Cowichan Valley - Kinsol Trestle

June (2020-06-28) found us in the middle of the Covid19 pandemic. Thankfully parks had been opened. We hadn't been to the Kinsol Trestle in some years. This day was as good as any.

Kinsol Trestle (2020-06-28)

Nanoose - Brickyard Beach

During the last few weeks - June 2020 - we've been exploring numerous Salish Sea beaches along Vancouver Island's eastern shore. My motivation was the many streets and roads that dead-end at the water's edge (Google Maps was a great resource!).

Brickyard Beach (2020-06-09)

Tofino - Frank Island at Chesterman Beach

On this day (2017-06-28), after beachcombing around Big Beach, in Ucluelet, we next opted for a completely different beach. We traded in the sharp, black rocks, and boulders of Big Beach for the vast stretches of Chesterman Beach sand. For today's postcard, however, I've chosen something a little less than sandy. Frank Island is a rocky feature at the end of a long peninsula of sand that defines north versus south Chesterman Beach. I present two postcards of the same view to illustrate the different moods colour versus black and white can portray.

Frank Island at Chesterman Beach (colour)...

Frank Island at Chesterman Beach (black and white)...

Victoria - Beacon Hill Park

We booked into a hotel in Victoria for Valentine's Day this year. As is usual in February, Victoria was damp and chilly. Nonetheless, we decided to explore a part of Beacon Hill Park that we'd not seen before. These peacocks at the petting zoo (closed for the winter) were kind enough to pose for the camera.

Beacon Hill Park peacocks (2017-02-15)

Victoria - Bridge over the Esquimalt Lagoon

Ocean Boulevard bridge at the Esquimalt Lagoon. A place to stroll that affords a good view of the Fisgard Lighthouse.

Victoria - Bridge over the Esquimalt Lagoon

Google Maps:

Nanoose - Moorecroft Park

Nanoose - Moorecroft Park (2012-11-08)

Nanoose - Moorecroft Park

Parksville - Englishman River Falls

Englishman River Falls (2013-09-05). A short walk with Marco and Angela, visiting from Bremen.

Englishman River Falls (2013-09-05). A short walk with Marco and Angela, visiting from Bremen.

Alberni Valley - Old Railroad Shack at the McLeans Sawmill

With Gabi and Steffan visiting, we decided to show them about the Alberni Valley. It's always interesting for European visitors to see the large trees of Cathedral Grove and then, later, to see how this timber was processed into lumber. No better way than a visit to the historic McLean steam sawmill in the Alberni Valley.

Alberni - Old Railroad Shack at the McLeans Sawmill (2012-09-12)

Nanoose - Moorcroft Regional Park; Old Cabins

For what seemed like several years, there was discussion in the local newspapers about what do to with the old Moorecroft property. I had know idea about the what or where of this property. Finally, when I heard that it had been absorbed into the Nanaimo Regional Park system (of which I'm a huge fan), I decided we'd have a look. It was a pleasant walk, and one that we've done several times since the first visit. In this postcard, a view of one of the many small cabins that will be systemically removed from the site (safety and maintenance cost concerns,  believe).

Quadra Island - Sailing past the Rebecca Spit Light

Since Britta had a few days off, we decided on a camping trip up Vancouver Island. Up island, however, meant rain clouds the further north we got. We looked eastward and noticed brighter skies over Quadra Island, and brighter yet beyond that. Beyond that, as far as our world was concerned, meant Cortes island. So, that where we headed. While on the ferry for Whaletown, on Cortes Island, my camera caught this sailboat passing by the navigation light at Rebecca Spit on cotrtes Island.

Quadra Island - the Rebecca Spit Light (2011-07-11)

Alberni Valley - McLean Sawmill Historic Site

After spending a few hours walking about Stamp River Provincial Park, on the road back to Port Alberni, we spotted a directional sign to the National Historic site at the old McLean sawmill. Curious, we turned off the road to see what this was all about. Happily, after we parked the car, we noticed that coffee and a bite to eat were available at a little snack bar. Before we could even get our bearings, a gentleman, dressed in the garb of an old-time train conductor, ushered us past the snack bar, "If you hurry, you'll catch the show." We did catch the show (real live old-time loggers - yes, we call them loggers, not lumberjacks - showing how things used to be done), and made a note to come back here with our next Vancouver Island visitors. Here's the day's postcard.

McLean Sawmill Historic Site (2011-06-25)

Nanaimo - November stroll at Neck Point Park

It's not often that Nanaimo is graced by sunshine in November. On this particular day, a leafless tree silhouette, in Neck Point Park, provided a postcard frame for a chilly Salish Sea.

A rare sunny November view of the British 
Columbia mainland across the Salish Sea (2012-11-26) 

Royston - Red Railing

Pardon the title alliteration.

I can't count the number of times we've driven by the Royston turn-off on Highway 19a (known locally as the Oceanside Route or the Old Island Highway) with hardly a thought to actually having a look. On this day in August, after poking around Comox (I think we checked out the new Costco there), the mood just hit me; "why not take a drive down to the water?" We found this little pier right at the end of Royston Road, where it intersects with Marine Drive.

The view here is of Comox (Port Augusta as it was known in earlier times - circa 1860).

Royston; The view here, is of Comox (2011-08-10)

Nanaimo - Colliery Dam; this may soon be gone

The Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo is being "reconfigured" and this may soon be gone. A postcard view in remembrance.

The Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo (2012-02-15)

The Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo (2012-02-15)

Port Alberni - Wooden Eagle takes flight

After a long road trip, coming back from Ucluelet, Tofino, and Long Beach, we stop by the quay at Port Alberni for a cup of coffee and a little snoop about. The wind was blowing fairly hard, and this carved eagle seemed to be taking flight.

  Eagle takes flight in wind funnelling
up the Alberni Channel (2013-07-12)

Long Beach - The Raw Beauty of Florencia Bay

After a restful night at the Cabins at Terrace Beach in Ucluelet, and a walk out to the Amphitrite Lighthouse along the Wild Pacific Trail, we opt for some beachcombing along the sands of Florencia Bay. The raw beauty of this beach is indescribable; this postcard is better than words, I think.

The raw beauty of Florencia Bay is indescribable

The raw beauty of Florencia Bay is indescribable

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Nanaimo - Rainforest Walk through Benson Creek Falls Regional Park

Late March finds us deep in the Benson Creek Falls Regional Park rainforest accompanied by rain. How appropriate.

Benson Creek Falls
Regional Park (2012-03-30)

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