Katherine Bickford

Strathcona Snowmen

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Katherine

nature,Provincial Park,Strathcona,snow,spring,mountains,hiking,snowmen

A snowman, and a snow bunny, in Strathcona Provincial Park

nature,Provincial Park,Strathcona,snow,spring,mountains,hiking,snowmen

Posted in forest, hiking, mountains, nature, Provincial Park, snow, Strathcona, Vancouver Island Images | Tagged hiking, mountains, nature, Provincial Park, snow, snowmen, Spring, Strathcona | Leave a comment

Whiskey Jacks – Strathcona

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Katherine

Whiskey Jacks,nature,Provincial Park,Strathcona,birds,snow,spring

Whiskey Jack at Battleship Lake

Also known as the gray jay (Perisoreus canadensis) or thief bird, whiskey jacks are bold little fellows that have sadly become used to getting a handout from hikers in Strathcona Provincial Park.

This fellow hopped up on my leg to see if I would share my lunch (nope_) and then bounced about in the snow to see if I changed my mind (nope…) The beer can is not part of nature and it’s not mine, but it’s another problem caused by hikers.

Whiskey Jacks,nature,Provincial Park,Strathcona,birds,snow,spring

Posted in Birds, hiking, Mt Washington, nature, Provincial Park, snow, spring, Strathcona | Tagged birds, nature, Provincial Park, snow, Spring, Strathcona, Whiskey jacks | Leave a comment

A YAG in the bay

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Katherine

Yard Auxiliary, General (YAG) training vessels are wooden boats built between 1954 and 1958. Built for use as a blue boat, the majority of these crafted were used for general purposes such as liberty boats, stores and equipment lighters, as well as harbor ferries in Esquimalt, and for training members of the Royal Canadian Navy in basic seamanship, vessel handling, and navigation on the west coast.

YAG,Ladysmith,RCN,Navy,ships,Yard Auxiliary, General

A YAG in Ladysmith Harbour

The boats are arranged in typical naval fashion with officer’s housed forward with the galley and their own head, an engine room midships, and cadet room aft with 12-14 bunks in double tiers.

YAG,Ladysmith,RCN,Navy,ships,Yard Auxiliary, General,K - 12

The original contract (let in 1952) was for 4 vessels, two to be built at Withey’s Shipyard in Silva Bay on Gabriola Island, and another two to be built at Mercer’s Shipyard in New Westminster. Ultimately 6 were built, 5 at Withey’s and one at Mercer.

306 (Grizzly) and 308 (Cougar) were delivered by Withey’s in 1954, 314 (Caribou), 319 (Badger), and 320 (Lynx) were delivered by Withey’s in 1955. 312 (Otter) was delivered by Mercer’s in 1955.

The vessels were all sold by auction in 2011.

Displacement: 70 tonnes
Breadth: 19′- 0″
Draught: 4′-9″
Length: 75′ 3″
Propulsion: 2 × Detroit Diesel 6-71 series engines, 320 hp

And now you know…

Posted in history, Ladysmith, RCN, ships | Tagged General, k - 12, Ladysmith, Navy, RCN, ships, YAG, Yard Auxiliary | Leave a comment

E&N Rail Yard Victoria

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Katherine

Victoria,history,E&N,trails,railroad,Esquimalt,Vic West,Songhees

The train doesn’t stop here anymore…

More images on Facebook

Posted in E&N, history, rail, trains, Victoria | Tagged E&N, Esquimalt, history, railroad, Songhees, trails, Vic West, Victoria | Leave a comment

The seagulls

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Katherine

seagulls,Victoria,Ogden Point,birds

Seagulls – Ogden Point, Victoria

seagulls,Victoria,Ogden Point,birds

Seagulls are interesting birds, both for their colours, and their antics. This group was being fed by a couple in the parking lot for Helijet at Ogden Point, an act that likely did not amuse Helijet…

seagulls,Victoria,Ogden Point,birds