In May of 2020 I serendipitously stumbled upon The Point Holmes Wild Swimming Society and was instantly welcomed into a collective of smiling, carefree swimmers, meeting multiple times a week for ocean swimming. As the months passed the group swelled in numbers. What began as a small, dedicated group of serious swimmers, some former competitive athletes and at least one swimming instructor, expanded to include … Continue reading Point Holmes Wild Swimming Society

Mine was the third car in line. I had arrived an hour early for the 8:55am ferry from Crofton to Vesuvius Bay the first weekend in October. After a 2-hour drive my legs were aching to stretch and I discovered a boardwalk along the shore next to the terminal. Looking seaward, I could not distinguish the horizon due to the dense fog; water and sky … Continue reading Fog

In the late 1800s and early 1900s Canada actively promoted immigration and development. In 1894, Rasmus Hansen, a Danish fisherman, arrived on his fishing boat in what is now Hansen Lagoon on the northwest tip of Vancouver Island, BC. He encountered vast meadows and salmon-bearing streams and foresaw the potential for farming and fishing. Together with Chris Jensen, Peter Thomsen, and Nels Nelson, Hansen negotiated … Continue reading Cape Scott – Part 1: Danish Settlement

A quiet Sunday afternoon rural bike ride in the Comox Valley. So many signs! Lots of beautiful scenery… And some interesting sights… Continue reading Scenes from a rural bike ride

Bordered by a weathered white picket fence, a curved sloping path to the Cumberland Japanese Cemetery invites me in. Towering Douglas firs cast extended shadows and sunrays peek between the boughs, cutting through the chill and warming my face. A raven lets out a guttural croak and I inhale the post-rainstorm air. The path is littered with debris from last night’s storm: small fir boughs, … Continue reading Cumberland Japanese Cemetery

In these strange times, where only a few weeks ago “social distancing,” “social isolation,” and “flatten the curve” were not part of our daily vocabulary, physically distancing ourselves from anyone other than our immediate families is a necessity. I am grateful to live in a place where we can enjoy our glorious surroundings without getting near to another person. Comox Lake Bluffs Kye Bay, Comox … Continue reading Social distancing outdoors

Goose Spit in Comox, BC is one of my favourite places, all year round. I never get tired of the scenery and watching how this place changes with the seasons. During winter storms surf pounds the shore, rearranging the rocks and sand and depositing mounds of slippery seaweed. Sometimes the tide swallows up the beach, leaving only a narrow strip for walking. At low tide … Continue reading Goose Spit Sunset