I took a little trek up Mt Work awhile ago on a Sunday for some exercise, to see if it was was still the same as I recalled it and to experience and enjoy the beauty and magnificence that is there.  I had been there once before. On another website I read that the elevation is 2238 feet or 682 metres. For sure there are quite a few steps to the Summit.

Location: Mount Work Park, Saanich, Victoria, Vancouver Island BC  A 536-hectare Mount Work Regional Park bordering on Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, situated in the Highlands area of the Saanich Peninsula.

Along the way I met several groups of people including some young bucks huffing, puffing and sweating the climb up. Although I would describe myself in better condition this time than I was when I climbed it before, it surely did not feel like it! It is quite a steady climb up and up.  A few spots level off and you go down a bit and that makes you think you have already reached the top but keep on going as that is just to fool you into thinking you have made it there.   I managed to get off the beaten track for awhile and that was interesting and a bit exhausting as I worked myself back to the path.  As if the climb itself was not enough.

Here is a clue to let you know you have finally reached the summit.  It even comes with it’s own naked tree.  I figure that is appropriate to keep it company way up there.

Near the summit are many naked trees, aka Arbutus trees. I call them naked trees because most of them are as they lose their bark and underneath.  They are so soft and smooth to the touch.  From Wikipedia:

Arbutus is a genus of at least 14 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae, native to warm temperate regions of the Mediterranean, western Europe, and North America.

These trees meander all over the place and are quite exotic and some even erotic.  Well hey, naked limbs all over the place.  This reminds me of one of my poems entitled My Friend. Similarities exist between the two but this was written from a different place and time quite a few years ago.

The view from way up near the summit is truly spectacular. It is well worth the trek up the mountain. You feel (the) spirit in all things and being part of it all and all there is.

Yes, the scenery around here is majestic, spectacular and varied from mountains, rain forest, mild climate and the sea. Is there any wonder I feel blessed to live in such a wonderful place!  That really is not a question at all.

May you be so blessed today and everyday.

Eugene

I must say when I came across this scene in the woods up Mt Doug way, the naked tree looked like it was dead and was going to become part of the forest floor once again.  It was lying down almost on the ground, curving and twisting its way around the bend, turning left then turning right.

It was like it was trying to figure out where to go and perhaps why. But the tree knows only one thing, to survive as best it can under harsh conditions.  I could not get the all of the tree in the same picture with its twists and meanderings.  Ah yes, well it is not completely naked, it has a touch of modesty gracing its body in the form of green moss carpet running across its trunk. Still it is exposed and scantily clad.

So around the bend it goes just feet off the bottom floor of the forest becoming more exposed the trunk displays more of its naked beauty.  The tree does not blush, nor fret, it is not at all concerned with its nakedness.  It embraces it.  It is all natural, au naturale and further up the trunk it lets the sunshine warm its trunk discouraging the moss to places below.

Then the naked tree shows its determination and shoots up towards the sky again releasing its leaves to bask in the warmth of the rays of sunshine that break though in glorious wonder, as only the sun can do.

Further down near the floor of the forest another life form displays its beauty for all to see, for all who take the time to see and discover, that is.  There is so much beauty all around. Here is another example of the beauty within.

Well that was a little bit of the wonder of the forest, once again.  I must say there are many of these little gems all around and new ones appearing all the time in this fair land.

I hope you are well, thanks for dropping by.

Cheers,

Eugene