from the Fishing Pier on July 1st.
A carver works on his art in annual “Shoreline Creations” chain saw carving contest.
Each day at various places on the beaches of Campbell River, you will see luxurious cruise ships that ply the waters between Seattle (some from Vancouver) and Alaska. This one is a Royal Caribbean, Legend of the Seas, passes the fishing wharf at Campbell River.
Our resident swan recently got a mate, not sure how, and the two are delightfully swimming around visiting Dick Murphy Park. When they hear the noisy honking of Mallards fighting for food, they soon come over to get their share.
Be kind. Bread is NOT the food of swans. It has little food value, and swells in their stomachs. If you want to feed them, take lettuce, or other green veggies, and tender stems.
This is just one of many stunning sights to be seen on the Cape Scott Trail on North Vancouver Island. This one and the slide show contained in the link below are on the San Josef Bay Trail, a smaller hike and one suitable of old people or just out of shape people. It is 3.5 Kilometres into the Bay and I would really recommend you plan it for a very low tide, so that you can walk around on the beach for a couple of hours. Accessing the Sea Otter caves and Sea Stacks is only possible at low tide.
The picture above is of one of the forestry campsites, which has no facilities other than outhouses, and a good road. This is close to water, and we found it full of mosquitos, but a little "Off" made it quite bearable.
Link to slide show. Slide show of San Josef Trip
When more and more of our flora and fauna are relegated to smaller and smaller places, one has to envy the grasshopper who sees the beauty of moss, fir cones, and tiny seedlings as giants. Fortunately with today's macro lenses we can see through his eyes and again find beauty in the otherwise cluttered world of industry and commerce. Click for a grasshopper's view.
2008 has had the most extraordinary run of beautiful sunshine with one little frost at just the right time to make the leaves turn that perfect red and gold. I have ran around to almost every trail and river to capture the wonderful displays of October in Campbell River.
Click on any picture for a larger display and use your back button to return.
And how can one not rush to take this beautiful picture of a Willow Point Sunrise. Winter will soon be here, and rain, wind and snow will replace the splendour of colourful reflections on wet sand.
Campbell River is one of those places that you feel safe enough wandering around late at night, taking pictures or what have you. I don't know that I can explain it even to myself, but I love the water, and find myself drawn to the harbour often. I especially like to be around when the water is as smooth as glass and the lights of boats and fingers glow softly in the night.
I had wanted to go up and see this in person for two or three years, and at last got an opportunity. A good friend and I walked around for 4 or 5 hours, had lunch at Battleship Lake, and came home with legs like rubber. The views were breathtaking, and parts of the trail were even wheelchair accessible.
There were some very friendly whiskey jacks that followed us until 
they were convinced we had no lunch left they could pilfer. No matter, we had enough for all, and actually had anticipated a little visit with these pesky little beggars.
At last a photo of Sunrise I can really brag about. The other morning I was awakened by much too much light in my bedroom, forgetting I had left the blind up and the window open the night before to maximize any bit of breeze I could capture on a humid and hot night.
As soon as I realized why the room was so ORANGE, I jumped into jeans and a shirt, grabbed my camera, and dog (couldn't let her whine over being alone at 4:45 now could I?) and rushed out the door to catch what promised to be a glorious sunrise.
Well it was, and a double prize winner at that. This won a Flickr award for "INTERESTINGNESS" on May 28, and to top that, was chosen to be shown on Global Television on May 30th. Imagine my pleasure when it was also chosen winner for the week.
I can expect the "Coveted Ball Point Pen" according to Wayne Cox in the next day or two in the mail. Click on the Flickr Montage (right) to see more of my photographs. CLICK ON ANY IMAGE HERE FOR A LARGER VIEW. Use your back button to return.
