Sitka Spruce along the San Juan River, just East of Port Renfrew, on the Cowichan Lake to Port Renfrew Rd.

People are dwarfed under the tree



Looking up into the canopy



Huge trunk is surrounded by smaller trees



Base of the tree



More information on Port Renfrew area with information on the size of the tree.

http://www.vancouverisland.com/regions/towns/?townid=41

Mt Tzouhalem Rock Formation

Compressed Rocks made into one.



Glacial rock formations



Over the cliff edge to the valley floor



Straight down 1500 feet



A little history http://www.mbyc.bc.ca/History/mount_tzouhalem.htm

"Butterfly On The Rocks" Hiking Mt Tzouhalem

Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis Lorquini) hanging out in the cool near a small muddy water runoff area on the Cliffside trail of Mt Tzouhalem.

Hiking Mt Tzouhalem 2

Hiking along the Mt Tzouhalem cliffside trail



Looking up into the top of an Arbutus Tree near the top of Mt Tzouhalem



Arbutus grove of trees



Sunlight shining through the peeling bark on the arbutus tree. A favorite of lovers as the tree is easy to carve into and the carving stays with the tree. Though a discouraged practise.

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/library/documents/treebook/arbutus.htm for more information on the Arbutus Tree

Mt Tzouhalem View of Cowichan Valley

Hiking up Mt Tzouhalem in Cowichan Valley BC View North towards Ladysmith BC, across our place and Quamichan Lake




View West towards Cowichan Lake, across the south end of Quamichan Lake, Somenose Marsh and Duncan BC.




View south across the Cowichan River where it enters into Cowichan Bay BC. Not the mud flats which is a huge area for local birds.





View south across Cowichan Bay BC towards Mill Bay BC and the South Cowichan Valley




http://www.northcowichan.bc.ca/ and go to Mt Tzouhalem for additional information

Harry the hungry, hairy heron.

Met a little girl, out fishing with her parents, who says, with a cute high pitched 100mph voice, "this is "Harry the hungry, hairy heron" who is waiting for his breakfast." My caption for the week. Love kids.

3rd of Aug 2010 Smoke on the horizon Saltspring Island in Background


Sunrise on 4th of Aug 2010 showing through the smoke


Effects of the smoke on the light from the Sunrise


5th of Aug 2010 Cannot see Saltspring through the smokey haze