What are you looking at here? Let me help you get your bearings.
The hills in the distance, and beyond them the mountains you can’t see because of the low cloud cover, are on the mainland of British Columbia, just north of Vancouver. I am standing on Vancouver Island. You can deduce from that, that the city of Vancouver is not on Vancouver Island. In this photo we are looking to the east.
I’ve climbed up a hill a little way and am now looking to the south. You can see a spit of land that reaches out from the land’s end. The spit has been formed by a gazillion years of wave action swishing the sand along and dropping it to form a giant finger of sand. All the land you can see in this photo, including the mountains, is on Vancouver Island.
Looking to the west, you can see the sheltered water on the inside of the spit, and the harbour of Comox in the distance. Those toothpicks sticking up are the masts and trolling poles of fishing boats and sailboats in the marina. The two boats at anchor in the foreground are getting free moorage.
A few weeks ago, the Captain and I went for a walk that took us to the inside of the sheltered bay. You can see part of the spit in the distance on the far right horizon.
On the way to the trail we noticed the run-off from the excessive amount of rain we’d had. This is not a year-round creek, but a temporary run-off creek. I feel sorry for the large tree that has its feet in water, day and night. It may soon go the way of the broken off tree trunk in the photo below this one.
It may be broken off, but this tree is still serving a useful purpose. It is making many birds happy. Nuthatches and woodpeckers will make holes in the trees to nest in, and the bugs they find in the trunk help give them strength to continue their work and to feed their babies.
Farther along, we came to the boardwalk. I love this scene. You see the run-off creek completing the water cycle as it brings the rainwater back to the sea. It’s great to have the boardwalk and not have to wade through the creek.
The trees along the water are mostly deciduous types. They are probably cottonwoods and a few poplar or alder types mixed in. My guess is they are cottonwoods because those grow taller than the others, and these are a good size.
Even in the cool weather, you can have a great day going for a walk around your neighbourhood.
April 5, 2018 at 2:02 pm
I love that you mentioned creatures can still thrive in and beside a tree, even if it’s not in its best shape. But that’s so me, isn’t it? 🙂
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April 5, 2018 at 2:37 pm
I keep coming up with material for your posts, Cathi! I should get a commission!
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April 5, 2018 at 4:26 pm
Ha haaa! We can be partners in craziness.
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April 5, 2018 at 4:55 pm
Yup! I think we already are!
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April 5, 2018 at 2:12 pm
Thank for taking us on a walk with lots of beautiful places to see on Vancouver Island! Greetings from the Interior of BC, where we are still struggling with old man Winter, who refuses to leave and make room for Spring!
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April 5, 2018 at 2:38 pm
It’s an especially cold week just now. Let’s hope it gets better.
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April 5, 2018 at 2:12 pm
Great scenes Anneli! Thanks for the tour. The mountains are so impressive!
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April 5, 2018 at 2:38 pm
We haven’t seen them as often as we’d like this winter, with so much cloud cover.
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April 5, 2018 at 2:28 pm
I can hardly wait to visit there in June! Thanks for whetting my saltwater appetite!
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April 5, 2018 at 2:39 pm
Let’s order in some good weather. It should be warmer by then, if not sunny.
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April 5, 2018 at 2:31 pm
Such an interesting area.
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April 5, 2018 at 2:39 pm
Always something to see or do.
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April 5, 2018 at 2:37 pm
Beautiful photos, Anneli!
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April 5, 2018 at 2:40 pm
Thanks, Gina. You’ll have to check out the views in person this summer.
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April 5, 2018 at 2:40 pm
Wow! Your photographs are stunning, Anneli. The third and fourth shots look like paintings. Thanks for sharing!
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April 5, 2018 at 2:41 pm
Glad you like them, Jill. Thanks. Enjoy your weekend.
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April 5, 2018 at 2:51 pm
You too!
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April 5, 2018 at 2:40 pm
This scenery is amazing! Thank you for the tour, Anneli. I have never been to Canada and Vancouver, but I know that many refer to Vancouver as the most beautiful city in the world. The panorama is breathtaking and Vancouver Island looks very nice indeed. x
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April 5, 2018 at 2:43 pm
As cities go, Vancouver is very nice, but I prefer the island, with a smaller population of people and a bigger population of birds and other wildlife. But we do like the whole area in general. Can’t imagine living anywhere else.
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April 6, 2018 at 9:13 am
I’d definitely prefer the island too, it looks wonderful with the birds and the wildlife. Glad to see you have found such a lovely place to live. For how long have you lived there?
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April 6, 2018 at 9:15 am
Since high school, the island has been home. I’ve worked in the BC interior and then on the Queen Charlotte Islands but home is really always Vancouver Island.
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April 5, 2018 at 3:09 pm
It’s easy to see, Anneli, how your environment influences your writing. I am enjoying The Wind Weeps. 🙂
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April 5, 2018 at 4:59 pm
Thanks so much for reading it, Carol. I may leave you hanging a little bit at the end because the sequel (Reckoning Tide) ties up the loose ends.
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April 5, 2018 at 4:08 pm
Wow, what a lovely neighborhood you have, Anneli. I enjoyed seeing the beautiful vistas, and also hearing about how it is all integrated into your life, being aware of the runoff, the birds, the trees, even the boardwalk. Thank you for this glimpse.
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April 5, 2018 at 4:58 pm
We love it here, and it gets better in the warmer months with more birdlife.
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April 5, 2018 at 4:20 pm
I love your photos! 🙂
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April 5, 2018 at 4:57 pm
Thanks, Lynette. That makes me smile.
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April 5, 2018 at 4:23 pm
Enjoyed the tour.
Looks like spring has arrived.
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April 5, 2018 at 4:56 pm
That day, it did. Now we’re back to cold rain.
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April 5, 2018 at 6:17 pm
That is a very beautiful part of the world!
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April 5, 2018 at 8:19 pm
It’s beautiful in its own way, but you live in a very pristine and beautiful place yourself. We love Montana.
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April 5, 2018 at 8:18 pm
Love your photos. I have some friends who live in British Columbia.
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April 5, 2018 at 8:19 pm
I hope it’s in southern BC. The northern part is still quite cold.
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April 5, 2018 at 8:21 pm
They’re in Vancouver.
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April 5, 2018 at 8:24 pm
Oh that’s good. Not as cold as the rest of BC.
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April 6, 2018 at 5:34 am
Lovely travel-log respite for a Friday morning! Thanks!
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April 6, 2018 at 8:56 am
Thanks, Laura. Nothing you have to think too hard about. Just some pretty pictures. Sometimes that’s all we need to get a nice start on the day.
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April 6, 2018 at 12:09 pm
You got that right!
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April 6, 2018 at 10:48 am
Umm, my neighborhood looks nothing like this one. Yours is so much more beautiful. What a wonderful trail to have nearby where you live. Do the dogs go with you? You’ve seen some of the trails we’ve been on at my blog. No big bodies of water or mountains, but nice rivers and creeks.
I enjoyed going for that walk with you among the mountains and the ocean. Have a great weekend.
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April 6, 2018 at 10:54 am
There’s something special and unique about every place. That’s what makes blogging interesting and fun. We can share what we have.
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April 6, 2018 at 10:56 am
Beautiful sites and a lovely walk, Anneli. I have to get up there sometime soon. 🙂
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April 6, 2018 at 12:38 pm
I think it’s a great place to visit (and to live). Hope you can put it on your list of destinations.
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April 6, 2018 at 2:07 pm
So beautiful, Anneli. I love the boardwalk.
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April 6, 2018 at 8:23 pm
Thanks, Jennie. I like it there under all those trees.
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April 7, 2018 at 3:53 am
You’re welcome, Anneli. 🙂
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April 7, 2018 at 5:48 am
Beautiful pictures, Anneli. They are like oil paintings.
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April 7, 2018 at 7:09 am
Thanks, Victor. There are a few nice places in our area and when the sun shines just right, it’s fun to take pictures there.
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April 7, 2018 at 6:13 am
That’s a beautiful neighborhood Anneli. Loved the pics and whole experience..
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April 7, 2018 at 7:07 am
Thanks. It’s great when the weather co-operates.
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April 20, 2018 at 9:18 pm
Anneli, these photographs are stunning! I liked the hill with houses and the Bayside. The peeking between trees shot was also beautiful! Your books are full of the landscape creating setting and another part of the story’s “characters.”
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April 20, 2018 at 10:15 pm
Thanks, Robin. In my novels, I tried to use many of the places I know, so that makes it easier to feel like I’m right there.
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April 20, 2018 at 10:20 pm
I think I made sure to convey in tomorrow’s post that environment or setting is important to the stories you tell, Anneli. 💐
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April 20, 2018 at 10:21 pm
I’ll watch for your post, Robin. Thank you.
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April 20, 2018 at 10:25 pm
You are so kind to say thank you often. It was an honor and a privilege, Anneli. I am happy to have you as a friend! Your friendship and devoted comments give Me so much back. ❤️
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April 20, 2018 at 10:26 pm
That’s great to hear! The feeling is mutual.
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April 20, 2018 at 10:30 pm
It is always nice to have someone who cares! I wish I could be more timely but I do try to go back and catch missed posts. 🙂
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