Mom-Day Adventure: Blenkinsop Lake in Purples

Hello, my friends! Today, Mom and I did a walk along another portion of the Lochside Trail (last time, we did the section near Mattick's Farm, here in September 2021). 

As I'd never been there before, I dressed for any kind of terrain. 

Yeah, like I was going to wear a hiking outfit! I was definitely the most colourful person out and about today. 

• Jacket - Tahari, consignment; last worn here in January 2021 with pink
• Sweater - Beechers Brook, vintage late 90s/early 00, thrifted; last seen here (2nd outfit) in November 2021 with this same skirt! 
• Skirt - Banana Republic Heritage, thrifted; last worn here in November 2021 with this same sweater!
• Shoes - Miista; last worn here (2nd outfit) in December 2021 for our Book Club holiday brunch
• Cape (below) - Coracle Clothes, vintage 60s, pass-along from Sheila A; last seen here in September 2021 with my Outrageous Eye dress

I'm layered up for warmth, with a camisole under my cotton sweater, and then this stretch + velvet moto-style jacket on top of that. 

I love a shiny leopard mini! 

My purple tights help make it feel not quite as short. 

I was only like this for our lunch afterwards, but I like my underneath look to be nice too. 

I didn't take the velvet jacket off at all. 

If it had been warmer, I could have gotten away with just my hat and gloves. 

I look forward to those days! 

Soon! 

Masked up, which I only wore in the restaurant and on the bus. 

It didn't occur to me to wear this cape until I had the rest of the outfit ready. I just stood in front of my coat closet and browsed. 

No Velvet Rage in this (phew). It's got an acetate (I think) lining, so didn't rub badly on the velvet jacket.

I wore my cross-body purse under the cape. Capes are tricky for wrangling purses (and seatbelts).

The front skirt portion has two pockets. 

Accoutrements:

I just felt like purples today. 

• Beret - consignment
• Suede gloves - vintage, thrifted
• Mask - by Mom

The stuff: 

I had many compliments on the shoes, including from our lovely and fashionable server at Original Joe's, Maya (hello!). 

Spiky bling: 

I pinned the umbrella brooch to the cape.

• Purse - Danier, thrifted
• Necklace - The Bay, c. 2004
• Chain ring - Taxco, Mexico, Charmaine's
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
• Umbrella brooch - vintage, gift from L
• Earrings - Glee

Mom picked me up in the morning. She was dressed in a soft quilted walking jacket, and her wide-legged Boss Lady pants. 

Sorry, Mom, caught you in a blink.

We drove out to the Lochside Trail, near Blenkinsop Lake. 

To the left of this is a big industrial area, including an excavation company, an oil and gas company and one of the main power grids for the city. 

I exclaimed over this amazing piece of art, right at the start of the path. 

I love how the rings are becoming overgrown with bits of moss. The concrete slab also has rings incised in it.

Link here (all links 'cause I love).

This section of the Lochside Trail is called the Blenkinsop Greenway (pdf of the above sign here). 

Victoria has a huge number of interconnected walk/bike-ways. Mom and I did the section of the trail shown by the orange dots in the centre of this map. 

Out to the wooden trestle bridge that crosses Blenkinsop Lake and back again, about 3 kilometers. 

As we strolled along, we could see some strange things through the bare branches to the north-east, on our right.

It's a part of Galey Farms' Pumpkinfest, and Carn-Evil displays from the fall pumpkin season. That giant pile of hay-bales behind the miniature haunted house is a sphinx from their Egyptian corn maze. About them here, here and here - you can actually drive out there during their main seasons and pick your own produce. I have never been there! 

This is a nice well-groomed hardpack trail.

Not much colour, aside from the Indian Plum trees (close to blooming) and the green moss on the trees. 

Looking through the trees at Galey Farms again, I spotted something. 

Something red (red arrow). The hay-sphinx is in green.

Mom, do you see it? 

It's the Gnome! 

Do you see him? 

He used to be at the Nanoose Bay Esso gas station on the side of the Island Highway - we drove past him every time we went to Powell River and I always took a picture of him (first featured here in 2011!).

The gnome fell into disrepair due to weather and neglect over the years - here's a picture of me and my gals in 2018 standing on his base, and you can see he's in VERY rough shape there. 

Apparently, his name is Howard, and here's a local article about his new home (there's a video - he waves now!). I'm so glad he wasn't demolished. 

These pics are for Kezzie, who loves fungi.

This was about the size of my hand.

It's growing on the side of a cedar tree.

I liked these moss-covered limbs. "A tangle," said Mom.

This will all be a mass of solid green in a couple of months. 

The trestle beckons. 

I like it when the signs do the work for me. 

PDF here for easy reading. 

The trestle spans the lower section of the lake. 

It's less than 2 meters above the lake level, and this wide pathway is lined with railings, including steps at the base so you can look out on the lake. 

In some places it was completely silent. 

And in others, the birdsong (robins and redwing blackbirds) was a symphony. 

There are wide sections so you can pause and look around. Do you see the man on the left?

Despite the lack of people in my pics, there were cyclists whizzing by and lots of walkers. Everyone's very polite.

Looking to Mt. Douglas, or as the locals call it, Mt. Doug. There's a movement afoot to rename it PKOLS, which is is the name the indigenous peoples of the region (prior to European colonization) used for it.

An interesting article about the history of it here and its significance to the First Nations. 

The lake was like a mirror. 

Broken only by the mallards and mergansers arrowing through the water. 

As we approached, I realized the figure standing on the bridge (2 pics up) was actually a bronze statue.

Mom's introducing herself and holding his hand. I think he's into you, Mom. 

He's "Old Farmer Roy".

Info here. Mom, get your pole off the plaque. 

Although there were gaps of blue, we didn't get any sun. 

It was crisp - runny nose weather. 

This little duck kept an eye on me. 

The ducks in general were scarce, as they are establishing their nesting areas. 

Looking back.

What a lovely place. Being out in nature is balm for the soul.

We're at the end of the bridge and back to the path. 

What an inviting arch the trees make. 

I like signs! 

PDF here for easy reading. 

While Mom rested on one of the many benches, I took a side-trip down to this wooden bird blind on the edge of the lake. 

I peered out one of the viewing slots. 

Ducks! I see four of them. 

Selfie time! 

Mom blinked, but I actually like this picture. Aw...

Across from our bench, I noticed a mushroom. 

Someone arted up that broken branch. 

As we walked back to the car, a bald eagle few over our heads, and a few minutes later (as I scrambled for my camera), a heron circled the shore and landed atop a tree. 

Wow. 

And we're back at the parking lot. 

There's the hydro yard. All electricity here via hydroelectric power (generated through water, here). 

Mom and I had a lovely lunch at Original Joe's (I had a quesadilla, she had a buffalo chicken wrap), and then I bused home. 

A sign of spring! The neighbouring apartment building had miniature irises in full bloom. 

And another Mom-Day Adventure is in the books. 

Thank you so much for this gift of your time, Mom. Love you!