A Clover Point phenom
At Clover Point in Victoria, there’s a pumping station with some doors that appear to match the rock wall that surrounds them – sort of.
The doors are quite a bit darker than the walls, and they are plastered with signs pleading for people not to climb on the walls. Still, it’s a good effort to camouflage the doors and make them fit in with the wall.
Here’s a closer look at the doors. Can you see the hinges, the lock and the handle?
No matter how low the clouds get, there’s always a bright spot somewhere.
Juan de Fuca Strait had kind of a dark mood this morning. The cloud deck was low and threatening, but still, there was a bit of light catching the edges here and there.
Calm between the storms. We had a ton of rain yesterday and more is expected tonight and tomorrow.
But, there’s always the bright spot, right?
This little gull was so cooperative the other day. It sat on the rail, as I walked by and got my camera out to take a shot of the Olympics across the strait.
When I turned back, it was still there. I said out loud “How about a picture”, and it didn’t move. I swung the camera around zoomed in a bit and snapped a couple of shots. It was good enough to just sit there and put up with the paparazzi.
Now, if I could just remember to focus on the eyes and then reframe….
Looking across the Juan de Fuca Strait today, you could just make out a dusting of snow on the very top of the Olympic Mountains. It should be quite dramatic, when there is more snow and the sun is out so you can see them more clearly.
The forecast is for clouds, rain and warmer temps for now though. Perhaps by late December or January.
Last month, I saw these two, almost identical boats leaving Victoria for ports unknown.
I wondered what their story was; going home? rentals finished for the year? close friends off to another port? strangers who just happened to cross paths?
Perhaps it’s best left to the imagination, and accept the peaceful feeling it leaves me with when I look at the photo.
We had a nice run of sunny, cool weather, but now there’s a stream of winter lows moving across the coast. As a result, the strait has a different mood every day.
This shot looks southwest off Dallas Road, in the afternoon as the clouds roll in.
Out on the end of the breakwater in Victoria, you never know what you’ll see.
This day, there were 3-4 sets of 2 canoes paddling out, around the Brochie Ledge light and back into the harbour.
Hardy folks, for sure. Must have been some kind of Dragon Boat crews, or something like that, I guess.
Looking back from the lighthouse along the breakwater at Ogden Point in Victoria.
I understand that the fencing along the sides is new, because, well, you wouldn’t want to get washed off the breakwater on a windy day, I guess.
I find something relaxing about this shot. Not sure why.
Could be the clouds, the waves, the mountains, the showers in the distance…
Could be everything together.
It’s a typical scene on the wet coast though.
There are two of these yellow pilot craft that dock beside the Ogden Point breakwater in Victoria. Their job is to ferry coastal pilots out to foreign vessels entering Canadian waters in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. They also pick up the pilots when the boats are ready to leave our waters.
The pilots have local knowledge about the coast. They take charge of vessel navigation, to ensure they stay in safe channels on their way in and out of ports along the inner coast.
Sounds like a great job, meeting new folks, sailing on all kinds of vessels, and spending your day travelling our beautiful coast.
Still, cranky skippers could be a pain in the a**, I guess.
