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 had this prepared earlier today and it all disappeared.  It seems that using Windows Live Writer wreaks havoc on my computer and does strange things to it.  Words disappear, the mouse acts strange, highlighting, copy and paste do not work properly.  I am not 100% sure if this is what causes it but it certainly does seem to be the case.   Well no matter, I will plug along here anyway.

I had an interesting note from The Universe today.  You can get them also for free by going here to Tut. This is the message for today:

Time for a little refresher on manifesting change, parking spots, and a new vibrant,loving, peaceful,healthy body. Eugene:

1. Think about it as if it were already done. (Note “already done” part.)
2. Keep showing up, doing all you can, every day, in every way, until already done. (Note “keep” part.)

For complicated cases, like when dealing with invisible, limiting beliefs, negative friends, or staring down adversity: same-same.

You’ve got it made,
The Universe

That is a good reminder for me.  Things I want to work on.

A few days ago I captured a picture of a wee flower on a rose bush around here.  Rosie is a delight, no doubt.

From the same bush:

I like the contrasting colour and the water on the leaves. Ah the program is telling me that colour is not spelled correctly.  Yes it is! Get a Canadian dictionary will you please.  That is Microsoft for you.  Wake up Bill Gates.

I traversed into the woods again the other day, up Mt Doug and found this flower.  Small flower compared to the leaves.  I was reading the paper the other day and noticed it is called a trillium wildflower.

Another wild one, not sure what it is called.  It has very yellow flowers on this bush.  Not so mellow yellow.

Works for me.  It sure adds colour along the journey. Well I had to redo the post again!  The date showed up as June 15, 2009.  Hmm.  I must have gone back in time.  I am not sure what the date will be when this gets posted.

I will post it and find out soon enough.  I think I will do that now and see what happens.

Wishing you much love and peace.

Eugene

Just about 80 Kilometers, 50 miles from Victoria BC is the town of Chemainus, population approximately 5000.  Chemainus is a seaside town founded in 1858 as a logging community.  This small town is famous for 39 outdoor murals painted on their buildings.

During a visit by my son to Victoria, we decided to take a trip and check out the murals.  To get there we crossed the Malahat mountain past Goldstream Provincial Park which houses some 600 year old Douglas fir trees, western red cedars  and arbutus trees.  The arbutus is Canada’s only broad leaf evergreen tree which is found in Canada only on Vancouver Island and the southwest coast of Canada.

Hey this is one sexy tree folks.  It is naked.  The bark of this tree peels off and reveals a very soft smooth surface that feels good to touch.  If you are touchy-feely you cannot resist this. This also reminds me of my friend, standing naked.

Just looked outside and there is a little “Bambi” in my yard looking kind of lost.  I see them all the time around here. I hope “Momma” is nearby and safe.

Ok, back to the trip.  On top of the Malahat is an awesome view.  Then comes the town of Duncan that has the world’s largest hockey stick and puck, 205 feet and 61,000 pounds stuck, or should I say slapped on the side of the Cowichan Community Centre. I do have a picture of that as well.

Driving into Chemainus, you can tour the town quite quickly in a vehicle but it is much better to get out and walk around to view the murals on the buildings.  Some are quite stunning.  Here is a collage of some of them, check out the palm tree in the center of the collage.  Yes we do have them here on the Island, some would not believe that, palm trees in the Great “White” North!

There is an interesting story about The Hermit:

Walking around the downtown streets is a good way to experience and see lots of small interesting establishments. Lots of character there, also some good hand made chocolates which were delicious.

One more picture that I like, and there are others I like as well, this one is quite simple and who does not like an old steam train!

I have quite a few more to remind me of the trip to Chemainus. It was well worth the trip.  There are so many places to see and explore on this island.

Cheers,

Eugene

…..

I have always had an interest in photography, of sorts.  Yet I had not taken up the hobby.  I recall in high school there was a fellow student who went around taking all kinds of pictures and even had a dark room at home to process the photographs.  His parents moved around a great deal so he was getting to see the world and play with his hobby and no doubt made it into a profession.  I did manage to get to see the dark room with photographs hanging all over the place but that is as far as it got.

Later on in my adult life at times I thought about taking some courses in photography but being a busy father with 3 children and having a demanding career, taking business courses and doing other things on the side, I never got around to doing anything about this interest that I had.

As for my interest, I suppose being male and as some would label me to have a tendency to be somewhat visual, but certainly not exclusively so, this may make some sense.  I certainly did not have a great appreciation for artistic things, although some paintings do appeal to me and also some things of a feminine nature would catch my eye at times! For sure, that I cannot deny.

In any case, late last year in 2008,  I bought a point and shoot, Fujifilm digital camera .  Not that model.  Hey maybe I will upgrade one day.

It turned out to be a real point and shoot experience.  I took a trip to downtown Victoria, BC , Canada, where I currently reside.  Victoria is situated on an island, Vancouver Island, quite close to Vancouver, BC.  The reason I say a real point and shoot experience is that it was a bright sunny October day and I could not see anything in the camera viewfinder.  So I was really just sort of aiming at what I wanted to take a picture of and pointing and shooting in that direction.

This seemed a bit strange, having not used the camera before and never a digital camera at that.  I was a bit exasperated at first, then became resigned to the fact that this was just the way it was. I just accepted the situation.  Like reading the book, Practicing The Power Of Now – Eckhart Tolle, as seen on Oprah, as Eckhart Tolle would likely suggest doing.  So I proceeded to take the pictures with the belief that they would, somehow, turn out fine.  And if they did not, so be it.  I certainly did not know how to use the various shooting modes and I still don’t.

I showed some of the photos to a few folks and got some positive feedback. I attribute it to the camera, the guy in the sky or whatever else may be lurking behind the camera lenses and helping me shoot.  I can see more now as I found a way to adjust the light inside for the viewfinder.

So that is where I am now, just dabbling a bit, taking some photos and enjoying doing so.  I have put together a pictorial video of some photos I took in downtown Victoria near the inner harbour, the Empress Hotel and the seawall.

****I have removed the video, please use the link below to view it instead.****

I will likely keep doing this for awhile.

Cheers,

genes creative waves

PS. I have also posted the video at  4Shared for a full screen version,  and may take the above one off if it keeps loading slowly or I just may choose to do so.