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

PIW - Botanical Beach Pt.6 - Through the Woods Home

Places I've Wandered - Botanical Beach June 2011 Pt.6 - Through the Woods Home

Leaving behind the sea, into the woods we went


past skunk cabbage along boardwalk


over gullies by fallen wood


down steps by ferny banks


down steps between ferny banks


beneath fallen burgeoning ecosystems and over puddles of brown


we were careful not to startle the wooded oliphant


as we darted from the foresty safety across the open shoreline and creek


beneath a guiding tree


and up


and up


to pass between giants feet


and offer a moment's Atlas Jr. support


before moving on


plank after plank


step after step


stand after stand


by hidden waters revelation


within close proximity of the sea


yet sheltered still


in safety's grove


but to move on and on we must


barring no obstacle


wise guides welcome


spread out before us


adorned in life and grandeur of time


upward and again the tedious ages of wonder


steps in a time and a place to never be again but always to be remembered.. past passed


routes rooted and shifting


shadows and light the boundaries of life


corners turned to turn again






his/hers along the return to civilization




Farewell new salmon berry growth


Farewell Botanical Beach



of course it was still only early afternoon on our two day Inaugural Shorts and Gaiters adventure.. so we rested up at the parking lot before seeing what the back route to Lake Cowichan had in store... you're welcome to come along for the ride ;)