Peace, Silence, Solitude

 

"Peace, silence, solitude. The world and its noise are out of sight and far away. Forest and field, sun and wind and sky, earth and water, all speak the same language."

Thomas Merton

Our view for a few days - the Nanaimo River Estuary with the Strait of Georgia beyond and further back, the snow-capped Coast Mountains of the mainland. 

We kayaked up the river until the current grew so strong that as fast and as hard as I paddled, I stayed in the very same spot in the river. Then, the delight of turning around and drifting downriver, idling watching the early signs of spring on shore.

Mr. Canada Goose was extremely leery of this camera-wielding human who drifted rather close to his feeding mate. I paddled away after taking the photo so as not to disturb. Seeing life from the perspective of a kayak at water level is very different than being on land. It's more "up close and personal". 

On our first afternoon, the sun shone so warmly and we sat outdoors watching bald and golden eagles drift and soar. It was an airshow of the natural kind. One eagle did a number of barrel rolls, effortlessly turning wing over wing in the air. A flock of either Trumpeter Swans or Snow Geese flew over, long necks stretched northwards, before landing on the mudflats in the estuary to rest for awhile. The Golden Eagle in the tree, seen above, is so well camouflaged. 

Another hike took us on a six-kilometre loop around Westwood Lake, created when a small hydro project was built many years ago. Tall, denuded trees stand perfectly reflected by the clear water below.

A turtle suns himself on a mossy log, unaware of the world at large, concerned only with his own little environment. We're finding the peace and silence of the natural world calming to our own minds and souls amid the chaos of the world. Our days are simple and easy, filled with nature's beauty, books, and each other's company. 

Wishing you peace amidst the storms.