Blooming lilac lily In the leaf litter, the Story Trail, Eden Australia

Lilac Lily – Schelhammera Undulata
There is something so cheerful and hopeful about spring wildflowers. An October walk on the Bundian Way Story Trail from Cocora Beach to Quarantine Bay in Eden, on Australia’s Sapphire Coast, was an absolute balm.

“I sit here beside Gudu the ocean, and watch the light glimmer and sparkle on the water. The sea breeze wraps around me and I am reminded of the stories the old people have told me, about Gudu, and how we have been here since the country changed from warm to cold and back again.”

– The Bundian Way

It is spring in the southern hemisphere – a time of warming temperatures, new beginnings, and hope.

I’ve just returned to Australia, after an extended period in a Northern Hemisphere autumn, and have been suffering post-trip malaise. So, more than ever, the flowers on the jacaranda trees have been a welcome sight – lifting my spirits and sending me back to old photo-files from springs past.

While I was away, I was walking many kilometres a day: exploring cities, markets, and remote mountains. As I’ve said before (see: The Pambula River Walk), when I’m at home I have the tendency to hike much less: usually simply walking out-and-back on the boardwalk along my estuary, and only sometimes going the extra five minutes to reach the ocean!

I was pleased to rediscover a rare folder of almost-forgotten local photos from a short walk I made along the Story Trail section of the Bundian Way.

The Bundian Way is an ancient 365 km (227 mile) pathway that Aboriginal people from Yuin, Ngarigo, Jait, and Bidawal Country have used since time immemorial. It has been pushed into the background by new highways and modern rhythms, but once upon a time it allowed these different peoples to gather on the shores of Turemulerrer (Twofold Bay) in the spring for the whale migration, and to meet at ceremonial places near Targangal (Mount Kosciuszko) to collect bogong moths (Agrotis infusa) in summer.

I first learned about the Bundian Way by reading On Track, a book by the author, naturalist, and walker John Blay, telling of his search for the old pathways through that wild and rugged landscape between Australia’s highest mountain and the ocean. His work, in conjunction with local Indigenous communities, lead to the pathway being listed on the NSW State Heritage Register in 2013 for its cultural, historical, and wilderness significance.

There are plans to develop the Bundian Way into a long-distance track – but at this point in time, only short sections are formally open to walkers. One of these sections – the 1.8 km (1.1 mi) Story Trail – is literally in my backyard. It opened in 2016 – so I’m a bit ashamed that it took me so long to check it out!

The trail starts at Cocora Beach, a short drive from my house, and leads through native bushland up over Cocora Point and to Budginbro Lookout, along Bungo Beach and finishes at Quarantine Bay. It hadn’t occurred to me to pack the cameras, so all these photos are taken on my old iPhone12Pro.

Come and smell the sea air and enjoy the flowers!

Pink pig face in sandy soil, the Story Trail, Eden Australia

Pigface – Carpobrotus Glaucescens
Endemic to eastern Australia, pigface or iceplant is a succulent that loves the sandy soil along our coastline. The flowers always make me smile.

Seagrass on the sand, the Story Trail, Eden Australia

Nature’s Artworks : Seagrass on the Sand

Waves on Cocora Beach, Eden Australia

Waves and a Rock Formation
Cocora Beach is a stretch of sandy beach on the shores of magnificent Twofold Bay.

Rock formation at the south end of Cocora Beach, Eden Australia12

Cocoro Point
The craggy rocks at southern edge keep the family-friendly waters sheltered and calm.

Boats on moorings in Weecon Cove, Eden Australia

Weecon Cove
A number of pleasure boats make their home here in Twofold Bay (see: On Eden Waters).

Rock formation at the south end of Cocora Beach, Eden Australia

Rocky Textures and a View
Over the lichen-covered rippled rock, we look back across Eden Harbour and to the Eagles Claw.

White gum tree trunks on the Bundian Story Trail, Eden Australia

Gum Trees
The trail winds up through native bushland to the Budginbro Lookout, …

View over Quarantine Bay from Budginbro Lookout, Eden Australia

Budginbro Lookout
… where there are views over Quarantine Bay to Mount Imlay in the distance.

Patterns of colour in the rock and water below the Budginbro Lookout,

Almost Abstract : Water Colours
Below the Budginbro Lookout, the crystal clear waters show off the patterns in the sand and rock.

Shadow of a person at a fence, Budginbro Lookout, Eden Australia

Selfie on the Path

Libertia on a path, the Bundian Story Trail, Eden Australia

Tiny Treasures : Libertia
The evergreen Libertia is a small perennial plant native to South America, Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand

Gum trees reflected in Mangaema Creek, the Bundian Story Trail, Eden Australia

Mangaema Creek

Common heath on the path, the Bundian Story Trail, Eden Australia

Common Heath – Epacris Impressa

Rock formation at the south end of Cocora Beach, Eden Australia

Natures Sculpture : Folding Rocks into the Sea
The jagged rocks of Oman Point at the south end of Bungo Beach jut out into Twofold Bay.

Rock formation at the north end of Bungo Beach, Eden Australia

Nature’s Sculpture : I See Animals In The Rock
At the north end of the beach, the boulders look to me like creatures.

Silhouette of a gum tree against a sun flare, Bungo Beach, Eden Australia

Sunshine in My Eyes …
High overhead, the sun shines through the gum trees.

Ferns either side of a sandy path, the Bundian Story Trail, Eden Australia

Ferns on the Sandy Path
It’s an out-and-back track. As I turn around to retrace my steps, I can’t help but marvel at how different the path looks from the other side!

A clump of Olearia gravis, the Bundian Story Trail, Eden Australia

Bush Daisies – Olearia Gravis
Clumps of native wildflowers line the walkway.

Purple and yellow Fabaceae, the Bundian Story Trail, Eden Australia

Nature’s Bouquet
A tangle of purple (Hovia) and yellow (Pultenaea) endemic flowering peas add a splash of colour.

Detail: Casuarina needles, the Bundian Story Trail, Eden Australia

The Sheoaks are Singing – Listen to The Wind In The Trees

Pink pig face in sandy soil, the Story Trail, Eden Australia

More Pigface – Carpobrotus Glaucescens
Patches of cheerful iceplants are everywhere.

View over Quarantine Bay, the Story Trail, Eden Australia

View over Quarantine Bay

A tangled of trees, the Bundian Story Trail, Eden Australia

A Creek through the Tangled Undergrowth

Boats on moorings in Weecon Cove, Eden Australia

Back on the Bay
Before long, I’m on Cocora Beach again, overlooking the boats on Weecon Cove

… and smiling.

Text: Happy Walking!“We are taught all spirits must be treated with equal respect…. The spirits of our country are powerful and it is our responsibility to treat them with care, if we wish to be provided with their gifts. We also know our strength as a people is not in the sinew of our muscles, or in mastery of country, but in the collective knowledge of our stories.”

– The Bundian Way

Photos: 04October2021

 

Looking through a pine tree over the Imlil Valley in the High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Layers of Colours
It was a tough climb: I was averaging a slow 30 minutes per kilometre! But, views like this – across Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains and through the Imlil Valley – made it worth it.

The High Atlas Mountains in central Morocco rise from the Atlantic coast and stretch east to the Moroccan-Algerian border.

This is a rugged landscape, inhabited by hardy Berbers – more properly called by their endonym Amazigh or Imazighen, meaning ‘Free Person’ or ‘Free People’. They live in small villages with narrow lanes lined with traditional mud-brick houses. There is often a kasbah, surrounded by fortified walls, and there is always a mosque, with a simple square minaret tower. Some of these hamlets are accessed only by rough roads and goat tracks.

The Amazigh have lived here forever – and many aspects of their culture and daily life have remained unchanged. Indigenous to the Maghreb region of northwestern Africa, cave art and other artifacts show that the Imazighen have been there from at least 10,000 BCE. They were first mentioned as Barabara and Beraberata in Ancient Egyptian writings, and some scholars believe this – rather than the Ancient Greek ‘barbarian’ – is the root of the name given to them by outsiders.

The Imazighen or Berbers are actually a number of distinct ethnic groups with different, but closely related languages and dialects grouped under the generic name Tamazight. This is represented by a unique script, Tifinagh, with its roots in the Libyco-Berber alphabet used during the first millennium BCE. As one guide from the region explained: people in neighbouring valleys might speak mutually unintelligible dialects. Children going to school must first learn standard Tamazight – one of the official languages of Morocco – before going on to learn Arabic and then French.

This helps illustrate how remote – and independent – these ‘Free People’ are.

I had been seduced by pictures of hiking in dramatic snow-dusted mountains and the offer of a stay in a kasbah. After all, who doesn’t want an excuse to say: “Meet me at the Kasbah!” And, any visitor to these pages knows I love walking (eg: Sapphire Coast; Butze Rapids).

But, I had clearly bitten off more than I could chew! I was staying in the small mountain village of Imlil, 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) above sea level. To reach my accommodation at the local kasbah (Kasbah du Toubkal), I had to walk 15 minutes up a steep and rubble-strewn incline – and had to stop every five minutes to catch my breath!

The next day, my Berber guide met me for an 8 kilometre (5 mile) hike around the Imlil Valley. Sounds easy, right? You wouldn’t need a guide at home! But, walking alone in these mountains is not recommended – and in many places is not allowed. There are virtually no marked trekking routes, and the goat-tracks lead off in all directions. The pathways are rugged, steep, and strewn with scree and donkey-droppings.

That little ‘introductory’ hike took me 4 hours!

On a photographic note: I took a lot of landscape pictures – mostly as an excuse to stop and breathe. People pictures were harder, as I only make pictures with consent and most locals wouldn’t grant permission.

Join me as I attempt to walk in the footsteps of the Amazigh in the High Atlas Mountains.

Orange juice, boiled egg, bread, pancake and mini-tagines of butter jam and honey, Kasbah du Toubkal, Imlil Morocco

Breakfast for One
You won’t go hungry in Morocco. The strong culture of hospitality means that every meal contains more than one can possibly eat. (iPhone15Pro)

Gnarled section of walnut trunk, Imlil Morocco.

Almost Abstract : Walnut Trunk
In Morocco, walnut trees (Juglans regia L.) have long been cultivated for their nuts. Growing in these mountainous areas – predominantly between 800 and 1800 m (2625 – 5900 ft) – they frequently have wonderfully gnarled trunks, which my guide told me was the consequence of insect damage.

Two Berber men chatting, Imlil Morocco

Mohamed and the Happy Merchant
My local trekking guide Mohamed knows everyone – and is happy to chat with the local shopkeepers in Imlil Village.

Shady village street, Imlil Morocco

Life in the Village
Imlil is a relatively new village predominantly catering for the tourists heading to Jbel Toubkal. Rubble and building materials are everywhere, as people attempt to rebuild their lives after the devastating earthquake on September 8th 2023; the epicentre near Oukaïmedene was not so far from here.

Small, banged-up white motorcycle in front of a doorway, Imlil Morocco

Still Life Found : Bike in a Doorway
Chinese-made Docker motorcycles seem to be the most common brand here.

View across the Imlil Valley to a small hamlet, Morocco

Across the Valley
Tiny hamlets dot the valley, each one centred on its own mosque. The cultivated groves near the valley waterways are a stark contrast to the rocky, arid mountaintops.

Blue door in an arched doorway, Imlil Morocco

Doorway and Light
Some of the buildings are beautifully maintained. The dappled light on the potted plants gives a Mediterranean feel, as the morning heats up.

Elderly Berber woman on her phone in the road, Imlil, Morocco

Woman on her Phone
I love the contrasts: a new car and a new mobile phone in an old and sagging street.

Small round grass-plant, Imlil Valley Trek, Morocco

Clinging to Life
Leaving the village behind, we follow a barely-discernible goat-track up into the mountains. Light catches the desert vegetation that makes its home in the rocky terrain.

Little hamlets in the Imlil Valley, Morocco.

Terraces and Building Works
It is comforting to see how far down the valley the little hamlets are: it means I am making some progress! There is building work going on everywhere; it’s hard to know what is to meet rising tourist demand, and what is to repair earthquake damage.

Pine trees and mountain peaks, High Atlas, Morocco

Pine Trees in the High Atlas
Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) and Atlas cedar (Cedrus Atlantica) are native here, …

Pine trees on a dry ridge, High Atlas, Morocco

Pines on the Ridge
… and extensive plantings have been undertaken in an attempt to slow erosion.

Pine trees and mountainside, High Atlas, Morocco

Pines and Bare Mountainside
The colours in the exposed rock-face are incredible.

Little hamlets in the Imlil Valley, Morocco.

Villages and Orchards Below
Near the waterways, farmers grow cherries, apricots, and all kinds of apples.

Mountains around Imlil, High Atlas, Morocco

Bare Peaks

In the mountains around Imlil, High Atlas, Morocco

In the Saddle
I’ve climbed almost 400 m (1312 ft) …

Looking through the pines over the Imlil Valley in the High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Into the Distance
… and the views stretch out to the horizon.

Little hamlets in the Imlil Valley, Morocco.

More Villages

Berber guide rounding a mountainside, Imlil, High Atlas, Morocco

Mohamed on the Path
My mule has long-gone, and my guide – while regularly stopping to encourage me – is well in front.

Dry vegetation on rocky ground, High Atlas, Morocco

Vegetation on the Slope
The autumn day is hot and sunny; the rocky landscape is host to a variety of dry shrubs.

Little hamlets in the Imlil Valley, Morocco.

Village in the Rocks
There are countless villages here – and none of them appear on my maps.

Mule in a blanket, High Atlas, Morocco.

Mule
Finally! We reach our lunch spot, where ‘my’ mule has been allowed to graze.

Tuna salad on a tablecloth, High Atlas, Morocco

Lunch in the Atlas
I marvel at the picnic that has been prepared for me. (iPhone15Pro)

White and brown goat, High Atlas, Morocco

Goat

Aroumd Village, Imlil Valley, Morocco

“Main Street”
Having made a long loop, we descend into the village of Aroumd

Metal door, Aroumd Village, Imlil Valley, Morocco

Gate and Door
… where I admire the classic Berber village housing designs.

Imlil Cascades, Morocco

Imlil Cascades
Dropping down further, we visit the small, but pretty waterfall not far from my endpoint. (iPhone15Pro)

Portrait of a young Berber man cooling oranges, Imlil Cascades, Morocco

Portrait of a Juice Seller
This personable young man was doing a brisk trade making juice for all the tourists cooling off at the waterfall.

Text: Happy Walking!

Of course, having dropped down to the waterfall, we then had to walk back up again!

The climb back up to the kasbah felt even longer and steeper than it had the day before.

I’m nowhere near as hardy as the Amazigh!

Pictures: 09October2024

Late afternoon sun over a boat on the Kavan River, Kerala, India

Sundown on the Backwaters
Could anything be more peaceful? Tourist boats bask in the late afternoon sun on Vembanad Lake and the Kavan River in Kerala, South India.

The heat; the soft chug of the motor; the sun glinting in the hazy sky and off the water; it was one of those iconic ‘Pinch me!’ moments.

I was finally on the backwaters of Kerala in south-western India.

The backwaters are a network of more than 900 km (560 mi) of waterways, stretching north-south on the Malabar Coast, between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. Comprising five large lakes and several brackish lagoons linked by canals – both man made and natural – this interconnected network of waters is fed by 38 rivers whose names depend on the map you are reading. The freshwater from these rivers meets the saltwater from the Arabian Sea, making for a unique and rich ecosystem.

I had travelled down the mountains from the Cardamom Hills in the Western Ghats (see: In India’s Spice Garden) to the small hamlet of Kavanattinkara in Kottayam district with a small group. From there, a boat transported us the short distance up Vembanad Lake to our CGH Earth Coconut Lagoon resort.

This beautiful boutique resort is conscious of the local heritage: the cottages set amongst the luxuriant coconut groves were built from the remnants of relocated and reassembled old mansions – tharavads – that were once the family homes of local nobility.

The resort – which is located between the lake and a river (sometimes identified as the Kavan River) – is also environmentally aware. The lush lands around Vembanad Lake are included in a list of wetlands of international importance, and are a sanctuary for a huge variety of bird life. Coconut Lagoon is doing its best to protect the surrounding natural environment through a variety of measures.

We arrived at the resort early enough to enjoy an afternoon cruise on the waters of the lake and river before our magnificent South-Indian dinner and bedding down in rooms fit for royalty.

Come for a magical boat trip:

Mists in the trees, Idukki Kerala India

View from the Bus : In the Western Ghats
We were in our bus early, and the mists were still in the trees as we drove west from Idukki and down out of the mountains. (iPhone12Pro)

Hatted women in a tea plantation, Kerala India

Picking Tea
I was thrilled to spot my first tea-pickers! The bus stopped briefly to allow us a quick look, but the women were a long way up the terraced hill.

Palm trees, the Western Ghats, Kerala India

Palm Trees from the Bus
The Western Ghats are lush and fertile, with a huge range of plants growing. (iPhone12Pro)

Rubber trees, the Western Ghats, Kerala India

Rubber Plantation
We made another quick stop for the benefit of those who had never seen rubber trees.

A wooden boat on the Vembanad Lake backwaters, Kerala, India

Dockside in Kumarakom
We spent the middle of our day in transit, at lunch, and visiting our guide’s home, before finally swapping our bus for a river-transport in Kumarakom Village on Vembanad Lake.

A wooden boat on the Vembanad Lake backwaters, Kerala, India

Rippled Waters
It was wonderful watching the the life on the shore …

A wooden boat on Vembanad Lake backwaters, Kerala, India

A Boat on the Backwaters
… as we chugged up the lake.

Wooden boats on Vembanad Lake backwaters, Kerala, India

Shikaras on the Backwaters
The backwaters are known for their houseboats – which we would be boarding the next day – but shikaras: covered, open-sided wooden boats like those found on Dal Lake in Kashmir, are also common.

South-Indian woman with a tray of flowers, Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom, Kerala

Welcome
When we landed at Coconut Lagoon – which is only accessible by water – we were greeted with scented bindi paste and flowers.

Wooden boat on Vembanad Lake backwaters, Kerala, India

Backwater Boat
Late afternoon we had the opportunity for a shikara ride through the water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) and the water lilies (Nymphaeaceae) on the backwaters.

A shikara in the late afternoon sun on the backwaters, Kavan River, Kerala, India

Golden Hour on the Kavan River
When we looked towards the lowering sun, the light changed and silhouetted the other boats on the water. (iPhone12Pro)

Closed water lily flowers, Kavan River, Kerala, India

Lilies on the River
The water lilies (Nymphaeaceae) have closed for the day.

Wooden boat on Vembanad Lake backwaters, Kerala, India

Tourist Boats
The water is almost choked with water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes), a free-floating perennial originally from South America. One of the fastest-growing plants known, it is now found on every continent except Antarctica. (iPhone12Pro)

A shikara in the late afternoon sun on the backwaters, Kavan River, Kerala, India

Twilight
Facing into the late afternoon sun casts a golden glow on the waters. (iPhone12Pro)

Wooden houseboats on Vembanad Lake backwaters, Kerala, India

Backwater Houseboats
Kerala houseboats come in different shapes and sizes, …

Large wooden houseboat on Vembanad Lake backwaters, Kerala, India

Large Houseboat
… but they are closed in, with bedrooms, ensuites, a kitchen, and communal living spaces.

Wooden boats on Vembanad Lake backwaters, Kerala, India

Chasing Sunset
The tourist shikaras and houseboats are all out on the lake to watch the sun drop in the afternoon sky.

A shikara in the late afternoon sun on the backwaters, Kavan River, Kerala, India

Sundown
The colours of the afternoon changed dramatically, depending on which way we looked.

People silhouetted on a shikara in the late afternoon sun on the backwaters, Kavan River, Kerala, India

Watching Sunset

A shikara in the late afternoon sun on the backwaters, Kavan River, Kerala, India

Red Sun – Black Bird
There is a beautiful calm on the water, as the sun turns red …

Birds against and pink-blue sky, Kavan River, Kerala, India

Birds on the Wing
… and birds swoop and circle overhead.

Kerala dancers in white saris, Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom, India

A Kerala Dance
Back on land after dark, we were treated to some traditional Kerala dances, … (iPhone12Pro)

Kerala musicians, Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom, India

Musicians in the Dining Room
… and a lot of food and music. (iPhone12Pro)

Text: Happy TravelsAs far as introductions to the backwaters of Kerala go, it couldn’t have been more perfect! I went to sleep peacefully – full and happy – among the coconut groves.

Pictures: 28January2023

Island in Morse Basin, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Island in the Inlet
They call it the Butze Rapids Trail, but the water in Morse Basin was glassy calm when I walked around Butze Point, just outside Prince Rupert in Canada’s western province of British Columbia (BC).

There are few things I find more restorative than a walk in green woods with a waterway nearby. And, there are no shortage of walks through the lush, wet, woods in British Columbia (BC) in the Canadian West!

On this particular late-spring day, I was staying in Prince Rupert, a small port city on BC’s northwest coast. I had arrived there by BC Ferry, via their 16 hour service up the deep and sheltered waterways of the Inside Passage from Port Hardy (see: Up Canada’s Inside Passage). After catching up on sleep – we had arrived into Prince Rupert very late at night – and carrying out domestic tasks around town, like laundry and groceries, I was ready for some recreational walking.

I was spoiled for choice: Prince Rupert is nicknamed the Rainforest City. As Canada’s wettest municipality, it is surrounded by plenty of wet woods, criss-crossed with trails.

The Butze Rapids Trail is an easy 5.1 km (3.17 m) circuit around Butze Point. There are plenty of signs to help you identify the various plants along the way, but I can no longer remember which of the conifers are western red cedars (Thuja plicata), and which are yellow cedars (Callitropsis nootkatensis). Both cedars are found here; both were of great importance to the original inhabitants in this region, and both are still commercially valuable. Sitka spruce (Picoa sitchensis), Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis), and shore pine (Pinus contorta var. contorta) all thrive here as well – and all seemed to be draped in mosses and lichens in every shade of green.

The walk is close to water on three sides. One reviewer (see: Visit Prince Rupert) recommends checking the tide tables to take advantage of the rapids – but my time was limited, so I took what came!

Join me:

View of a background mountain from the start of the Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Greens
The walking track itself is beautifully maintained. The surrounds at the start of the track, however, are a bit haphazard and scruffy. The range of greens in the landscape – from blue through yellow and brown – can play havoc with the camera’s white balance.

Skunk cabbage leaves, the Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Western Skunk Cabbage – Lysichiton Americanus
The ground either side of the path is lush and green. At one point I passed a patch of skunk cabbage. Fortunately, these are not in bloom, and the leaves don’t emit as much skunky odour as the flowers do.

Mossy tree trunks and branches, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Nature’s Artworks
The sculptural forms that the tree trunks make never cease to amaze me.

Wolf warning sign, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Wolf Notice
This gave me pause! As much as I love to see wild creatures, I’m not sure how I would cope with a wolf (or bear) if I met one. (iPhone12Pro)

Mossy stumps, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Mossy Stumps
More sculptural forms adorn the path.

Path through greenery, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

A Chip-Covered Path
This is typical temperate rainforest, with layers of lush foliage at ground level, and tall trees rising to the sun. The ground is soft and silent underfoot.

Draped old man’s beard on a tree, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Old Man’s Beard – Usnea Longissima
This slow-growing lichen prefers environments with low levels of air pollution. It hangs on the branches of conifer trees …

old man’s beard on a tree trunk, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Mossy Trunk
… and – along with other lichens and mosses – adorns their trunks.

Tangled roots and branches, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Tangled Roots and Branches
Sections of the forest are a gnarling, twisting mass of roots and branches, …

Straight tree trunks with foliage around their bases, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Layers of Woods
… while in other parts, the trunks rise straight and tall as the trees reach for sunlight.

A section of the Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

A Curve in the Path
The forest opens up, giving views over young growth either side of the path, and through to the snow-covered mountains in the distance.

Yellow, orange, and green shore pine needles, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Colourful Pine Needles
We might call them evergreens, but shore pines (Pinus contorta) lose some of their old needles in early summer. The tree reclaims the nutrition in the chlorophyll before casting the needles off – causing the needles to change colour before they drop.

Male shore pine cones, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Male Pine Cones
Shore pines have typical woody female cones with seeds in them; these are the short-lived, pollen-bearing male cones, with their elongated “candles.”

Butze Rapids at slack tide, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

“Butze Rapids”
It was close enough to slack tide, so it wasn’t very dramatic when I reached the point where the reversing tides through Fern Passage around Kaien Island cause regular rapids.

Mossy stumps, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Mossy Fingers
The shapes of the fallen trees, and the richness of their moist, mossy coverings, keep catching my eye.

Morse Basin, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Morse Basin
Waterways that may look like rivers and lakes are often inlets off the Pacific. This landscape is ruggedly punctuated by deep indentations – one of the reasons that First Nations peoples traditionally relied on their canoes. Even today, ferries and barges are an essential part of everyday transport.

Colourful containers on the Morse Basin foreshore, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Tidal Coast Terminals
In these working waterways, businesses dot the shoreline.

Mossy stumps, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Aging Stumps
Back in the shadowy-cool of the forest, more uniquely shaped stumps play host to moss, lichens, and new growth.

Yellow seaweed on the shoreline, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Seaweed
These are salinated, ocean waters, so seaweeds and sea creatures abound in the rockpools that line the shore.

Green leaves in mossy wood, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

New Growth – Old Stump
In the damp shadows, mosses and new plants find nourishment in rotting wood.

Rough bark on tree trunk, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Patterned Tree Trunk

Morse Inlet, through the branches, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Through the Branches
The path skirts back close to Morse Inlet, and I can see the water through the trees.

Cairns and rocks on the shore of Morse Inlet, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Cairns on the Shore

A stump through the trees, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

A Stump through the Trees
I think faeries might live here in these old cedar hollows.

Mosses and plants on a tree trunk, Butze Rapids Trail, Prince Rupert Canada

Mosses and Plants on a Tree Trunk
There’s a magical miniature landscape all around me, and it’s a joy to walk through.

Text: Happy Walking!

These BC woods are a joy – and I always feel better after a short walk through them!

Until next time,

Happy Walking

Pictures: 07June2022

Orthodox dome in blue and white against a blue sky, Saint Constantine Panoramic Church, Parikia, Greece.

Orthodox Dome
It’s no surprise that the Cyclades are at risk of being ‘loved to death’ – they truly are a paradise! The sky was cloudless the whole time I was there, and I lost count of the classic blue and white churches on the landscape.

It was one of those ‘pinch-me’ moments.

I was finally getting to visit those magical Greek islands that we all know from photographs: islands with endless blue skies and dusty green olive groves; towns with winding cobbled streets and the buildings all whitewashed with blue trim; a landscape with small blue-domed Orthodox churches everywhere you look.

One of the great joys of writing this blog is that I get to re-live these special moments many times over: when I travel and take the pictures, when I later review and edit the photos, and when I finally shape them into a collection and story.

This set, from the tiny little town of Parikia, in the Greek Cyclades, has been a great pleasure to revisit.

Although small – only 4500 people – Parikia is the administrative capital of Paros – and the island’s biggest population centre. It is the busiest settlement on the island, but has retained its traditional flavour and typical Cycladic architecture, with narrow cobbled walkways between whitewashed buildings, all decorated with bright blue trim and colourful plants. 

I was travelling with a small group and a guide from Intrepid; we had landed back in Athens the day before (see: Postcards from Athens) and had a week of island-hopping ahead of us.

Join me on our first stop:

A Blue Star ferry in pre-dawn Piraeus Port, Athens

Athens Port at Piraeus
It was an early start: it was well before 7am, and we were checked out of our Athens hotel and ready to board for our three and a half hour ferry crossing to Paros.

Wind Farm on Agios Georgios from a passing ferry, Greece.

Wind Farm on Agios Georgios
On the way to Paros in the Cyclades, we pass Agios Georgios, the largest uninhabited island in the Saronic Islands.

Silhouetted people waiting to disembark a ferry on Paros, Greece.

Arriving on Paros
I can barely contain myself! I’ve been waiting all my life for this, and it looks perfect!!

Woman looking over the sea from the Agnanti Hotel, Paros Greece

Ready for Island Time
Our resort on Krios Beach just outside of Parikia is truly magnificent. (iPhone12Pro)

Orange cocktail and view from the Agnanti Hotel, Paros Greece

Welcome to Paros!
How perfect is this! Cocktails and a view over the harbour. (iPhone12Pro)

A modern bronze sculpture of an armless woman, Parikia, Paros Greece.

A Modern Aphrodite
Late afternoon, our little group gathered together for a walking tour of Parikia. This beautiful sculpture – about which I could find no information – was the first thing that caught my eye.

Narrow street lined with shops and restaurants, Parikia, Paros Greece.

Cobbled Street
Parikia is a charming town, with the narrow cobbled laneways …

House front with a bright blue door and window shutters, Parikia, Paros Greece.

Blue Door and Shutters
… and the blue and white houses typical of settlements in the Cyclades.

Narrow winding street, Parikia, Paros Greece.

White Walls – Blue Doors
Every winding laneway; every lopsided, asymmetrical building, is a treat!

Corner detail of the square tower, Frankish Castle, Parikia, Paros Greece.

Rectangular Tower on the Frankish Castle
Built in 1260 CE by the Venetian Duke of Naxos, this castle used building materials recovered from ancient buildings that were scattered around the city.

Detail: Pigeon in the stones of the Frankish Castle, Parikia, Paros Greece.

Pigeon in the Tower
We didn’t stop long, and the narrow streets surrounding what remains of the old castle meant I didn’t get a good perspective on it. So, I focussed my attention on the well-worn stones and the roosting birds.

Greek woman in a flowered dress sweeping a laneway, Parikia, Paros Greece.

Sweeping
For the locals, of course, it is just another day, …

Saint Constantine Panoramic Church, Parikia, Paros Greece.

Saint Constantine Panoramic Church
… but for me, every corner is a new delight!

Saint Constantine Panoramic Church, Parikia, Paros Greece.

Flag on the Church
Built in the 1600s, this Cycladic-style church is dedicated to Agios Konstantinos – Saint Constantine. One of the most important religious buildings on the island, it is also architecturally significant, incorporating elements of the earlier Byzantine and Ancient Greek structures that once stood here.

Tiled cross, Saint Constantine Church, Parikia, Paros Greece.

Tiled Cross
Saint Constantine is a beautiful little church. Sitting at the town’s highest point, it has views down the hill and over the Bay of Parikia.

Blue and white house front with purple bougainvillea climbing, Parikia, Paros Greece.

Blue, White, and Bougainvillea
Could it be more perfect? I can’t stop smiling.

Bicycle propped in a laneway, Parikia, Paros Greece.

Still Life Found : Bicycle

Portrait: woman against bougainvillia, Parikia, Paros Greece.

Local Beauty
I don’t know how I managed to make this fuzzy! But, she was so lovely, I had to include her anyway.

Narrow laneway with stairs and bougainvillea climbing, Parikia, Paros Greece.

Bougainvillea and Shadows
Light dances off the white walls, …

Marble Stairs
… and the narrow stairs and laneways …

Grape leaves on a whitewashed wall, Parikia, Paros Greece.

Grape Leaves
… lead off in all directions.

Building front, the Church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani, Parikia, Paros Greece.

Panagia Ekatondapiliani
The last stop on our walking tour of Parikia was the Monastery and Church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani, considered to be one of the best-preserved Paleo-Christian monuments in Greece. Founded in the early 4th century CE and added to in the 6th century, the complex goes by many names. Panagia is a favourite Greek title of Mary Mother of God. Ekatontapiliani is commonly translated as the “Church with a Hundred Doors”. According to legend, the church was built with 99 visible doors, and one secret door which will open when the Orthodox church reclaims the Hagia Sofia in Constantinople.

Altar and cross in the Church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani, Parikia, Paros Greece.

Holy Shrine of the Virgin Mary Ekatontapyliani
The interior is dark, and ornately beautiful. According to one story, Saint Helene built the church to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for a successful trip to the Holy Land. The alternate version is that Helene’s son, Constantine the Great, built it on her behalf after her death.

I couldn’t believe my good fortune: I had waited so long to get here, and so far, the Greek islands were living up to the hype.

Parikia was everything I could hope for in a Cycladic town – and we still had the rest of the island to explore!

Text: Happy Travels

Until then,

Happy Travels!

Photos: 19September2022