B.C. - Sechelt Inlet, Sunshine Coast, Burnett Falls

After yesterday's hike we were taking it easy today so explored the area East of Sechelt. The community sits between the Straight of Georgia and Sechelt Inlet, which connects to the sea via a number of narrows.

Just minutes out of town and we pulled into the parking lot for Burnett Falls.

 

Sunday morning and we thought it would be busy but just one other car. 

Otherworldly,

moss and lichen

and huge ferns, next to the trail and

growing on the trees.

We had the trickle of the creek beside us and could hear the waterfall before we got there.

Photo by Rick, his camera behaved better than mine in the low light.

I deleted many of mine and lightened others on the computer.

It was such a spooky setting that I wanted to play with a lot of shots but most didn't work in the dim forest setting.

We drove all the way to the end of the road (took about 15 minutes) and parked by a beach.

Homes crawled up the steep hills around and it looked like locals left their boats, canoes etc lying there to use when they wanted.

 

A sign warned about toxins in shellfish.

It was so peaceful

and I settled down to paint this view.

The locals also left comfy chairs at the beach which was very convenient. Photo by Rick.

I had my little travel set of paints and brushes, water in my thermos, paper towel to clean off brushes,

the occasional paddle boarder or kayaker to keep things interesting. 

It was a lovely way to spend over an hour.

Rick walked the neighbourhood and then I joined him sitting in the sun.

Photo by Rick.

This little bird was taking a dustbath.

He's and Oregon Junco.

Driving back towards town we stopped in at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park.

The tide was going out and 

we could see people digging at the waters edge.

They said they were digging for Manila Clams. The native clams were currently off limits due to toxins.

The Manila Clam (Tapes philippinarum) has been harvested in British Columbia since the 1970s and has been farmed since 1985. It is known for its firm texture and sweet flavour.

Manila Clams were accidentally introduced to the Pacific Northwest in the 1930s when seed was inadvertently included with Pacific Oyster seed imported from Japan. The first mature specimens were found in Ladysmith in 1936 and, today, the Manila Clam lives along much of British Columbia’s coastline – as far north as Bella Bella. It is not an indigenous species. from BC Shellfish Growers Association website.

We watched a float plane land and just a little later

 

take off again. We have seen one regularly pass over where we are staying and wondered if it was a Sechelt to Nanaimo run.

Coming from the bright beach into a shaded trail I tripped over an exposed root. Scaped my wrist and knee but more importantly, I think I have gravel in the lens cap of my camera!

Grocery store (we are very European, shopping every day) then checked out the downtown waterfront.

Not as quaint as Gibsons but places to fish and walk along the sea front.