I enjoy looking at photos from around the world, dreaming of travel, so I thought I would post a few photos of my beautiful Canadian province on the west coast of Canada. I hope you will enjoy them.
British Columbia has everything, from wild cliffs where many ships were wrecked, pristine beaches, to peaceful lakes and rain forests. It has mountains and semi arid areas full of orchards and vineyards. BC wines are coming into their own and nothing tastes sweeter than an Okanagan peach from Peachland – yes, Peachland, BC.
Like Australia we have our share of unusual names like Spuzzum and Chilli Wack and a history rich in first nations legends and culture. My brother, who lives in Penticton in the interior of BC, and is a school teacher, often takes us to the fossil digs on the White Lake Formation and to the Radio Observatory nearby where R2D2-like telescopes scan the heavens for songs of ET. We are all a family of avid astronomers (amateur). The astronomy club meets once a year at the Mt. Kobo Star Party.
house overlooking lake Skaha
Skaha Lake
Lake Skaha and Lake Okanagan are joined and like Loch Ness have their own much sighted monster called the Ogopogo. But as in Xanadu, underneath these very large and deep lakes are subterranean caverns measureless to man and sunless seas that probably join Loch Ness to the Okanagan, and thus, a solitary and lonely monster makes his mysterious migrations.
Some of these are older photos, taken with a canon powershot, before I became more serious and paid more money for a camera. Many were edited in the freebie Gimp program, so pre PS Cs6.
breaking light on the valley
Okanagan Hills
Radio Observatory in Okanagan, R2D2’s at work
carbonized vegetation
Vancouver Island is also rich in marine fossils from the cretaceous. Much of the area was a shallow sea during those antediluvian times. On top of Saanich Mountain outside Victoria is the Royal Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. Victoria, though small, is the capital city, and home to the wonderful Royal BC Museum which is full of dioramas and natural history.
rain forest path on Vancouver Island
waterfall in Goldstream Park
Muir Creek Beach and one of the fossil sites on Vancouver Island
thetis Cove outside of Victoria
Many intrepid Scots made their way to the New World as explorers and settlers and many places are named after them as well, such as Simon Fraser University, the mighty Fraser River with it’s Hell’s Gate rapids and the far northern town of Mackenzie BC. to name a few.
Oh, and our weather is more like Scotland and Ireland!
the runes of the gatekeeper's daughter- dedicated to Nick 
Connected here through your “how green is the valley” April post to read about Ogopogo and I didn’t regret it!Loved all your references to the measureless subterranean caverns and the connections to the sacred land of Scottland.Unfathomable the subterranean realms,dear Cybele.Your photo with the Transit of Venus in 2013 is out of this world,too!Back to the green valley again …. 🙂
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So pleased you like BC!! Come and visit sometime!! yes I had to put a bit of Coleridge there lol! That Venus scene was very lucky!! I’m not good at star photos! Something I should work on if I wasn’t so lazy!!
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I don’t know if you are good or not at star photos,the only thing I know is that all your photos are “starry … ” .At the moment,I visit all those wonderful places through your lens and pens,and who knows,I might make it one day.Hope is a walking dream …
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Thanks my friend and oh I hear you Doda. I just wish I was rich and could travel more!!
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It’s not only the money … ,there are also other commitments that make travelling a bit impossible ofttimes ..
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oh you don’t have to tell me lol!!
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hee hee
How neat that your Grandfather taught you Waltzing Matilda 🙂
As you know I’m sure, it’s our unofficial anthem.
Yes!!! We did see the transit of Venus. It was so quick!!!
It was cloudy with breaks that night… we didn’t miss it! 😀
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This is another wonderful post!
Canada has always interested me and I haven’t been yet.. Apart from the scenery… stunning… I think there is an unspoken affinity between Aussies and Canadians… similarities that go way back to Commonwealth.
Stunning images as always and we too as a family (amateur) love anything about the stars …and robots 😉
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woo hoo!! It’s true, I have met many Aussies up here and abroad as they are great travelers. My grandfather taught me to sing “Waltzing Matilda (he was a black watch soldier who fought alongside the Aussies). Were you able to see the transit of venus down there! a year ago.
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It is certainly a lovely place and gorgeous photos too. 🙂
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Mohameds favorite place on earth is BC, and from your gorgeous photos, I can certainly understand why! This is a wonderful post, Cybele, so beautiful! ♥♥♥ ;^)
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Absolutely stunning photos! 🙂
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Lovely images 😊
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What a beautiful area – each of your pictures has a strong feeling of mood and place that just makes me long to visit.
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I’m glad they gave you a mood!! and except for weather which is always iffy BC has something for everyone for sure and a huge share of natural beauty.
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You are so talented!!! They are all gorgeous….that last one though…it is incredible and has such depth. it draws you right in!
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thanks Laura, yes I admit to being a forst faun!! I love the woodland!!
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you’re welcome 🙂
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A stunning series of photographs
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Thank you and I love the UK too!!
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Very beautiful – you should work for the BC Dept of Tourism! I have only traveled to eastern Canada – you make me want to call in sick to work and jump on a plane for a visit 🙂
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thanks Robert!! Hmm I should submit a resume!! 🙂 and yes you would love it here!
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Impressive photos, magnificent sites. But I have a question: Do you usually just wait until the day is shadowy and tenebrous to take the photos? Look at the valley, the bluff, and the creek! And the rainforest resounds with mystery!
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thanks Peter! It is best either in early morning or early evening when you have shadows- that is when the sun shines here which is not all the time!! It is sunnier in the interior of the province though!
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Wow, Cybele, you live in a beautiful country, I like these geographical posts.
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thanks so much. I like geographical posts too. It is a beautiful country with not so great weather all the time!!
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beautiful 🙂
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Fabulous photoshot!
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I’m glad you enjoyed them!! thank you!
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