7 January - Afternoon Hike

 

Walking is a daily routine for us, but sometimes we want to go a bit further afield. Today we drove a few miles north to John Dean Provincial Park. Although cloudy skies prevailed, no rain fell, and the temperature was perfect for what turned out to be a strenuous 2-plus hour hike. 

My watch informed me that we climbed the equivalent of 92 staircases today, and 12,492 steps. I won't argue with the numbers because I can feel some tiredness in my legs even now, several hours later. 

Large white mushrooms nestled against a fallen log.

The long scars seen on the trees are strips of Yellow Cedar harvested by the First Nations Peoples. They use the bark strips to produce threads, sometimes dyed, for clothing, mats, blankets, and hats. Through long years of experience the First Nations learned how to harvest bark without killing the trees. 

A small ferry that carries a dozen or so cars travels across the Saanich Inlet. 

By 3:30 pm the light was fading, but still glowed on the long stretch of the inlet. On the right side of the photo a few buildings show where Brentwood Bay is, close to Butchart Gardens. 

The evening has been a quiet one; some television, some reading, and a simple supper. We'll sleep well tonight.