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...a glimpse into life on Vancouver Island, needle felting, photography, food, gardening, etcetera...etcetera
"Happiness always looks small when you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and at once you learn how big and precious it is."
Maxim Gorky

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

A good way to start the day...

While looking after my folks place, I spent every morning at Island View beach with the dogs.
You see, it's on the east side of the Island and sunrises are it's specialty.
Now, as a photographer, this is something hard to pass up.
I could have posted 50 photos but will try to reign myself in a bit...
The peak in the left of the photo is Mount Baker, an active volcano in Washington State.
The high cliffs on the beach are spectacular layers of time...
Some people have found mammoth teeth in these sandy banks...
At some times, with the sunrise colours, I'm reminded of the shades of Arizona...
Sadly, time and water are eroding these cliffs and now a project has been going on to create a structure to try and hold back some of the banks and make it somewhat safe.
Large trees, roots and all can come crashing down without warning.
The seaweed has been tumbling up onto shore in lovely shades of umber's, reds and browns...
twisted by the waves...
And then the sun is up and lighting up the trees, slowly going to sleep for the winter, crows wake up...
 Looking across from the beach is James Island...
 This was once home to about 50 families who were employees of the CIL dynamite factory.
My great grandfather, the one who survived The Great War, worked here.
Although they didn't live on the island.
I've kayaked over there several times, finding old bottles and pieces of crockery.
All traces of it's past are gone now and it's privately owned with NO TRESPASSER signs all over.
Lucky for us in Canada, no one is allowed to own any land below the high tide line so
beaches are public property. YEY!
On my way back to the van, as I turned around from the sea, I saw these posts which summed it all up...




5 comments:

Marylinn Kelly said...

What balm for the spirit, seeing your stunning photos and being introduced to places unknown. Great restraint, not showing all 50. We would not have minded.

the wild magnolia said...

Quite an array of beauty to behold on your morning walk with the dogs.

Thanks for sharing.

Tatersmama said...

What a wonderful way to start the day! The photos are amazing, and I'm so glad that you shared them...
: )

farmlady said...

Thank you for taking us on a walk with you. It's so beautiful up there. The world takes on a different coloring when the sun rises or sets. It's almost magical.
Those beautiful clouds, the color of the earth.... it's like a prayer that Mother Nature is saying so everyone will listen.
I love the photo looking along the beach lined with poles and your big doggy. That's a beauty. Also the one with the sunrise shining through the seaweed (your dog is in that one too).... isn't it amazing the shots you get when you lower the camera down near the ground?
Lovely post....

Cobalt Violet said...

Gorgeous post! Beautiful photos ... I can't get over those sunsets! They seem so otherworldly.