Westward Ho!: Around the park in January

The Trumperer Swans arrived here in November and stay near the park. At low tide the flats supply a smorgasbord of sea food for them as well as the Eagles and of course the countless gulls.

Below, the sunrise appears to change their colour.

All was well in Paradise until................

Cassie loved to run through the soft powdery snow. It stayed for almost three days, going down to -4 each night.

That hopefully was our winter.............

For our monday morning hike one week, we had a guide take us birding. We went through the park and along the Nanaimo river which boarders the park.

It was cool, but with no wind it was good to be out.

A Hairy Woodpecker

This week, January,23, for our hike we drove 60km south, through Duncan, then 15 km west into the interior to Shawnagan Lake. It was a far different scene than in the park. The snow we had in the park is long gone, so we were surprised to see so much there. At first look, we thought we would not do the hike, as the trail was quite icy, but being a group of tough, stubborn seniors, off we went. If the truth was known, our main purpose for the hike, was the pub lunch after, so we were motivated. Most of us have good hiking boots and poles with ice tips which were very helpful.

Actually the real reason, besides the pub lunch, was to see the Kinsol Trestle Bridge. It is a one mile hike to the bridge, which was enough on the icy trail. The bridge was completed in 1920 and the last train to cross it was in 1979. In 2007 the provincial government commited 4.1 million dollars to restore the bridge and that was completed in the summer of 2011. It is 144ft high and 617 ft long, making it the largest wooden trestle bridge in the commonwealth and one of the longest in the world. It now forms a link for the 16,000km Trans Canada, which is the longest trail in the world. the Vancouver Island portion is suitable for hiking, horseback riding and cycling.

Watch your step!