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.

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!

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.