Well I was able to watch the first set of the Murray v Roger semi final this morning before I went to play tennis…Federer as always been my favorite and the first set that I saw which he won was scintillating tennis and when I finished playing tennis at the club I managed to get to the club house to see the last game which Federer won and the commentators were saying what a glorious game it was so I now look forward to the final on Sunday…he will be in tough against Novak but do not count him out!!!
After taking a shower at the club I got on the highway and drove 125 km to Campbell River where I turned off into this park
It was an easy walk to the falls but on the way saw these huge water pipes…
The falls go into a deep canyon!!!
The sound of the thunderous falls was lovely…
This bridge was just opened this spring!!
Just a beautiful area….
Then on the road by the ocean
I then arrived at my friends home where I was going to stay the night. Norma and Croft have been friends for many years and have always been so good to me it was great to see them again and to get caught up on the happenings in our lives…..this is the view from their front garden
and this!!!
Resting on the shore, two kilometres south of Campbell River’s city centre, lies the forty foot tall Big Rock. An anomaly in the local landscape, this monolith has graced the shoreline for at least ten-thousand years. In its time as a denizen of Vancouver Island it has been at the core of thousands of stories.
The Ice Age
Where did the Big Rock originally come from? The scientific explanation is that it is a glacial erratic left over from the most recent ice age. This is referred to as the “Wisconsin” ice age and was the last of three major glacial stages. During this stage (about 26,000 to 13,300 years ago) the ice sheet that covered North America was 3 to 4 km thick and extended down to the 45th parallel north (northern Oregon). The glacial sheets took so much water from the oceans that the sea level was lowered by 100-120 meters and the weight was so intense that it deformed the Earth’s mantle and crust and even altered the Earth’s gravitational field! Huge expanses of coastal plain opened up the coast as the sea level dropped. At one point you could walk from Vancouver Island to Haida Gwaii. In fact, underwater archaeology has revealed the presence of permanent human habitations at the 100 metre mark.
On the west coast, the glacial sheet flowed towards the ocean. It is possible that the Big Rock originated hundreds of miles North-East of its present position. The most likely explanation of its origin is that it was plucked off of the top of the landscape and dragged along under the glacier, the pressure and friction scouring and polishing it into its present shape.
The Campbell River Big Rock is pretty big, but it doesn’t compare in size to the world’s largest known glacial erratic, “Big Rock” (also known as the Okotoks Erratic) near Okotoks, Alberta.
First Nations Legends (adapted from Michele Sirett’s “Big Rock Statement of Significance”)
Of the various First Nations peoples that have populated the areas neighbouring the Big Rock, three tribes have distinct origin stories about the Big Rock that survive to this day.
Laich-kwil-tach
The legend tells of a Grizzly Bear who terrorized the people of Cape Mudge on Quadra Island. The bear was tricked into jumping across the water to Vancouver Island. The people knew that if he didn’t make it and touched the water he would turn to stone. If he did make it to Vancouver Island he would stay because the food sources were more abundant. The Grizzly almost made the jump across but touched the water’s edge and was turned to stone. This legend also explains why there are no Grizzly Bears on Vancouver Island.
K’ómoks (Comox)/Pentlatch
This legend tells the story of Kumsno’otl, the Transformer. Kumsno’otl travelled about the land. One day he went to a place where an octopus-shaped monster lived in a lake and devoured people who went near the water. Kumsno’otl decided to destroy the monster when he noticed the misery it was causing the villagers. When Kumsno’otl killed the octopus-shaped monster he cut up the monster and threw the stomach on the ocean’s beach where it was transformed into stone.
Watch the animated presentation of this story, a production of the Museum at Campbell River and Raven Tales/New Machine Studios.
Tla’amin (Sliammon)
The legend tells the story of Mink and the Whale. Mink, a small boy, was swallowed by the Whale during a fishing trip near Mitlenatch Island (just off the southern shores of Quadra Island). In order to free himself Mink cut through the stomach and killed the Whale. The Whale beached on Vancouver Island and transformed into an enormous rock.
Interestingly, Mitlenatch Island also has a ‘turned to stone’ legend of its own. As retribution for the local people’s indolence the Great Spirit turned the local princess into stone. He placed her in the ocean as a continual reminder of his presence.
Tradition has it when I come to visit we go down to the harbor dock and have fish and chips…. some of the best I have ever tasted and we did again and thanks for buying Croft!!!
Came home and chatted and had tea and cake and just a good time….
In bed which is very comfy….. come back and visit tomorrow and see what I have planned!!!
Yashi Kochi!!!!
1 comment:
We had lots of fun Les! The stories of your adventures always keep us entertained!
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