Triangle Beach, Off Road Playground

Sometime in November last year, the leaves were still on the branches, we took a drive and than a walk looking for this hidden beach in Richmond, BC we heard about from a friend. We tried once already, but missed it. This time we got it the right way, and we were up for a surprise: this is a playground for off road driving, dirt biking, sand driving and such. We couldn't believe our eyes. It's just off Steveston Highway practically behind the Silver City Theatres. It's nothing too spectacular, but having a place to play with your motor bikes or off road vehicles right in the City is kinda cool. These are the images I got at the place. It was fun.

The first few images are from our walks prior to finding the beach. We first ended up going the opposite way.

It's always fun when you don't quite know where you are going and what you are gonna see.

After a small industrial complex, there was this open field waiting to be discovered...

Judging by the picture, you would never tell it is in a city, although it's right in an industrial area of Richmond.

Fraser river and boats... the usual...

Behind this industrial complex there is the end of the Shell Trail...

Than we turned around and ended up here...

Something in this contrast of natural and industrial is exciting to me...

The oposite side of the view across the branch of the Fraser River...








Between the bushes and the fence, there is actually a dirt track...



And here is the beach...  

Some action...

More action...

And more...

It was fun wathing them zoom by...

Some archival shots...

It was pretty loud too...

The dirt track along the fence...

The boys were showing off...

Big time...

And then some...

Love the dirt!

It was cool!

Pitt River Dikes

Last Saturday we took a walk along Pitt River dikes starting at Mountainview Kennels. It was a beautiful sunny winter day too great to be wasted spending inside. Pitt River is a tidal river undecided weather to contribute to the Fraser River or not. It sort of changes the flow with the tides. I find that fascinating. Even more fascinating is the fact that in my 15 years in Vancouver never ever I heard anyone mentioning it! C'mon people! It's a rarity! It's unique, it makes us special on the world's nature map! Call me crazy, I still can't get over it. The river feeds into the Pitt Lake, one of only two fresh water tidal lakes in the World! On top of that, the walk gives an awesome oportunity to enjoy the Golden Ears Mountain, my favorite around here. Its majestic nature is most prominent at sunset when it begins to glow in shades of gold! This was the first time when I learnt that each peak has a special name...

We started our walk along a narrow branch of the river. The fact that the trees were naked uncovered a unique face of this area.

I like peopleless roads, pathways, dikes...

One has to pay close attention to discover all the colours that are there in a seamingly colourless surrounding... And there is so many...

The peaks are gently brushed with a touch of snow...

I don't know for sure if this was particular to BC or the fact that I'm older and more observant, but there is something about the textures of the branches and grass in BC that keeps fascinating me over and over again...

Subtle shades of passion...

Sustained power of ages...

Somewhere out there far away is the Mount Baker... Yet to be visited on my list...

Boat parkade...

More subtle shades of beauty...

Eternal peace for you...

Minnekhada Sleeping (Merry Orthodox Christmas!)

My Christmas lights are still on! According to the Orthodox Christian Religion, Christ was born on January 07. and under that impression I was living for over 30 years back in former Yugoslavia. The Catholic half of that now non existing country was celebrating it as you know on December 25. My confusion and a mild resentment toward both churches was even than present. I mean, how can that be? How is that possible that the two churches couldn't agree on the date of Christ's birth? The only answer I came up with was: for political reasons! And now, if the two churches are still wondering why they are losing on the number of followers, perhaps they should start with this!

However, I love Christmas lights, so ever since I moved to Canada, I commemorate both! It's happier that way. But my God is somewhere else: in Nature. There is only one God that speaks through Nature and that's the one I follow. And It does not care about birth dates!

I found It again walking through a park in Port Coquitlam, BC (part of Vancouver, BC - practically in the city, as many...): In Minnekhada Regional Park, around Minnekhada Lodge, where the marsh and a pond were asleep in a frozen embrace, while the Sun was brushing their hair over the tree tops....

We walked from a dry parking lot downhill for about quarter mile to the frozen lake, through a hollow about less than 10 feet in elevation difference, but in there everything was frozen! Above, at the tree tops, you could see the Sun rays brushing the tops half way down the tree trunks - and than: frost magic!

The ice was about 3 inches thick, but in some areas, where it was thinner, when a skater was passing over it, you could hear ominious sound as if a steel wire was vibrating through the air...

In the shade, all is frosty - the sunny side dry and warm!

Simply: Magic!

Abstraction of grass, frost and ice!

I feel like touching it...

Above the level of ice - Spring!

3 inches of ice 

Amazing textures

Speachless...

The deers around the Minnekhada Lodge were alert. Or is that frozen?

No comment...

Don't you feel it?

The Milky Way?

My way?

The way?

This is hard to describe...

Merry Natural Christmas! Love ya all!