With thanks to Nathanial Hawthorne - "This is the
forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,Bearded with moss, and in
garments green, indistinct in the twilight,Stand like Druids of eld, with
voices sad and prophetic,Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on
their bosoms.Loud from its rocky caverns, the deep-voiced neighboring
oceanSpeaks, and in accents disconsolate answers the wail of the forest."
It's early morning, cold and damp, as we walk carefully
toward the distant roar of the Pacific. The forest of hemlocks is mighty and
tall indeed. Strangely though, the closer we come to the beach, the trees
shrink in size.
The coast is guarded by a phalanx of beached logs.
We head down the beach as another couple leads the way.
Early morning, when the tide is out, is the time to find
those washed up "treasures." We wander about a bit. But today it is not meant to be. Mrs. T begins to signal its
time to head back to the car.
The fog begins to clear as the sun peeks thru the forest.
In the morning light, the density of this temperate
rainforest is more obvious than ever.
As my "Evangeline" and I approach the trailhead
and our car, I notice for the first time, signs proclaiming the forest to be
inhabited by wolves, mountain lions and bears.
This is the forest primeval indeed!
I hope you were armed!
ReplyDeleteYou might feel like you're stumbling around in the dark with the fog, TB, but as you've discovered, with a little well-placed prose or poetry, your path becomes well-"lit." It all sounds a bit ominous but exciting.
ReplyDeleteWell, the bears there are black bears, and not usually a worry, the wolves don't care to be around people, and cougars are rare, but if you do see one, they've seen you first, and one might worry.
ReplyDeleteThe coast of Vancouver Island is beautiful indeed.
Some days there's very little horizon as it's foggy and misty. It's a very high tide so there's much beach to explore at low tide.
ReplyDeleteThat warning was a bit too late:) Looks like it was a wonderful day:)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting walk, one I may not have made if I had see that sign first.
ReplyDeleteOne area I went to hike on a trail had a hand written note just saying, Cougar in area.One had taken someone's dog.I stayed and enjoyed the primitive feel it offered.
ReplyDeleteSobering reminder, eh?
ReplyDeleteNice pictures. I love fog and especially on a beach like that. I smiled at the poem and wondered if I have ever heard a forest wail. :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBTW - My Milwaukee daughter told me yesterday that the Mitchell Park Domes have closed because of infrastructure problems in one of them. Needless to say, lots of angst for those couples who had booked their winter weddings there.
" wolves, mountain lions and bear", Oh my. That is food for thought and best to see while leaving. Loved the foggy beach. Puts one in another world.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and peaceful place to be.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely that Nathaniel Hawthorne was so inspired to write the poem. The fact that there are area was policed by wolves, lions and bears make it all the more interesting.
ReplyDeleteI remember a marine biologist friend who spent a summer finishing a project miles from anywhere on Vancouver Is (the western side). She was seven months pregnant the day she found herself face to face with a bear cub part way along the path to her cabin. Without a second thought she climbed 20 feet straight up a tree and waited there until the mother bear came and took the cub away. I was amazed and so, she said, was she.
ReplyDeleteOh yikes!!! As beautiful as that walk would be, I think that sign would scare me away for future walks!
ReplyDeleteOh my! But what a perfect way to start a day.
ReplyDeleteAnother place I want to see. Sure enjoying the photos from your trip!
ReplyDelete