Highway 14

Was out the door chasing the sun early this AM, deciding to head west on Hwy 14 out towards Sooke, Jordan River and the coastline along the Juan De Fuca. The first stop, just as the clouds predictably came in a little, was Roche Cove, a sheltered spot along the road towards Sooke. A pretty mix of wooded areas surrounding a quiet and secluded little marine cove. Trails were numerous and we wandered somewhat aimlessly…Some of the houses in the area are stunning. Such beautiful places to live.

After about an hour of hiking it was back on the road and west past Sooke, a cute little town at the water’s edge, to French Beach. The tide was high; the sound of the surf crashing up on the beach, dragging the rounded stones out with the ebb and reminding me why they are all so smooth, was wonderful. Driftwood and even a strange washed up sea creature (probably a sea slug) that had been eviscerated by some predator. There was a whole tree, roots and all, a little further along the shore. This beach was special — an amazing feeling being there.

Continued west along the lovely winding road — up and down through valleys cut by streams running out to the strait. One of these points is Jordan River, where an actual river meets the sea. It’s a sleepy little hamlet, about 70 km outside of Victoria, but the waves here are respectable because of the fresh and salt water meeting, and there were some surfers braving the cold November waters. Stopped at a funky little surfer-cum-hippy snack shack and then headed on our way back, Jack.

On the return voyage we stopped in Sooke proper and walked down to the water…There was a little dock out on the sheltered bay that Sooke sits on. You look out of the narrow mouth of the bay out to the strait and to the everpresent Olympic peninsula. Was mostly cloudy, but there was some clear spots up over the mountains. A really amazing view from this vantage…

Yet another awesome adventure, and though it was rainy and cold later this evening it was, again, overcast and about 11 degrees around noon. This is the kind of winter weather I could get very, very used to. To say nothing of going back out that way to try my hand at the surfing when the air warms up a little. Will probably be heading out there this weekend anyway, to do some beach exploring for Irina’s birthday.

Rough life, I know.