Places I've Wandered - Botanical Beach Redux

This trip is an annual expedition that my friend Karsten and I go on. A pilgrimage of sorts to the end of the world. The real west coast. To drive west from Victoria and into the primeval land of giant trees and mossy undergrowth. To go where there is nothing but sea betwixt us and Japan.

Plus we also always try to bring someone who's never been there before!

Welcome to Botanical Beach. A UNESCO protected site.

At the front line of where the island meets the sea you get to discover and climb around on all sorts of geologic evidence of upheaval and history

The forest takes on many faces as well as the trees grow and twist about based upon the influence of location

Tall trees and cliffs stand alongside shelves of stone riddled with tidal pools only accessible during lower tides

The tidal pools teem with all sorts of marine life from grasses and fish to multi-spine covered sea urchins. (The purple spikey things ;) )

Seagulls and sealions seen on the shoreline

and even a black bear decided to amble by and see what was on the menu. Remember the purple spikey sea urchins in the tidal pool?

Well black bears like to eat'em ;)

All in all it was a fantastic and memorable trip to one of my favourite places I've had the delight to get to discover and I'm very much looking forward to what this weekend's adventure on Vancouver Island will reveal!

Till next time,
explore see and share :D
The Maplemusketeer

In Transit - From hilly viewpoint to spinny spot

From up on my local favourite look out after the sun had set. These were taken after I saw the crows chase the clever hawk.

The crows flew about the Eagle Tree as it was nearing time to go home

Darkness begins to clothe the world

And different options start to come to light

Oh how reflections catch my eye and make me creatively curious

The lights have lit..

While one last chunk of light hits the trees across on Mt.Elphinstone

And I descend towards town past the skate park

Different paths and options always present

So I head right

before going to the other side mid-course to find more paths under the magnolia

Then down past the school

I love the monitor

where I found a spot to spin ;)

Photographical Antics - Spinning

A few weeks ago I talked about the freedom to mess around in editing after taking photos.

It's a good little tool to add to the tool belt because it lets you pull out/tweak/explore your photos in ways you wouldn't otherwise. Some of my favourite photos have been ones that started out being rather bland and blase. With that in mind let me introduce you to a fun little feature you can experiment cautiously with while actually holding your camera in your hands!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen.. I present my photographical application of the term Spinning (no exercise bike required). ;)

So before you think I must have been aiming at a swirling sky vortex.. or really tweaked with my camera settings... it was neither of those.

It was after the sunset and I was walking home next to the school under a maple tree.

With the camera set to do it's funktastical smart thinking/shutter speed based on light conditions I pointed up and spun in a circle. I've practiced this. Be careful. Wonky spins do weird things too. And people will likely look at you funny. Plus you stumble a bit after taking pictures so be careful ;) If you're not a practiced spinning photographer or figure skater you may want a spotter. ;)

Into The Dinosaur's Eye

Spirit of the Deer

Draco

Those were all taken under the same tree. A few of them were taken in rapid succession as I took a few shoots in the same spin. I've also discarded a number I didn't care for. :)

A little further down the road was a tree/lamp combo.. so we shall spin some more!

Terrible Lizard

Terrible Lizard 2

A bit further down we have some shoes hanging on a wire through some branches. This one was a bit tricky as you want to try to stay aimed on the shoes...

Spin faster.. or slower. Have fun with it! :D

I hope I've given you all some new ideas and some new fun tools to throw in your kits as you go out and amble about the world ;) :D

The Maplemusketeer

In Transit - Spring Vancouver to Hope & Back - Part 1

In Transit is the title for my feature involving the getting from place to place... the adventures and sights seen while "in transit" are plentiful and I'll share some of them, and thoughts, in the hope that you'll remember to look about you as you travel in-between as well :)

From the Sunshine Coast, BC, to Abbotsford BC - May 12, 2011

Heading down the covered walkway to the ferry at the Langdale Ferry Terminal

The ferry passing in front of Gambier Island as it draws ever closer

Welcome to Horseshoe Bay

Trolls Restaurant in Horseshoe Bay

They make really yummy fish and chips. My buddy and I enjoyed a meal of them.

The following are all taken while inside my bus which I rode to Abbotsford east of Vancouver

Bird of Prey flies above the highway. If you keep your eyes open you'll almost always see one either above the roadway or resting on posts or poles alongside the road

Arriving in Abbotsford I was met by my great friend Papa Theo and we went and hiked up a hill!
That tale is told in Places I've Wandered - Ledgeview