Category: Dates

Haida Gwaii

August 30, 2025

Dates
Another solo adventure

Balancing Rock – Haida Gwaii- Acrylic- $550

I flew to Haida Gwaii during the winter break of 2021. In one day I saw the sunrise at the south end of the island, drove to the north end by Masset, climbed Tow Hill, made it down to see the sunset at Port Clements and finally the moon rise in Sandpit. It was an epic day.

As I hiked up the Hill at 2:00pm, I had a fearful voice talking to me at every step. The first was ‘The trail will be too slippery’. It wasn’t (at first) So I go a walking stick for stability. Then ‘You won’t be able to do it before dark so just do the easy trail’ To which I replied ‘If it gets too late I’ll find a place to stay.’So I puffed my way 2/3 up and took a break. There was a sign choosing to go down to the blow hole or continue up. Fear spoke again ‘ You’ve done enough you can go down.’ I had gone 600m ( I use the all trails app which shows me how far I’ve travelled) and there was only 400m more to the top. I used a mantra I had recently written to encourage myself ‘ I am a determined , inspiring, enchanter’. I continued up. I got to the top and saw such a view! As I took it all in, I burst into happy tears. Nothing needs to stop me. I can take breaks and go anywhere! it was a beautiful day and I got down in the light.

Reaching the top of Tow Hill
The boardwalk up the hill
View at the top
St. Clements Sunset
Sandpit Moonrise
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Chilcotin Travels

March 24, 2025

Dates
Farwell Canyon

Traveling with Fern ( Yes I named my car)

Farewell Canyon near Williams Lake. A place for hiking and adventure with my nephews (now in High School and Fighting fires) We would find new places to explore. Recently the flooding has changed the landscape here.

This is a watercolour piece I did for a boarder from Germany.

Trail Riding in the Itcha-Ulgatchuz Mountains

6 Mile Ranch- The home of Roger and Wanda Williams. My children’s grandparents and the base for trail rides up into the mountains.

The mountains and the company inspired many stories and pictures. These are two of my favourites.

Fraser River

My children and I would go on adventures looking for driftwood or river rock. I once dug a big hole, put in a satellite dish, covered it with river rock and put in goldfish who then had babies!

Fraser River, Cariboo – Acrylic – $600

This spot on the Fraser by the Rudy Johnson bridge captured my heart with the meandering road, the Sandhills in the background and the rushing river. Its always amazing to me to think how this river changes as it moves through British Columbia, it can be seen as twisting and turning with tumultuous rapids or wide and calm enough to go down on tubes. Here are some images of my travels and a few pieces of inspired art. Enjoy!
Cleo and Bud under the Rudy Johnson Bridge
Fraser River- Under the Briddge
Fraser River, Cariboo – Acrylic – $600
My children floating on tubes
Vie of the Fraser from Ashcroft
Ashcroft- Pastel
Plains of Ashcroft
Bull Canyon heading to the Fraser
Thompson River near Spences Bridge- a must dip of the toes
Fern at the Rudy Johnson Bridge
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Pachena Bay

March 3, 2025

Dates
An Adventure the back way which led to an amazing textured image. June 2024

I had recently returned from a trip in Europe, having discovered that going on a cruise amongst wealthy people, far above the land and sea , is not for me. And so I packed up my faithful car ‘Fern’ and decided to go the back route to Pachena Bay.

I live in Shawnigan Lake and wanted to discover relatively close camping spots to save on the ridiculous price of fuel this summer. I had heard of Pachena Bay and was longing for a rough ride away from lots of people. So I booked a spot at their campground( not normal for me, I usually just look for free spots and let the wind take me away) It was a beach front site which excited me. People had told me is was possible to get there the back way, on forestry roads from Lake Cowichan all the way to Bamfield. It was the route people took the year before when the road to Ucluelet and Tofino was temporarily closed.
So I left and used my trusty BRMB ( Back Road Map Book )App where you can have the map downloaded and don’t need wi-fi. The road was VERY rough and I realised, I had taken the same road (Much to the horror of my brother whose sports car I had borrowed.) when I travelled B.C. the summer after I graduated looking for teaching positions. On this trip I had to slow down around many curves and bumped along the washboard. It reminded me of Highway 20 and my driveway to Little Goose in the Chilcotin. But that’s another story. Spring Arrival with Red Winged Blackbirds (to be posted soon)

When I arrived three hours later I was greeted by sun and sand and a welcoming tree. As I walked the beach there were whales in the bay!! I saw the spray from their blow holes and couldn’t believe that no-one else on the beach as as excited as I was. A lady nearby said they had been here all week. I hadn’t brought my telephoto and SLR so I have no photos to share. There was a pod of at least 3 grey whales for the two days I was there. I also saw a bear on the other side of the river but once again he was too far to catch a photo.

On the last day I went to the end of the beach and saw the image that inspired my painting. There was something about the draw of the tide , like a road less travelled to entice me in for a cold swim and capture The Draw of Pachena Bay.

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