IN MY WORLD autumn nipped at my heels as I kicked through remnants of a hot summer in southwestern BC this weekend. Along the way I came across natural phenomena and
manmade creations.
The early gathering of leaves on the forest floor was due to extreme dryness.
Tough veins on an old tree appeared unmoved by weeks of stubborn heat.
A leaf riddled with holes looked frail from weather beatings and bug bites.
This large stone had the markings of a dusty desert all over its hilly face.
An etching exposed the inner beauty and age of one fallen log.
The puffy dandelion was perfectly still with seeds
intact as I breezed by.
Sparkling blue waters of Boundary Bay beckoned from
Kwomais Point Park.
Berries lounged on a wall as I headed for the
1001 Steps to the shore below.
The nearby drain was largely ignored due to minimal rain flow this summer.
It was nice to see the stairs were in good repair.
The path to the shore was mysterious as ever.
The ripening berries alongside the path were too sour for picking.
A tire gripped the road and was a great deterrent against slippage.
Beneath the railway dubious art work decorated a tunnel to the beach.
Inside the tunnel there were remnants of a party I was glad to have missed.
On the other side, sun streaks bounced off the water and leaked through the lens of my camera that I hoped was not damaged.
Ahead was a shining horizon ... the grandeur of which I could not capture.
The beach had sharp edges but seemed safe to explore.
Ripples slapped stones ...
barnacles hugged rocks ...
and a rusty artifact expressed the ravages of time.
Slick ropes of seaweed were bundled together ...
while a non-edible mushroom was painted into a corner.
A shabby sign stood humbly at a distance amid natural beauty and
manmade design. They all needed a wash from the anticipated rain.
Explorers can discover more sites from around the globe at
My World.
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There are also hidden puddles under bridges where wildlife and lily pads grow ... like the ones I did not manage to capture while visiting the Japanese Memorial Garden on Mayne Island in B.C.
There are huge puddles that carry big B.C. Ferries.
And there are tiny puddle houses where pet fish (like our now deceased Betta) contentedly blow bubbles.
Often, the puddles we see before us are mere illusions just as water on the road ahead can be a mirage appearing to mirror fleeting clouds in blue skies.
MY FAVORITE PLACE to visit is Kwomais Point Park in the small community of Ocean Park overlooking Semiahmoo Bay in Surrey, BC. There are a couple of places to sit after a long stroll. Last week I headed for the bench-swing I am told was donated by someone in the neighborhood.
When I got there, the serene setting I am accustomed to was a bit faded.
Although the scenery and bench were still there, I was surprised to find this ...
and this ....JPG)
and this.
I learned the park is undergoing reconstruction that should ultimately be a positive change for people and local wildlife. A planned platform will nudge outward by a few feet towards the bay so folks can more easily enjoy the view when scanning the horizon for eagles and whales.
One of several ongoing projects to the park, this facet is scheduled for completion within a month ... just in time to make the autumn sunsets of last year appear more golden to those who like to soak in such beautiful things.
IN MY WORLD autumn nipped at my heels as I kicked through remnants of a hot summer in southwestern BC this weekend. Along the way I came across natural phenomena and manmade creations.
The early gathering of leaves on the forest floor was due to extreme dryness.
Tough veins on an old tree appeared unmoved by weeks of stubborn heat.
A leaf riddled with holes looked frail from weather beatings and bug bites.
This large stone had the markings of a dusty desert all over its hilly face.
An etching exposed the inner beauty and age of one fallen log.
The puffy dandelion was perfectly still with seeds intact as I breezed by.
Sparkling blue waters of Boundary Bay beckoned from Kwomais Point Park.
Berries lounged on a wall as I headed for the 1001 Steps to the shore below.
The nearby drain was largely ignored due to minimal rain flow this summer.
It was nice to see the stairs were in good repair.
The path to the shore was mysterious as ever.
The ripening berries alongside the path were too sour for picking.
A tire gripped the road and was a great deterrent against slippage.
Beneath the railway dubious art work decorated a tunnel to the beach.
Inside the tunnel there were remnants of a party I was glad to have missed.
On the other side, sun streaks bounced off the water and leaked through the lens of my camera that I hoped was not damaged.
Ahead was a shining horizon ... the grandeur of which I could not capture.
The beach had sharp edges but seemed safe to explore.
Ripples slapped stones ...
barnacles hugged rocks ...
and a rusty artifact expressed the ravages of time.
Slick ropes of seaweed were bundled together ...
while a non-edible mushroom was painted into a corner.
A shabby sign stood humbly at a distance amid natural beauty and manmade design. They all needed a wash from the anticipated rain.