always at sea level: Outpost ~ Playtime

The past month has not be all work and no play.

Whenever the sun is shining we head outside...... what we do is determined by the conditions of the ocean. A calm flat sea beckons us to take the tinney out for a spin.
There are bays to either side of us which offer coves and beaches to explore.

Years past there were several prospectors and surveyors in the area. Remains of their cabins are said to still be visible so with this in mind we set out to see what we could find.

The bay southwest of us was home to James D MacKenzie who was conducting a geological survey in 1913-1914 of Graham Island.
We headed out mid morning and were delighted to find that the south facing shore was basking in sunshine. Even on a sunny day as this our lodge is shadowed from the 300 ft hill and 100 ft trees surrounding us.

Not a ripple disturbs the waters of this little cove which was more like a pond, entered through a narrow channel at the far end of the bay.

Wandering through the forest imaging where the perfect site for a cabin had been had us wondering what life would have been like almost 100 years ago.

How did he get supplies such as flour and coffee? What type of a boat did he have?
Did he ever visit with the other occupant of Port Louis?
We never did find anything that might have resembled the remnants of a homestead, the forest so completely reclaiming it.

We decided that this spot is where we would have built our little cabin. The area is fairly level with only several large trees at the forest's edge to block the view . A pebble beach perfect for dragging a boat up onto, having a campfire or just sitting and soaking up the sun and silence runs along for a good 100 ft.
I wonder if so many years ago a true explorer stood here and had these same thoughts.

I often see or hear geese flying overhead, something we didn't see last year, but they never land in our bay. A thin strip of grass at the water's edge tucked into the far corner of the cove appears to be the resting place for a doz or more of these very vocal water fowl.

Rigidoporus ulmarius.....I have come across these many times during our walks through the woods but this one is by far the best specimen.

Our workboat has a pretty shallow draft which allows us to poke into nooks and crannies.

Yes this little guy looks cute but what a pain they can be when scrounging for food around the lodge. They teach you real fast as to what you thought was safe from their prying little paws isn't.