Wednesday, October 12, 2011

China Beach's Exploration

Life is better when you head for where the rainforest meets the sea. At least that's always been my experience. One February morning in 2009 a classmate and I left our school work behind us in Victoria BC and, heading west, made for the solace of nature.

Until 1996 China Beach was a Provincial Park. The Juan de Fuca Provincial Park was established to collect and connect the various Provincial Parks (China Beach Park, Loss Creek Park, Parkinson Creek Park, and Botanical Beach Park) along the Juan de Fuca trail as a contiguous park of temperate coastal rainforesty awesomeness.

So we'll start in the parking lot ;)
From Places I've wandered

(The impetus for this blog post started when Reggie Norman, Andrew Metcalfe, and Levi Moore, started engaging with this photo on Google Plus. I love how the community there is inspiring and motivating me to look at things in new ways, and share past adventures too.)


As we head towards the beach we pass an overgrown road. The forest reclaims land fairly quickly in these parts.
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

It's a good idea to stop and use the facilities before one heads off into the unknown..
I know there's an outhouse around here somewhere..
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

Next we enter an area where wind has blown down many a tree. But don't worry.. the Parks people have replanted and put lovely little white protective covers over top.
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

Still some trees stand. Limbless in places. But they stand still.
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

Some have survived damage of old. Others have not. Each tells a story.
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

In light of the forest's fall, ferns are seen on the forest's floor
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

Still the beach beckons through the Pacific mist
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

and the damp drenched growth it sustains
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

On down the trail we head.. past the lairs of real and imagined creatures
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

and somehow.. down the path and into the heart of the forest they came
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

and dumped a car?!?! What the? Gah!
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

Nearer we draw to the sea..
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

Finding old weathered stump remains rerooted in the sand and stone shore
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

We are not alone
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

One is never alone in the coastal temperate rainforest.
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

Mood effuses from everything..
from the swirling cloud.. to the grain of sand..
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

an expanse of mystery
an expanse of wonder
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

The merganser knows..in part.. a part
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

but will not share his tale with the seagull..
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

who leaves in a tizzy
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

and lands
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

to do his vampire impression.... ... mwaha..ha.
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

still the waves wash in as they will and have for millennia
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,

and under the gaze of a gull.. we say farewell
From China Beach, Vancouver Island, Feb 2009,


Till next time ;)
May you see the wonder around you
~mm