
a digital display system, someone
has to do the job. Someone has to
check that it looks okay and it not upside
down or something.
And then Wayne Cox has to actually fit it
in to his weather forecast. It all takes people
and time. And caring and professionalism.
For this I am grateful and honored.
And I wish to extend my thanks
and gratitude for all those involved.
You have no idea how much this means to me.
Thank you.