"Berg Break"

One can only hope that the Icebergs ply the waters off Newfoundland and flow as freely in 2008 as they did in 2007. Their presence sparked alot of constructive debate on whether or not they should be paddled near. I believe it is like most things with kayaking know your environment, know your skills and access the dangers and accept or decline the challenge.
I sure was tired when this shot was taken. I had the most restless sleep as I lie in bed contemplating my paddle with the berg in the morning. I couldn't wait to get on the water. It was extremely choppy, especially trying to take some shots of this thing. Neil happened by and took this shot as I just pulled in to the shore and he actually was a welcomed hand in bringing my kayak up the embankment.

The sleepless night was well worth the thrill of paddling near such a monstrousity. More shots of this berg are in the archives of "June" on this blog.

"Snow Down"

A Swan square dance/swim of sorts. A riverly procession.

"Berried"

Buried beneath a clump of snow the dogberries showoff their robustness during early December days. The transpiration , cohesion-tension hypothesis may be frozen here. During hike of Dec16th 2007.

"Moon Over Beatton"

A moon high above the Beatton River in Northern BC. In another time and space.

"Happy Holidays"

"Peace River"

"Tree Hanging"

As our first winter storm approaches I couldn't help remembering hanging out in my hammock in the trees on a sweet summer day. Vancouver Island well actually Salt Spring Island. Soon god soon. This is a Hennesey Hammock made on Vancouver Island actually. They have a mesh net that covers the top portion and seals it to the bottom part. There is an opening in the bottom that you crawl up into the hammock and turm your body diagonally which helps reseal the opening (seals with velcro). It is very comfortable, off the ground, free from bugs and there is a tarp that protects from a light rain. At night I put an air mattress under my sleeping bag all of which is also turned diagonally. All that is really left to do is to listen for the wind and enjoy the rhythm as you rock to sleep while savoring the sweet smells of the forest and the various hummings of breezes blowing through the branches and the leafs of your bedposts.

You can't be suspicious of a tree, or accuse a bird or a squirrel of subversion or challenge the ideology of a violet. -- Hal Borland

One of my favourite trees on the Island is the Arbutus tree. It sheds it's red bark and lays bare its' flesh which has a red kind-of pomergranite color to it. Very knarly and spectacular. Quite awesome to sleep in. More on Arbutus at: www.bceh.com/arbutus_trees.htm