Canada Geese

On the journey towards Williams Lake in Mainland BC we travelled through scenery that was vastly different from that on Vancouver Island. During a brief stop I spotted these Canada Geese in a nearby field

 

. . . and was captivated by this marvellous, decorative fencing

Joining fellow bird lovers at Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday



Tweedsmuir

 

One exciting adventure during the trip to British Columbia was a drive up through Whistler to Williams Lake and across to Tweedsmuir Park.

My friend and host was keen to show me the grizzly bears catching salmon at

Bella Coola out west (which she had experienced a few weeks earlier), but within about 30kms of that location it began snowing as we entered the Heckman Pass. Snow tyres didn't offer the required safety connection with the road as snow chains (which we didn't have), so sadly we had to abort our trip.  But what thrilling scenery along the way!

 

 

These shots were taken 5 weeks ago - Christmas came early !!

 

The outside temperature a bit earlier - according to the car's reading - was 0 degrees C.

 

Sharing another adventure with Our World Tuesday

(and once again a big thank you to the hosts who enable us to participate)

 

 

Paradise Meadows

Beautiful Paradise Meadows (so aptly named!) within Strathcona Provincial Park

on Vancouver Island

 

Linking up with Weekend Reflection

(thank you James for hosting)

Ferry crossing

This was the peaceful view from the ferry between Denman & Hornby Islands which are located between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia

 

It was a glorious day with temperatures again in the high teens - low 20s;

just perfect for the hour's walk around Helliwell Provincial Park on Hornby Island.

 

Joining in the fun at Skywatch Friday

with grateful thanks to the hosts

Fraser River

Fast-forwarding to the last week of my trip to Vancouver Island - a good friend wanted to show me parts of mainland British Columbia, so we headed off for a 3 day adventure that took us from Vancouver up through Whistler, Lillooet, 100 Mile House, Williams Lake and west to the Heckman Pass in Tweedsmuir Park.  (I'll cover some of that journey in a later post, but today's post incorporates images taken on the return journey through the Chilcotin region)

 

 The Fraser River

It was an extraordinary journey and the scenery so vastly different from that of Vancouver Island.

 

Joining in with Our World Tuesday (albeit a day late!)

Many thanks to our hosts.

Conversations

The magnificent Bald Eagles seemed very elusive during my stay on the Island, but I managed to capture these two and - with my crazy sense of humour - imagined a wide variety of "conversations" going on!

 

 Bird on left - "I tell you I saw it with my own eyes "

 

Bird on right - "Mmm - we'd better get your eyesight checked!"

 

(These pics probably more appropriately belong in the Wild Bird Wednesday meme

but I've already posted there this week and these shots do have sky I them!)

 

Linking up with Skywatch Friday

Paradise Meadows

One of my day trips included a visit to Paradise Meadows

within Strathcona Provincial Park, where I had the undeniable pleasure

of having "Whisky Jacks" (Gray Jays) eat from my hand.

 

Some scenery en route

The wonderful foliage

A residence adjacent to the Park's information office

A number of boardwalks have sensibly been constructed around the Park

to encourage conservation of the natural groundcovers -

this one was part of the Centennial Trail

 

Some of that vegetation and funghi

Yet again I found myself sighing deeply with appreciation for the

magnificent surroundings.  This was one of the shorter walks (the guide said it would take about 3/4 hour, but it took me twice that time because I kept stopping to take pictures!) -

and I really did have intentions of going back to try some of the longer walks, but . . .

oh well - next time!

 

Joining in the fun at  Wild Bird Wednesday

(thank you Stewart!)

More island delights

Soaking up the rainforest environment was a constant during my stay - sometimes in a more literal than metaphoric sense! 

 

I really appreciated the diversity of plants and growth, textures and colours as I walked the trails, together with a myriad of reflection opportunities.

This rather grand-looking motor home was one of two parked in the Elk River Falls car park.

 

and this was the gorgeous view that greeted me most days as I drove into Comox and beyond

 

A small jetty adjacent to one of several walking trails through wooded areas abutting the water in Comox

 

On my second morning in residence I was amazed and delighted to be greeted by a deer and stag on the front lawn (not so appreciated by permanent residents though, due to their destructive behaviour with plants!)

 

At Williams Beach these two retrievers were having a whale of a time in the water

 

and more peaceful local scenery

Looking across the Comox Dyke towards the Comox Glacier (again a daily vista)

a fishing trawler heading for home

Time to link up with Our World Tuesday

and grateful thanks once again to the team who provide us with this opportunity to share images from around the world.