Cold, Clouds and Kayaks

Before I went to Beacon Hill Park for yesterday's photo I stopped at Clover Point because the clouds were so interesting. There are almost always people in kayaks out on the water here and I admire their fortitude - it's still pretty cold on shore and I can only imagine what it's like out there on the icy Pacific. That's Trial Island in the background.

From Clover Point

Yesterday'[s photo was looking towards the west. Today's photo is from Clover Point looking eastward. Those little bumps just right of center are Trial Island.

Clover Point

Travelling east along Dallas Road from Holland Point, a next favorite spot is Clover Point. Sea Gulls and other marine birds are also fond of this spot. In the distance is the Trial Island Light.

Trial Island Lighthouse

When I lifted my eyes up from looking at the Mergansers pictured yesterday I could see the Trial Island Lighthouse. The fog we experienced last week is clearly visible here as an offshore bank obscuring the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula.

Ross Bay Panorama

The shoreline that defines most of Victoria is a scalloped in a series of "bays" with "points" separating them. Here I am standing on Clover Point and looking towards Ross Bay. The large green area on the left is the Ross Bay Cemetery. The Island on the far right is Trial Island. Click the above photo to see the large version where you can scroll from side to side. You may have to click the large version also in order to see it full size.

Another View of Trial Island

Just a little further along Beach Drive from the Victoria Golf Club is this lovely little beach with Trial Island in the background once again.

Victoria Golf Club

Given the large number of senior citizens in Victoria it is not surprising that golf is a popular sport. Here is a scene from the Victoria Golf Club in Oak Bay, a membership only club that is one of the oldest and finest golf courses in Canada. The golfer contemplating her next shot in this photo is in a scene that has probably not changed much since the course was established in 1893. That's Trial Island in the background and, further back, the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula.

Trial island II

I can't resist putting up two more photos of Trial Island. The photo above was taken at the same time as yesterday's photo but with with the kit zoom lens at its maximum wide angle. It makes a nice big picture - click it to get the full effect. The photo below was taken from the same spot a couple of days later with a telephoto lens (300 mm). All these photos of Trial island were taken from Clover Point.

Trial Island

Trial Island is a small island near Oak Bay. Its name came about during the 19th century. After British royal naval ships were refitted or repaired at Esquimalt Harbour they were sailed to this island and back to Esquimalt as a test or trial of their seaworthiness. You can read a little more about the history of Trial Island and its lighthouse by clicking here. I've taken quite a few photos of the island but this one I took a few days ago is probably my favorite because of the dramatic cloud formation.