We awoke to a very windy day. The ocean was extremely churned up and lots of surf was being flung about.
With the gale gusting to about 80 km (50 mi) we definitely needed raincoats against the wind-whipped spray.
Although it was windy the temperature was about 9C (48F) and it wasn’t raining, so in a good windbreaker/raincoat, I was comfortable.
I found a group of periwinkle flowers growing in a rock garden next to the ocean, but despite being soaked by seawater they seemed completely unperturbed.
I very much enjoyed watching the surf and listening to its pounding roar – the heart of all life on earth.
Here in the valley we have had buckets and buckets of rain which in the mountains is coming down as snow, and as low as 800 metres above ground (2625 ft), to be exact.
On the nearby mountain tops it’s snowing … … but here in the valley it’s an almost non-stop light rain.
Our neighbourhood ski resort, Apex *(https://apexresort.com/), is opening soon but there are other undeniable signs, too.
There’s a proliferation of barberries and I’ve noticed that the ducks, geese and coots are all starting their winter huddles. Today during my walk, I could see my breath a bit too, despite the fact that it was 5° (41F).
But probably the best indicator is the snow on the mountains. That’s a pretty definite sign!
So I’m thinking that winter is surely here, and no matter how we parse it, we’ve got a good two months before there will be an inkling of a change. Happy winter Wednesday. ❄️
* For information only. This is not an advertisement nor have I been paid to mention Apex ski resort.
It has been very rainy and overcast – a rather normal situation for this region as we move into winter – but there has been a lot of beauty in it, too.
There has been very little wind, the lakes have been mirror calm and the lustrous clouds have cocooned the valley in a sense of tranquility.
After a brisk walk in the 5 or 6 degree temperature (41-43F), that sense of tranquility comes home with me and I enjoy a hot chocolate and a warm blanket.
This time of year can be so unrelentingly busy and the expectations can be really high, too, so it’s important to grab moments when you can enjoy a bit of peacefulness.
We’re deep into November now and have entered the rainy season. If the weather sticks to its usual patterns, we will have a lot of rain and cloud for about the next two months.
Chittamwood trees retain their leaves quite late into autumn.
We still have a little colour around that’s breaking up the grey motif, but probably not for long. Soon we will rely on seasonal light displays and plants such as poinsettias to bring us some relief.
Rainy lace leaf maple.
The lace leaf maples are beginning to turn purple – the colour change stage they enter before dropping their leaves – and a light rain accompanies almost every step we take.
Lace leaf maple in its late autumn stage.
Lots of bushes and trees will retain a duller shade of green as they rest through the winter until they’re ready to once more provide us with their beauties.
Here in the interior of British Columbia we didn’t experience much effect from the cyclone that hit a substantial part of the Pacific coast from California to Alaska. We had quite a lot of overcast and a slow, steady rain but no wind and no flooding.
As you can see we had considerable cloud cover …
… but this was mitigated a bit by some dark greens and a few leftover leaves.
Thankfully, we didn’t get the power outages or the major winds gusting to 170 km (106 miles) that walloped the B.C. and Washington state coasts. There are downed trees everywhere as well as some structural damage in places, too.
Unfortunately there is another cyclone due to arrive by Friday or Saturday, but it’s supposed to be weaker than the last one. Let’s hope so.
Despite the poor weather, we still have some leaves left, even if they are a bit bedraggled.
I was quick to get out and enjoy it since we are about to get yet another wet system coming through.
A favourite walking path. Still beautiful.
It’s being referred to as a “cyclone bomb” (really? who comes up with these names?), which is a low pressure system with a very tight pattern. This means that the pressure towards the centre of it is much lower than at its outer edges.
The snow is in the mountains where it should be.
Essentially, it’s a sort of hurricane (Pacific hurricanes are called cyclones), but because it’s occurring at a cooler time of year, it’s a slow, lumbering storm that’s more prone to dissipation and of course, it’s much less dangerous than the tropical versions. Nevertheless, it will bring very strong winds and buckets of rain to coastal British Columbia; Vancouver and Vancouver Island are about to get another soaking.
I’m enjoying these remaining leaves as much as possible!
Here in the interior we are expected to get some of it in the form of more overcast and rain; we won’t experience the brunt of it.
A lovely lake view.
It was important to get out and enjoy a bit of sun before more overcast arrives, but even clouds have their beauties and I can always dress for the watery deliveries they make!
We have been getting quite a bit of rain lately, which has been terrific for two reasons. First, we’re gradually climbing out of our drought, and secondly, at the higher elevations it’s coming down as snow, which is a good thing for all the skiers and ski resort operators. Our nearby ski mountain, Apex, is apparently developing a good base layer.
If you look straight down the lake toward the low mountain at the other end, you can see some higher elevation snow. As a result, the overcast, while not my favourite weather pattern, definitely has some advantages hidden in its silvery clouds.
As long as we continue to get rain down here in the valley, I’m very happy to welcome the mountain snow, even though driving conditions in the passes become demanding.
No one has ever had to shovel rain out of a driveway!
We had a heavy rainfall overnight – something that’s welcomed since we still have drought conditions – and the next morning the weather had left a beautiful flat calm as well as clearing views of Skaha Lake.
I love the gentle ripples that entirely covered the lake’s surface.
We seem to be getting the last of the greatest summer heat; today it was 31C (87.8F) and the temperature is expected to gradually drop into the high 20s over the course of the next week.
From an early morning walk.
The foliage, the water and the very air seem to be dropping back, sliding into a softness and a relaxation after the extremes of heat we have experienced.
Or maybe it’s not that elegant; maybe it’s just simple fatigue. In any event, I’m going to savour some beach afternoons in the cooler temperatures that are beginning to arrive. It’s time to enjoy the lakes that have been warming up all summer!
In the Net! - Pictures and Stories of Life 