A November Saturday Without Rain

At the end of a rainy week appeared a miraculously non rainy Saturday, only a temporary respite. Nevertheless, we took advantage of the opportunity and asked our always willing guide, Ray, to pick a hike for the 3 of us. We drove south to Crofton (where one can catch the Saltspring Island Ferry) and then to the Maple Mountain trailhead. It was my favorite hike on Vancouver Island so far. The forest was more open than on other hikes, with lots of arbutus (madrona) trees among the conifers - also streams, waterfalls, and occasional meadows. Despite being in the forest, we were soon overlooking the sea channel between Vancouver Island and Saltspring Island. Our elevation was high above the water on the ascent. Ray led is on a different return path that brought us to the water's edge for and hour and a half of scrambling along an oceanside trail. Had we remembered our camera, the trip would have taken twice as long and we could have spent the rest of our lives selling postcards. Wildlife encounters included eagles, a salamander, and a harbour seal who trailed us in the sea as we hiked along the shore. Surely, the seal was wondering why we were so slow and working so hard when the swimming was so easy.

Actually, the preceding Thursday evening was not raining either. It was a splendid, albeit cool, evening for my last kayaking class. I showed up a bit early, soon followed by John (the Kayak Master), and finally by Erin, the work opp student. Hmm ... I was the only customer and they require at least four, So the evening kayaking was canceled, a lackluster end to the first semester of kayak sessions. I participated in 10 events and Eli 9. Perhaps the best tour was last Saturday, out of Schooner Bay to the Winchelsea Islands.

Eli has a test Monday, whereas I will give a test to my class. So next week starts with evil karma, perhaps brought back into balance by the end. The Banff Mountain Film Festival on Wednesday evening will help. And on Friday, Eli hikes with some women friends. So if I get a haircut, as planned, that ought to do it. The semester's end is near (December 4).

Richard
2006.11.18