Colours of an early summer... and ducklings

It's the beginning of June, yet at times the air and the sky feel and smell like summer.

The ducklings, so precious just weeks ago, still precious, are growing each day. Mom gets some time to flutter.

It is an incredibly beautiful time of the year.

Photos by Jim Murray. Copyright 2014.

Walking around Salt Spring offers everything ~ including the kitchen sink

Salt Spring Island is the largest island in the Southern Gulf Island chain. It is also the most populated. Different parts of the island offer a slightly different perspective on the wonderful island life. There are forests and shore lines, the amazing St Mary Lake, farms and fields, wineries and a collection of people as varied as the island itself.










At times it seems that everyone on the island is selling eggs by the roadside, and as the season progresses there will be fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, jams, jellies and more, all paid by an honour system.














And sometimes, perhaps after a nice coffee at the Fernwood Road Cafe, something appears along what would be considered a residential street...










Photos by Jim Murray. Copyright 2014.

Ruckle Park on Salt Spring Island

We've walked and hiked around Ruckle Park many times, and we did on this visit to Salt Spring too. It is a beautiful park with 7 km of shoreline, rocky headlands and tiny coves and bays.














It is a mixture of forest, field and shore habitats that makes for one of the more productive wildlife viewing areas on Salt Spring Island. In the past we've seen whales in the sea and otter closer to the shore, as well as eagles and the odd wild turkey.





Irish immigrant to Canada, Henry Ruckle homesteaded here in 1872, marrying Ella Anna Christensen five years later. Their descendants have farmed this property for more than a century.












The park was created when the Ruckle family donated the land to the people of BC in 1972. The park is 572 ha in size. There are campsites for tenting people and a variety of trails, some easily accessible, others slightly more challenging, and incredible views throughout.










Photos by Jim Murray. Copyright 2014.