vicarious travelling: B.C. - More Wild Pacific Trail, Artist Loops

Last time we did the Lighthouse Loop, on the right side of the map, this time we did the Artist Loops on the left side.

First a stop at Big Beach, where there were

some

interactive

displays.

Big beach wasn't.

but we skipped some stones

and watched this big fellow

chase sticks into the water.

There is quite a bit of kelp washed up on the beaches. We are all used to seeing the big, rubbery leaves but this hollow tube is part of the stalk that anchors those to the sea bed.

Main Parts of Sea Kelp

Holdfast: A root-like, tangled base made of finger-like extensions called haptera that anchors the kelp to hard rocky seabeds. Unlike plant roots, it does not absorb water or nutrients. [1, 2, 3]

Stipe: A long, stem-like trunk that supports the upper structures. It is flexible to withstand strong ocean waves and currents, and it is sometimes hollow. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Pneumatocyst: A gas-filled bladder or float found in many species near the base of the blades. It provides buoyancy to lift the upper parts toward the surface. [1, 2, 3]

Blades (Fronds): Broad, flat, leaf-like surfaces that absorb sunlight and dissolved nutrients directly from the water to carry out photosynthesis From AI Summary

We drove a little further and parked at the end of the road where a path led to the section we wanted to walk. This section has lots of little loops that lead out to lookouts, many with benches.

More rugged that the Lighthouse Loop and the trail, even though mostly gravel covered was also more challenging.

The abundant lookouts provided many photographic opportunities.

The fog was more sporadic now and here, trying to form a rainbow (but with no colour)

I thought I would see what Google had to say about this and discovered it is called a "Fogbow":

How It Works

Tiny Droplets: Fogbows form in mist or fog where water droplets are tiny (under 0.05 mm), or up to 1,000 times smaller than regular raindrops. [1, 2]

Diffraction vs. Refraction: Instead of refracting light into separate colour bands like a normal rainbow, tiny fog droplets cause light to diffract. [1, 2]

Overlapping Colours: Diffraction spreads and blurs the colours so much that they overlap completely, turning back into white sunlight. [1] from AI Summary.

This area wasn't as busy as the Lighthouse loop but there were a few others there.

We were beginning to talk about turning back, feeling our legs

when we came across a "Trail Closed" sign. We had ignored and walked around a previous one but this time we decided "it was a sign" and turned around.

On the way back we went right past most of the loops that went to the lookouts but at this one we got yelled at. He really was mad at us and told us so

before flying off.

We walked for about an hour and a half, covered about 2.5km.

Back to the cabin for lunch, we had some leftovers we wanted to finish before leaving tomorrow and then we went back to the Lighthouse loop as I wanted to sketch.

I found a bench in the sun and settled in. I used to pen and ink sketch whenever I traveled, before I took up watercolour.

It has been a while but I still enjoy the way that I have to immerse myself in the scene.

After I had finished it I just sat in the sun, listening to the waves, the whistling buoy and the clanging buoy, watching sea birds and this trawler.

A Bald eagle flew by, with a fish and 2 gulls in hot pursuit.

Rick had wandered a little, sat in the sun

and tried, unsuccessfully, to take a nap in the car.

We headed into town, ordered a pizza

and while it was being made, wandered into an art gallery. The proprietor was Japanese and asked if we had seen the Japanese History Pavilion and directed us to it.

Built with Japanese joinery techniques it had been opened in August.

It tells the story of the large Japanese fishing community that integrated with the local tribes and built a thriving industry. Then, with Pearl Harbour, they were sent to internment camps and their properties and boats were sold. Even after the war they were not immediately allowed to return though some did as soon as it was permitted.