From Port Renfrew, we drove down the winding Highway 14, through Jordan River and Sooke and on to Victoria. Along the way, we stopped at Sombrio Beach, a local surfing destination.
Yes, we did a few “city” things in Victoria, and a lot of visiting with friends who live there, but we also managed to spend a few hours in some of the pockets of nature that Victoria has to offer. These photos are from an afternoon at Oak Bay and Cattle Point Park, where I was able to commune briefly with a song sparrow, a young golden-crowned sparrow and a pair of crows. In this area, northwestern crows and American crows have interbred extensively over the past century, and are now basically indistinguishable.
After our three days in Victoria, we drove (through the “atmospheric river”) to Nanaimo and took the ferry to Gabriola Island, where our time was mostly spent indoors because of the weather. During a break in the rain, we did manage to get in a short walk along the shore to Berry Point, where we had a view of Entrance Island and its lighthouse, along with a lonely harbour seal bobbing along near the beach.
When we were on the ferry back to Nanaimo, I spotted a swarm of gulls seeming to frenetically attack something in the water. On a closer look through my telephoto lens, I saw the object of the gulls’ attention: a sea lion chomping on a fish. The birds were quite rude, swooping in to grab scraps right out of the poor creature’s mouth. It was one of several sea lions that swam past the ferry as we watched. I believe they were Steller sea lions, also named after the 18th century German naturalist who gave his name to the Steller’s jay and several other species. A recurring theme on this outing, it seems.
Before long, we were back on the big ferry headed to Horseshoe Bay. The sight of Vancouver in the afternoon light was a reminder that our journey was coming to an end. One more night in the city, then the familiar drive home on Route 3 and our fall road trip would be over and deposited in the memory bank.
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What a touch you have!
Thanks for sharing Karl, looks like it was lovely trip. I especially like the ocean beaches and birds.
Jen