Comox Harbour

This is a view of the Comox Harbour taken from the Black Fin Pub

(which clearly has the best location in town!)

The boats in this shot are predominantly fishing vessels rather than leisure craft.

. . . and view to the right shows more leisure yachts

what have we here?

A seal

looking very focused!

. . . aaah - that explains it - waiting for treats !

Joining in the fun at James'  

Weekend Reflection

Fire and Water

I spent 3 weeks cat-sitting in New Westminster, some 40 minutes

(on Skytrain) south of Vancouver, BC a few months back.

This was the scene from the rear balcony of the apartment on a day when smoke from the 500+ wildfires burning throughout British Columbia blanketed the mainland (and also drifted across to Vancouver Island).

Another day I had just begun a walk to a nearby park when I spotted smoke in the skies.  Following its source a short distance away, the cause was revealed -

a barge (on the Fraser River) containing (I was told) car bodies had caught fire.

 

Linking up with Skywatch Friday

Paradise Meadows

No trip to Vancouver Island would be complete without a

visit (repeat or first!) to Paradise Meadows.

Located in Strathcona Provincial Park, adjacent to the Mt Washington Nordic ski area, some 25km from the town of Courtenay towards the northern part of the island, it encompasses an amazing series of boardwalks (designed to cater for

those in wheelchairs or battery-powered scooters) that meander through

beautiful cedar, fir and other elegant, tall trees, and around sub-alpine lakes.

The following images were taken on two separate occasions (as should be obvious from the sky colour and evidence of fog among tree tops) in June and early September.  

I apologise up front for the quantity of shots posted, but it is such a wonderfully peaceful environment and so many different perspectives, it was difficult to decide which shots to preclude!

If one stands quietly with arm outstretched (preferably with some approved grain in one's hand!), it is more than likely a sweet Whisky Jack bird will fly in to explore the offering.

This little fellow was persistently (and successfully) seeking a grub!

Joining in with the always fascinating posts of fellow bloggers

at Our World Tuesday

Boating

 I never tired of walking around Comox Marina - a constant source of

surprise, colour and connections

Often crews such as these were out practising their skills -

I was told that each person rowing is a cancer survivor. Bravo!

. . . while at a quieter pace there was a preening Blue Heron 

Linking up with James' 

Weekend Reflection

Great respect

On a small aircraft flight from Vancouver to Vancouver Island back in August, the views outside were not of the usual breath-taking kind, due to smoke-filled skies from the hundreds of wild fires then burning throughout British Columbia and California.

So, I took some images from inside the aircraft and, observing the complex instrument panels that face them each day, I respect and salute the thousands of pilots around the world who bring us safely to our destinations. Hats off to you!

Joining in the world-wide fun at

Skywatch Friday

Fish Tales

At the "tail end" of my 3 months in British Columbia, Canada,

I discovered this amazing aquarium at YVR (Vancouver International Airport).

What a wonderfully soothing way to bid farewell to my all-time favourite part of the world!

The Vancouver Aquarium, within Stanley Park, was also an amazing

experience, but more of that in a future post.

With grateful thanks to Lady Fi and the team

for hosting Our World Tuesday

Dusk at Goose Spit

Goose Spit is a narrow coastal strip of land at the end of the Comox Harbour.

It is a popular area for a variety of activities - walking, kite sailing, beach barbecues in Summer and the steps (100?) satisfy the needs of those more athletic individuals.

Looking across to the Beaufort Ranges

This is one of the summer barbecue pits

Here are the steps for those wanting to keep fit!

. . . but I think the dog's expression says it all !  ("Are we there yet??")

Thank you, James, for hosting

Weekend Reflection

and happy weekend to all