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. 

 

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

Fort St. James National Historic Site

 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.

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

British Columbia has some of the most

diverse landscapes on earth.

The Nisga'a Memorial Lava Bed Provincial Park

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.

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

is the Fort St. James National Historic Site.

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

display of original wooden buildings

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.