CFAV Egret at CFMETR
CFAV Egret is a Range Safety and Patrol vessel based at the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges (CFMETR) in Nanoose.
Norwegian Jewel at Victoria Cruise Ship Terminal, Pier A, in Ogden Point
Norwegian Jewel approaching Pier A at Ogden Point
I quiet enjoy watching the cruise ships arrive at the Victoria Cruise Ship Terminal at Ogden Point in James Bay – they glide in and slowly come to rest along the piers as lines are passed ashore to secure the ships.
As the first lines are passed the ships appear to be motionless, just sitting there in the water as if some magical force is holding them against the forces of wind and the ever moving water.
Perhaps the magic is all in the illusion of effortlessly docking a huge ship – perhaps it is in not knowing, or disregarding the massive diesel engines and thrusters that move and hold the 294 m long ship in a precise position…
Norwegian Jewel approaching Pier A, Ogden Point
Number 9 at CFMETR
A juvenile shrimp that was swimming in the shallow water at Kye Bay
Kye Bay and Air Force Beach viewed from Wireless Road
A view of Kye Bay and Air Force Beach from Wireless Road
A nice fall day in early October seemed like a great time to set off to find the remains of the No 5 Mine. It was a great idea, but one that did not turn out as planned, as I had decided to zip up Lake Trail, turn onto Comox Lake Logging Road and head into Cumberland along Bevan Road.
Bevan Road comes to a grinding halt near the landfill as the road is being paved into Cumberland. Grrr… back the way I came and onto Marsden and then Cumberland Road.
I had a fairly good idea of where I was heading once I parked the jeep and headed off on foot as I had a trail map of the area.
Being the type of person that likes to return home after a hike, I took what looked like the best marked of the trails – great idea, but as it turned out it cost me an extra 20 minutes of hiking as I could have taken a dirt road short cut.
What the heck – it was a nice day, I did not get eaten by a cougar or a bear, and I found what remains of the No 5 Mine.
October is a great month for walking about outdoors with a camera – clear skies, cool air, not so many people, and an amazing pallet of fall colours. A perfect day to take a visit to the remains of the No 8 Mine.
I’ve been to most of the old mine sites in the Comox Valley, thanks to some old maps and a fair amount of determination. These are interesting places to visit, but they are old mine sites so it’s a really good idea to be careful and think about what is, or in the case of old coal mines, not underneath you.
The No 8 site is popular with the paint ball and air soft crowd – I have no problem with that as this is an amazing area in terms of places to hide and seek and shoot your friends in a fun sort of way.
I don’t mind the graffiti as it will in time wear off, and it means that people spent some time outdoors. Perhaps a contentious view of how to treat a piece of history, but honestly, not many people seem to care about the history of coal in the valley, and it’s just a bit of paint.
While the paint is ever changing and will fade and at some point be nothing but a memory, the concrete and steel will be around for a long time to come – it’s lasted for almost 100 years already…
October 2015
January 2014
October 2015
January 2014
