Moving in a couple of days but this afternoon we (me, Irina and the C man) drove up past Campbell River to Menzies Bay for a hike. Route was the Ripple Rock Trail, about 3.5-4 km along the north edge of Menzies Bay along a ridge line through lush forest, passing mountain steams and rocky outcroppings to a high point looking out across the narrows separating Vancouver Island from Quadra Island, one of a host of puzzle piece shaped islands that fit between Vancouver and the mainland. The view — after a long steep hike up the side of a moss-covered rock — was spectacular. The tide was swirling and twisting in the narrows below, which also happens to be the only route between the mainland and Vancouver Island up towards the northern BC coastline and Alaska beyond. We were past the 50th parallel here, but the sun was shining, there was no breeze (except at the top) and the air was warm. There was a little protected cove just before the end of the bay that was completely amazing. Forests running down just to the sandy water’s edge.
After the death march back to the truck we drove up into the mountains above Campbell River, and saw a whole collection of perfect little mountain lakes. One after the other…It’s bloody God’s country up here. So beautiful and so wild.
Victoria will be fun and is also beautiful, but I think I’ll miss it up here in the bush. Completely life affirming. And not harsh like the Canadian Shield…There are ferns everywhere and moss growing on everything. A true rainforest…
