Blogtober 26: Through the Forest to the Sea

 

The rain is pouring down today. Shortly after noon we spied a break in the weather and drove to Witty's Lagoon for a walk. The heavens opened about half way there and we wondered what we were doing. However, we donned our rain jackets and set off down the trail in what had eased to little more than a drizzle. 

How quiet and still the woods are with only the sound of water dripping off the leaves onto the earth. We caught the scent of ripe apples from the once productive orchard, now neglected, where apples now carpet the ground. The Coast Salish people had settlements here for at least 1000 years. The first European settler, John Witty, established a farm here, as did the Hudson Bay Company. 

The chatter of kingfishers, a flapping of ducks taking off, and the waves lapping the shore added another layer of enjoyment to our walk. 

The tide was up, so there wasn't much beach visible. The large domed white-ish mass in the middle of the photo above is what's left of a jellyfish washed up on shore, a rather large one. How colourful the arrangement was with bull kelp, sea lettuce and a variety of other sea plants. 

Our shores are always covered with driftwood. One piece had two of these very large nuts and bolts attached. 

An open seashell on the beach. I walked past it, then turned back when the words from Anne Morrow Lindbergh came to mind, "One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach - waiting for a gift from the sea."

Seals played in the water just off the beach, two rounded humps each for head and body, floating without a care in the world. 

Back we went along the shore, through the woods, up the hill, and around a few corners to view the Sitting Lady Falls. Soon there will be much more water flowing over the rocks. 

Home again where the deluge began once more, but we were dry and cosy enjoying the warmth of the fire. Sometimes it's hard to get out of the house especially on such a dreich day, but it's almost always worth the effort. This was one of those days. 

Our sweet little overnight guests were picked up mid-morning. They are becoming very responsible - when Iris spilt a bit of milk on the table at breakfast, she promptly got down from her chair, fetched a towel, and wiped it up.