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. 

Considered "real" working boats

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.

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

sea lions is less than 75,000.

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.

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.

The Gulf of Georgia Cannery is now a

preserved canning facility that can 

be toured to gain a better understanding

of our Pacific Northwest fishing history.

The Britannia Heritage Shipyard is

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? 

Skookumchuck Narrows, British Columbia

One of the best places to experience the 

raw power of the ocean is at 

Skookumchuck Narrows on the 

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!

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Things to Do in British Columbia -- Enjoy the Weather

You just can't beat British Columbia

in the sunshine. 

Clear skies and temperatures in the mid 20's C

today.

Doing any activity outside is a pure joy,

from sight seeing the local mountains,

taking a nature walk, 

or sitting in the shade enjoying 

the back yard garden.

Whatever you choose to do in 

British Columbia, this

weather can bring you pure joy

and some pretty impressive vistas.

Best Places to See in BC - Kiskatinaw Bridge

Kiskatinaw Bridge, Alaska Highway, British Columbia

 The Kiskatinaw Bridge is located before the Mile 21 marker 

along the old Alaska Highway

in British Columbia.

The Kiskatinaw Bridge was the first curved wooden bridge

built in Canada

and is still in use today.

Built in 1942-43 it stands

30 meters (100) feet above the Kiskatinaw River, 

a tributary of the Peace River.

It curves 9 degrees along its length and is 162.5 meters (534 feet) long.

Quite the view from the bridge deck, the river meanders

its way gently through the rolling hills

below bringing to mind wandering dinosaurs

in ages past. 

Country Lanes of British Columbia

I've always found peace and contentment

 in the country. Life seems to slow down

and become somehow normal in

the enveloping quietness.

There is always a scene to capture here, 

always time to stop and listen

to the creak of frost slowly 

settling into the timeless weathered fences

along rural lanes.

 Far off cries of chattering blue jays

  echo haunting memories

of summer days long past.

Best Places to See in BC - Botanical Beach

Botanical Beach Provincial Park 

 on the west coast 

of Vancouver Island

is a magical place to visit

and should be on everyone's Best Places

To See in BC list.

It is a fabulous location for

watching storms that roll in off of the Pacific Ocean as

 well as sea life galore. Several species of 

bird life soared on the strong winds and rain while I

stood in awe of this vast ocean scape.

Bull kelp lay in long yellow rope like strands along  the

rugged coastal rockscape and

the feel of being here and alive were present 

on the tang of the salty air.

Best Places to See in BC - Milkhouse Derby Reach

British Columbia's 

is chock full of interesting history

at every turn of the road.

Take Derby Reach Regional Park

in beautiful Langley.

Located along Allard Cresent

the oldest existing road in British Columbia,

this milking shed is part of the 

Houston farm which dates back to 1909.

The sign on the shed states it was

built in 1935 and restored in 1996.

You can envision bygone days here quite easily.

The lazy drone of bees on a hot summers day

mixed with gull cries from the nearby 

Fraser River.

Come, spend a few hours to explore

British Columbia's past. You might just

discover the present.

To see more photos from
fabulous British Columbia
please visit my other website

karencoopervancouver.ca

Best Places to See in BC - Colony Farm Regional Park

Colony Farm Regional Park
in Coquitlam never fails
to indulge my need to meet
Mother Nature up close.
I've been coming here for years now
and am lucky enough to pass this gem
on to others who know little of the area.
Birds and animals abound here and something
new awaits the nature observers at
every turn of the pathways.
Today I met a salamander
making its way to a waterway apparently
much better than the one it just left.
We spent a happy few minutes looking at each other
though I am sure I enjoyed the encounter more than
he did. He might have thought he was going to be lunch.

Best Places to See in BC - Clendinning Provincial Park

Clendinning Provincial Park is
30,330 hectares of wilderness beauty
located 200 km north of Vancouver,
British Columbia.
Getting here can be quite the adventure.
What is here is nothing short of paradise.
Old growth trees stand majestic
sentinels to river valleys,
waterfalls and steep granite peaks.
The rhythms of time seem to stand still
here. To experience this area
is to touch a part of life as it stood
thousands of years ago.
The lands of Clendinning Provincial Park
drain into Clendinning Creek, which
is a tributary of the Elaho River.
A totally magical place here in British Columbia.

Rosebery, BC

Part of Kootenays rich
silver mining history includes Rosebery.
On the east side of Slocan Lake and
north of New Denver, Rosebery
was named for the 5th Earl of Rosebery.
Back in the day of silver mining, Rosebery was considered
one of the best harbors
on Slocan Lake.
Barges and sternwheel steamers
docked here, meeting trains that were
servicing the various silver mines in the area.
The railway was called the N & S Line
after the towns of Nakusp and Slocan.
The Galena Trail follows part of the old railway bed.
Hiking or skiing along the trail today, you can well imagine
what the area must have been like with the hustle of miners
and the hiss and hoot of the steam locomotives echoing
off of the distant mountains.

British Columbia is full of majesty and history.
I am still exploring and learning.

Best Places to Visit in BC, Slocan Lake

The Slocan region of British Columbia's
Kootenay district is steeped in history.
Known as the "Silvery Slocan" this
region was part of the silver rush during the
1890's to 1900's.
The Slocan River drains Slocan Lake,
which flows through the Slocan Valley
and in turn meets the Kootenay River a few miles
above the confluence of the Columbia River.
I know, it's confusing. The map here might help
out.
Once you visit this area it all starts to make
perfect sense.
During the 1940's, Canadian
people of Japanese descent were
interred in the north end of the
Slocan Valley. Amongst them
was David Suzuki.

Valhalla Provincial Park lies to the west of
Slocan Lake. The Valhalla Range offers incredible
mountain vistas and scenery.
With the abundance of wild life,
drop dead scenery, and even
ghost towns,
the Slocan Valley could take a lot
of further exploring on my part.

Top Places to Visit in British Columbia, Kelowna

One of the top places to visit in
British Columbia is Kelowna.

Kelowna sits on the shores of Okanagan Lake
in the Okanagan Valley region of
British Columbia.
Kelowna means "grizzly bear" in the
Nsyilxcan language.
Lake Okanagan is the
home of the Ogopogo.
Be it fact or fiction, everyone loves
a great monster mystery.

Also home of the William R. Bennett
bridge, it is only one of eight floating bridges
in the world, and the only of of its kind
in Canada.
Made of pontoons and fixed structures,
this bridge truly is a thing of beauty.

I wonder what the Ogopogo thinks
of the new pontoons.

Cameron Lake, British Columbia

Cameron Lake on
Vancouver Island is not only a beautiful lake,
she is also home to a mysterious unknown
creature.
Named the Lake Cameron Creature,
she was first spotted in the 1980's. For years, local
residents have reported seeing
a massive creature that rises
to the surface and then disappears.

The Pacific Rim Highway follows
Cameron Lake's south shore. The drive
offers some stunning vistas
of snow topped mountains reflected
in Cameron Lake's gentle waters.

I never saw the creature on my wanderings past
Cameron Lake. Mother Nature likes
to guard her mysteries and secrets close to
her heart, and share them with the
deserving. For now, I am happy
to let the mystery remain.

Golden Ears, British Columbia

The Blanchard massif, which consists of
Golden Ears, Edge Peak and Blanchard Needle
(from west to east respectively) is commonly
known in the Lower Mainland as Golden Ears.
Whatever you choose to call her, in today's
photo, she is seen in a glorious coat of fresh snow
shining in all her splendor.

Every once in awhile Mother Nature
comes along and totally floors
you with her jaw gaping beauty.
After what seems like weeks of wet, rainy,
grey British Columbia weather,
the last 2 days have been overwhelmingly
gorgeous.
I saw many people looking up in amazement
at the freshly snow covered mountains with a backdrop
of crisp blue skies that faded to a spectacular pink and mauve
sunset.

No doubt it's cold in Vancouver, minus 3 Celsius for us is not the norm.
But who would trade these to-die-for mountain views with the
night skies' Milky Way just a hands reach away
for anywhere else on earth.

With the long range forecast for clear skies
and sunshine, I can only imagine
what other adventures Mother Nature
has in store.