Deep in a rather remote area of Vancouver Island cedar boardwalks meander through a grove of the largest trees found in Canada. Getting here is no small task and the trails overall are in very poor condition. For me, that is part of the allure. Walking through the overgrown bush amongst truly giant trees makes you feel so small and insignificant. The cawing of ravens or hooting of barred owls hidden within the canopy only occasionally breaks the beautifully eerie silence of these magnificent forests. Every time I make a trip out to the Island I always set aside a day or two to spend some time here. I find myself always excited to come photograph this area, but once I hike into the thick of the grove I struggle to take a photo that even comes close to doing this place justice. This is just one of those kind of places that must be seen in person to admire in its fullest.
I just loved wandering through the tidal pools and finding interesting sandstone formations while visiting Cape Kiwanda on the Oregon coast. If you get a chance, I highly reccomend this area. The Oregon coast has quickly become one of my favourite places to visit when I can get some time off. There is simply so much to see and do in this part of the world.
I have seen so many pictures of this waterfall, and as a landscape photographer it always called my name. being so far from where I live, this was always one of those places I could only dream of visiting. When my wife suggested I take a few extra weeks and drive to our family trip to California I jumped at the opportunity to stop by here on the way home. I will never forget my time spent here. Not because of the beauty, or the relaxing sound of the rushing water over the moss laden rocks. Nope. My memory is forever etched at this place because I took our three-year-old with daughter with me on the trip home. We spent a week together making our way back to Canada, bouncing from place to place snapping pictures along the way. By the time our trip itinerary landed at this waterfall I had one overtired cranky kid on my hands. It turns out when you spend several days waking up at sunrise, spend the day hiking, and stay up until sunset taking pictures, it takes its toll on a child. Who would have known!?! I know, I didn’t see it coming either. Well, let me tell you that little child turned from happy go lucky, to a Tasmanian Devil in a matter of seconds right as we made our way down the trail heading down to the falls. She was in a full-blown defcon 5 meltdown with the only cure being a solid nap and a sleep in. Something that wasn’t quite possible while in the middle of a flooded trail on a muddy slope. So, instead of enjoying taking my time wandering about this scenic location while photographing it, I got to quickly snap off a couple of shots without looking at my camera, crossing my fingers hoping they turned out while simultaneously consoling an upset little monster flush with tears, screaming, and rush back to the car to sit outside twiddling my thumbs for several hours while she had a solid nap in the back of the truck. Fun times! Looking back, I can only laugh at how dumb I was to not plan for that. In retrospect, even though my stop here didn’t work out as I planned, the time here was still a fun memory I can share with my little girl of a fantastic road trip with a few comedic hiccups.