Huge lumpy roots from gigantic trees snake across the trail that leads to china Beach on the road between Sooke and Port Renfrew.
The outdoor temperature on the island has not been very warm yet this year but I chose the sunniest day of the week to hike down to one of my favourite places on the island. Without someone standing beside these trees there is no concept of how thick and tall they are. Sometimes there is no place to attach the gorilla tripod that makes self portraits possible.
The sound of the Pacific waves on the shore quicken your steps and soon you break out into the open. Bright blue sky, bluer water and soft sandy beach strewn here and there with lava rocks sprawl out before you.
Billowing smoke from a forest fire across the Wanda Fuca Strait entertained me through my binoculars.
Alone on a remote beach with the forest at my back I was euphoric. My surroundings dwarfed me.. I felt very small, even invisible.
And then, with the sun falling from the sky and the chill of the evening air on my skin I knew it was time to climb over the logs and back up that hill to reality.
Although I did consider holing up for at least one night on the trail.
And today it is just a memory. A beautiful gnarly memory of which I will have to create more of. Let's see...where should I go next?
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