Potholes...

There's a beautiful river which flows through a long, sometimes steep and winding canyon.

Lucky for us it's in Sooke and is about 15 minutes from home.

So yesterday, I picked up the fabulous four (my brothers kids; not to be confused with the 'tremendous trio', my sisters girls) and we took a walk along part of this geologic marvel.

They call this park The Potholes.

Fantastic pools collect in parts of the canyon which are famous for swimming in when the weather gets warm.

Teenagers jump off these cliffs as a right of passage in the summer.

Sometimes with tragic results.

But no swimmers today, except for the fish.

Here we are at one of the look outs near the top...

In this picture, if you look up to the left, top end, you'll see a set of stairs.

Just above that is where we stood to look down...

Those stairs, which are blocked off at the top, were once the dream of a man who wanted to build this massive convention centre.

He ran out of money, and political, environmental fights forced him into bankruptcy.

Eventually through private and public funding and A LOT of work by the The Land Conservancy of B.C, the property was purchased and officially became a provincial park a few years back.

They have fenced off the 'castle' as people used to call it for safety reasons, but at one time you could walk around the abandoned building sight.

Massive, walk through fire places and incredible rock work were part of the design...

(these were taken through the fencing)

When the timber beams were still up, it was like walking through an old ruin.

Word has it that once more funding is available, this will all be turned into a visitors/education centre for the park.

Extensive walkways are being restored to give great view points down the canyon.

The park runs alongside part of The Galloping Goose Regional trail.

This was an old railway bed turned walking, biking, horseback trail.

On this part of the trail sits Barnes Station...

This is, I believe, the only structure remaining that was actually a train stop.

Years ago when I was walking up here, I stood up on a bench to take a picture of a birds nest in this window.

This was back in the days of MANUAL cameras and FILM...remember that?

When I took the picture I held the camera as high as I could to take a shot of the nest...

When I finally got the photos developed, I noticed the pretty moth on the nest, as well as this little surprise...

But no nest today...just the empty station...

Plus some boot steps and singing...

So back out on the trail...

Goofing along the way...

Down to the river for another look at the canyon...

Along the riverbank...

Feeling the POWER of water!

Afterwards, it was back to my place to celebrate Julianna's birthday, but alas! 

Poor thing didn't feel so good and slept through our little party!

....broken arm at Christmas and sick on her birthday...

I told her "things can only look up for you now!"