Continuing on.....

The Gaile force winds that mother nature has recently deployed on the western shores has created havoc for all, in our places of respite. Our natural seclusion's are under siege by the earthly powers, as to say, wake up and start taking care of me or I will no longer take care of you. All natural places, us as big brained humans, need to go to escape our thoughts and worries are now declining under industry development, poor stewardship and lack of concern. Even the beloved West Coast Trail on Vancouver island, was horribly injured this past storm, enough to close it down for the season.

The neat trails that we hiked on (on Flores) to get to the coast were put there to allow access to the shores without harming local species of flora. Even these trails were affected though. David and I climbed over and under many a downed tree just to get to the first series of beaches. But we didn't give up easily and it became a game. It made me think of the army drills that they make foot soldiers go through in training. Over and under obstacles, crawling along the snow/mud covered ground, snagging on brush, sting of fresh scrapes on the face, overstretching legs on large trunks of ancient trees and ahhhhh the smell of crisp freshly exposed flailed bark.

When the first beach appeared, it was enough work to get there that we decided we deserved a few minutes to have a break and reposition our distorted packs before heading onward.