Meanwhile in Sooke...

A view from the wharf today, out towards one of our favorite walks at Whiffin Spit with some low cloud or fog to welcome the crabbers back to the basin.

It is so true that as the chaotic world turns on it's wonky axis as usual, our home town of Sooke defies it all and stays calm and collected, and that serenity is infectious.

Port Renfrew

Saturday morning on the drive across the island, we stopped off in Lake Cowichan for a short walk near the museum by the lake. There was a dog swimming, absolutely loving the water, and the owner told us that, because of diabetes, the dog had become blind. She recommended the Shaker Mill restaurant, so we treated ourselves to a "full monty" breakfast, and it was perfect.

Then the drive across the island continued, through amazing valleys, twisting roads, single lane bridges, hairpin bends and a unique weather system, we arrived at the Port Renfrew Hotel for a pint and some exploration, the views were stunning, and we have made a promise to come back here for a night of solitude at some point and stay at one of the cabins of Wild Renfrew.

Phoenix - Turkey Vulture

With a wingspan rivaling the bald eagle, this soaring vulture can stay aloft for hours without flapping its wings. They use their amazing sense of smell to find carrion to feed on – Turkey Vultures can detect pieces of raw meat from kilometers away.

We have confused these common birds for young bald eagles in the past, often seen around Sooke, and as we watched the flying display, six more congregated in the sky above the arena.

There were many other flying displays that session, a barn owl that was silent as it flew over our heads, a Golden Eagle and an amazingly fast Peregrine Falcon. It was a spectacular visit, and we will be going back there again.

Twain - Kestrel

North America’s smallest falcon, these little raptors are still incredibly fierce predators, hunting insects, small rodents and other birds. While currently a commonly found raptor, they are at risk from habitat loss, and pesticide exposure. This little darling showed us all what he was made of during the flying exhibition.

At times, he flew within inches of our heads, more than once we experienced goosebumps because it was so amazing.

Raptors, Duncan

A couple of lovely birds :

Pacific Circle Route

We took a holiday from our extended holiday, and experienced the Pacific Circle Route here on the southern end of Vancouver Island, a drive to Duncan, and two nights stay and exploring, then a drive across the island, to Port Renfrew and then back to Sooke to complete the circle.

Calling out my name

The aforementioned gooseberry bush is calling out my name one more time, so I'll have to do some more picking and pickling.

There's a snake in my boot......

Morning walk in the back yard and there was a little garter snake in the grass, it was happy enough to hang around a few minutes while I fetched my camera.

Well, when I say happy, it was probably scared witless, cornered near our gooseberry bush.

Tea Towel Head

I was out this morning, a tea towel on my head, held there with my cap, protecting my neck from the sun as I picked two-thirds of the gooseberries off our bush. There were a couple of pounds of them after my efforts, and then before they knew what had happened, they were in a right old jam.

Paradise

A few days this week, especially one particular group of moments down at French Beach, have felt like we are living in paradise, for this moment, I walked behind a crew of sandpipers, all of whom appeared to be sharing a single brain, all praying to the wonder of the light, the tide and the salt air.

As too, were we...

Jordon River, Crab Fest

There were thousands of these little guys on the sands at Jordon River, all trapped by the seaweed and the low tide, all baked by the sun into golden red, crunchy tidbits for the local birds.

Rocks On

I am always fascinated by the variety of rocks that we walk across during our many strolls on the local beaches, so much diversity, so many permutations, endless loveliness.

I make this my windows wallpaper today, to remind me I should find another random example in the morning.