Weekly Photo Challenge

Red -Ryan’s Photo Challenge.

Dan Drews5 Comments

Autumn is a season of many colours. There is a flavour here for everyone. But I must admit that I am partial to red, yet at the same time it is hard to ignore the others dancing about.

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Japanese maple from our back yard.

I was hoping to be horticulturally correct and include the Latin nomenclature for these samples, until I found out that there are hundreds of varieties of Japanese maple. So we will leave it at that and just enjoy their splendid display.

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Another Japanese maple that leans more towards the purple side.

And now a red that is every bodies favourite. Whether it is in the morning or evening, a red sunrise or sunset has always drawn people to it’s magic. The picture below was taken a few days ago just as the sun came up over the Salish Sea here in British Columbia. Enjoy.

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Photo for the Week – 14 – Red

Streets

Dan Drews4 Comments

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For the last number of winters, we have been spending our time in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Needless to say many pictures were taken. Water, buildings, people, the surrounding country side and their very unique streets. They are cobblestone. The best way to experience what it is like to travel them is to take a taxi or bus. It is quite bone jarring, as their suspension is worn pretty thin. But it is also worth the few pesos. An adventure all to itself.

The streets offer up many intriguing photo opportunities. What follows is just a small sample. Enjoy.

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Photo for the Week – 10 – Streets

Water Falls

Dan Drews6 Comments

Located about midway on Vancouver Island, and in Strathcona Provincial Park is beautiful Myra Falls.

The first photo is of the lower falls as they cascade into Buttle lake.

DSC_0155We pulled off the highway at a lookout, grabbed the long lens and got this shot from across the lake. Luckley there was a railing to steady the camera. Camera settings for this long shot were, 1/800sec, f8, 400mm, iso 200. The people you see in this pic are standing where I took the next shot.

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At this time of year the volume of water is greatly reduced so we were able to stand in areas that would normally be covered with rushing water.

I would love to visit Myra Falls during the spring runoff. I imagine the rush of water would be deafening and awesome.

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This last shot is of the Upper Myra Falls, a moderately difficult hike of about 3k through lush moss covered forests.

There are many water falls on Vancouver Island, but I rate this one at the top of my list. Cheers.

 

Bridges of British Columbia.

Dan Drews3 Comments

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Kinsol Trestle.

Situated on Vancouver Island and now part of the Trans Canada Trail, this bridge was at one time a vital part of getting logs down to the mills.

For the complete story, please see my blog of May 6, 2018, entitled Wandering Vancouver Island – Kinsol Trestle.

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This is a picture of the Hudson Hope suspension bridge spanning the Peace River in northern British Columbia. The steel cables that hold up the deck are buried in bed rock and cement, 53 feet below the surface.

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The haze in the background is smoke from many of the forest fires in B.C. this past summer.

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Located in Nanaimo, B.C., this bridge, for walking only, forms part of the water front attraction that runs for several kilometers. It is well lit at night, and is a popular area at all times of the day. Cheers.

This blog is in response to Ryan’s photo challenge of the week.
Photo for the Week – 8 – Bridges | The Reluctant Photographer

The Bubble has Burst

Dan Drews7 Comments

Last week I wrote about the magic of bubbles. Apparently, thanks to WordPress, the bubble has burst. And why, we don’t know. Is this being done for financial reasons? Staffing problems? Is the bottom line hurting and something had to give?

I fully understand that change exists in any organization, that is key to doing business. But the explanation given is nothing more than a white-wash. It simply does not ring true. Very disappointed and angry.

Nevertheless, I am not going away. I have made too many friends, fellow bloggers; and I have benefitted from that relationship. I have learned from them, laughed, smiled and cried. To give all this up now would be too much of a let down, both within the blogging community and to myself. At nearly 75, I have much yet to learn and much to share.

I am sure someone out there will pick up the banner and run with it. I am not sure just where this will transition to, but I look forward eagerly to whatever may appear on the horizon.

As far as my favourite pictures are concerned, I think in keeping with my feelings about this whole sell-off, I think the picture chosen expresses just what I think of this fiasco. Cheers.

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All-Time Favorites

Blowing Bubbles.

Dan Drews1 Comment

I’m forever blowing bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air, they fly so high, nearly reach the sky……(John Vellette & Jaan “Kenbrovin”) well, not really me but a lady down at our water front in Nanaimo. Not your average bubbles, but big, ever shape changing , bubbles.

As they came floating by us, twisting and turning, I found that due to their translucent nature, that auto focus was not going to work. So, manual focus to the rescue.DSC_0567

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And staying with our twisted theme, but nothing to do with bubbles, this creation was also at the water front park. Wood, in all shapes and sizes gets washed up on shore every year, just waiting for some creative soul to come along.

So, if you are walking around with your camera, get it out of the bag, be ready to put it to work, you never know just what will come floating by. Cheers.DSC_0556

Twisted

 

Wandering Vancouver Island – Kinsol Trestle.

Dan Drews5 Comments

Since the weather here has warmed up significantly, we decided to take a short, 76k road trip to view the Kinsol Trestle, located in the Cowichan valley,  and now part  of the Trans Canada Trail.

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Kinsol Trestle.

The trestle spans the Koksilah River. It is 187m long, and rises to a height of 44m, one of the largest in North America. Now for a bit of not to boring but condensed history.

Orginally built by the Canadian Northern Pacific Railway in 1911, it was needed to connect Victoria to Nootka Sound to transport old growth timber. The actual construction was undertaken by local farmers and loggers. The CNoPR  was take over by the Canadian National Railway in 1918 who oversaw  completion of the trestle by 1920. Last train to cross the trestle was in 1979, and the trestle was abandoned one year later. DSC_0110DSC_0109

The CNR gave up ownership on Vancouver Island in the 1980s, and the rail line was given over to the Ministry of Transportation. Due to the fact that the trestle sat unused , it’s deterioration  in the following years rendered it’s use prohibitive by hikers on the rail trail. It seemed unlikely at that point in time that the trestle would be able to be restored to use.

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After Much debate for and against restoration, an agreement was reached to preserve the trestle for it’s historical and tourism value. A feasibility study was conducted as to the work needed to restore it to use. It was estimated that 5.7 million would be needed. The provincial government kicked in 4.1 million and the rest was raised by local fund raising. The restoration was started in 2010, and the trestle opened to the public in 2011.DSC_0111

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Original cement piers at the base.
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Koksilah River.

DSC_0108The Kinsol Trestle has proven to be a very worthwhile addition to the Trans Canada Trail as seen by the number of people who visit it each year. Whether hiking, biking or on horseback, the trestle is available to all those who love the great outdoors. Cheers.

Unlikely

A Few Lines to Giggle, Grin or Groan at….

Dan Drews7 Comments

Here is my approach to this weeks photo challenge, “lines”.

I can’t seem to get limericks out of my head. The words just seem to creep into my brain, begging to be explored.

So here are a few lines,  grin or groan as you will, I am addicted.

 

My feet are running, my nose is not,

It’s all stuffed up and filled with snot.

I wheeze and blow,

But one thing I know,

Being knighted on Friday as Sir Dripsalot.

 

Toodle  Loo and Oogle Too were in a heated race,

Waddling down the road at a not so torrid pace.

Along came a hole,

Which swallowed them whole,

Said Loo to Too, I think we have fallen from grace.

 

There once lived a frog by the name of Bart,

He would moan and groan and hone his art.

The ladies he longed to do,

Alas, he was weak in the woo,

When mounting a croak, all he could do was fart.

 

Until my next time I give in to this silliness,  cheers.

Lines

My Favourite Place?

Dan Drews4 Comments

I find myself having some difficulty in selecting one place to call my favourite. After sifting through many pictures and memories, I still didn’t feel that I was  any closer to nailing down a favourite. Until…..

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Would my favourite place require travelling by plane?
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Newfoundland. Would it start here?
Maybe beside a forest stream.
Or along a path amidst tall trees.
How about a sunny clime?
Or maybe a deserted beach.
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The snows of winter makes for an inviting adventure, but…..
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This is so relaxing, it could be my favourite………..

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So many places, so little time. I have had the opportunity to travel this country from shore to shore. You can turn your world upside down looking, but…………

No matter how attractive or enticing a place is, there is simply no place like home. It is that place where you “are”, both emotionally and physically.DSC_0614

And my own back yard.DSC_0988

It doesn’t matter whether I am seeking mountains or the sea, I am here, and they are only a glance away. And the best part, I don’t have to do it alone. I have come home to  my favourite place. Cheers.DSC_0383

“When the uniqueness of a place sings to us like a melody, then we will know, at last, what it means to be at home”

Paul Gruchow, American author and conservationist.

Favorite Place