Summer's Here...Again!

After a week or so of weather with an autumnal chill in the air we suddenly had a reversion to summer weather with temps in the high 20s. I figured it was a good time to take a last look at the beach in its summer dress. Above is what Willows Beach looked like yesterday.

Mount Douglas Beach

Mount Douglas Park the only park I can think of that includes both a mountain and an ocean beach within its borders. This is part of the beach, looking northeast. The park's trees are such a mix of evergreen and deciduous that although autumn is well advanced now, the foliage still looks quite green.

West Song Beach 2

Here's another shot of this youngster enjoying the small beach on the West Song Walkway. Despite the summery associations the weather here continues quite cold and wet most days. When this was taken might have been the only clear sunny day this week.

West Song Beach

Almost all the shoreline of the Inner Harbour is rocky at the water's edge but there is one tiny bit of sandy beach along the West Song Walkway, pictured above. When I took this photo a few days ago there was even an infant with a red sand shovel to make the scene complete.

Esquimalt Lagoon Beach

Usually when I am out at Esquimalt Lagoon I end up photographing the lagoon itself or the birds that are in its sanctuary. The other shore of the spit that makes the lagoon, the ocean shore, tends to have more dogs and less birds so I rarely walk over there. However, it's a nice long beach enjoyed by many people. In the photo above we are looking west with the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula in the far distance on the left.

Rough Seas

It was a wild night on the coast with the wind whipping up the surf. Quite dramatic but very cold! - Fern

Cordova Bay

This is Cordova Bay Beach, a large bay on the eastern side of the island about 20 minutes from Victoria. On the right of the above photo can be seen one of the sandy San Juan Islands. Below, looking in the opposite direction we can see the northern side of Mount Douglas (Pkols), beyond which lies the city of Victoria.

Thetis Lake

Well, it's been foggy and rainy lately but on Sunday the sun broke through and it seemed that summer had returned. Here's what Thetis Lake beach looked like in the early afternoon.

Witty's Lagoon Regional Park

Here is a view of part of the beach at Witty's Lagoon Regional Park. There is a series of lagoons on the coast of Vancouver Island west of Victoria. Closest to the city is Esquimalt Lagoon, next to it is Albert Head Lagoon and a little further along the coast is Witty's Lagoon. Each of these lagoons has a good beach on the seaward side and though they are popular, they are long beaches so there is always plenty of room. Visible offshore at Witty's is Haystack Island, pictured above.

Beaches 4 - McNeill Bay

This tiny bay and islet provide a perfect resting place for this group of kayakers out for a paddle. This place marks one end of McNeill Bay. The three ocean beaches I featured last week are all on the eastern side of the southern tip of Vancouver Island. McNeill Bay is just around the corner and faces south rather than east. This bay and rest of Victoria's beaches are on the south and west sides of the island and are generally pebble beaches rather than sand. They are not so kind to bare feet and are hence less popular with beach people. The eastern beaches also seem to be more sheltered from the prevailing winds.

Beaches 2 - Cadboro Bay

Closer to the city's centre than yesterday's featured beach is Cadboro Bay, reputed home of the famed Cadborosaurus (Cadborosaurus willsi) or "Caddy" as she is affectionately known by the locals. This sea monster lurking in the bay doesn't deter sailors such as the young lad learning the ropes above. And Cadboro Bay's sandy beach seems like an inviting place to doze and get a start on one's tan.

In 1842 when James Douglas, the founder of the city of Victoria, first sailed along this coast, he anchored in Cadboro Bay and the bay was named after the schooner he was on, the Hudson's Bay Company ship, the Cadboro.

Mexico Monday

Lets pretend it's not raining and cold outside, how about instead we grab our surfboards and head down to the beach? - Fern

Dallas Road Rockscape 2

Any tropical paradise can have sandy beaches but if you want rocks, real rocks, you should come to Victoria. These are much cleaner than sand and keep our beaches free of the unsightly sun-bathers that clutter up less favoured areas.

Dallas Road Waterfront

Though there was a hazy overcast today, it was mild and pleasant so I went down to the Dallas Road waterfront and took a stroll along the walkway you can see on the upper right of this photo. Most of Victoria's ocean shoreline consists of rocky beaches like this one. The only really sandy beaches are on the southeastern side of the city beyond Clover Point, or further northwest towards Esquimalt Lagoon.