more pictures

So I am now safely back in Edmonton.

For your viewing pleasure, there are more pictures! you can see them below:

Vancouver and Train Ride

in those pictures, you'll see my pictures from vancouver, and of the train, where I had the surprise company of Hindlebear and Fezaboom! who I was chasing through the mountains, while they were also on bikes.

the train was awesome, bumping into some old friends, and making some new ones, clearly a great way to travel.

Also, Fern/Dave provided some wonderful hospitality, with their crazy cats, in Vancouver.

Now that I'm done, it's time to plot out the next trip...

Photos from Juan de Fuca park.

Photos from my time on the Beach:

Juan de Fuca Provincial Park

Vancouver

Vancity is largely as I remember it, wet, gritty, and dull grey, with moss/mould growing on it.

People here seem to move a little faster than they do on the island, this city has a certain amount of hustle and bustle to it.

The hipsters here sneer and try to look cool. On the island, they smile, wave, and talk to strangers.

I'm staying with some old friends, it is good to see them, and I'm greatful for their hospitality.

I should get back to my walk around town. I've already obtained the goodies I was after (new {to me}pants! $6), now I'm just walking about. I'm going to go through chinatown, then mosey back to my friends' place for dinner.

Packing up, and turning towards home.

It's 07:15 and I think I'm all packed up now.

I'm going to miss this place, but I'm ready to come back into my place in the world. Tonight, victoria, tomorrow Vancouver, friday, train, saturday, home, in Edmonton.

I'm almost done...

Food

I am almost out of food.

I am down to a handful of apricots, blue gatorade, a can of ham, and three tortillias.

And no coffee, or tea (growl).
I will have to lunch in sooke again, ideally where they have the fish and chips that I got on my way in.

I'm going to miss the solitude of the beach, but I'll be glad to taste that fish again. It was the best yet.

Beach bum

I'm taking another day at the beach.

I've run out of coffee, and neglected to bring tea.

It's low tide now, I've restarted the fire (kept going all night, wet, smouldering wood)

The wood burns like giant cedar incense, a glow nub on a giant sponge. There is a terrific amount of smoke from the fire, kept billowed by the cool breeze from offshore, also bringing moisture. I can't see the mountains, only the fog creeping across the sea.

*

The beachfront hermitage

Tomorrow I pack out. I'm pretty much ready to start heading back towards my life in society at some point, on the other hand, it means turning around, and heading home. I'm no longer in motion to the ocean, but in carriage to my home, and the people I miss dearly. The adventure isn't over though, I've still got some time to spend in vancouver, and then the grande finale train ride home. I really, really hope that the kamloops stopover is breif.

I've got two trips to calgary in september, so it'll be more travelling for me.

Holiday.

I am on holiday.

In the spirit of this, I am taking a nap.

I think I will break camp tomorrow, and then make for Vancouver on wednesday.

Man up

So, I just turned a driftwood log, and turned it into a stack of firewood.

Finally, I've managed to make a beach fire, following the "driftwood only" rule. The axe is what's key to this.

Grunt.base.masculine.grunt.

The waterfall.

I decided to look around, and found a waterfall.

There was a little bit of bushwhacking involved, but it led to a place so beautiful, that it was entirely worthwhile. The plant life, in a costal, rainforest, waterfall, where it never freezes, is incredible.

Exiting to the beach, the mists roll over peninsulas, and muting the edges of the vision.

Eagle

A bald eagle just flew past my site along the beach. Such a magnificant creature.

Sadly, my camera is in my tent.

Incidentally, the mountains across the sea in washington are clearing through the haze.

Full Moon Low Tide Sunrise: Bear Beach.

I woke up this morning to the low tide, here at my island hideaway, in Juan de Fuca park.

After the crazy bike ride, and the strenuous hike to get here, I've elected to keep this, the best campsite of all; for an extra day.

It's so quiet here, just the sound of the surf lapping against the rocks. Packing in, have put me several kilometes of trail away from the nearest road access. There's an outhouse around the corner, a freshwater creek for the filter up the way, and very, very few other human beings. No car noises, no train noises.
It's completely detached here, minus the occasional passer-by on the beach trail. It will be even fewer tomorrow, when the week-enders departing today.

I really needed a quiet day relaxing on the beach, and I've gotten it.

I also drank all the coffee, this might get ugly. I should try and barter with someone who would like one less item in their heavy pack (I'm near the terminus trailhead).

Camera battery is also running low.

I walked out to look at the tide pools, and observed hermit crabs, with some other, larger crabs. Nothing large enough to be delicious, sadly.

Being on the sea, makes me wish that I had a sailboat.

Juan de Fuca

While the theme of my bike ride was being in motion, to the ocean, the endless push and effort to get to the destination; I have arrived, and am working on island time.

The theme for this leg of the adventure is "take your time". That, I am doing, as I lazily stumble through the woods, soaking in the wonder that is the costal rainforest. I'm taking lots of breaks, looking around at the scenic view points, and all around, taking things a lot easier (even if hauling the pack is acutely more physically demanding).

This is what the pace of a holiday should be.

China beach

Today I rode my bike from victoria, to china beach, in the juan de fuca provincial park.

I've left my bike, extra gear, and business card with the park-narcs who were more pleasant than usual.

After loading my hiking pack, moving equipment from my panniers, to the new pack, I think that I may have to re-consider the canned meat route to adventure fuel. It's great on the bike, because it contains the mega calories that are required in your stomach for touring. While freeze dried is terribly expensive, it's true advantage is size and weight. Lots of calories, in a lightweight packaging: just add water. The canned food does have it's advantages (scent proof) and high calories.

I'll be off to the trail tomorrow, which should be nice. The bike has become somewhat cumbersome, as it carries so much stuff. It'll be nice to only have to worry about my self, not the machine, and it's endless mechanical faults (flat tires and broken kickstand.). I've considerably reduced the amount of things to carry. Replaced water storage, with filter (leaving two bottles behind.).

I'm going to get up early tomorrow, really make a good start. Adventure waits for no one!

Sooke

I'm in sooke, about to ride up to the park. I'll be hiking and will be out of cell range until I return on tuesday or wednesday.

I have a new camera, a canon TX1 which is a solid state video/still hybrid.

The hiking should be awesome, and I'll be sure to document every bit of it.