HERON IN SILHOUETTE, SUNSET FROM CRESCENT BEACH

May 15, 2012 in British Columbia, Nature with 0 Comments

Heron Flying at Sunset, Crescent Beach, South Surrey, Canada

There were times I had driven a long ways with a considerable effort hoping to get enough photos for a blog post. For various reasons, sometimes, it just doesn’t work out. When I went out for dinner with a friend on a recent evening, I took my camera along hoping to get some nice photos of the sunset from Crescent Beach, just south of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I really never expected a blog post to come from it.

Crescent Beach is located in South Surrey, about 45 kilometers from downtown Vancouver. It’s a laid-back community with small shops, restaurants, and many beautiful homes. The beach area is popular during all seasons, and especially in the warm weather. If you read my blog posts, A SNOWY OWL AND MOUNT BAKER, BOUNDARY BAY and SNOWY OWLS IN TREES, EVENING WALKS AT BOUNDARY BAY, it’s right across from the Boundary Bay marshlands. If you desire a long, long walk, you can actually get to Boundary Bay although there may be some walking along roads until you get back to the dike. Alternatively, you can climb the 101 steps on the well-known local staircase, or lay in the buff at the base of the Ocean Park Bluffs (I’m not kidding). For more information on Surrey’s United Naturists (SUN), please check their website.

We arrived just in time. With some marine cloud, the sunset was beautiful. The mountains in the distance are in West Vancouver, Bowen Island, and the Sunshine Coast.

Beach and Sunset Crescent Beach South Surrey Canada HERON IN SILHOUETTE, SUNSET FROM CRESCENT BEACH

 

This Great Blue Heron was fishing near the beach.

Heron and Sunset Crescent Beach South Surrey Canada HERON IN SILHOUETTE, SUNSET FROM CRESCENT BEACH

 

Heron at Sunset Crescent Beach South Surrey Canada HERON IN SILHOUETTE, SUNSET FROM CRESCENT BEACH

 

Heron and a Beautiful Sunset Crescent Beach South Surrey Canada HERON IN SILHOUETTE, SUNSET FROM CRESCENT BEACH

 

Heron Silhouette and Sunset Crescent Beach South Surrey Canada HERON IN SILHOUETTE, SUNSET FROM CRESCENT BEACH

 

Eventually, it was time for the heron to leave, and it flew in silhouette.

Heron Take Off at Sunset Crescent Beach South Surrey Canada HERON IN SILHOUETTE, SUNSET FROM CRESCENT BEACH

 

Heron Flying at Sunset Crescent Beach South Surrey Canada HERON IN SILHOUETTE, SUNSET FROM CRESCENT BEACH

 

Heron Flying at Sunset Close up Crescent Beach South Surrey Canada HERON IN SILHOUETTE, SUNSET FROM CRESCENT BEACH

 

Heron and Beach Crescent Beach South Surrey Canada HERON IN SILHOUETTE, SUNSET FROM CRESCENT BEACH

 

A view along Crescent Beach, toward downtown Vancouver. Grouse Mountain is in the center-right.

Vancouver and Mountains Crescent Beach South Surrey Canada HERON IN SILHOUETTE, SUNSET FROM CRESCENT BEACH

 

One last look at the beautiful sunset.

Last Look Sunset Crescent Beach South Surrey Canada HERON IN SILHOUETTE, SUNSET FROM CRESCENT BEACH

 

I hope you enjoyed this post, as I continue to focus on locations closer to my home. On my next post (this time, for sure), I’ll start my thirteenth day along the French Way of the Camino de Santiago in Spain. I hope you can join me. If you have my book, Camino de Santiago In 20 Days, or have ordered it, I truly appreciate your support. Please also visit me, and comment on my Camino My Way Facebook page. Thanks for your time.

 

VIEWS OF RUNDLE, BANFF NATIONAL PARK

May 11, 2012 in Hiking, Travel with 0 Comments

Mount Rundle and Vermillion Lakes in Banff National Park, Canada

Since I was a boy, I have always been fascinated by Mount Rundle in Banff National Park, Canada. Maybe it’s because the name is very similar to my first name, Randall. More likely, it’s because Mount Rundle is such a rugged and dominant feature of the landscape around the town of Banff.

Mount Rundle is 2949 meters or 9675 feet high, and is located south of the town. The best views are from the highway, Vermilion Lakes, the surrounding peaks, and around the Banff Springs Hotel area. The mountain was named by John Palliser, an Irish explorer and geographer, for Reverend Robert Rundle who worked as a missionary in the village of Thorsby in central Alberta. Mount Rundle was first climbed in 1888 by James J. McArthur, a surveyor who worked in the area at the time. Since then, it has been a very popular and grueling hike for those willing to take on a little Continue Reading…

ON THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO IN SPAIN, LEON TO LA VIRGEN DEL CAMINO

May 8, 2012 in Camino de Santiago with 0 Comments

Cross and Tired Pilgrim, San Marcos Plaza, León, Spain, Camino de Santiago

During the early stages while I was writing my book, Camino de Santiago In 20 Days, I reluctantly gave an early draft of a chapter to a writing instructor/editor. After reading it, she told me that there was not enough happening, and I needed to make up something—some drama. I said that I couldn’t because I wanted my book to be honest. I explained that a great deal of the charm of the Camino de Santiago is the lack of drama that occurs. I know things can happen from time to time, but if you can leave your problems at home, it is amazing how much a clear mind can absorb the experience and allow you to think. However, if you have problems with relationships, family, work, etc., and bring them on the Camino, I don’t believe you can thoroughly enjoy the journey. You may just as well stay at home. I know when I met someone who was negative, and only talked about their Continue Reading…

BACK ON THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO IN LEON, SPAIN, TO SAN MARCOS

May 4, 2012 in Camino de Santiago with 4 Comments

San Marcos, León Spain, Camino de Santiago

My Way on The Way of St. James, Day 12, Part 4

While planning for the French Way of the Camino de Santiago, the 500 miles or 800 kilometers can be a little misleading. It really depends how far, and how often, someone ventures off the Camino. This can be walking a few blocks for shopping, or to see a church or another landmark. Maybe a hundred yards each way to see a winery, or a bar that is situated off the Camino. On my twelfth day, for example, a mistaken venture to the municipal albergue in León, additional sightseeing, and backtracking added at least five kilometers. Extra walking is an important part of the journey. I would imagine, on the average Camino, an extra 20 to 30 kilometers can be added to the total. However, it’s something I don’t believe many pilgrims realize before they start. I certainly didn’t until I was a few days into my journey. All the extra kilometers or miles, especially with a backpack, can lead to increased tiredness, and, at worst, injury. Because maintaining energy  is important, additional walking should be at least considered when planning your days. When I was tired, or concerned about my energy, I rarely ventured Continue Reading…

A SNOWY OWL AND MOUNT BAKER, BOUNDARY BAY

May 1, 2012 in British Columbia, Nature with 4 Comments

Snowy Owl Flying and Mount Baker, Boundary Bay, BC

It was early March and the dark days of winter were giving way to sunshine and warmth. However, I knew the days of the snowy owl at Boundary Bay were also coming to an end. During the past month or so, I had been to Boundary Bay eight times to marvel at the beautiful snowy owls who wintered in the marshlands south of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Any day, they would be flying back north to their habitat on the Arctic tundra. This time, I was determined to get away from the hordes of onlookers and photographers, close to the parking lot, either on the dike or in the marsh.

I spotted an owl at the edge of the marsh near the beach, and walked toward him or her (sorry, I still can’t tell the sex of an owl). What looked to be a short walk turned out to be much longer as I confronted mud and a long, deep channel, which I proceeded to go around. By the time I made it to the spot where I had seen the owl, it had flown off, leaving me alone. I decided to make the best of the situation and take photos of Mount Baker in Washington State, USA. Mount Baker is a very prominent feature of the landscape in southwestern Continue Reading…

OH, OH! I’M OFF THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO IN LEON, SPAIN

April 27, 2012 in Camino de Santiago with 6 Comments

Shepard sculpture, Leon, Spain, Camino de Santiago

My Way on The Way of St. James, Day 12, Part 3

Needless to say, I was a little shocked when I arrived at the municipal albergue in León, about two kilometers off the Camino de Santiago. As I wrote on page 128 in my book, Camino de Santiago In 20 Days, “When I entered León, it was three-thirty and later than I had hoped. I had walked thirty-six kilometers, and the last ten were very challenging. I was happy to arrive and wanted to make the best of my time. My goal for the night was the suburb of La Virgen del Camino, about ten kilometers away, and I had to allow enough time to get there.”

Yes, now that I was off the Camino, I wanted to make the best of my time. I wrote on page 129, “I thought about backtracking but wanted to see something different. The Plaza de Continue Reading…

ON THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO IN LEON, SPAIN

April 24, 2012 in Camino de Santiago with 0 Comments

Río Torio and Bridge, Leon, Spain, Camino de Santiago

 My Way on The Way of St. James, Day 12, Part 2

Up until this point on the Camino de Santiago, I had walked well over 400 kilometers, and much of it alone. Never had I been threatened by anyone, and I was actually pleasantly surprised how safe I felt walking through Spain. Sure there were a few unscrupulous-looking characters in the larger centers, but it was not unlike any other city. In fact, I have been far more worried in cities in other countries. However, something did happen as I walked into Puente Castro, a suburb of León on the southeast side. I wrote about it on page 128 of my book, Camino de Santiago In 20 Days, “When I entered Puente Castro… two men stared at me from a street corner about fifty meters ahead. No one else was between us, and I only saw a woman walking about half a block past them. I became defensive and shifted on the street away from the sidewalk where they stood. One of them, a balding man in his 40’s, leaped on the road and walked toward me. I quickly moved back onto the sidewalk but he changed course, and approached me with Continue Reading…

GROUND SQUIRRELS AND A BEAR

April 19, 2012 in British Columbia, Nature with 2 Comments

Columbia Ground Squirrel, Hello, Manning Park, Canada

Columbian Ground Squirrels of Manning Provincial Park

I promise this post will have nothing too serious. No politics, news, world hardships, or references to the Kardashians. Instead, I want to look back at my trips to somewhere that always makes me smile. Ever since I was a young boy, I have been going to Manning Provincial Park in southern British Columbia, Canada to hike, camp, picnic, and to see the Columbian ground squirrel.

E.C. Manning Provincial Park is located about 200 kilometers east of Vancouver. The drive takes about 2 1/2 hours. The park was named  after E.C. Manning himself. He was the Chief Forester in British Columbia from 1936 to 1941, and believed in setting aside land outside of the National Park system for future generations to enjoy. In the winter, there is snowshoeing, and both cross-country and downhill skiing. In the summer, there are numerous hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult. There are campgrounds and even a Continue Reading…

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