Halloweeny Trees

We got rain and cold over the weekend.  I think we are approaching the end of fall.

I love Halloween!  It's a little spooky in My World, how about yours?

Blue sky in fall clothes

How long will the beautiful fall weather last?

Visit the ever-changing sky at Sky Watch Friday.

Gretta's Grandkids

When I was out taking pictures some little kids came up to show me the shells they found while walking with their grandmother.  I asked if I could take a picture and they obliged.

Later as I was getting ready to leave, their grandmother asked me if I would mind taking some pictures of the kids.  Her camera battery was dead.  She wanted pictures because she is getting ready to retire to Hawaii and won't be seeing the kids for awhile.  I could hardly say no.  It was really fun to take these shots of the kids eating jello for her.  Of course I emailed them to her when I got home.

Who wouldn't miss these little guys???

A perfect fall day in Dry Fork on the Flume Trail

We got a new sign--it looks pretty official.

Newly re-inspired I took my camera down to the Flume Trail.

Red Cloud Loop road will take you on a scenic drive up into the mountains.

We have so many interesting rock formations.

After a week of clouds and rain it was so nice to get a sunny day.

That's some of the beauty in My World.  What's it look like in yours?

The last bits

Misty beaches make opaque pictures.

There is a large surfing community in this area.  The normal response is, "Well, they wear wet suits."  So?  It still seems very cold for surfing to me, but what do I know?

The little sea birds don't mind, of course.

We left our cozy cottage and headed back to Victoria.  This is the famous Empress Hotel.  You need deep pockets to stay here but it's fun to wander around inside and see how the other half lives.

The Parliament Building is an interesting structure, both inside and out.  Built in 1893 it remains in use today.

I'd seen pictures of these phone booths before but never in real life.  Who knows how long it will be there now that everyone has cell phones.

We took the ferry back to Seattle and spent the next day exploring again.  The Space Needle is probably the most recognized structure there but what we really enjoyed was the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame and the Sci Fi museum that goes along with it.

We returned home almost a month ago.  I had so much to catch up with at work that there has been very little time for blogging, but for now our little excursion has ended until the next great adventure.

There are bound to be more Scenic Sundays in our future.

Bear Watching in Tofino

In Tofino we signed up for a bear watching trip on a Zodiac boat.  We took a chance and it was so worth it!  There are many islands and passages to get lost in.

We wore big red suits for insulation because it was cold on the water.  Life vests were built into them.

The fog and the water played on each other in so many mystical ways.

And then we saw the bears!  We could hear them crunching on fresh crabs and watch them pull rocks aside as they searched for food.  Because we were in the boats we were able to get very close, unfortunately, I didn't have my zoom lens with me.  The boatman cut the engine and let us stay for a long time.

He said it was unusual for there to be two bears at once.  Usually they are solitary.  He thought perhaps there was a little courting going on here as they chased each other around.

We also saw a porpoise, an eagle and sea lions.  Seeing wildlife in their habitat is one of my most favorite experiences in life.

There are so many Scenic Sunday places to see.