Surreptitious Late Post 1

I have to apologise for the slacking that has been going on this last week. I have had pictures, many many pictures but failed to produce the accompanying blog. My excuse, should you choose to accept it, is that I overwhelmed myself with them. I had so many that the thought of winnowing, cropping and resizing was completely mind-boggling. However as I have had a couple of complaints I shall put my shoulder to the wheel and do the deed.

First, and to break the ice is an update from today of the green lane in Squint Lake Park.

Trail in Squint Lake Park, Burnaby, trees blooming greener as spring progresses.

In my humble opinion it is definitely greener, it was a grey day but still. Tell me what you think. The smell of the trees is incredible, it actually smells green and springlike. The air outside the house is laden with the scent of the cherry blossom and the parks with the scent of greening trees.

Ice broken I shall return to last week and my lovely morning by the seaside at Barnet Marine Park. Etta was very excited as always and I was quite hopeful that as we had had a few dry days the mud might be scarce. I had the cunning plan of visiting the beach and dipping her before returning to the car if necessary. Unfortunately the time I like to go walking is currently high tide so beach space can be limited. However we managed.

Many of the problems I had was because I was practising taking multiple shots of things. I took several series of birds in flight over the water, something that delights my heart. But to break us in easily I shall just add one to start.

Gull in flight along the Burrard Inlet past Barnet Marine Park

There is something about a bird skimming the water that makes me smile and I long to capture the essence of the feelings I have - amazement, awe, wonder are just a few. More to come, a series for you to anticipate.

Here's the adorable Etta eyeing a goose out on the water. She has become much more comfortable going in which is marvellous for cleaning the mud, but she still hasn't swum. We meet many dogs who love to swim though so I live in hope.

Our Siberian Husky Ett examining a goose beside the Burrard Inlet at Barnet Marine Park

She was measuring the distance and deciding if she could manage to reach the goose. This desire to chase birds will be a recurring theme during this blog.

Etta our Siberian Husky looking longingly at the water in Barnet Marine Park

 Here she is coming up to me to continue our walk but with one eye back on the goose in case it moves closer or in case she gets brave and decides to swim. I love the way she glows in the light - before we hit mud.

I have been thinking more carefully about composition in my pictures, layers, angles and things. To be honest there is so much to think about and experiment with I am still mainly on one lens and the auto settings but tonight I was faced with poor light and have made a firm resolution to get to grips with at least one aspect. I digress. So this next picture is me experimenting.

Trees overhanging the Burrard Inlet at Barnet Marine park, North Vancouver in the background.

The front of the picture has branches close to me barely in focus while the main tree is across the cove and then further still is North Vancouver across the water. I like the way the branches form a kind of frame we can view other parts through.

Back to the birds. I saw this gull flying in and followed it taking snaps as often as I could. I ended up with maybe 20 shots and I narrowed down to these 10 which I think show the bird pretty well.

I think this picture above might be my favourite shot, I didn't even realise how I had caught it until I was selecting, the camera truly is foolproof lol.

I suppose if I plan to continue bird watching I should invest in a more suitable lens, but I am pretty pleased with these. He went on to land in the water and fish or at least he dived, maybe camera shy hehe. The first time I was here I saw a seal or otter far out, hoping to see him again one day.
Back to our walk, the trees are fascinating to me, shapes, colours, textures and this has all three. I was experimenting again with the focus and blurred background.

Twig about to burst into leaf over the Burrard Inlet at Barnet Marine Park

Almost like a claw ready to grip something, the leaves waiting to burst out. It's quite difficult to get a moment to photograph with an active dog. Etta spied some gulls on the grass.

Etta our Siberian Husky about to chase some gulls at Barnet Marine Park

There was only one way this could end and the dog ran and the gulls flew. I don't think she cares about catching - all her fun is in the chase. The colours in there are glorious, vibrant in the sunshine.

So we continued along the shoreline and in the water was this huge piece of rope.

Knotted rope in the waters of the Burrard Inlet at Barnet Marine Park

Imagine the places it has been, where it came from, what it was made from, used for and now it can relax and gently decay in the clear waters of the Burrard Inlet. And the water is clear as you can see from this and other photos.

Also in the water were some stumps looking rotten and interesting, at least to me they were interesting.

Makes me wonder if the trees were below the shore line or if they tumbled into the water at some point or if they have come downstream and beached by the shore. Maybe when the tide is out further I might be able to see better.

They are beautiful to me, full of drama and texture and shadows and clefts. Imagination can run riot studying them, watching the water lap and slowly wear them away.
Onwards. The water way is quite busy with all sorts of craft from small to very very large as I will show you now. To set the scene when you look directly across the water the heavy forest is Belcarra Park. The waterway on the left side of the forest, heading north leads to Indian Arm and the land flanking the other side is North Vancouver - Cates Park. Indian arm goes a long way inland, Mark has kayaked up the arm and camped with some friends (on a male only trip) and says it is beautiful. If you follow the water east you come to Port Moody. I hope the map link helps you envision.

Small boat heading west along the Burrard Inlet 

So if you look at the tug above and below it seems to have come from the area towards Port Moody, Not sure what businesses are along the water there. To the west is an oil company but the beast I am going to show you was coming from the east.

The second tug been overseen by a crow at the Burrard Inlet as it heads west

So these two chugged along and in their wake came a behemoth, made me wonder if they were a forward check to make sure nothing was going to get in the way of the tanker.

Huge tanker owned by Crowley maritime Corporation on the Burrard Inlet passing by Barnet Marine Park

It was huge. You can I hope see that from this picture. For those interested the ship is owned by Crowley Maritime Corporation. For the Supernatural fans the ship is owned by Crowley. I took many pics as it sailed slowly and majestically along the Inlet from East to West. I may add them to my flickr stream with the others I take. If I do I will let you know. But not to overkill I will show you this and a view from the rear.

Huge tanker owned by Crowley maritime Corporation on the Burrard Inlet passing North Vancouver

I tried again for the frame of branches and the stump on the left. I don't know if the stump worked but I like the trace of twigs from the branch. The ship took maybe 20 minutes to pass from coming into view to leaving sight. The seabus has a 15 or 20 minute schedule, I think the trip across is 10 minutes with 5 minutes for manoeuvring and loading so makes me wonder how they work that out. Does the seabus stop or take a diversion or does the tanker speed up/slow down? The seabus is a boat that ferries from downtown Vancouver to North vancouver. That boat and the two bridges are the only public ways to cross between the two. So unless you have boat, submarine or helicopter you have to use them to travel to North Vancouver and Whistler.

Well actually you could take a huge round trip through Hope and Lillooet but that's a LONG way. 2 hour drive to Hope then 2 and a half to Lillooet and then 2 hours to Whistler and three hours down to North Van. For my British readers it is hard for us to appreciate the sheer size of British Columbia (or Canada). BC is 944,735 km² in area, we drove for 4 hours to Kelowna and still had as far again to go to the Alberta border. Canada is the second largest country in the world by total area.

So in this huge land there's a pond of water on the side of the path and this day two little ducks were minding their own business. Yes, you guessed, not for long.

She spotted them, sniffing the ground as she went.

And there she goes, no barking, no sound just the surge of her body as she runs and the flap of wings as they take flight.

Nobody was hurt in the taking of these pictures. The ducks were safe on the sea as you can see here. Not even Etta's feelings were hurt as she just enjoyed the thrill of the chase.
The sun was also enjoying itself peeking in and out of the clouds. I happened to catch this lovely play of light on the sea floor.

Light shimmering on the bottom of the Burrard Inlet by the Barnet Marine Park

I was very fortunate to catch it as seconds later it was gone as the sun went back behind a cloud. Lovely the way the light moves through the ripples of water and shines on the bottom.

We came on a clump of daffodils and after I stopped Etta sniffing and attempting to take a bite I caught them on camera. When I was cropping and resizing I had a little play with a black and white layer. Some things don't need colour to be beautiful.

Finally after birds and boats and ships and daffodils we came to our beach, the tide was quite high but we had a little walk and Etta paddled and splashed. We met some dogs and a lady and then Etta went back along the path, I was about to follow when she reappeared. Or did she?

Aki the Japanese Akita

No, this is not Etta, it is neither a girl nor a husky. Rather this is Aki a Japanese Akita and Etta's big brother by another mother. He was 90 pounds... and absolutely lovely. They played and chased and splashed and had a ball whilst I chatted with Aki's owner a nurse who had just finished her night shift.

Aki the cheeky Japanese Akita

How gorgeous is he? He was a little too big to spring up this ledge the way Etta had and he was looking at us as if to say 'give a boy a hand'. 90 pounds of dog - I think not, so we encouraged him and he finally managed.

Siberian Husky and Japanese Akita at play on the beach at Barnet Marine Park

They were such good company for each other though the spritely Etta did leave him standing a couple of times and evoked the bark of disapproval his mistress told me about. I do hope we can meet him again some day, we have met some lovely people on our walks and even lovelier dogs. Etta is a very sociable critter although she can be a bit exuberant for small or older dogs. Most people are wise and understand puppies do puppy things but the odd one or two who react with anger and aggression make me both sad and cross. But anyway enough of that.

I have walked this path several times but this was the first time I spotted this fabulous old anchor.

It's a little way from the water and I wouldn't have thought it deep enough to be a good harbour anyway so perhaps this is one of those oddities sent to quiz and make us think. Whatever it is it was a gorgeous thing.

So on to the big event. Etta and I bumped into three bird watchers. More about them in a later blog but they told me there are many eagles you just need to keep looking up. Here are some of my finds.

First is a close cropped picture to show you the sneaky fiend who flies so high and so far, soaring through the air.

Bald Eagle flying over the Burrard Inlet near Barnet Marine Park

He's a bald eagle and the pictures I have may not all be the same bird but for the purposes of my writing they are all him (and he is a he).

I spied him flying over the water west to east but flying does not do him justice.

Bald eagle in the Sky over the Burrard Inlet between Belcarra and Barnet Marine Park

Bald eagle in the Sky over the Burrard Inlet between Belcarra and Barnet Marine Park

He doesn't flap his wings like a smaller bird, it is a leisurely stroke as he soars through the sky. Finding the thermal currents and spiralling on them. I did see him dive to catch fish but the picture was not worth showing. With the lenses I have, great as they are, I shall need a stroke of luck to catch that in action.

We walked back to the car park and on the rotting pier where the seagulls and herons and other birds sit I saw the white head of my new friend.

Bald eagle perched on the old dock at Barnet Marine Park

  This was as close as I could get bar swimming closer, you can see the water below and around the piles. The gulls in attendance around the peer (not a misspell btw).

Bald eagle taking off from the old dock at Barnet Marine Park

I was just in time as he took flight heading off to do eagle things I guess. The other birds relieved he prefers fish not gulls.

Bald eagle passing the old dock at Barnet Marine Park

There he dropped before soaring up to perch in the trees behind me. I don't believe this is the last time I shall find myself recording his flight.

Happy and content we were going back to the car but the level crossing was on full alert.

There was no train actually, which was just as well as they are very very long, they were doing some clearing further along the tracks so we scampered across and up to the car and after Etta had a long drink of water we headed home.

Kaboom - Cherry Blossom in Burnaby BC

I can only use the word Kaboom to describe the explosion of blossom around and about us. Even my 17 year old nephew noticed!

Close up Cherry Blossom in Burnaby BC

This is the tree right outside our house, I was experimenting again with the focus and blur. I think it's kinda pretty.

Cherry Blossom in Burnaby BC

The smooth delicate petal and the rough texture of the tree make a wonderful contrast I think. The colours also, grey green twig and tiny patches of yellow mould, then the pale pale pink petal and green yellow stamen. Exquisite.

Last but not least a bloom from my neighbours lovely garden. They have a bird bath and feeder that attracts many birds and our cats but I hope to maybe see a humming bird and other visitors as time passes.

I have done a little bit of work with the 50mm lens and will show you next time - probably. The time after if not. I have so much to catch up.

This blog is more pictures than writing today but I hope the pictures speak a thousand words for me and spark your thoughts as they do mine. Most of all I hope they bring you pleasure.
Thanks for reading and feel free to say hi and leave comments xx

Getting Warmer the Sequel.

So on to part two of our multi-day catch up. Did you know you had signed up for this? You did. Let me carry on where I left of, walking around Squint lake in the lovely sunshine because it was glorious both days. Today I lost the coat and settled in with a big jumper (pullover for you non brits). I could probably have managed a t-shirt but maybe next week. I was thinking about this blog and wondering how far to go in my personal revelations. All the way I decided.

Ranked best to worst:
Footwear - barefoot; sandals; shoes and socks; boots; wellies.
Clothes - Tshirt/shorts or floaty cotton skirt or dress; t-shirt and jeans/leggings; jumper and jeans/pants; coat and whatever underneath.
I like feeling free - now you know. Don't worry I shan't post any pictures of the various stages, one has to have limits.  So suffice it to say I shall be in t-shirt and appropriate leg coverings as soon as possible. One draw back is my coat has capacious pockets for phone, dog-bags and treats, leash, tissues, chapstick, wallet, keys etc and my jumpers don't. Luckily I bought a cool camera bag that has many pockets for storing things. However if I lose the bag I lose everything.

And look there it is, I used the other lens too, the 40mm one which is for portrait type pics apparently. Yes I am a noob but that is a portrait of my bag, it hangs across my back and slides round so that I can unzip the handy opening on the side that you can see there and take out my camera. It even has a pocket on top where there is a raincoat for the bag. I am not kidding I swear, there is a cover to go over the bag in case of very bad weather conditions I assume. The torrential rain we get here sometimes might just apply. That pocket just fits my phone too. The bag is a National Geographic Explorer in case you were interested and was a bargain buy from Costco last month.

Anyway now I have confided my dress preferences and bag type to you lets get back to the walking.

Eagle Creek at Squint Lake

The little kick-up of water coming over that rock right in the centre on the left of that stick was awesome. It didn't happen every time water went over, nor every other time, it just seemed perfectly random and I have not quite captured it properly but you can see something of the spurt of spray jetting out. The light on the water was so lovely I have had to restrict myself to just a couple of pictures.

Eagle Creek at Squint Lake

If only this water hole were 10 times as big and 5 times as deep it would be a perfect sitting spot once the hot weather arrives. Sadly it is only 5 feet across and maybe a foot deep, but the water is so clear and still in it, just beautiful.

Etta has taken to paddling, she loves to have her feet wet, like me, and she snaps at the water trying to catch it when she is not lapping it up.

Here's just one shot of her ankle deep in the creek inspecting t for things to chew. leaves, twigs, mud she isn't very fussy. She is so glowy white, almost blinding in the sunlight.

Time for a bit of whimsy. This stump reminds me of something out of Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit.

Like I should part the ivy and find some ancient carved epitaph or warning. Or perhaps the face of an old king racked by time but still crowned with ivy. Probably just spiders in there but it makes me smile when I look. Just feet away is this tangle where the whimsy continues.

Maybe if I investigate within that mysterious ivy I will activate the mammoth whose tusks protrude from this tree? Tell me I am not the only one who sees mammoth tusks in there? What a glorious tangle of branches.

You'll need to look closely at these two pictures to see what I saw. The ends of the leaves are budding and stand out against the blue sky, they almost glow in the sunlight and were such a surprise when I looked up. Cameras are wonderful things but they don't always see what i do, or at least I can't make them show it yet.

I promised you robins the other day and when we passed the playground there were several hopping on the grass after something or other, they didn't say what.

American robin at Squint Lake Park

 This is one supervising the swings, maybe making sure the others take turns?

American robin at Squint Lake Park

This one was up in a tree singing the song of his people, a cheery chirpy little number that can drive you mad at 5:30 am.

We weren't the only people happy for the sunshine, softball season must be staring soon as they were training hard. I had assumed softball was like junior baseball but these were fully grown people. I shall have to enquire as to the facts. I always loved rounders so maybe I should see about signing up!!!

Softball practice on the pitch at Squint Lake Park

I was just finished stalking the practicers - practitioners? - when someone called my name. It was our friends from Barnet Marine Park Helen and Indie! I was recognised by the whiteness of Etta and the camera in my hands. We had a lovely time talking and tusseling. You work out who did what. One thing. The ground was almost dry except for one foot across muddy dip in the ground. Yes. You guessed it. Etta managed to find her way to roll over it, in it, through it and around it. How that dog loves mud...

I have no pictures but hope to see them again and get some then. On our way out though we did get some shots of male golfers.

Burnaby Mountain Golf Course - fore!

I have considered learning to play, Mark plays on occasion, but I doubt the doggie would be welcome so it might have to wait. I know it is awesome exercise, walking between holes (assuming you don't cheat in a golfcart). I have images in my head of staid gents in plus fours and these gentlemen were nothing like my picture. On the subject of plus four I was fascinated to learn when I just googled for a picture that the reason they are called plus four is that they extend 4 inches  below the knee. I add the link for your education. My goodness - wit, beauty and education all in one place.

Almost done. By the car park on the grassy verge I saw daisies. Simple flowers but maybe beautiful because of that simplicity.

They make me think of spring, there was a dandelion or two also but that conjures up whole other thoughts so I stuck with my white and yellow friends.

Lastly an update on the blossom as I arrived home. This is about 24 hours since the previous update.

Getting very very close now I think. I need to go to the street and capture the trees along their to show you the full glory once they get into swing.

There our tale is done for another day. Hopefully we will be at the seaside or in another wood. Once Etta is fully recovered we will go further afield but I shall try to make at least once a week trips back to keep you updated with progress is Squint Lake Park because I hope you have come to love it as much as I do.

Oooooh do I have a treat for you in the next blog - I just got in from 2 hours by the sea and I have many pictures to share so make sure you register for updates :)

Thank you again for your kindness and patience in reading my rambling. I hope you enjoyed our visit. x