John Harvey Photo

October 2021

Go to Slide Show Smaller Images Thanksgiving on the Island


Canadian Thanksgiving is on October and we all desperatly wanted to get out of the house and go to Grandma's house.  We had ferry reservations for the 7pm which worked out to be just past sunset on this particular day.  The ferry was mostly on time and we arrived in Victoria late enough that the kids didn't need a bath, but early enough that the kids could still get dessert.

Moon Setting At Sunset Over Ferry TerminalCheesecake At Grandmas

Moss Street Market

Helen wanted to pick up some vegetables so we picked the Moss Street Market as our Saturday morning visit.  The Market is around a school with a few distinct sections.  Fresh offerings are generally on the margin between the road and the sidewalk.  Cooked food and crafts were sold in the school courtyard.

Tomatoes Potatoes And OnionsPeppers Wrapped In ElasticsStacked Celery Root


A big surprise to me was the what they had setup in the back field.  They had four large farm vendors selling in a COVID friendly format.  Each vendor had their own socially distanced line and when you got to the farm tables, they would pick your items into a basket and you only get to touch your items when you bag them.  I have never seen this format at a market, but it makes sense even with strong COVID restrictions and it was popular.

Packing Station For PurchasesSocially Distanced Line Up For No Touch Farms


It occurs to me that I haven't been to a farmers market in Vancouver since COVID started so I wonder what adaptations have take place in the city.


Rock Under Cutt Off Wheel
Last weekend we went to Salt Spring Island to see the Apple Festival.  Our hosts were into rock hounding and suggested a place to go look for nice rocks.  I went, thought I found something nice and so tried to open up some rocks in a less destructive way - angle grinder.  The ceramic disk didn't last very long, but it made clear these were not the rocks I was looking for.  A big hammer confirmed it.  Oh well, another time.

Rock In Vice

Uplands Park

Five Oak Trees In MeadowFour Trees Next To Trail
Most trips to Victoria I walk over to Outerbridge park and look for wildlife.  It's close, but it's quite "gardened" and I'm having a harder time finding new things in this park.  This trip I decided to try a few new places.  First was Uplands Park.  I've visited before - back in April 2015 I visited to see the spring flowers and I visited uplands park again in April 2019 with the kids to see the flowers again.  Spring is clearly the highlight, but I wanted to try in the fall to see if there were any surprises.  I also wanted to explore a bit more of the park to see if there were any other attractions.


Honestly, I hoped the oak trees would have some interesting fall colours but I was disappointed - they were mostly boring brown colours.  With the sunrise skies, I did try and take some "solo tree" style photos.  I was hoping there might be some fall flowers, but I didn't see much - only one blossom of Ivy Leaved Cyclamen, but that is invasive and hard to get to.
 
Four Oak Trees Without LeavesLine Of Stunted Oak Trees Behind Rock

Almost by accident, I decided to take some photos of the plants growing in the rocks.    The lichens on the rocks were very impressive - the closer you get, the more you appreciate the small worlds found on the rock faces.

Freckled Pelt Lichen Shading MossStonecrop Growing In RockMiniature World Of Lichen And Moss


As I was walk back to the entrance, I noticed how badly English Ivy is invading this park.  English Ivy is brutal to fight (Stanley Park also has a fight) so I feel sorry for this park.

English Ivy Moving Through Park

Fort Rodd Hill

Forceps And Clamps
Back in 2018, we were in Victoria for Remembrance day and we went to Ford Rodd Hill to see the sights.  It was a nice afternoon (after a rainy afternoon the day before) so decided to repeat the trip!   After paying for our admission (kids are free!) we saw a historical surgical kit on display.  The kids enjoyed looking at various specialized tools, but some, like the Rib Spreaders were rather abstract until explained.  The kids didn't notice the bone saw until near the end.  The kit was from roughly the World War 1 era.


Once CanteenLower Placements
With a bright blue sky, green grass and the white walls you feel like a hero taking photos here.  The kids were interested in where the shells and powder were stored and why these guns were built here. 

Gun In Raised Position

After a few minutes, we went out to see Fisgard Lighthouse.  It used to be on a small island, but they filled in the gap with stone and now you just walk out to it. 
Field Overlooking LighthouseFence Overlooking Fisgard Lighthouse

Walking To LighthouseRain Coming
 
The lighthouse also has displays inside - some of which were disabled to try and reduce the spread of COVID.  They asked about the lens, but they also asked why people would eat plastic models of seafood chowder for dinner.  Kids.

Kids Trying To Be TallestOregon Gumplant Flowers


Once we got outside, we were surprised to see a mink run by.  We didn't have much notice so my camera settings weren't ideal, but at least I got a few photos!

Mink Running By

Calvert Park

Green Wing Teals Trying To Nap
Continuing the theme of "Not Outerbridge" - I picked a random park I had never heard of and went for a morning walk.  Calvert park has a trail network and a large beaver pond and some nice bluffs covered with moss and lichen.  It was a quiet morning so every time a duck took off, you could hear it from anywhere around the pond.



Morning Fog On Rock Bluff
While there is a parking lot for maybe two cars at the side of the road, the trail network is basically a loop between two roads.  After taking the lake side part of the loop, I went inland and explored a few of the rock bluffs.  I don't know much about the life of lichen, but I was impressed with how well it was doing at taking over space.

Reindeer Lichen Shading Out Moss
 
I noticed on the map one more little trail to overlook a pond connected to Maltby Lake.  Again, Garry Oak trees and Arbutus - I hope that there are wildflowers here in the spring because I would like to visit again.

No Straight Section Of OakFerns Shading Freckled Pelt Lichen

 
Homework, lunch, packing, ferry and we were back to the crazy that is Vancouver.  Thanks for the great weekend Mom!
 







Miniature World Of Lichen And Moss
Altitude: 20m (65 feet)
Location: Go To...
English Ivy Moving Through Park
Altitude: 18m (59 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: invasive
Peppers Wrapped In Elastics
Altitude: 9m (29 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: market, peppers, produce
Moon Setting At Sunset Over Ferry Terminal
Tags: moon
Rock Under Cutt Off Wheel
Rock In Vice
Field Overlooking Lighthouse
Altitude: 17m (55 feet)
Location: Go To...
Reindeer Lichen Shading Out Moss
Altitude: 76m (249 feet)
Location: Go To...
Cheesecake At Grandmas
Person: Claira
Tags: dessert
Line Of Stunted Oak Trees Behind Rock
Species: Quercus garryana (Garry Oak)
Altitude: 18m (59 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: tree
Four Oak Trees Without Leaves
Species: Quercus garryana (Garry Oak)
Altitude: 20m (65 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: tree
Mink Running By
Species: Mustela vison (American Mink)
Altitude: 7m (22 feet)
Location: Go To...
Fence Overlooking Fisgard Lighthouse
Person: Marcus, Nara
Altitude: 18m (59 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: fence, lighthouse
Packing Station For Purchases
Altitude: 8m (26 feet)
Location: Go To...
Lower Placements
Person: Claira, Marcus, Nara
Altitude: 16m (52 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: fort, military, twin
Walking To Lighthouse
Altitude: 5m (16 feet)
Location: Go To...
Freckled Pelt Lichen Shading Moss
Altitude: 18m (59 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: moss
Once Canteen
Altitude: 14m (45 feet)
Location: Go To...
Socially Distanced Line Up For No Touch Farms
Altitude: 7m (22 feet)
Location: Go To...
Morning Fog On Rock Bluff
Altitude: 65m (213 feet)
Location: Go To...
Stonecrop Growing In Rock
Species: Sedum album (White Stonecrop)
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: invasive, rock
Five Oak Trees In Meadow
Species: Quercus garryana (Garry Oak)
Altitude: 18m (59 feet)
Location: Go To...
Gun In Raised Position
Altitude: 33m (108 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: fort, military
Rain Coming
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
Forceps And Clamps
Altitude: 46m (150 feet)
Location: Go To...
No Straight Section Of Oak
Species: Quercus garryana (Garry Oak)
Altitude: 59m (193 feet)
Location: Go To...
Kids Trying To Be Tallest
Person: Claira, Marcus, Nara
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: lighthouse
Stacked Celery Root
Altitude: 7m (22 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: market, produce
Ferns Shading Freckled Pelt Lichen
Altitude: 59m (193 feet)
Location: Go To...
Four Trees Next To Trail
Species: Quercus garryana (Garry Oak)
Altitude: 20m (65 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: trail, tree
Green Wing Teals Trying To Nap
Species: Anas crecca carolinensis (Green-winged Teal)
Altitude: 62m (203 feet)
Location: Go To...
Oregon Gumplant Flowers
Species: Grindelia stricta (Oregon gumweed)
Altitude: 2m (6 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tomatoes Potatoes And Onions
Altitude: 7m (22 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: market, produce, tomatoes
Tags: market(3), tree(3), produce(3), lighthouse(2), invasive(2), fort(2)
People: Claira(3), Marcus(3), Nara(3)
From: John Harvey Photo > Blogs for 2023 to 2005 > October 2021

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Last Modified Saturday, January 28th, 2023 at 22:54:49 Edit
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