Vancouver Island and Vancouver

Back in October, Nancy & I had the good fortune to visit Vancouver Island, from Naniamo to Port Alberni to Uclulet and Tofino and then back to Vancouver.  Our travels across the island was a brief five days.  We could have easily spent double that and covered less ground.  Our arrival on the east side of the island was in tandem with several severe storms that were battering the west coast of the island.  As a result we witnessed the temperate rain forest in its glory - cold, damp and slippery.  Even after nearly breaking her foot, Nancy was keen on walking these trails.  There was something mystic about being in these ancient old growth forests.  Along rivers, bears were frequent visitors as they knocked over rocks in their search for tasty morsels.  Our visit took place as the salmon started to run up their birth rivers.  The eagles were happy.  Back in Vancouver, the city scenes of Gastown and Stanley Park were slightly familiar to us as we'd been there a mere 29 years ago.  The lights of Vancouver over the harbour are a dream for any shutterbug.  My images of sealife are from one of two aquariums, both of which were mesmerizing.  Vancouver is a great place, partly because of the traditions of the aboriginal people.

St Thomas's Future Elevated Park

A couple of weeks ago, the promoters of this park let a dozen or so interested people visit this bridge over the Kettle Creek valley.  The bridge is about a hundred feet above the ground.  When we were let through the access point, we were looking eye to eye with Turkey Vultures that were riding thermals.  So cool.  Speaking of cool, the winds were blowing and the sky was grey.  The visit lasted about an hour and by the end of it, my hands were frozen but not too frozen to capture just a few more shots.

Remembrance Day Service 2015

Until today I'd never been to a Remembrance Sunday service.  The service in Shedden Ontario was nice that the service wasn't fit into the hour before lunch on a work day.  The extended family of a WWII hero was in attendance as his exploits were highlighted.  Young cadets escorted aged veterans thoughout the service.  Everyone looked to the sky for three fly-by's of Harvards.