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Little Qualicum Falls

Yesterday I stopped along the highway at Little Qualicum Falls on Vancouver Island. There are trails that give you great perspectives of the falls from all angles just a short walk from the parking lot. This was my last stop before heading to the ferry, then the airport and then home here in Florida. I was in a bit of a rush to get to the ferry after this stop, perhaps I lingered too long. Next thing you know I got a ticket for speeding. I should have been upset but I was in too much of a good mood from seeing these falls and all the other great sights of British Columbia to worry that much. Driving within the limit, I made it to the ferry on time.

Yesterday I stopped along the highway at Little Qualicum Falls on Vancouver Island. There are trails that give you great perspectives of the falls from all angles just a short walk from the parking lot. This was my last stop before heading to the ferry, then the airport and then home here in Florida. I was in a bit of a rush to get to the ferry after this stop, perhaps I lingered too long. Next thing you know I got a ticket for speeding. I should have been upset but I was in too much of a good mood from seeing these falls and all the other great sights of British Columbia to worry that much. Driving within the limit, I made it to the ferry on time.

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Wild Pacific Trail

Took a hike on the lighthouse loop of the Wild Pacific Trail today. It starts at the lighthouse in Ucluelet, British Columbia and then along the rugged coast and forests of Douglas Firs. It's only two and a half kilometers but the problem is there are spectacular views about every fifty meters (I'm not exaggerating for once). It ended up taking four hours to complete and I think my camera worked harder than me, poor thing. I don't know for sure, but I'd guess this must be in some top ten list of most scenic hikes in North America. If not, then I'm creating my own and this starts at the number one spot.

Took a hike on the lighthouse loop of the Wild Pacific Trail today. It starts at the lighthouse in Ucluelet, British Columbia and then along the rugged coast and forests of Douglas Firs. It’s only two and a half kilometers but the problem is there are spectacular views about every fifty meters (I’m not exaggerating for once). It ended up taking four hours to complete and I think my camera worked harder than me, poor thing. I don’t know for sure, but I’d guess this must be in some top ten list of most scenic hikes in North America. If not, then I’m creating my own and this starts at the number one spot.

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Wickaninnish Beach

Called Wick beach by the locals this is a classic

Called Wick beach by the locals this is a classic “long beach”, meaning it’s really long. A great opportunity for me to pull out the long lens and look for interesting perspectives. It rained for a couple of days and this was the last band of rain clouds coming out of the Pacific, and trailing was blue sky and warm temperatures . A favorite spot for local surfers as well as beachcombers like me.

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Ucluelet Harbour

This is the fishing harbour in the little town of Ucluelet. You could be forgiven if at first glance you mistook this for an Alaskan fishing village as sequences from Man of Steel were filmed here for that very reason. I thought I lived in a small town, at a population of just over 1,600 good chance everyone knows everyone. I think this is one of those little secrets of a destination you just have to know about. In my case it was just dumb luck.

This is the fishing harbour in the little town of Ucluelet. You could be forgiven if at first glance you mistook this for an Alaskan fishing village as sequences from Man of Steel were filmed here for that very reason. I thought I lived in a small town, at a population of just over 1,600 good chance everyone knows everyone. I think this is one of those little secrets of a destination you just have to know about. In my case it was just dumb luck.

Click on photo to obtain print

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Neal Preserve Pond

Neal Preserve is one of my favorite destinations inside Bradenton. As preserves go it's fairly small but still has surprises each time I go. Theres a big lookout where you can look over the preserve in one direction and the inter-coastal waterway in the other. I prefer coming here after the rains to view the ponds.
Neal Preserve is one of my favorite destinations inside Bradenton. As preserves go it’s fairly small but still has surprises each time I go. Theres a big lookout where you can look over the preserve in one direction and the inter-coastal waterway in the other. I prefer coming here after the rains to view the ponds.

Click on photo to obtain print

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Cathedral Grove

According to the BC Pars website,

According to the BC Parks website, “This is the most accessible stands of giant Douglas fir trees on Vancouver Island”. Well (according to me) this place is nothing short of spectacular. Some of these ancient trees were blown down in a storm back in 1997 and so the path is littered with trunks, while others remain tall and healthy. I won’t try to explain how big these are, but it was well worth the stop on Highway 4 as we travelled to the west coast of Vancouver Island. When walking along this path one gets the sense that the little earth spirits (gnomes) are all over the place. I can say that about a lot of places, but I think they (the gnomes) must have their headquarters here. And why not?