Spring Runoff in the Rainforest

 

This is the final collection of over 250 images I took on our waterfall photo tour. It was not easy narrowing it down to the top ten, in fact I have eleven.

 

It is still surprisingly cold in the rainforest, yet the greenery is in full swing.

 

We visited three falls in close proximity to each other. Two of them we had to hike to, and the third was beside the narrow gravel road on the way to Silver Lake.

 

The water is in continual motion and using the slow shutter speed captures it in motion.

 

What a great day it was, and what a joy to take the experience home with us, and share it with you. We will re-visit these sites in the Fall when we can put some orange and yellow into the photo. I can hardly wait and I hope there will enough water cascading down the rocks to get photos like these.

 

 

Finding Waterfalls

 

Andrew had seen a fantastic waterfall on his drive a few days previous, coming home from Prince George. He suspected we could access it from the Hope Flood Road. We found the access road, parked beside a sign that said "Flood Falls" and hiked into the hills. Above, he is balancing in the stream trying to get the perfect shot but also 'got' me while I was balancing on the rocks below the falls.

 

After driving back to the Hope Airport we looked up at the mountain and realized that what we saw from the bottom of the falls was only about 1/4 of the total height.

 

We had previously stopped at Bridal Veil Falls and did some photography in the mossy rainforest below the falls. The photo above is Bridal Veil.

 

Low light, a sturdy tripod, 2-4 second shutter speed, and the water flow becomes milky and dreamy. But, it is not easy finding a patch of stream that is not strewn with winter debris. The next post will show my best waterfall photos of the day.

In The Rain Forest

 

 

 

This was taken at a higher altitude and the lichen was still in winter mode, very dead and dry.

 

A little further down the mountain and it was lush and green with tiny forest mushrooms already growing.

 

 

An ancient red cedar stump almost covered in moss.

 

Look up, look way up! There are many of these giants in the forests around Bridal Veil Falls.

 

Looking for hibernating bears, with bear spray at the ready.

 

The early morning sun filtering through the moss laden tree branches. The ferns on the forest floor, together with last Autumn's leaves, will soon be covered with new summer growth.

In the Friendship Garden

 

We live two blocks away from the Japanese Friendship Garden, a seldom used little gem behind the Library. I went there on a sunny morning and found a few little delights to photograph.

Out and About Among The Mountains

 

Andrew and I took a little photo trip on my birthday. We thought we would check out some waterfalls that were visible from the road but we had never hiked to. So we headed to the mountains. The above shot is taken in Hope not too far from the airport.

 

The Skagit River Valley beckoned and this is the scene at the turnoff south to Silver Lake.

 

Standing on the shores of Silver lake looking west.

 

Going down the long hill into the flat Fraser Valley there is a small turn off that affords the most spectacular view of Mt. Cheam

 

Stopping for a telephoto shot. There was fresh snow and with the clean air it was simply beautiful.

 

These are the mountains immediately north of Mt. Cheam.

 

Three views of Mt. Baker near sunset.

 

Photographed from South Parallel Rd. just east of Sumas Way.

 

More early spring photography in the next post. Click to make them large or they are wasted!

LXVI

 

Today is April Fool's day so that means I am another year older. The way in which we count birthdays says that I am now 66, but that means that I have completed my 66th year and am now embarking upon my 67th. If that is not depressing enough, if I was Korean, I would be 9 months older because they count from the moment of conception, which in my opinion is the most accurate way of keeping track.

Yes, life is a highway and when you are my age, the highway looks like the one below, cracked and worn and faded.

If birthdays are a time of reflection, it is unfortunate that as we age we are less able to reflect. My reflections, or memories, of my childhood and a bit beyond, are clear and vivid. The middle years are a bit fuzzy already. The most recent past is still OK, but don't ask me what I did two or three years ago. I still remember what I had for breakfast, but that is just today's breakfast, and actually I have the same thing for breakfast everyday so you might say that I am in a bit of trouble on that count.

I am just kidding of course. I believe I am still sharp, but names are a problem, something that has plagued me all my life. I still remember what busylizzy's real name is.

I love jokes about getting older. Some call it 'ageism' but I think it is a marvelous way of coping. Keeping a sense of humour sends the good endorphins coursing through the brain and having anything coursing through the brain has to be a good thing. Once your brain is empty, it is over. Having a birthday on April Fool's Day is even better because everyone has a great line for you, whether it relates to age or not.  

Whether I travel the actual Route 66 or just make it through this year, I hope it will be a good experience, one that I will be able to remember and take comfort in as the numbers keep getting larger.  

Island Adventures

 

This novel, published in 1874, is a story about 4 men, a boy, and a dog who escape from the southern forces during the Civil War. What makes it unique is that the escape was done in a gas filled balloon that was going to be used for army reconnaissance, but was grounded due to a severe storm. The balloon was hi-jacked and immediately soared high into the atmosphere and was blown to the south seas by a hurricane. 

The mix of men and their various talents makes for an interesting story of resourcefulness and survival after having been deposited on a deserted island with virtually nothing but the clothes on their backs.

They not only survived, but within a few years are thriving and do not even wish to be rescued.  But there are very mysterious things happening on the island, leading to a suspicion that there is someone else living there. But search as they might, they could find no evidence. A trip to a nearby island where they pick up a castaway, and an invasion by a pirate ship, eventually take us to the part of the story where the real danger looms before them, the awakening of an extinct volcano.  

In the end, the mystery is revealed and only by the narrowest of margins are the castaways rescued.

Jules Verne loves to write about science and this book is full of it. He was ahead of his time, to be sure.

The story is interesting but the tension is always resolved just a little too neatly, in other words, it is unbelievable. But, good writing is always a pleasure to read, and it is a classic.  

3 1/2 stars

Saving Art

 

I know it has been around for a while but we finally went and saw the movie "The Monuments Men". WWII is drawing to a close and it has come to light that Hitler is stealing and stowing away all the masterpiece works of art from the invaded countries of Europe. A small group of men is commissioned to hunt down and rescue these paintings, sculptures, and tapestries. It is interesting from a historical perspective and views a bit like a documentary. Where the movie delves into personalities it gets a bit silly, but the broader picture is enough to hold one's attention. John Goodman of "Rosanne" fame is a cardboard character if ever I saw one. Bill Murray is passable. George Clooney is good as the leader of the task force, but then I am fan of George's. Matt Damon plays the youngest of the hunters and is a family man. Hats off to Hollywood (or actual history) to have a character portrayed as a loyal husband in Paris where he is sorely tempted.

Perhaps the stars of the show are the art pieces themselves, or maybe they are replicas. It makes one shudder to think that these masterpieces were on the brink of destruction. It is one more reason to believe that Hitler was the most sinister of madmen to ever inhabit our planet.

We enjoyed the movie and I would give it  3 1/2 stars 

Vikings

 

I found this author and his series a number of years ago and got bogged down waiting for volume 4. It finally arrived. The Strongbow Saga by Judson Roberts is the story of a young Dane named Halfdan. From his humble beginnings to the days of glory in battle, we follow this young man's exploits and adventures as he tries to right some grievous injustices done to his family. His travels take him to various parts of Europe and back again to the Scandinavian fjords where he was born and raised.  He has grown into a skilled warrior but a man of honour who has a strong senses of justice.

The books take the reader into the world of Vikings, from everyday life in the long houses to life on a long ship of war as it plies the rough northern waters, fighting pirates and renegade family members. There has been considerable research to make the locations and events as true to the historical record as possible. It is one of those stories that is very difficult to put down, even though the hour is late. I thought the saga was going to come to an end with this particular volume but the plot only thickens instead of coming to a conclusion. There are new characters and loose ends here and now I cannot wait for the next book in this series. This is the sign of a good writer.

Hint: Reading the series in sequence is almost a necessity as there are plot twists and characters that will mean nothing without the back story.

Thanks to Bill for lending me his Kindle for this one.

4 stars 

Are You Ready?

 

A coincidence you say? A BC auditor's report has just come out saying that our earthquake preparedness is grossly inadequate. This on the heels of a report saying that a small earthquake preceded the massive landslide north of Seattle earlier this week.

Is it just me or does this all sound like fear mongering. How on earth could anything have been done to prevent that massive slide that covered more that 2 square kilometers and killed many people. Once a mountain begins to slide, there is no stopping it. Short of stopping the rain, this was not preventable.

We are constantly being bombarded with the threat of 'the big one' here on the west coast of Canada. I am not saying that it will not happen, nobody knows. There are many bad things in life that might happen, things we cannot prevent. We have seen school upgrades in our neighbourhood that were as costly as building a new school, all so the school will not collapse in an earthquake. A school is occupied only 7 hours per day, 5 days per week.  But, given a big enough shaker, anything will eventually fall.

Why don't we all just live with the fact that there may be an earthquake and each one of us be prepared for loss of life, loss of food, water, and shelter, for a period of time, and realise that it will be a disaster and then spend the public money on realities instead of maybes.  

BC's emergency management agency has a budget and it has many employees. This agency has to be seen to be doing a job in order to justify its existence. What else would they say but that we are not adequately prepared? This latest announcement will provide budget money and jobs for years to come. They would be most useful if their mandate was to educate every citizen about having an emergency kit and a few tips about communicating without power and wifi for a few days or weeks. And if you are really afraid of a big one, move out of Richmond and stay away from the older high rises. Don't forget either, that you could get hit by a comet, lightening, or an out of control bus. These things happen.

Assault

 

I was walking in the park this afternoon and this is about where it happened. I was assaulted. Yes, assaulted. In broad daylight.

 

No, it was not by some gang of school kids bored with Spring Break. It was not by a drug addict looking for money for his next fix. It was not by some aggressive goose flushed with spring fever. It was not by a rogue Pit Bull that escaped the leash. It was not even some elderly man on a scooter attacking me in a jealous rage over my youthful appearance and ambulatory capabilities. It was by something quite innocuous and innocent looking.

 

It snuck up on me, unawares, and attacked me, in the head area. It left me with tears in my red and swollen eyes, and fits of expelling great amounts of spittle and phlegm in violent outbursts. I may as well have been mugged. I was useless for hours after, in such a state of distress was I. 

 

Who is the perpetrator of this dastardly deed you might ask? My arch enemy, my spring time nemesis. The Birch and Alder pollen. I no longer trust those quiet walks in the park. It will be at least three weeks before I will have the courage to venture outdoors once again. Our streets and parks are not as safe as we would like to think.   

Putin and the PQ

 

As we creep closer and closer to war in the Ukraine, I interrupted my reading of that situation with an article about the coming election in Quebec. I could not help but see a ludicrous parallel.

 

Putin claims to protect ethnic Russians in the Ukraine from the extreme right wing elements in the newly formed government there. The danger was greatest in the Crimea where ethnic Russians dominate the population so a referendum was taken and the overwhelming majority of the citizens opted for joining Russia as opposed to staying with the Ukraine. What do those people know that the west does not? I am of the opinion that referendums are an accurate gauge of the citizens wishes and are more or less pure democracy. Why should the west oppose this? Now there is threat of war because some people want to determine their own future. I know there are other serious issues but let us stick with this item for a moment.

Here in Quebec, there seems to be a resurgence of that old independence movement by the PQ. Let us say for argument's sake that the PQ win the election and there is a referendum and that the 'yes' (for separation) vote wins. Will Putin come to the aid of the separatists? Would we be upset if some foreign country came to prevent Quebec from separating or to help us keep Canada together? The obvious answer is 'yes'. This is our affair and has nothing to do with any foreign power. If separation did indeed take place and Quebec became an independent foreign nation and she decided to recruit another power as her ally, we would be powerless to stop her but as long as we are one country, nobody need interfere.

This proves to me that the real issues in the Ukraine are not political boundaries and democracy, but power and ego plays, and economic realities having a lot to do with oil and gas distribution.

 

As for our own Quebec struggles, I would like to see a serious attempt at separation, which would obviously result in utter failure, so the issue would be put to rest once and for all.  

Tilting at Windmills

 

I have just completed a massive undertaking, reading the complete Don Quixote. The book is more than 1000 pages and contains around 775,000 words. It was written by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in 1605 with the  second part written in 1615. It has been a widely read book through the ages and has taken on different interpretations and meanings in each of those ages.

It is not easy to read, in places, but one cannot help but recognize the brilliance in it. Is it social commentary, is it comedy, or is it a tragedy? Perhaps understanding Spanish culture and the times would put a different light on it, but after reading it now in 2014, I have to conclude that it is a comedy with some cruel twists. Even though it was written 400 years ago, the humour is relevant and so very clever in most places.

 

Don Quixote is a man who has been reading too many books on chivalry, most of which were fiction, and he seeks to revive the age of Knights errant when chivalry reined and knights would wander the countryside seeking to right the wrongs and rescue the downtrodden. He recruits a poor buffoon of a farmer as his squire by promising him governance of an island when they come across the right type of adventure which will reward them with power and riches.

The 'adventures' are hilarious and contrived, resulting from the fact that Don is delusional and quite frankly, mad. His madness is counterbalanced by his brilliance in communication, knowledge, and sage advice. When people meet him they are struck with both his brilliance and madness and then find themselves not being able to decide what he really is.

 

His 'squire' Sancho Panza, in the meanwhile, has some of Don's brilliance rub off on him and becomes one of the most droll characters in literature, spouting strings of proverbs at will, disconnected and having no meaning at all, but sounding rather lofty.

 

There is no shortage of adventure, ending always in bad fortune, and the list of characters who play cruel jokes on this duo is endless. All of Don Quixote's endeavours are done on behalf of his lady love, the incomparable Dolcinea del Toboso whom he has never even met, but she is very real to him. When Sancho tries to put an end to this fantasy by introducing him to a young woman who he says is Dolcinea, but in fact is an ugly village wench, Don is convinced that she has been enchanted and seeks to find a way to 'dis-enchant'  her and return her to full beauty. What ensues is a running joke throughout the novel and is very funny indeed.

In the end, and I thought sadly, Don Quixote returns to sanity on his death bed and rejects the books of chivalry that lead him to the  ruinous end of life. It was sad because the crazy mad Don is the one we grew to love and root for throughout the book. It is as though our dreams and fantasies, which often keep us going in the harsh realities of life, are suddenly taken away from us and all that is left is the harsh light of day and the mundane challenges of everyday life.

Perhaps most of us have a desire to 'hit the road' as Don and Sancho did, with nothing more than a suit of armour, an old horse, and a saddlebag with cheese and bread, seeking adventure, whatever may befall. The adventure may be real or imagined, but the freedom in seeking, and not caring what others may think, makes it all worthwhile.

This book is not for everyone, but rewards the reader who perseveres. Taken as a whole, I give this classic a

3 1/2 star rating.      

A Cold and Windy Day Part 2

 

After being housebound for most of last week with a bad head cold, it was great to get outside again, even though it was bitterly cold. I was dressed warmly enough and even managed to expose my hands a few times to take a few photos. These are Euphorbia plants, a nice green just in time for St. Patrick's day.

 

The tide was on its way out, and whitecaps were pretty. For a sunny day in White Rock, people were staying away in droves. It was more or less abandoned. Even the restaurants were empty.

 

The beach that beckons in summer, repels in winter.

 

Could one ever go to White Rock and not photograph the white rock? It was fairly glowing in the brilliant sunshine this day.

 

The guard bear stands watch.

 

Rebellious me crawled onto the railway tracks for this worm's eye view when I saw the sign "Stay Off The Tracks" Had I not flattened myself to the old railway ties at the last second, the train would have crushed me like a peanut. As it was, only the shirt on my back was ripped off. Well, that is what the sign is all about, is it not? I suppose some people are too stupid to stay off the tracks when the train is coming so they have to put up the sign. Probably to avoid law suits because when someone is drunk they will not see or heed the sign anyway.

 

We then drove further west and a bit north to Crescent Beach and it was even worse there, for wind and cold. The bay was so churned up that as you can see, it is thick with mud. Well, we did get some sun and some Vitamin D but I hope not a relapse of the cold I just got rid of.