Encouraged by the beautiful virtual tours found on my fellow bloggers' sites, and filled with enthusiasm for the suggestion by Les http://atidewatergardener.blogspot.com/ I found myself armed with camera, walking the seafront on a breezy, blustery, decidedly chilly March afternoon.
The purpose of the winter walk-off is to provide a visual record while taking a walk from your home. You are not supposed to include any pictures of your own house and garden. Sounds simple enough - however, I soon discovered that creative photography in the middle of a stiff south-easterly gale could be challenging to say the least.
The seafront walk is located across the road from our house (and at the end of a very long driveway). The municipality has just completed various"improvements" including a new path, lighting, and landscaping (all too new at the moment). On a fine day one can see snow capped Mt. Baker in the distance. Today was not one of those days!
The seafront path is a favourite place to run, bike, stroll, or just relax while taking in some spectacular views at the water's edge. 
This is Sidney on the west coast of Vancouver Island (not to be confused with the ones in Nova Scotia or Australia). Winters are wet and mild (usually) and summers are dry and almost Mediterranean in climate.
The sea walk continues past the pier towards the town of Sidney.
Still too early for leaves on most deciduous trees, especially those in exposed locations such as this.
Waves crashing on the rocks under the pier.
White water churned up by the wind and waves empties into the small bay between the fishing pier and the Sidney fish market.
Best place in town to buy really fresh fish.
Some of the many crocus flowering by the sea walk.
A splash of green...
Residential housing close to the high street
Colourful utility boxes add some creative colour on a grey day.
I spotted these fishy upside down umbrellas in a local garden shop just as it started to rain.
Love the display of flowers for sale outside the drugstore and supermarket - always a cheerful sight while we wait for our own garden flowers to bloom.
Thank you so much for joining my Winter Walk Off, and adding yet another country to the list. I really appreciate seeing views from another sea, as I think my blood runs with salt water. And nice for you to have mountains to enjoy as well. We live at the wet edge of a vast coastal plain, where it is impossibly flat and only a few feet above high tide. We also have to drive 5 hours to glimpse a mountain. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful walk! Thank you so much for sharing it, though I am green with envy that you get to stroll along beside the sea so easily. Not sure about the diver, but the shots of chilly, turbulent sea and naked trees were wonderfully evocative.
ReplyDeleteA great winter walk-off. I can feel that cool ocean breeze from here!
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